"Hey! Baby" is a song written by Margaret Cobb and Bruce Channel, first recorded at Clifford Herring Studios in Ft. Worth Tx, and recorded by Channel in 1961, first released on LeCam Records, a local Fort Worth, Texas label. After it hit, it was released on Smash Records for national distribution. Channel co-produced the song with Major Bill Smith (owner of LeCam)[citation needed] and released it on Mercury Records' Smash label. It reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks, starting the week ending March 10, 1962.

"Hey! Baby"
side-A label
One of side-A labels of the US single
Single by Bruce Channel
from the album Hey! Baby
B-side"Dream Girl"
ReleasedDecember 1961
Genre
Length2:27
LabelLeCam, Smash, CBS (US)
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Bruce Channel singles chronology
"Now or Never"
(1960)
"Hey! Baby"
(1961)
"Run Romance Run"
(1962)

The song features a prominent riff from well-known harmonica player Delbert McClinton, and drums played by Ray Torres. Other musicians on the record included Bob Jones and Billy Sanders on guitar and Jim Rogers on bass. According to a CNN article[2] from 2002, while touring the UK in 1962 with the Beatles, McClinton met John Lennon and gave him some harmonica tips. Lennon put the lessons to use right away on "Love Me Do" and later "Please Please Me". Lennon included the song in his jukebox, and it is also featured on the 2004 related compilation album John Lennon's Jukebox.

"Hey! Baby" was used in the 1987 hit film Dirty Dancing in the scene in which Johnny and Baby dance on top of a log.

Charts edit

Chart (1962) Peak
position
New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)[3] 1
UK Singles Chart 2
US Billboard Hot 100[4] 1
US Billboard Hot R&B Sides 2

Anne Murray version edit

"Hey! Baby!"
 
Single by Anne Murray
from the album The Hottest Night of the Year
B-side"Song for the Mira"
ReleasedMay 1982
GenreCountry
Length2:47
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jim Ed Norman
Anne Murray singles chronology
"Another Sleepless Night"
(1982)
"Hey! Baby!"
(1982)
"Somebody's Always Saying Goodbye"
(1982)

Canadian country pop singer Anne Murray covered the song in 1982, reaching number 7 on the US Country Singles chart and number 26 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Murray also reached number 1 on the RPM country and adult contemporary charts in Canada.

Charts edit

Chart (1982) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM) 1
Canadian Adult Contemporary Tracks (RPM) 1
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[5] 7
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[6] 26

DJ Ötzi version edit

"Hey Baby (Uhh, Ahh)"
 
Single by DJ Ötzi
from the album Love, Peace & Vollgas
B-side"Uh! Ah!"
ReleasedJuly 31, 2000 (2000-07-31)
Length3:37
LabelEMI
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Christian Seitz
  • Claus Marcus
  • Klaus Biedermann
  • Mark Duran
DJ Ötzi singles chronology
"Gemma Bier trinken"
(2000)
"Hey Baby (Uhh, Ahh)"
(2000)
"Doh Wah Diddy"
(2001)

Austrian artist DJ Ötzi recorded a cover version titled "Hey Baby (Uhh, Ahh)". It was released in July 2000 as the lead single from his debut solo album, Love, Peace & Vollgas. This version reached number one in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia. In 2002, it was re-released when it became the unofficial theme song for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.[7] In the United States, the song was released to promote the 2003 buddy comedy film Kangaroo Jack.[8]

Music video edit

The official music video features large groups of people singing along to the song in a taxi at different times, interspersed with DJ Ötzi singing on a TV screen. An animated music video was also produced featuring a cartoon version of DJ Ötzi performing with a band of robots while trying to woo a princess.

