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Babe (Take That song)

October 28, 2023

"Babe" is a song by English boy band Take That, released in December 1993 by RCA and BMG as the fourth single from the band's second album, Everything Changes (1993). Written by Gary Barlow, it features Mark Owen on lead vocals. Production was led by David Clayton, who later spent 10 years as keyboard player and backing vocalist with Simply Red. Accompanied by a music video directed by Gregg Masuak, the song was a number-one hit in both Ireland and the United Kingdom while peaking within the top 10 in Belgium, Finland, Germany, Israel, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.

"Babe"
UK CD1 artwork
Single by Take That
from the album Everything Changes
B-side"All I Want Is You"
Released6 December 1993 (1993-12-06)
Length4:51
Label
Songwriter(s)Gary Barlow
Producer(s)
  • Steve Jervier
  • Paul Jervier
  • Jonathan Wales
  • Chris Porter
  • Dave Clayton
Take That singles chronology
"Relight My Fire"
(1993) 		"Babe"
(1993) 		"Everything Changes"
(1994)
Alternative cover
UK CD2 artwork
Alternative cover
European CD artwork
Music video
"Babe" on YouTube

Release edit

Released on 6 December 1993,[1][2] "Babe" became Take That's third single in a row to go straight to number one on the UK Singles Chart, knocking Mr Blobby's self-titled novelty single from the number-one slot in the process.[3] With this achievement, Take That became the first band to have three consecutive singles debut at number one.[4] The following week, Mr Blobby's single climbed back to number one, denying Take That the Christmas number-one place.[3] The single sold 350,000 copies in 1993, and was that year's 14th biggest-selling single.[5] The song was certified platinum on 1 January 1994 for shipments of over 600,000 copies in the UK.[1]

Critical reception edit

AllMusic editor Bryan Buss described the song as "surprisingly risqué".[6] Tom Ewing of Freaky Trigger noted that the melody is "murky and sad – this is as fog-bound and haunted a number one as we've seen since the high Gothic of John Leyton – and the tension gives the story a dignity."[7] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton said, "'Babe' is another slowly with a familiar lyrical theme of the prodigal lover returning to find his ex with a child bearing his eyes etc. etc. It grows on you as well".[8] Chris Roberts from Melody Maker felt the "telephone gimmick" doesn't work, calling the song "mush".[9] Alan Jones from Music Week gave it four out of five, writing that "this overwrought ballad lacks the instant appeal of many of the group's previous singles. But the combination of massive media support, the Smash Hits Awards and large fanbase make it a cert."[10]

David Quantick from NME said, "There's a telephone on it. The pace is ominous, threatening, even. The theme is the departure of a loved one and the failure to communicate with them on the (hey) telephone. The effect is of early Chris de Burgh when he was still writing super intergalactic-travelling cakarama like "A Spaceman Came Travelling", (ie: you love it)."[11] In an retrospective review, Pop Rescue noted that it "has tear-jerking lyrics and vocals from Mark" and "the emotions soar here as much as the dramatic strings".[12] Leesa Daniels from Smash Hits gave "Babe" five out of five, calling it "gorgeous",[13] and describing it as "a tale of a lost love that'll have you blubbing into your pillow for hours."[14] She added that Owen's vocals "are the real triumph".

Music video edit

A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Gregg Masuak.[15] It was the first Take That video to involve the members acting out a story using drama. The video runs parallel to the song's lyrics, showing Owen trying to track down a loved one after coming back from war. Later in the video it emerges that Owen has fathered a child. The video uses intercut clips of the band standing around Barlow, all performing the song. The last few seconds of the video are somewhat happier, showing outtakes of the band from the video. "Babe" received heavy rotation on MTV Europe[16] and was A-listed on Germany's VIVA.[17]

The music video won the International Viewer's Choice Award for MTV Europe at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards held in New York.[18]

Track listings edit

  • UK 7-inch and cassette single, European CD single (74321 18213-7; 74321 18213-4; 74321182852)[19][20][21]
  1. "Babe" (Return remix) – 4:55
  2. "All I Want Is You" – 3:21

Note: A limited-edition 7-inch version with a photo sleeve was also released.

