Baby (Charli XCX song)

"Baby" is a song by English singer Charli XCX, released on 1 March 2022.^[1] It was released as the fourth single from her fifth studio album Crash (2022).^[2] The track is an '80s-inspired post-disco, dance-pop, and funk-pop track with new jack swing and electro-funk elements. It has received positive reviews for its catchiness and sultry production.^[3][4][5]

"Baby"
Single by Charli XCX
from the album Crash
Released	1 March 2022 (2022-03-01)
Recorded	January 2020
Genre	Post-disco dance-pop funk-pop
Length	2:39
Label	Asylum Warner UK
Songwriter(s)	Charlotte Aitchison Jeremiah Raisen Justin Raisen
Producer(s)	Justin Raisen SadPony
Charli XCX singles chronology
"Beg for You" (2022) "Baby" (2022) "Used to Know Me" (2022)
Music video
"Baby" on YouTube

Background and release

In an interview with Apple Music, Charli revealed that this track was one of the first ones to be conceptualized for the album. She further stated "I was working on it with Justin Raisen, and we'd done a lot together for my first ever album, True Romance. So it kind of felt cyclical to go back and with him again on what is my final record in my deal with Atlantic."^[6]

Charli revealed that this track will be included on her fifth studio album Crash on November 4, 2021, by playing a snippet of the song on a TikTok live.^[7] On December 19, 2021, following the cancellation of her Saturday Night Live appearance due to the rise of Omicron variant cases in New York, Charli shared another snippet of the song, showing herself dancing to the song with choreographers.^[8] The single was registered on SongFile on December 25, 2021, with Justin Raisen and SadPony credited as the producers.^[9] She uploaded a snippet of the track with the caption "i'm thinking this next..." on February 1, 2022, following the release of Crash's third single "Beg for You".^[10]

Following the release of "Baby", Charli responded to fan criticism on Twitter by calling one of her fans a "cunt". The tweet was swiftly deleted and she expressed regret for it; it, however, became a part of gay Twitter canon. In a 2024 interview with The Face, she attributed it to stress caused by SNL rehearsals.^[11]

Music and concept

"Baby", much like "Good Ones" and "New Shapes", showcases a more mainstream sound than the singer's previous releases. It "leans further into the record's overall '80s disco vibes with sparkling synths and funky guitar riffs".^[12] The disco-fied tune, inspired by the new jack swing elements of Janet Jackson's seminal album Control as well as the electro-funk of Cameo,^[13][3] was created in partnership with Justin and Jeremiah Raisen (a.k.a. Sad Pony), the latter of who have done a lot of work with Yves Tumor, Angel Olsen, Kim Gordon, and many others.

She explained in an interview with Apple Music that "obviously so much has changed, and this song, it was kind of the foundation of the vibe of the album. It's probably the most sexy song I've ever made. It's about sex and sexuality and having good sex and just feeling yourself essentially. I know that that's the tone. I knew that that was the tone I wanted to carry across for the entire record. This kind of hyper-sexualized, feminine power zone was where I was feeling myself going, and 'Baby' was the genesis of this."^[6]

Rankings

Year-end rankings for Baby

Publication	List	Rank	Ref.
Vulture	The Best Songs of 2022	—	[14]

Music video

Along with the song, a music video directed by Imogene Strauss and Luke Orlando was released on March 2, 2022. Nathan Kim devised a dance routine for the video.^[2] In the video, Charli runs through sensual choreography while flanked by a pair of look-alike backup dancers.^[15] She explained that she "wanted to challenge myself on the choreo for this song, which was really, really tough and I have so much respect for dancers, professional dancers, anyone who communicates emotion through dance. It is so hard and challenging, but so rewarding."^[16]

Release history

Release history for "Baby"

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
Various	1 March 2022	Digital download streaming	Asylum Warner	[1]

References

1. "Baby". Tidal. 1 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
2. "Charli XCX releases new track 'Baby' ahead of album Crash". The Independent. 2022-03-02. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
3. "Charli XCX Aims For The Carnal With 'Baby'". Clash Magazine. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
4. Atkinson, Jessie (2022-03-16). "Album Review: Charli XCX – Crash". Gigwise. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
5. Bell, Kaelen (17 March 2022). "Charli XCX Makes a Messy, Exciting 'CRASH' into Her Own Legacy". Exclaim!. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
6. "Charli XCX Releases New Song "Baby": Listen". Stereogum. 2022-03-01. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
7. "Snippet 1 - Baby ?". Twitter. November 5, 2021. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
8. "BABY! 🥵 - 2022 sneak peak[sic]…. - Charli's post on instagram". Twitter. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
9. "A new song called "Baby" has been registered on the SongFile database. Charli, Justin Raisen (Take My Hand, Black Roses, Lock You Up, Sucker, London Queen) and Sad Pony are credited as composers". Twitter. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
10. "i'm thinking this next…". Twitter. February 2, 2022. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
11. D'Souza, Shaad (2024-02-19). "Charli XCX knows you're obsessed with her". The Face. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
12. Moen, Matt (2 March 2022). "Charli XCX Has All the Right Moves, 'Baby'". Paper. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
13. "Watch Charli XCX take control in Baby music video". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
14. "The Best Songs of 2022: Staff List". Vulture. December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
15. Rowley, Glenn (2022-03-01). "Charli XCX Slinks Through Sensual Choreography for 'Baby' Video: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
16. "Watch Charli XCX's Video for New Song "Baby"". Pitchfork. 2022-03-01. Retrieved 2022-03-07.