Do Me, Baby
Encyclopedia
"Do Me, Baby" is a Prince
ballad
, the third and final U.S. single from his 1981 album, Controversy. With a running time of almost eight minutes, it is the longest track on the album. The song was written by André Cymone
, but credited to Prince.
Sung in Prince's falsetto
vocals, the soulful track has a distinctive bass guitar
line, and is dominated by heavy keyboards
and piano
. The song is a seductive romp, and honed the artist's signature style with slow-burning numbers. The song features screams and yells of passion by Prince, and a spoken seduction
at the end. This song is also notable for the famous, trademark high note at 3:24. It would become a standard of many tours and would often be extended to "tease" the audience. The B-side was fellow Controversy track, "Private Joy
".
Despite employing the popular slow jam
approach of Barry White
, Al Green
, Teddy Pendergrass
and others, the single didn't chart until a cover version by R&B singer Meli'sa Morgan
went to number one on the R&B charts, and number forty-six on the Hot 100 in 1986. The main reason for Prince's version not charting, presumably, is that it was a promotional airplay single and not sold in stores. This was probably one of the earliest examples of an airplay single, a kind of single that would prove very popular in the 1990s. "Do Me Baby" received moderate airplay on R&B stations, however, since there were no airplay charts at the time, it was ineligible to chart.
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
, the third and final U.S. single from his 1981 album, Controversy. With a running time of almost eight minutes, it is the longest track on the album. The song was written by André Cymone
André Cymone
André Cymone is an American bassist, songwriter and record producer. Cymone was a bass guitarist for recording artist Prince's touring band, pre-Revolution. Cymone began a solo career in 1981. His song, "The Dance Electric" , reached number ten on the R&B charts...
, but credited to Prince.
Sung in Prince's falsetto
Falsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
vocals, the soulful track has a distinctive bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
line, and is dominated by heavy keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. The song is a seductive romp, and honed the artist's signature style with slow-burning numbers. The song features screams and yells of passion by Prince, and a spoken seduction
Seduction
In social science, seduction is the process of deliberately enticing a person to engage. The word seduction stems from Latin and means literally "to lead astray". As a result, the term may have a positive or negative connotation...
at the end. This song is also notable for the famous, trademark high note at 3:24. It would become a standard of many tours and would often be extended to "tease" the audience. The B-side was fellow Controversy track, "Private Joy
Private Joy
"Private Joy" is a song by American musician Prince from his 1981 album Controversy, released as the B-side of the single "Do Me, Baby". The song describes how Prince will never reveal the identity of his secret lover....
".
Despite employing the popular slow jam
Slow jam
A slow jam an umbrella term for music with R&B and Soul influences. Slow jams are commonly R&B ballads or down tempo songs. The term is most commonly reserved for soft-sounding songs with heavily emotional or romantic lyrical content. This definition has led to intense debate over whether...
approach of Barry White
Barry White
Barry White, born Barry Eugene Carter , was an American composer and singer-songwriter.A five-time Grammy Award-winner known for his distinctive bass voice and romantic image, White's greatest success came in the 1970s as a solo singer and with the Love Unlimited Orchestra, crafting many enduring...
, Al Green
Al Green
Albert Greene , better known as Al Green, is an American gospel and soul music singer. He reached the peak of his popularity in the 1970s, with hit singles such as "You Oughta Be With Me", "I'm Still In Love With You", "Love and Happiness", and "Let's Stay Together"...
, Teddy Pendergrass
Teddy Pendergrass
Theodore DeReese "Teddy" Pendergrass was an American R&B/soul singer and songwriter. Pendergrass first rose to fame as lead singer of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes in the 1970s before a successful solo career at the end of the decade...
and others, the single didn't chart until a cover version by R&B singer Meli'sa Morgan
Meli'sa Morgan
Meli'sa Morgan is an African American R&B singer born in Queens, New York who had a string of urban contemporary and house music hits in the 1980s and 1990s. She got her start in the music industry whilst singing with a church gospel choir called the Starlets of Corona...
went to number one on the R&B charts, and number forty-six on the Hot 100 in 1986. The main reason for Prince's version not charting, presumably, is that it was a promotional airplay single and not sold in stores. This was probably one of the earliest examples of an airplay single, a kind of single that would prove very popular in the 1990s. "Do Me Baby" received moderate airplay on R&B stations, however, since there were no airplay charts at the time, it was ineligible to chart.
Appearances in other media
- Chris TuckerChris TuckerChristopher "Chris" Tucker is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for playing the role of Detective James Carter in the Rush Hour film series.-Early life:...
performed the song during the opening scene of the 2007 film Rush Hour 3Rush Hour 3Rush Hour 3 is a 2007 martial arts/action-comedy film, and the third installment in the Rush Hour film series, starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, that began with the 1998 film Rush Hour and continued with the first sequel Rush Hour 2 in 2001. The film was officially announced on May 7, 2006,...
. - Tupac ShakurTupac ShakurTupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world...
(as Makaveli) sampled this song in his 1996 song "To Live & Die in L.A.To Live & Die in L.A. (song)"To Live & Die in L.A." is the second single from Tupac Shakur's final album he worked on during his life, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory. It was recorded July 7 of 1996 and was produced by QD3, son of legendary producer Quincy Jones. The song has a sample from Prince's "Do Me Baby" from his...
".