(You're) Having My Baby

"(You're) Having My Baby"
Single by Paul Anka
Released June 1974 (U.S.)
Format 7"
Recorded 1974
Genre Pop
Length 2:32
Label United Artists Records 454
Writer(s) Paul Anka
Producer Rick Hall

"(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, since 1959's "Lonely Boy."

Despite its commercial success, the song has been derided for its maudlin sentimentality[1] and perceived chauvinistic undertones, regularly appearing in "worst song" lists. It was voted the #1 "Worst Song of All Time" in a poll conducted by CNN.com in 2006.[2] 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]".[3]

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.[4] 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.[4] 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.[4] Among other issues, the song was criticized for declaring the child was the man's, rather than the couple's. Anka defended his linguistic choice in a 1974 interview, saying, "it's not meant to alienate anyone. I could have called it 'having our baby', but the other just sounded better. It's not a male ego trip—'my baby.' It's not that at all."[5] However, Anka did sometimes sing the line as "you're having our baby" while performing in concert.[6] 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.'"[7] Others criticized a line stating that while the woman could have "swept it from [her] life", she had not because it was "a wonderful way of showing how much she loves him".[8] In response to feminists, Anka said the song was "a love song".[8] He also explained in 1974, "what I'm saying in the song is that there is a choice. The libbers will get on me; I can't help that. I am into the antihuman thing, and I do understand the other side of it. There are those who can't cope, and it's not in the cards for them to have kids. I'm a libber myself, in the sense that ... if you've got to abort, you do. Some people just can't cope."[5]

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.[9] Ms. magazine "awarded" Anka their "Male Chauvinistic Pig of the Year" award.[10]

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.[11] The song was also covered on November 18, 2009 episode of Glee.

References

  1. ^ Caramanica, Jon (2010-04-08). "'Glee': Attitude, Yes, but Without a Song in Its Heart". The New York Times.
  2. ^ Leopold, Todd (2006-04-27). "The worst song of all time, part II". CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Music/04/25/worst.songs/index.html. Retrieved 2010-08-05. 
  3. ^ Wilkening, Matthew (2010-09-11). "100 Worst Songs Ever—Part Three of Five". AOL Radio. http://www.aolradioblog.com/2010/09/11/100-worst-songs-ever-part-three-of-five/. Retrieved 2010-12-23. 
  4. ^ a b c Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits. 5th ed. New York: Billboard Publications. ISBN 978-0-8230-7677-2.
  5. ^ a b Nolan, Tom (1974-10-24). "Paul Anka: The Lonely Boy Grows Up". Rolling Stone. 
  6. ^ "Interview with Paul Anka". Arlene Herson. 2005-06-25. http://www.arleneherson.com/paul_anka_transcript.htm. Retrieved 2010-08-05. 
  7. ^ "Paul Anka". Popmatters. 2005-07-22. http://www.popmatters.com/music/concerts/a/anka-paul-050714.shtml. Retrieved 2010-08-05. 
  8. ^ a b Proulx, Brenda Zosky (1982-08-13). "Paul Anka has a dark side - but he won't talk about it". The Gazette (Montreal): p. E-7. http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19820813&id=-Y0kAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gLkFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1287,2321802. 
  9. ^ "People, Sep. 9, 1974". Time. 1974-09-09. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,904110-2,00.html#ixzz0l9J4iEhj. Retrieved 2010-08-05. 
  10. ^ Buck, Jerry (1986-02-20). "Singer sets sights off the road". The Free Lance-Star. Associated Press (Fredericksburg, VA).
  11. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2006). Joel Whitburn's Top Country Songs, 1944–2005. Menomonee Falls, WI: Record Research. ISBN 978-0-89820-165-9
Preceded by
"The Night Chicago Died" by Paper Lace		 Billboard Hot 100 number-one single
August 24 – September 7, 1974		 Succeeded by
"I Shot the Sheriff" by Eric Clapton