Ily (I Love You Baby)

Album: single release only (2020)
Charted: 22 23
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • West Coast producer Powell Aguirre has been making bedroom beats since the 3rd grade when his older brother helped him install FL Studio on his computer. After six years of recording original tracks and remixes on SoundCloud under his Surf Mesa moniker, he achieved overnight success with this tropical house banger.
  • The song features vocals by Emilee, the stage name for Batesville, Arkansas native Emilee Flood. The singer-songwriter first blew up through her covers on TikTok and then gained traction through the story of how she met her husband, hip-hop artist Edgar Sandoval Jr, through Spotify.
  • Surf Mesa repurposed the lyrics from Frankie Valli's 1967 hit single "Can't Take My Eyes Off You." Emilee sings that song's chorus on a loop over the American producer's dreamy synth-scape.
  • Originally just named "Ily," Surf Mesa first posted the song onto Soundcloud on November 26, 2019. It quickly built momentum and came to the attention of Astralwerks, which signed the American producer. The track was rereleased by Astralwerks in February 2020 retitled as "Ily (I Love You Baby)" to make it easier for people to find the tune. It gained further traction through user-generated clips on the app TikTok and crossed over to radio, becoming a worldwide hit.
  • Surf Mesa made the song in one single sitting. He recalled to Soundazed: "I didn't get up for anything, and at 5 a.m., when the song was finished, I posted it on SoundCloud."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

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.

Martin Page

Martin PageSongwriter Interviews

With Bernie Taupin, Martin co-wrote the #1 hits "We Built This City" and "These Dreams." After writing the Pretty Woman song for Go West, he had his own hit with "In the House of Stone and Light."

Is That Song Public Domain?

Is That Song Public Domain?Fact or Fiction

Are classic songs like "Over The Rainbow" and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in the public domain?

Desmond Child

Desmond ChildSongwriter Interviews

One of the most successful songwriters in the business, Desmond co-wrote "Livin' La Vida Loca," "Dude (Looks Like A Lady)" and "Livin' On A Prayer."

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80s

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80sSongwriter Interviews

'80s music ambassadors Wang Chung pick their top tracks of the decade, explaining what makes each one so special.

Harold Brown of War

Harold Brown of WarSongwriter Interviews

A founding member of the band War, Harold gives a first-person account of one of the most important periods in music history.