  • UK CD1 and Australian CD single (74321182122; 74321182842)[22][23]
  1. "Babe" (Return remix) – 4:55
  2. "All I Want Is You" – 3:21
  3. "Could It Be Magic" (live) – 6:18
  4. "Pray" (live) – 6:33
  • UK CD2 and Japanese CD single (74321182132; BVCZ-1020)[24][25]
  1. "Babe" (Return remix) – 4:55
  2. "It Only Takes a Minute" (live) – 3:47
  3. "Give Good Feeling" (live) – 3:52

Personnel edit

Charts edit

Certifications edit

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Germany (BVMI)[53] Gold 250,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[1] Platinum 600,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "British single certifications – Take That – Babe". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Single Releases" (PDF). Music Week. 4 December 1993. p. 21. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  3. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 561. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. ^ Masterton, James (12 December 1993). "Week Ending December 18th 1993". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Official Chart Flashback 1993: Take That, Pray". Official Charts Company. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  6. ^ Buss, Bryan. "Take That - Nobody Else". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  7. ^ Ewing, Tom (18 September 2012). "Take That – "Babe"". Freaky Trigger. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  8. ^ Masterton, James (12 December 1993). "Week Ending December 18th 1993". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  9. ^ Roberts, Chris (18 December 1993). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 27. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  10. ^ Jones, Alan (11 December 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 12. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  11. ^ Quantick, David (18 December 1993). "Singles". NME. p. 15. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  12. ^ "Review: "Everything Changes" by Take That (CD, 1993)". Pop Rescue. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  13. ^ Daniels, Leesa (8 December 1993). "New Singles". Smash Hits. p. 57. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  14. ^ Daniels, Leesa (13 October 1993). "New Albums: Best New Album". Smash Hits. p. 51. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  15. ^ "Take That: Babe". IMDb. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  16. ^ "Station Reports > MTV Europe/London" (PDF). Music & Media. 5 February 1994. p. 29. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  17. ^ "Station Reports > VIVA TV/Cologne" (PDF). Music & Media. 5 February 1994. p. 29. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  18. ^ "MTV video music award winners". United Press International. UPI. 9 September 1994. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  19. ^ Babe (UK 7-inch single sleeve). That That. RCA Records, BMG. 1993. 74321 18213-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ^ Babe (UK cassette single sleeve). That That. RCA Records, BMG. 1993. 74321 18213-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ^ Babe (European CD single liner notes). That That. RCA Records, BMG. 1993. 74321182852.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ^ Babe (UK CD1 liner notes). That That. RCA Records, BMG. 1993. 74321182122.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. ^ Babe (Australian CD single liner notes). That That. RCA Records, BMG. 1993. 74321182842.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. ^ Babe (UK CD2 liner notes). That That. RCA Records, BMG. 1993. 74321182132.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  25. ^ Babe (Japanese CD single liner notes). That That. RCA Records, BMG. 1993. BVCZ-1020.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  26. ^ "Take That – Babe" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  27. ^ "Take That – Babe" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  28. ^ Danish Singles Chart. 28 January 1994.
  29. ^ "Hits of the World - Eurochart Hot 100". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 5 February 1994. p. 40. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  30. ^ "Adult Contemporary Europe Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. 12 March 1994. p. 21. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  31. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 7. 12 February 1994. p. 14. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  32. ^ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  33. ^ "Take That – Babe" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  34. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Babe". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  35. ^ 25 January 1994
  36. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 1 June 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Take That".
  37. ^ . M-1.fm. 16 January 1994. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  38. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 5, 1994" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  39. ^ "Take That – Babe" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  40. ^ "Take That – Babe". VG-lista. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  41. ^ "Take That – Babe". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  42. ^ "Take That – Babe". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  43. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  44. ^ "Major Market Airplay – Week 4/1994" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 5. 29 January 1994. p. 31. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  45. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1993". Music Week. 15 January 1994. p. 24.
  46. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1994" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  47. ^ "1994 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 52. 24 December 1994. p. 12. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  48. ^ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1994" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  49. ^ "Single Top 100 over 1004" (PDF). Top40.nl. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  50. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1994" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  51. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 1994" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  52. ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 1994" (in German). Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  53. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Take That; 'Babe')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 13 February 2021.

