Baby Love (Nicole Scherzinger song)

"Baby Love" is a song recorded by American singer Nicole Scherzinger. The song was produced by and features will.i.am. Scherzinger and will.i.am co-wrote the song with Kara DioGuardi and Keith Harris. "Baby Love" was released from September 18, 2007, by A&M and Interscope Records, as the second single from Scherzinger's unreleased debut studio album, Her Name Is Nicole. The folk-inspired R&B ballad is about a person's first premature love with someone.

"Baby Love"
Single by Nicole Scherzinger featuring will.i.am
B-side"Whatever U Like"
ReleasedSeptember 18, 2007 (2007-09-18)
GenreR&B
Length4:43
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)will.i.am
Nicole Scherzinger singles chronology
"Whatever U Like"
(2007)
"Baby Love"
(2007)
"Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)"
(2009)
will.i.am singles chronology
"I Got It from My Mama"
(2007)
"Baby Love"
(2007)
"Wait a Minute (Just a Touch)"
(2007)
Music video
"Baby Love" on YouTube

"Baby Love" received a mixed reception from contemporary critics, with reviewers complementing Scherzinger's vocal ability, but dismissing the song for not being the type of song to launch a career with. However, the song managed to peak in the top twenty in thirteen countries including Germany, Italy, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Ireland. An accompanying music video directed by Francis Lawrence and was filmed on Catalina Island in California. Scherzinger performed "Baby Love" in a series of live appearances such as a performance at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2007.

Background and composition

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Following the poor commercial success of "Whatever U Like", it was announced that Scherzinger would release a new single.[1] The song was used for German Vybemobile's TV commercial and Samsung's campaign.[2] "Baby Love" is included on several international editions of The Pussycat Dolls' second studio album Doll Domination (2008) and is listed as an original song, performed by Scherzinger and will.i.am entitled as the "Final Version" on the standard edition.[3] The version on the album is the official remix of the song by J. R. Rotem with a new arrangement and re-recorded vocals.

"Baby Love" is a mid-tempo folk-inspired R&B ballad,[4][5] and produced by will.i.am.[5] It was written by Scherzinger, William Adams, Kara DioGuardi and Keith Harris,[6] in the musical key of F minor.[7] The "laid-back vibe" of the song was compared to that of the Pussycat Dolls' song "Stickwitu" (2005)[5] and Fergie's song "Big Girls Don't Cry" (2006),[4] that was also produced by will.i.am. According to the sheet music published by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, the song has a time signature set in common time, with a tempo of 90 beats per minute. The melody is mainly composed with piano and guitar instruments.[7]

Reception

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A reviewer for the Manchester Evening News wrote that it's "a nice little number which highlights her above average vocals."[8]

The single achieved reasonable success outside of the United States, particularly in Europe. This is likely due to Scherzinger's performance at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2007 on November 1, 2007, in which she sang the song with will.i.am, the producer and featured artist of the song. The song peaked at number fourteen on the UK Singles Chart. It also became a top ten hit in the Germany and Italy. Although the song was not successful on the Billboard Hot 100, it reached number four on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play and peaked at number 8 at Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[9]

Music video

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Scherzinger lying on a yacht as seen in the music video.

The video was shot on Catalina Island, California, and was directed by Francis Lawrence. The music video premiered on September 24, 2007.[10]

Synopsis

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The video opens with Scherzinger in bed, inserting a video memory stick into a laptop. She is just in her white bra and panties. We then see lots of clouds, before seeing Scherzinger waking up lying in bed with her lover. She rolls on top of him, before going outside still in her underwear with a grey cardigan over the top. The boat then cruises along and Nicole makes several appearances in a white bikini. Then we see her lie on a sun bed under her lover in a black bikini. He is shirtless, and gazes down at her. She then shows the video footage to him on her camera. She then sings to the camera presumably naked, with us only seeing her face and her legs. She then lies in the sun in her white bikini. She then dives into the ocean in her black bikini, followed by her lover. They then appear underwater, hugging each other. After that, on a beach, Nicole kisses her lovers shoulders. She then dances in front of the camera in a black and peach bikini. She then is seen hugging her lover (they both are presumed naked, making love) on the beach. Nicole and her lover take a trip on a motorbike (a Ducati Hypermotard) soon after. Nicole is in hot pants and a black jacket. Will.i.am then makes his debut singing a solo verse in the distance.

We then see Nicole in her black and peach bikini lying down on the sand. Her lover is filming her from above. Nicole then is seen semi nude, with her hands covering her breasts. Then she is seen playing around with her lover in the sea. They splash around and Nicole then is seen on the edge of the boat, in a blue dress. More semi nude appearances follow. But then we return to the bed, which was seen at the start. Nicole is now kneeling on top of her boyfriend, in her white bra and panties. She sings to him whilst he strokes her hips and touches the sides of her panties. She then leans down to kiss his cheek softly. He kisses her arm. The video ends with Scherzinger making one final semi nude appearance, covering her breasts with her hands. She giggles and the scene fades.