Track listings edit

Standard maxi-CD and cassette single[9][10]

  1. "Hey Baby (Uhh, Ahh)" (radio mix) – 3:36
  2. "Hey Baby (Uhh, Ahh)" (club mix) – 4:15
  3. "Uh! Ah!" – 3:38

European CD single[11]

  1. "Hey Baby" (Radiomix) – 3:36
  2. "Anton aus Tirol" – 3:47

US CD single[8]

  1. "Hey Baby" (radio edit) – 3:36
  2. "Hey Baby" (Ooh Aah radio remix) – 3:36

Canadian maxi-CD single[12]

  1. "Hey Baby" (radio mix)
  2. "Hey Baby" (French version)
  3. "Uh! Ah!"

Charts edit

Certifications edit

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[38] Platinum 70,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[39] Gold 20,000*
Germany (BVMI)[40] Gold 250,000^
Sweden (GLF)[41] Platinum 30,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[43] Platinum 776,000[42]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history edit

Region Version Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Europe Original July 31, 2000 CD EMI [19]
United Kingdom September 10, 2001
  • CD
  • cassette
[44]
New Zealand October 22, 2001 CD Shock [45]
Australia February 11, 2002 [46]
United Kingdom World Cup mix May 27, 2002
  • CD
  • cassette
EMI Liberty [47]

In popular culture edit

Darts player Tony O'Shea uses it as his walk-on song.[48] In 2017 and 2018, Team Canada used the radio mix version of the hit as their goal song at the 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[49] The song has become an icon in the WJC as the song was heard around 39 times in the tournament, as the Canadian juniors scored 39 goals.[50] In 2021, the song returned in Edmonton at the 2022 World Juniors. However, three days after the tournament began, the 2022 edition of the WJC was cancelled due to multiple COVID-19 outbreaks within teams.[51]

Other notable versions edit

  • In 1963 David Box recorded his Version In Ben Hall's Studio in Big Spring
  • Del Shannon recorded a version of the song on his 1963 album Little Town Flirt
  • New Zealand group the La De Da's covered it in 1967, making the song chart at number one in New Zealand twice.[citation needed]
  • Bobby G. Rice in 1970, which reached number 35 on the country music charts.[52]
  • Ringo Starr released the song as a single, backed with "Lady Gaye", from his Ringo's Rotogravure album, on November 22, 1976, in the US[nb 1][53] (reaching number 74 US Pop), and on November 26 in the UK.[nb 2][54] Record World said that it "should bring some good time sounds to the top of the charts and end the year on a spirited note."[55] He had also sampled it in his previous chart hit, "A Dose of Rock 'n' Roll" (reaching number 26 US Pop).
  • Cooldown Café, a Dutch band, covered it in 2000; it was top-5 hit in the Netherlands.[citation needed]
  • "Hey Baby" has become a popular terrace chant among football supporters, with the lyrics changed to refer to teams or individual players.[56]
  • DJ Ötzi's version of "Hey Baby" has been used by Major League Baseball's Colorado Rockies at home games since the 2007 season, played during the seventh inning stretch.[57] The Rockies won the National League pennant that year.[58]

See also edit

References edit

Footnotes

  1. ^ US Atlantic 45-3371[53]
  2. ^ UK Polydor 2001 699[54]

