(You're) Having My Baby
| "(You're) Having My Baby" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
"(You're) Having My Baby" is a song written and recorded by Canadian popular music singer Paul Anka. Recorded as a duet with female vocalist Odia Coates, the song became Anka's first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 15 years. Despite its commercial success, the song has been criticized for perceived chauvinistic undertones. It was voted the #1 "Worst Song of All Time" in a poll conducted by CNN.com in 2006.[1] Also, it was ranked at #48 on the list of the 100 Worst Songs Ever by Matthew Wilkening of AOL Radio, who sees the song as a way to make Anka's woman "instantly regret deciding to embark on this wonderful adventure with [him]".[2]
Song history
Anka — whose last chart-topping hit was 1959's "Lonely Boy" — had written the song for his wife and their four daughters while appearing at Lake Tahoe.[3] Originally, the song was to be a solo effort by Anka. But the unknown Coates, whom Anka had met while on tour, was at the studio during the recording session. Upon suggestion by United Artists recording executive Bob Skaff, the song became a duet.[3] Released in late June 1974, the mellow-sounding "(You're) Having My Baby" quickly climbed the chart and became Anka's third No. 1 song. A follow-up single — "One Man Woman/One Woman Man" — reached the Top 10 in early 1975.
The song gained criticism for its chauvinistic undertones.[3] Among other issues, the song was criticized for declaring the child was the man's, rather than the couple's. Anka would later replace the line "you're having my baby" with "you're having our baby" while performing in concert.[4] While reviewing a 2005 concert, Dan MacIntosh of Popmatters noted that while Anka had "covered most of his career highlights", he had "wisely neglected to include 'You're Having My Baby.'"[5] Others criticized a line stating that while the woman could have "swept it from [her] life", she hadn't because it was "a wonderful way of showing how much she loves him".[6] In response to feminists, Anka said the song was "a love song".[6]
The National Organization for Women gave Anka the satiric "Keep Her in Her Place" award during "its annual putdown of male chauvinism" in the media on Women's Equality Day.[7] Ms. Magazine "awarded" Anka their "Male Chauvinistic Pig of the Year" award.[8]
Covers
At about the same time "(You're) Having My Baby" was climbing the Hot 100, a female country vocalist named Sunday Sharpe recorded a cover version called "I'm Having Your Baby." With lyrics altered to the female perspective but otherwise identical to Anka's version, "I'm Having Your Baby" peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in October 1974.[9] The song was also covered on Glee.
References
- ^ By Todd Leopold CNN. "The worst song of all time, part II - Apr 26, 2006". CNN.com. Retrieved 2010-08-05.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help); no-break space character in|author=at position 3 (help) - ^ Wilkening, Matthew (2010-09-11). "100 Worst Songs Ever -- Part Three of Five". AOL Radio. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
- ^ a b c Bronson, Fred, "The Billboard Book of Number One Hits" 5th ed. Billboard Publications, New York, 2003. ISBN 0823076776.
- ^ "Interview with Paul Anka @". Arleneherson.com. 2005-06-25. Retrieved 2010-08-05.
- ^ "Paul Anka - PopMatters Concert Review". Popmatters.com. Retrieved 2010-08-05.
- ^ a b http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19820813&id=-Y0kAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gLkFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1287,2321802
- ^ Monday, Sep. 09, 1974 (1974-09-09). "People, Sep. 9, 1974". TIME. Retrieved 2010-08-05.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19860220&id=JA4QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nYsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4662,3733510
- ^ Whitburn, Joel, Top Country Songs: 1944-2005, 2006.