Babyfather (song)
Encyclopedia
"Babyfather" is a song
from the English soul
and R&B group Sade
. It is the second single from their sixth studio album
, Soldier of Love
. It was released on April 20, 2010.
The song was nominated in the Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal category at the 53rd Grammy Awards
.
Frontwoman Sade Adu
told People
that "Babyfather," is "about how great it is to be a parent, what a great honor and privilege that is, and what a terrible thing that is to waste. As long as you feel good about yourself, you can be a good parent, and then it becomes an endless fruitful cycle," she says. As for the sound of the new song, "I wanted it to sound quite rough and scrappy, not too honed," says the Grammy-winning singer, 51. "The beginning," says Sade, "feels like the ice cream van coming down the street".
, Mayer Nassim, gave to the song 3 stars (out of 5) and say that: "'Babyfather' it's not as striking as its sultry predecessor, possessing a much friendlier, summery vibe. Twanging acoustic guitars combine with that still-rich voice, so-laidback-they're-horizontal drums and positive lyrics about fatherhood and family love. It's not the most exciting thing to hit our ears this year, but it's still nice enough stuff that should keep things ticking on for Sade fans".
, who also took the picture for the single's cover art.
It premiered on May 4, 2010 and it features frontwoman Sade Adu as a homemaker who is doing daily chores from cooking to washing dishes and doing the laundry.
on April 12, 2010 on Dancing with the Stars
on April 14 and on The Craig Ferguson Show
on April 15.
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
from the English soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and R&B group Sade
Sade (band)
Sade is a British smooth jazz band that formed in 1983, named for Nigerian lead singer Sade Adu. Their music features elements of R&B, soul, jazz, and soft rock....
. It is the second single from their sixth studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
, Soldier of Love
Soldier of Love (album)
Soldier of Love is the sixth studio album by the English group Sade. It is their first album of original material since Lovers Rock . The album was initially released on 5 February 2010 in Germany, and it was released worldwide on 8 February 2010 and in the United States on 9 February 2010...
. It was released on April 20, 2010.
The song was nominated in the Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal category at the 53rd Grammy Awards
53rd Grammy Awards
The 53rd annual Grammy Awards were held on February 13, 2011, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. They were broadcast on CBS with a rating of 26.6 million viewers. Barbra Streisand was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year two nights prior to the telecast on February 11. Nominations were...
.
Background and writing
In this reggae-flavored number, Adu sings of a male figure who can be the father of a woman's child and a strong male role model, without necessarily being a lifemate.Frontwoman Sade Adu
Sade Adu
Helen Folasade Adu OBE , is a British singer-songwriter, composer, and record producer. She first achieved success in the 1980s as the frontwoman and lead vocalist of the Brit and Grammy Award winning English group Sade.-Biography:Sade was born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria...
told People
People (magazine)
In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
that "Babyfather," is "about how great it is to be a parent, what a great honor and privilege that is, and what a terrible thing that is to waste. As long as you feel good about yourself, you can be a good parent, and then it becomes an endless fruitful cycle," she says. As for the sound of the new song, "I wanted it to sound quite rough and scrappy, not too honed," says the Grammy-winning singer, 51. "The beginning," says Sade, "feels like the ice cream van coming down the street".
Reception
The entertainment reporter from Digital SpyDigital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
, Mayer Nassim, gave to the song 3 stars (out of 5) and say that: "'Babyfather' it's not as striking as its sultry predecessor, possessing a much friendlier, summery vibe. Twanging acoustic guitars combine with that still-rich voice, so-laidback-they're-horizontal drums and positive lyrics about fatherhood and family love. It's not the most exciting thing to hit our ears this year, but it's still nice enough stuff that should keep things ticking on for Sade fans".
Music video
The music video, which features people wearing bright-colored outfits, is directed by Sophie MullerSophie Muller
Sophie Muller is a British music video director, noted for her long-time collaborations with artists like Sophie Ellis-Bextor, No Doubt, Sade, Shakira, Shakespears Sister, Garbage, Blur, Annie Lennox and Eurythmics.-Background:...
, who also took the picture for the single's cover art.
It premiered on May 4, 2010 and it features frontwoman Sade Adu as a homemaker who is doing daily chores from cooking to washing dishes and doing the laundry.
Promotion
The band performed the song on many talk shows. They were on The Tonight Show With Jay LenoThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jay Leno that initially aired from May 25, 1992 to May 29, 2009, and resumed production on March 1, 2010. The fourth incarnation of the Tonight Show franchise made its debut on May 25, 1992, three days following Johnny...
on April 12, 2010 on Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars is the name of several international television series based on the format of the British TV series Strictly Come Dancing, which is distributed by BBC Worldwide – the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the format has been licensed to over 35 countries...
on April 14 and on The Craig Ferguson Show
Craig Ferguson
Craig Ferguson is a Scottish American television host, stand-up comedian, writer, actor, director, author, and producer. He is the host of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, an Emmy Award-nominated, Peabody Award-winning late-night talk show that airs on CBS...
on April 15.
Charts
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Jazz Songs | 10 |
Release history
| Country | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | April 20, 2010 | Airplay | Sony Music |
| May, 2010 | Digital download | ||
| United Kingdom | June 7, 2010 | Digital download, vinyl |