Baby Got Back: Difference between revisions
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In 2008, it was ranked number 17 on [[VH1]]'s 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.<ref>[http://www.prefixmag.com/news/vh1s-100-greatest-hip-hop-songs/21901/ Prefixmag]</ref> |
In 2008, it was ranked number 17 on [[VH1]]'s 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.<ref>[http://www.prefixmag.com/news/vh1s-100-greatest-hip-hop-songs/21901/ Prefixmag]</ref> |
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==Synopsis== |
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In the opening verse, Sir Mix-A-Lot professes his affinity for large [[buttocks]] and his inability to conceal this fact from others. He goes on to describe other desirable physical attributes such as a [[waist-hip ratio|trim waistline]], tight fitting garments, and unblemished skin. Though the song does not contain a distinct narrative, the author does visit upon recurrent themes such as, [[body image|female body image]] as depicted in media, male attitudes towards dating and relationships, and the author’s own sexual prowess. |
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In later verses he expresses his exasperation with the entertainment industry’s portrayal of the ideal [[Female body shape|female form]]. He soundly rejects the notion promulgated by [[Cosmopolitan (magazine)|fashion magazines]] that smaller diminutive buttocks are more desirable. His critique of the women that appeared in contemporary music videos was particularly scathing, likening their appearance to those of [[prostitute]]s. To further illustrate his point, he stipulates the purported [[BWH|ideal proportions of 36-24-36]] (measuring the bust, waist, and hip diameter respectively) would only be pleasing on women with a standing height no greater than 63 inches. |
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Mix-A-Lot also briefly touches upon the rolls that ethnicity, nutrition, and physical fitness play in determining the shape and size of the female buttocks. He recommends that any exercises performed should be limited to the [[abdominal]] area. He cautions against a fitness routine strenuous enough to diminish the heft of the [[gluteal muscles]]. Though he offers no broad dietary guidelines, Mix-A-Lot contends that the dish "[[Red beans and rice|red beans and rice]]" is an important food staple for maintaining a healthy buttocks. |
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Various lyrics address the fact that some men find no intrinsic value in large buttocks and consequently feign disinterest. Mix-A-Lot makes clear that he would eagerly strike up relations with any woman overlooked or discarded by such men. The remainder of the narrative is fleshed out with the author's various attempts to entice women into enjoying a ride in his [[Mercedes-Benz|luxury automobile]], presumably in exchange for sexual favors. |
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==Chart performance and awards== |
==Chart performance and awards== |
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Sir Mix-a-Lot's best known song, "Baby Got Back" reached number 1 on the United States' ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart for five weeks in the summer of 1992, and won a [[1993 in music|1993]] [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance]]. It is known to be a fairly common song over a decade later in many movies, shows, music videos, even commercials.{{Citation needed|date=June 2010}} It was placed at number 6 on Vh1's Greatest Songs of the '90s. |
Sir Mix-a-Lot's best known song, "Baby Got Back" reached number 1 on the United States' ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart for five weeks in the summer of 1992, and won a [[1993 in music|1993]] [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance]]. It is known to be a fairly common song over a decade later in many movies, shows, music videos, even commercials.{{Citation needed|date=June 2010}} It was placed at number 6 on Vh1's Greatest Songs of the '90s. |
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Revision as of 00:34, 4 August 2010
| "Baby Got Back" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "Cake Boy" |
"Baby Got Back" is a 1992 hip hop song by Sir Mix-a-Lot from his album Mack Daddy. The song memorably starts with a discussion between two thin, white valley girls, with one girl remarking to the other "Oh my God, Becky! Look at her butt! It is so big. She looks like one of those rap guys' girlfriends." At the time of its original release, the song caused controversy with its outspoken and blatantly sexual lyrics about the female anatomy, and why the white standard of beauty, i.e. a skinny, boyish figure, is not what the Black man is looking for. The video was briefly banned by MTV.[1] However, it has remained very popular over time. It samples Channel One's "Technicolor".
In 2008, it was ranked number 17 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.[2]
Synopsis
In the opening verse, Sir Mix-A-Lot professes his affinity for large buttocks and his inability to conceal this fact from others. He goes on to describe other desirable physical attributes such as a trim waistline, tight fitting garments, and unblemished skin. Though the song does not contain a distinct narrative, the author does visit upon recurrent themes such as, female body image as depicted in media, male attitudes towards dating and relationships, and the author’s own sexual prowess.
