Missing My Baby

"Missing My Baby" is a song recorded by American recording artist Selena for her third studio album, Entre a mi mundo (1992). It was composed by Selena y Los Dinos backup singer Pete Astudillo and Selena's brother and principal record producer A.B. Quintanilla III. "Missing My Baby" was recorded for Entre a mi mundo to showcase Selena's diverse musical abilities; she wanted the song to be included on the album to help her crossover attempt.

"Missing My Baby" is a mid-tempo R&B ballad that has influences of urban and soul music. Selena uses melisma and emotive vocalization, which were highly praised by contemporary music critics, to emphasize the song's title and its central theme. The lyrics are about the love felt by the narrator who stays positive and constantly thinks of the happy times she and her lover had. In some parts of the song, the narrator faces negative thoughts at night because of her loneliness at the loss of her boyfriend.

The song received generally positive criticism by contemporary music critics. A posthumous music video, made for VH1, was released in 1998 to promote Anthology. It was among the "most-played clips" for the week ending on April 4, 1998. Though the song was never intended to be released as a single for any of Selena's albums, it peaked at number 22 on the US Rhythmic Top 40 chart.

Background and development

"Missing My Baby" was written by Selena y Los Dinos backup singer Pete Astudillo and produced by Selena's brother and principal record producer A.B. Quintanilla III. The song was intended to showcase Selena's diverse musical abilities on Entre a mi mundo, and to allow the album to include a more diverse selection of music.^[1] After Selena released her full-length Spanish albums: Selena (1989) and Ven conmigo (1990), which included Tejano and other Mexican pop songs, she decided that her next album should contain an English-language song. She believed it would help change the mind of EMI Records' Charles Koppelman of pushing for the crossover album she had wanted. Quintanilla III and Astudillo wrote "Missing My Baby" in a week, and it was recorded three weeks after its completion. The song was recorded at Sun Valley, Los Angeles in late 1991, though EMI Latin had wanted R&B duo Full Force to perform a remixed version of the song. Quintanilla III and Selena meet with the group at their Brooklyn recording studio. Full Force agreed to add their vocals to the song, and finished recording their vocals for "Missing My Baby" in two days. EMI Latin did not choose Selena's solo version of "Missing My Baby" and chose the backing vocals of Full Force.^[2]

Composition

	"Missing My Baby (remix)" (1995) "Missing My Baby" is an R&B song with influences of urban and soul music. Selena uses her emotive vocalization, which emphasis the song's title and its central theme. The lyrics convey the love felt by a lover who is distant from her boyfriend. The song was written by Selena's brother and principal record producer Quintanilla III.
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"Missing My Baby" is a mid-tempo^[3] contemporary R&B ballad with influences of urban^[4] and soul music.^[1] Written in the key of B minor, the beat is set in common time and moves at a moderate 144 beats per minute. Selena's vocals span from the low note of D♯₄ to the note of F♯₂, incorporate use of the melisma technique, and are supported by backing vocals. Instrumentation is provided by an electric piano, drum solo, keyboard, a synthesizer and strings.^[3] Selena uses her emotive vocals, which have been highly praised by contemporary music critics,^[5][6][7] and sung poetry during the downtempo part of the song.^[3] She does this to emphasize the song's title and its central theme.^[2] R&B duo Full Force were the backing vocalists for both versions of "Missing My Baby".^[8]

J.R Reynolds of Billboard wrote that "Missing My Baby" is a "dreamy ballad" and that it incorporates an "R&B-styled melody under Selena's pop vocals".^[9] A Denver Post editor wrote that "Missing My Baby" is a ballad piece.^[5] Ramiro Burr of Austin American Statesmen stated that the song is a ballad and has soul influences.^[1] An editor for the The Deseret News stated that Selena had displayed a "Leslie Gore baby- voice" on "Missing My Baby" and that "Selena displays a wonderful suppleness in her voice".^[10] An editor for the The Virginian-Pilot said that "Missing My Baby" was built on hooks that recall Diana Ross' "Missing You", which was a tribute to Marvin Gaye.^[11] Cary Clack of San Antonio Express-News wrote that the song "displays her wonderful vocal and emotional range".^[7]

Lyrical interpretation

The song's lyrics are constructed in the verse-pre-chorus-chorus form. It begins with the drum solo playing while the strings gradually play alongside, as part of the song's musical foundation.^[3] Selena sings the intro, addressed to her lover who is constantly on her mind. Thinking of him makes her feel at ease. Reasoning, she tells him that she constantly thinks of all the happy moments that have happened in their life together. She then expresses that she wants to tell him that she loves him, emphasizing to the listener that her lover is away and she cannot express her feelings for him.^[12] In the pre-chorus, Selena explains that time is passing during his absence, which makes her feel alone. Though she keeps a positive outlook by thiking of their happy moments as a couple, she wants desperately to tell him she loves him. Selena sings the chorus: "I'm missing my baby / missing my baby / I wanna hold you tight, and never let you out of my sight / missing my baby / missing my baby / I gotta feel your heart beat next to mine / gotta feel it!" During the downtempo part, Selena speaks of her nights without her lover. She expresses that she holds her pillow tightly, while thinking of him, until it hurts. However, keeping a positive mind, she believes he will always be hers, though she believes this because it is in her mind. She ends the poetry speaking with "and somewhere you're thinking of me too". Selena sings the chorus twice before the song concludes.^[3]

Critical reception and legacy

A Vibe magazine editor wrote that it was because of "Missing My Baby" and "Techno Cumbia" that Quintanilla III was given platinum plaques for these recordings.^[13] Another editor from Vibe magazine wrote that the song is a "hint of aspiration".^[14] "Missing My Baby" was one of the first songs to be played after Selena was murdered by Yolanda Saldívar, her friend and manager of her boutiques.^[15] After the song was remixed by Quintanilla III and later produced for Dreaming of You (1995), a Denver Post editor wrote that it was the "best English-language song" on the album.^[5] Chris Riemenschneider and John T. Davis of Austin American Statesmen stated that the song was "refreshing".^[16] Mario Tarradell of The Dallas Morning News believed that the addition of "Missing My Baby" "were added for good measure".^[17] Cary Clack of San Antonio Express-News wrote that "Missing My Baby" was played on non-Tejano radio stations and believed it would have been a "posthumous hit".^[7] A music video, which showcased personal home videos of Selena, was released posthumously for VH1. It was released on the channel in 1998 to promote Anthology.^[16] It was among the "most-played clips" according to Billboard and was positioned at number 47 out of 50 music videos for VH1.^[18]

Chart performance

Personnel

• Selena – vocals
• Full Force - backing vocalists
• Ricky Vela – keyboards
• Suzette Quintanilla – drums
• A.B. Quintanilla III – writer
• Pete Astudillo – writer
• Lisette Lorenzo – art direction

References