October 28, 2023
babe, take, that, song, babe, song, english, band, take, that, released, december, 1993, fourth, single, from, band, second, album, everything, changes, 1993, written, gary, barlow, features, mark, owen, lead, vocals, production, david, clayton, later, spent, . Babe is a song by English boy band Take That released in December 1993 by RCA and BMG as the fourth single from the band s second album Everything Changes 1993 Written by Gary Barlow it features Mark Owen on lead vocals Production was led by David Clayton who later spent 10 years as keyboard player and backing vocalist with Simply Red Accompanied by a music video directed by Gregg Masuak the song was a number one hit in both Ireland and the United Kingdom while peaking within the top 10 in Belgium Finland Germany Israel Lithuania the Netherlands Norway Sweden and Switzerland Babe UK CD1 artworkSingle by Take Thatfrom the album Everything ChangesB side All I Want Is You Released6 December 1993 1993 12 06 Length4 51LabelRCABMGSongwriter s Gary BarlowProducer s Steve JervierPaul JervierJonathan WalesChris PorterDave ClaytonTake That singles chronology Relight My Fire 1993 Babe 1993 Everything Changes 1994 Alternative coverUK CD2 artworkAlternative coverEuropean CD artworkMusic video Babe on YouTube Contents 1 Release 2 Critical reception 3 Music video 4 Track listings 5 Personnel 6 Charts 6 1 Weekly charts 6 2 Year end charts 7 Certifications 8 ReferencesRelease editReleased on 6 December 1993 1 2 Babe became Take That s third single in a row to go straight to number one on the UK Singles Chart knocking Mr Blobby s self titled novelty single from the number one slot in the process 3 With this achievement Take That became the first band to have three consecutive singles debut at number one 4 The following week Mr Blobby s single climbed back to number one denying Take That the Christmas number one place 3 The single sold 350 000 copies in 1993 and was that year s 14th biggest selling single 5 The song was certified platinum on 1 January 1994 for shipments of over 600 000 copies in the UK 1 Critical reception editAllMusic editor Bryan Buss described the song as surprisingly risque 6 Tom Ewing of Freaky Trigger noted that the melody is murky and sad this is as fog bound and haunted a number one as we ve seen since the high Gothic of John Leyton and the tension gives the story a dignity 7 In his weekly UK chart commentary James Masterton said Babe is another slowly with a familiar lyrical theme of the prodigal lover returning to find his ex with a child bearing his eyes etc etc It grows on you as well 8 Chris Roberts from Melody Maker felt the telephone gimmick doesn t work calling the song mush 9 Alan Jones from Music Week gave it four out of five writing that this overwrought ballad lacks the instant appeal of many of the group s previous singles But the combination of massive media support the Smash Hits Awards and large fanbase make it a cert 10 David Quantick from NME said There s a telephone on it The pace is ominous threatening even The theme is the departure of a loved one and the failure to communicate with them on the hey telephone The effect is of early Chris de Burgh when he was still writing super intergalactic travelling cakarama like A Spaceman Came Travelling ie you love it 11 In an retrospective review Pop Rescue noted that it has tear jerking lyrics and vocals from Mark and the emotions soar here as much as the dramatic strings 12 Leesa Daniels from Smash Hits gave Babe five out of five calling it gorgeous 13 and describing it as a tale of a lost love that ll have you blubbing into your pillow for hours 14 She added that Owen s vocals are the real triumph Music video editA music video was produced to