In later verses he expresses his exasperation with the entertainment industry’s portrayal of the ideal female form. He soundly rejects the notion promulgated by fashion magazines that smaller diminutive buttocks are more desirable. His critique of the women that appeared in contemporary music videos was particularly scathing, likening their appearance to those of prostitutes. To further illustrate his point, he stipulates the purported ideal proportions of 36-24-36 (measuring the bust, waist, and hip diameter respectively) would only be pleasing on women with a standing height no greater than 63 inches.
Mix-A-Lot also briefly touches upon the rolls that ethnicity, nutrition, and physical fitness play in determining the shape and size of the female buttocks. He recommends that any exercises performed should be limited to the abdominal area. He cautions against a fitness routine strenuous enough to diminish the heft of the gluteal muscles. Though he offers no broad dietary guidelines, Mix-A-Lot contends that the dish "red beans and rice" is an important food staple for maintaining a healthy buttocks.
Various lyrics address the fact that some men find no intrinsic value in large buttocks and consequently feign disinterest. Mix-A-Lot makes clear that he would eagerly strike up relations with any woman overlooked or discarded by such men. The remainder of the narrative is fleshed out with the author's various attempts to entice women into enjoying a ride in his luxury automobile, presumably in exchange for sexual favors.
Chart performance and awards
Sir Mix-a-Lot's best known song, "Baby Got Back" reached number 1 on the United States' Billboard Hot 100 chart for five weeks in the summer of 1992, and won a 1993 Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. It is known to be a fairly common song over a decade later in many movies, shows, music videos, even commercials.[citation needed] It was placed at number 6 on Vh1's Greatest Songs of the '90s.
- Sir Mix-a-Lot has recorded at least three different commercial versions of the hit song, one a Target commercial aimed towards preteens that replaces "I like big butts and I cannot lie" with "I like backpacks and I cannot lie", the other is a ringtone that begins "Pick up the phone! Pick up the phone! 'Cause you want this call and you cannot lie!". An Adelie penguin named Ramone sings to an Emperor penguin named Gloria in the movie Happy Feet: "I like big tails and I can't deny!"
In pop culture
The song has been covered by such diverse artists as Vanilla Ice,[3] hardcore band Throwdown, lounge singer Richard Cheese, Ska band Grand Skeem, comedy singer Jonathan Coulton, and drag queen Jackie Beat, the latter as "Baby Got Front".
- The song is sung by Ross and Rachel to make their baby Emma laugh in Friends: the 7th episode of its 9th Season, "The One with Ross's Inappropriate Song".
- In 2001, the song was featured in Shrek at the ending, on the dance party. Character Donkey (voiced by Eddie Murphy) performed a part of the song.
- The song is heard in Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed and Shark Tale (2004). Both times, it is accidentally heard on an old-fashioned music machine, and quickly switched off by a character out of embarassment.
Parodies
- Spoken word duo Athens Boys Choir has a parody of the song on their album Rhapsody in T called "Tranny Got Pack".
- Internet multimedia artist Mike Hightower parodied the song in the style of Gilbert & Sullivan in 2007.[4]
- An alternate version was performed at a 2006 Washington Mutual retreat in Hawaii that went, "I like big bucks and I cannot lie / You mortgage brokers can’t deny / That when the dough rolls in like you’re printin’ your own cash / And you gotta make a splash / You just spendz / Like it never ends / Cuz you gotta have that big new Benz / All of that bling you’re wearin’ / Shining so bright peoples starin’ / It’s crazy, I gotta ski Aspen / That’s all I’m askin’…".[5]
- The song was spoofed in an episode of In Living Color. Called "Baby Got Snacks", The video features overweight women with a theme of overeating and the pear-shaped bodies resulting from them; it featured Jamie Foxx as the lead singer.
- Internet musician Tony Goldmark parodied the song as "Sirius Black" in 2004. It also parodies elements from film Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.[6]
Charts
| End of year chart (1992) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[7] | 2 |
References
- ^ Baby Got Back Songfacts. Songfacts. Retrieved April 5, 2007.
- ^ Prefixmag
- ^ "ASIN: B001I1TU2Y". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
- ^ http://www.mphtower.com/web/content/view/79/37/
- ^ http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0410/35779.html
- ^ http://www.themadmusicarchive.com/song_details.aspx?SongID=9442
- ^ "Billboard Top 100 - 1992". Retrieved 2009-09-15.