Baby-Baby-Baby
by TLC

Album: Ooooooohhh...On the TLC Tip (1992)
Charted: 55 2
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Oh baby. TLC made a big impact with this smooth R&B number, which finds them setting clear expectations for their man. They expect full commitment (no part-time lovin') and lots of good conversation.

    It was released as their second single, following the much more energetic and libidinous "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg," where it's the lovin' they need, not the conversation. That song did well on pop radio (in edited form) and on hip-hop stations, but "Baby-Baby-Baby" was a crossover, getting them on more adult-leaning formats and saturating pop. The Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip album went on to sell over 4 million copies, and they proved even more versatile on their next album, CrazySexyCool, with the hits "Creep" and "Waterfalls."
  • "Baby-Baby-Baby" was written and produced by the team of L.A. Reid, Babyface and Daryl Simmons. The song spent six weeks at #2 in America without ever reaching the top spot, but that was their own fault: The song that held it back all six weeks was "End Of The Road" by Boyz II Men, which they also wrote and produced. These guys were red hot - they also had hits with Bobby Brown ("Humpin' Around") and Toni Braxton ("Give U My Heart") around this time. "End Of The Road" was used on the soundtrack to the movie Boomerang, which they worked on. TLC appeared on the soundtrack as well, singing on the track "Reversal of a Dog."
  • "Baby" songs were big around this time. Amy Grant had a #1 hit a year earlier with "Baby Baby," and when "Baby-Baby-Baby" was on the charts, "Baby Got Back" was still hanging around.
  • Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes didn't get a lead in this song because there was no place to insert a rap on the ballad. T-Boz did the lead vocal with Chilli taking the pre-chorus ("Long as you know that I could have any man I want to...").
  • The music video was shot at Bowie State University in Maryland, although in some shots T-Boz is wearing a sweatshirt for Grambling State, another HBCU. The ladies of TLC were college age at the time, so they fit right in with the coeds.

    The video was directed by the Atlanta-based Keith Ward, who also did "No Nose Job" for Digital Underground and "Mr. Wendal" for Arrested Development.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.

Song Titles That Inspired Movies

Song Titles That Inspired MoviesSong Writing

Famous songs that lent their titles - and in some cases storylines - to movies.

Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.

Ian Gillan of Deep Purple

Ian Gillan of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan explains the "few red lights" in "Smoke On The Water" and talks about songs from their 2020 album Whoosh!

Superman in Song

Superman in SongSong Writing

Not everyone can be a superhero, but that hasn't stopped generations of musicians from trying to be Superman.

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.