Live performances

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In October 2007 she performed at KIIS-FM’s Homecoming concert at the Honda Center and performed "Whatever U Like", "Baby Love" and "Supervillain".[11] The same month she performed the latter two songs along with "Happily Never After" for Sessions@AOL.[12]

Track listings

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Credits and personnel

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Credits are adapted from the "Baby Love" liner notes.

Charts

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Release history

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Release dates and formats for "Baby Love"
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref(s).
United States September 18, 2007 Interscope [40][41]
Germany October 23, 2007 CD Universal [42][43]
Australia November 5, 2007 Interscope [44]
United Kingdom [45]
Japan November 30, 2007 Universal [46]

References

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  1. ^ "Nicole Scherzinger : News : Download Nicole's first single "Baby Love" on iTunes!". Nicolescherzingermusic.com. September 19, 2007. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
  2. ^ "Social Media Marketing – Facebook Marketing". Brickfish. January 7, 2011. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
  3. ^ "iTunes - Music - Doll Domination (International Deluxe Version) by The Pussycat Dolls". iTunes Store (IE). Apple. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  4. ^ a b Released on Monday, November 5, 2007 (November 5, 2007). "Nicole Scherzinger: 'Baby Love' – Music Singles Review – Digital Spy". Digitalspy.ca. Retrieved August 16, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ a b c "Nicole Scherzinger Album Preview". Rap-Up.com. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  6. ^ "Baby Love (Nicole Scherzinger) BMI Work #9090378". BMI Repertoire (Broadcast Music Incorporated). Retrieved August 16, 2011.
  7. ^ a b "Nicole Scherzinger – Baby Love sheet music". Musicnotes.com (Alfred Publishing). June 2009. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  8. ^ "Nicole Scherzinger - Baby Love (Interscope)". Manchester Evening News. November 10, 2007. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  9. ^ "Bits: Nicole Scherzinger, Polvo, MySpace". Billboard. November 9, 2007. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  10. ^ "Video: Nicole Scherzinger f/ will.i.am – 'Baby Love'". Rap-Up. September 24, 2007. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  11. ^ "KIIS-FM's Homecoming concert misses more than it hits". Orange County Register. March 19, 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  12. ^ "Watch Nicole perform live on AOL Sessions!". Interscope Records. October 29, 2007. Archived from the original on December 16, 2007. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  13. ^ "Issue927" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  14. ^ "Issue927" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  15. ^ "Nicole Scherzinger feat. will.i.am – Baby Love" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  16. ^ "Nicole Scherzinger feat. will.i.am – Baby Love" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  17. ^ "Nicole Scherzinger feat. will.i.am – Baby Love" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  18. ^ Nicole Scherzinger feat. will.i.am — Baby Love. TopHit. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  19. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 04. týden 2008 in the date selector. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  20. ^ "Nicole Scherzinger feat. will.i.am – Baby Love". Tracklisten. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  21. ^ "Hits of the World – Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 119, no. 47. November 24, 2007. p. 73. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  22. ^ "Nicole Scherzinger feat. will.i.am – Baby Love" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  23. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  24. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Baby Love". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  25. ^ "Nicole Scherzinger feat. will.i.am – Baby Love". Top Digital Download. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  26. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 1, 2008" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  27. ^ "Nicole Scherzinger feat. will.i.am – Baby Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  28. ^ "Nicole Scherzinger feat. will.i.am – Baby Love". VG-lista. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  29. ^ "Nielsen Music Control". Archived from the original on December 6, 2007.
  30. ^ "Romanian Top 100: Issue nr: 5/2008 (11 Februarie - 17 Februarie 2008)" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on February 15, 2008. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  31. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  32. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200804 into search.
  33. ^ "Nicole Scherzinger feat. will.i.am – Baby Love". Singles Top 100. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  34. ^ "Nicole Scherzinger feat. will.i.am – Baby Love". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  35. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  36. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  37. ^ "will i am Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  38. ^ "will i am Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  39. ^ "Charts Plus Year end 2007" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  40. ^ "Baby Love". Amazon.
  41. ^ "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!". fmqb.com. Archived from the original on December 28, 2007. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  42. ^ "Baby Love". Amazon Germany.
  43. ^ "Baby Love". Amazon Germany.
  44. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 5th November 2007" (PDF). ARIA. November 5, 2007. p. 32. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 19, 2007. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  45. ^ "Music Upfront: November 5". Music Week. November 3, 2007. p. 13.
  46. ^ "Baby Love: Feat.Will.i.am / Whatever U Like Feat.T.i. Nicole Scherzinger CD Maxi". CDJapan.