promote the single directed by Gregg Masuak 15 It was the first Take That video to involve the members acting out a story using drama The video runs parallel to the song s lyrics showing Owen trying to track down a loved one after coming back from war Later in the video it emerges that Owen has fathered a child The video uses intercut clips of the band standing around Barlow all performing the song The last few seconds of the video are somewhat happier showing outtakes of the band from the video Babe received heavy rotation on MTV Europe 16 and was A listed on Germany s VIVA 17 The music video won the International Viewer s Choice Award for MTV Europe at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards held in New York 18 Track listings editUK 7 inch and cassette single European CD single 74321 18213 7 74321 18213 4 74321182852 19 20 21 Babe Return remix 4 55 All I Want Is You 3 21Note A limited edition 7 inch version with a photo sleeve was also released UK CD1 and Australian CD single 74321182122 74321182842 22 23 Babe Return remix 4 55 All I Want Is You 3 21 Could It Be Magic live 6 18 Pray live 6 33UK CD2 and Japanese CD single 74321182132 BVCZ 1020 24 25 Babe Return remix 4 55 It Only Takes a Minute live 3 47 Give Good Feeling live 3 52Personnel editMark Owen lead vocals Gary Barlow backing vocals Howard Donald backing vocals Jason Orange backing vocals Robbie Williams backing vocalsCharts editWeekly charts edit Chart 1993 1994 PeakpositionAustria O3 Austria Top 40 26 12Belgium Ultratop 50 Flanders 27 10Denmark IFPI 28 16Europe Eurochart Hot 100 29 5Europe European AC Radio 30 4Finland Suomen virallinen lista 31 32 8Germany Official German Charts 33 9Ireland IRMA 34 1Israel IBA 35 4Italy Musica e dischi 36 22Lithuania M 1 37 4Netherlands Dutch Top 40 38 4Netherlands Single Top 100 39 5Norway VG lista 40 10Sweden Sverigetopplistan 41 7Switzerland Schweizer Hitparade 42 8UK Singles OCC 43 1Visegrad Nations Airplay Music amp Media 44 20 Year end charts edit Chart 1993 PositionUK Singles OCC 45 14Chart 1994 PositionBelgium Ultratop 50 Flanders 46 43Europe Eurochart Hot 100 47 33Germany Official German Charts 48 42Netherlands Dutch Top 40 49 33Netherlands Single Top 100 50 40Sweden Sverigetopplistan 51 53Switzerland Schweizer Hitparade 52 21Certifications editRegion Certification Certified units salesGermany BVMI 53 Gold 250 000 United Kingdom BPI 1 Platinum 600 000 Shipments figures based on certification alone References edit a b c British single certifications Take That Babe British Phonographic Industry Retrieved 13 February 2021 Single Releases PDF Music Week 4 December 1993 p 21 Retrieved 19 June 2021 a b Roberts David 2006 British Hit Singles amp Albums 19th ed London Guinness World Records Limited p 561 ISBN 1 904994 10 5 Masterton James 12 December 1993 Week Ending December 18th 1993 Chart Watch UK Retrieved 28 August 2021 Official Chart Flashback 1993 Take That Pray Official Charts Company 2 August 2013 Retrieved 31 March 2014 Buss Bryan Take That Nobody Else AllMusic Retrieved 18 February 2020 Ewing Tom 18 September 2012 Take That Babe Freaky Trigger Retrieved 6 March 2020 Masterton James 12 December 1993 Week Ending December 18th 1993 Chart Watch UK Retrieved 12 September 2021 Roberts Chris 18 December 1993 Singles Melody Maker p 27 Retrieved 17 July 2023 Jones Alan 11 December 1993 Market Preview Mainstream Singles PDF Music Week p 12 Retrieved 5 April 2021 Quantick David 18 December 1993 Singles NME p 15 Retrieved 17 July 2023 Review Everything Changes by Take That CD 1993 Pop Rescue 19 August 2015 Retrieved 3 April 2020 Daniels Leesa 8 December 1993 New Singles Smash Hits p 57 Retrieved 8 March 2020 Daniels Leesa 13 October 1993 New Albums Best New Album Smash