Babe

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"Babe"
Single by Styx
from the album Cornerstone
B-side	"I'm O.K."
Released	September 1979
Format	7"
Recorded	1979
Genre	Rock
Length	4:01 (single version) 4:25 (album version)
Label	A&M
Writer(s)	Dennis DeYoung
Styx singles chronology
"Renegade" (1979) "Babe" (1979) "Why Me" (1980)

"Babe" was the lead single from Styx's 1979 triple-platinum album Cornerstone. The song was Styx's first, and only, U.S. number-one single. It additionally held the number-one spot for six weeks on the Canadian RPM national singles chart, charting in December 1979 and becoming the opening chart-topper of the 1980s.

Background and content

The song was written by member Dennis DeYoung as a birthday present for his wife Suzanne. The finished track was recorded as a demo with just DeYoung and Styx members John Panozzo and Chuck Panozzo playing on the track, with DeYoung singing all of the harmonies himself.

The song was not originally intended to be a Styx track, but Styx members James "J.Y" Young and Tommy Shaw convinced DeYoung to put the song on Cornerstone. As a result, DeYoung's demo was placed on Cornerstone with Shaw overdubbing a guitar solo in the song's middle section. The track became a major hit, reaching #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and was their only major UK hit single, reaching #6. In 1999, "Babe" was included in the soundtrack to the movie Big Daddy, starring Adam Sandler, whose character is a huge fan of Styx.

Cover versions

Dutch boy band Caught In The Act covered this track to relative success. Alexander O'Neal covered the song on his 2008 album, Alex Loves. Philippine singer April Boy Regino also covered the song in his 2000 album Super Idol. This song is also covered by Piolo Pascual for the movie Babe, I Love You from Star Cinema in the Philippines.

References