Citations

  1. ^ "Crazy Frog Presents More Crazy Hits - Crazy Frog - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  2. ^ "The man who taught John Lennon harp". Articles.cnn.com. October 8, 2002. Archived from the original on September 27, 2012. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
  3. ^ Flavour of New Zealand, 12 April 1962
  4. ^ "Bruce Channel Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  5. ^ "Anne Murray Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  6. ^ "Anne Murray Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  7. ^ "DJ Ötzi – Hey Baby (The Unofficial World Cup Remix 2002)". Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2015 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ a b DJ Ötzi (2002). Hey Baby (Uhh, Ahh) (US CD single liner notes). Universal Records. 440 019 633-2.
  9. ^ DJ Ötzi (2000). Hey Baby (Uhh, Ahh) (European maxi-CD single liner notes). EMI Records. 7243 8 89246 2 7.
  10. ^ DJ Ötzi (2001). Hey Baby (Uhh, Ahh) (UK cassette single sleeve). EMI Records. TCOTZI 001, 7243 8 79906 4 7.
  11. ^ DJ Ötzi (2001). Hey Baby (Uhh, Ahh) (European CD single liner notes). EMI Records. 7243 8 79065 2 5.
  12. ^ DJ Ötzi (2000). Hey Baby (Uhh, Ahh) (Canadian maxi-CD single liner notes). SPG Music Ltd. SPGS 77.
  13. ^ "DJ Ötzi – Hey Baby (Uhh, Ahh)". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  14. ^ "DJ Ötzi – Hey Baby (Uhh, Ahh)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  15. ^ "DJ Ötzi – Hey Baby (Uhh, Ahh)" (in French). Ultratip.
  16. ^ "Singles: Top 50". Jam!. June 13, 2002. Archived from the original on June 17, 2002. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  17. ^ "DJ Ötzi – Hey Baby (Uhh, Ahh)". Tracklisten.
  18. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18, no. 40. September 29, 2001. p. 9. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  19. ^ a b "DJ Ötzi – Hey Baby (Uhh, Ahh)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  20. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Hey Baby". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  21. ^ "Top 10 Dance Singles, Week Ending 12 July 2001". GfK Chart-Track. Retrieved June 1, 2019.[permanent dead link]
  22. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 10, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  23. ^ "DJ Ötzi – Hey Baby (Uhh, Ahh)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  24. ^ "DJ Ötzi – Hey Baby (Uhh, Ahh)". VG-lista.
  25. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  26. ^ "DJ Ötzi – Hey Baby (Uhh, Ahh)". Singles Top 100.
  27. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  28. ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 2000" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  29. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2001" (in German). Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  30. ^ "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2001" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18, no. 52. December 22, 2001. p. 14. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  31. ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 2001" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  32. ^ "Best of Singles 2001". IRMA. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  33. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2001". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  34. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 2001" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  35. ^ "The Official UK Singles Chart 2001" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  36. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2002". ARIA. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  37. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 2002" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  38. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2002 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  39. ^ "Austrian single certifications – DJ Ötzi – Hey Baby" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  40. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (DJ Ötzi; 'Hey Baby (uhh, ahh)')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  41. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2001" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  42. ^ Miller, Adam (March 3, 2015). "20 of the biggest selling singles of the 2000s you've already forgotten". Entertainmentwise. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015.
  43. ^ "British single certifications – DJ Otzi – Hey Baby". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  44. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting September 10, 2001: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. September 8, 2001. p. 37. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  45. ^ "New Releases". netcd.co.nz. October 22, 2001. Archived from the original on October 29, 2001. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  46. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 11th February 2002" (PDF). ARIA. February 11, 2002. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2002. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  47. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 27 May 2002: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. May 25, 2002. p. 37. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  48. ^ "BDO world title hopeful on way". Express & Star. January 4, 2013. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  49. ^ Canada, Team; Images, Getty (December 31, 2018). "No one on Team Canada knows who picked 'Hey Baby' as their goal song – Article". BARDOWN. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  50. ^ "IIHF – Canada". IIHF International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  51. ^ "IIHF – World Juniors cancelled". IIHF International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  52. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 349. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  53. ^ a b Harry, Bill (2004). The Ringo Starr Encyclopedia. London: Virgin Books. p. 183. ISBN 9780753508435.
  54. ^ a b Harry, Bill (2004). The Ringo Starr Encyclopedia. London: Virgin Books. p. 182. ISBN 9780753508435.
  55. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. November 27, 1976. p. 1. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  56. ^ "Chants sung to the tune of Hey Baby By DJ Otzi - Terrace Chants". Terracechants.me.uk.
  57. ^ "Stadium Songs: Colorado Rockies". August 23, 2012.
  58. ^ "2007 Colorado Rockies Statistics".