Hits p 51 Retrieved 19 December 2022 Take That Babe IMDb Retrieved 12 September 2021 Station Reports gt MTV Europe London PDF Music amp Media 5 February 1994 p 29 Retrieved 19 December 2022 Station Reports gt VIVA TV Cologne PDF Music amp Media 5 February 1994 p 29 Retrieved 19 December 2022 MTV video music award winners United Press International UPI 9 September 1994 Retrieved 24 January 2023 Babe UK 7 inch single sleeve That That RCA Records BMG 1993 74321 18213 7 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Babe UK cassette single sleeve That That RCA Records BMG 1993 74321 18213 4 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Babe European CD single liner notes That That RCA Records BMG 1993 74321182852 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Babe UK CD1 liner notes That That RCA Records BMG 1993 74321182122 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Babe Australian CD single liner notes That That RCA Records BMG 1993 74321182842 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Babe UK CD2 liner notes That That RCA Records BMG 1993 74321182132 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Babe Japanese CD single liner notes That That RCA Records BMG 1993 BVCZ 1020 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Take That Babe in German O3 Austria Top 40 Retrieved 13 February 2021 Take That Babe in Dutch Ultratop 50 Retrieved 13 February 2021 Danish Singles Chart 28 January 1994 Hits of the World Eurochart Hot 100 Billboard Nielsen Business Media Inc 5 February 1994 p 40 Retrieved 21 July 2012 Adult Contemporary Europe Top 25 PDF Music amp Media 12 March 1994 p 21 Retrieved 28 May 2023 Top 10 Sales in Europe PDF Music amp Media Vol 11 no 7 12 February 1994 p 14 Retrieved 13 February 2021 Nyman Jake 2005 Suomi soi 4 Suuri suomalainen listakirja in Finnish 1st ed Helsinki Tammi ISBN 951 31 2503 3 Take That Babe in German GfK Entertainment charts Retrieved 13 February 2021 The Irish Charts Search Results Babe Irish Singles Chart Retrieved 13 February 2021 25 January 1994 Classifiche Musica e dischi in Italian Retrieved 1 June 2022 Set Tipo on Singoli Then in the Artista field search Take That M 1 TOP 40 M 1 fm 16 January 1994 Archived from the original on 2 April 2015 Retrieved 12 August 2021 Nederlandse Top 40 week 5 1994 in Dutch Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 13 February 2021 Take That Babe in Dutch Single Top 100 Retrieved 13 February 2021 Take That Babe VG lista Retrieved 13 February 2021 Take That Babe Singles Top 100 Retrieved 13 February 2021 Take That Babe Swiss Singles Chart Retrieved 13 February 2021 Official Singles Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved 13 February 2021 Major Market Airplay Week 4 1994 PDF Music amp Media Vol 11 no 5 29 January 1994 p 31 Retrieved 21 January 2023 Top 100 Singles 1993 Music Week 15 January 1994 p 24 Jaaroverzichten 1994 in Dutch Ultratop Retrieved 31 March 2014 1994 Year End Sales Charts Eurochart Hot 100 Singles PDF Music amp Media Vol 11 no 52 24 December 1994 p 12 Retrieved 28 November 2019 Top 100 Singles Jahrescharts 1994 in German GfK Entertainment Retrieved 13 February 2021 Single Top 100 over 1004 PDF Top40 nl Retrieved 31 March 2014 Jaaroverzichten Single 1994 in Dutch MegaCharts Retrieved 13 February 2021 Arslista Singlar 1994 in Swedish Sverigetopplistan Retrieved 23 November 2019 Swiss Year End Charts 1994 in German Retrieved 13 February 2021 Gold Platin Datenbank Take That Babe in German Bundesverband Musikindustrie Retrieved 13 February 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Babe Take That song amp oldid 1165830670, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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