What Baby Wants

Album: Welcome 2 My Nightmare (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Designed as a sequel to Alice's 1975 concept album, Welcome to My Nightmare, Welcome 2 My Nightmare features a number of surprising guests, including the Country singer Vince Gill. On this song, you'll hear the pop superstar Kesha. "That's my rebellion," said Alice. "I like people that don't belong and yet what they're doing works perfectly. I don't care where it comes from, as long as it's right. If you tell me something doesn't work, I'll work my head off until it does then shove it down your throat."
  • Alice commented regarding Kesha's contribution on this song: "I think a lot of my audience is going to go 'KE$HA!?', but she probably wrote the most wicked lyrics in the song – we had to rein her in. I like people to know that just because artists are put in a pigeon hole, that doesn't mean that's what they are. Give people a little room."
  • Alice told Billboard magazine why he hooked up with the TiK ToK singer: "I met (Kesha) at the Grammys," he said, "and I immediately looked at her and went, 'This girl is not a pop diva. She's a rock singer.' She would much rather be the female Robert Plant than the next Britney Spears. (Ezrin) said, 'Nobody's gonna expect Kesha on your album.' 'Great! Let's do it!'"
  • Alice told Classic Rock Revisited he chose Kesha to play the devil in this song. He explained: "I met Kesha at the Grammys and she never looked, to me, like a Diva, she looked like a rock singer. I told her, 'Eventually, everyone leaves the Divas. There is no way you can have a long lasting career as no one ends up loving the Divas forever. However, everybody loves a rock band.' It's true, no one ever says anything bad about Chrissie Hynde. I am trying to talk her into getting a real rock band behind her.

    When I met her, I had an idea for a song. I needed a character to play the devil. In the song, she finally has enough, and its time for Alice to pay her with his soul. We decided to call it 'What Baby Wants Baby Gets' because in the song he tries to say, 'Hey, that wasn't part of the deal' and she says, 'No, no, no, you don't understand, what baby wants, baby gets!' For me, it was a perfect line for her to say."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.