(You're) Having My Baby
Encyclopedia
" Having My Baby" is a song written and recorded by Canadian popular music singer Paul Anka
. Recorded as a duet with female vocalist Odia Coates
, the song became Anka's first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100
in 15 years, since 1959's "Lonely Boy."
Despite its commercial success, the song has been derided for its maudlin sentimentality and perceived chauvinistic undertones, regularly appearing in "worst song" lists. It was voted the #1 "Worst Song of All Time" in a poll conducted by CNN.com in 2006. Also, it was ranked at #48 on the list of the 100 Worst Songs Ever by Matthew Wilkening of AOL Radio
, who sees the song as a way to make Anka's woman "instantly regret deciding to embark on this wonderful adventure with [him]".
" — had written the song for his wife and their four daughters while appearing at Lake Tahoe
. Originally, the song was to be a solo effort by Anka. But the unknown Coates, whom Anka had met while on tour, was at the studio during the recording session. Upon suggestion by United Artists
recording executive Bob Skaff, the song became a duet. Released in late June 1974, the mellow-sounding "(You're) Having My Baby" quickly climbed the chart and became Anka's third No. 1 song. A follow-up single — "One Man Woman/One Woman Man" — reached the Top 10 in early 1975.
The song gained criticism for its chauvinistic undertones. Among other issues, the song was criticized for declaring the child was the man's, rather than the couple's. Anka defended his linguistic choice in a 1974 interview, saying, "it's not meant to alienate anyone. I could have called it 'having our baby', but the other just sounded better. It's not a male ego trip - my baby.' It's not that at all." However, Anka did sometimes sing the line as "you're having our baby" while performing in concert. While reviewing a 2005 concert, Dan MacIntosh of Popmatters
noted that while Anka had "covered most of his career highlights", he had "wisely neglected to include 'You're Having My Baby.'" Others criticized a line stating that while the woman could have "swept it from [her] life", she had not because it was "a wonderful way of showing how much she loves him". In response to feminists, Anka said the song was "a love song". He also explained in 1974, "what I'm saying in the song is that there is a choice. The libbers will get on me; I can't help that. I am into the antihuman thing, and I do understand the other side of it. There are those who can't cope, and it's not in the cards for them to have kids. I'm a libber myself, in the sense that... if you've got to abort, you do. Some people just can't cope."
The National Organization for Women
gave Anka the satiric "Keep Her in Her Place" award during "its annual putdown of male chauvinism" in the media on Women's Equality Day. Ms. Magazine "awarded" Anka their "Male Chauvinistic Pig of the Year" award.
recorded a cover version called "I'm Having Your Baby." With lyrics altered to the female perspective but otherwise identical to Anka's version, "I'm Having Your Baby" peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles
chart in October 1974. The song was also covered on November 18, 2009 episode
of Glee
.
Paul Anka
Paul Albert Anka, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor.Anka first became famous as a teen idol in the late 1950s and 1960s with hit songs like "Diana'", "Lonely Boy", and "Put Your Head on My Shoulder"...
. Recorded as a duet with female vocalist Odia Coates
Odia Coates
Odia Coates was an American singer, best known for her work with Canadian singer-songwriter Paul Anka.-Early life:...
, the song became Anka's first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
in 15 years, since 1959's "Lonely Boy."
Despite its commercial success, the song has been derided for its maudlin sentimentality and perceived chauvinistic undertones, regularly appearing in "worst song" lists. It was voted the #1 "Worst Song of All Time" in a poll conducted by CNN.com in 2006. Also, it was ranked at #48 on the list of the 100 Worst Songs Ever by Matthew Wilkening of AOL Radio
AOL Radio
AOL Radio powered by Slacker, , is an online radio service available only in the United States.- Roots :...
, who sees the song as a way to make Anka's woman "instantly regret deciding to embark on this wonderful adventure with [him]".
Song history
Anka — whose last chart-topping hit was 1959's "Lonely BoyLonely Boy (Paul Anka song)
"Lonely Boy" is a song written and recorded by Paul Anka in 1959. Anka sang this song in the film Girls Town. When released as a single, it topped the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Anka's first song to do so, although he had earlier topped Billboard's Best Sellers in Stores chart with "Diana"...
" — had written the song for his wife and their four daughters while appearing at Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. At a surface elevation of , it is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. Its depth is , making it the USA's second-deepest...
. Originally, the song was to be a solo effort by Anka. But the unknown Coates, whom Anka had met while on tour, was at the studio during the recording session. Upon suggestion by United Artists
United Artists
United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
recording executive Bob Skaff, the song became a duet. Released in late June 1974, the mellow-sounding "(You're) Having My Baby" quickly climbed the chart and became Anka's third No. 1 song. A follow-up single — "One Man Woman/One Woman Man" — reached the Top 10 in early 1975.
The song gained criticism for its chauvinistic undertones. Among other issues, the song was criticized for declaring the child was the man's, rather than the couple's. Anka defended his linguistic choice in a 1974 interview, saying, "it's not meant to alienate anyone. I could have called it 'having our baby', but the other just sounded better. It's not a male ego trip - my baby.' It's not that at all." However, Anka did sometimes sing the line as "you're having our baby" while performing in concert. While reviewing a 2005 concert, Dan MacIntosh of Popmatters
PopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
noted that while Anka had "covered most of his career highlights", he had "wisely neglected to include 'You're Having My Baby.'" Others criticized a line stating that while the woman could have "swept it from [her] life", she had not because it was "a wonderful way of showing how much she loves him". In response to feminists, Anka said the song was "a love song". He also explained in 1974, "what I'm saying in the song is that there is a choice. The libbers will get on me; I can't help that. I am into the antihuman thing, and I do understand the other side of it. There are those who can't cope, and it's not in the cards for them to have kids. I'm a libber myself, in the sense that... if you've got to abort, you do. Some people just can't cope."
The National Organization for Women
National Organization for Women
The National Organization for Women is the largest feminist organization in the United States. It was founded in 1966 and has a membership of 500,000 contributing members. The organization consists of 550 chapters in all 50 U.S...
gave Anka the satiric "Keep Her in Her Place" award during "its annual putdown of male chauvinism" in the media on Women's Equality Day. Ms. Magazine "awarded" Anka their "Male Chauvinistic Pig of the Year" award.
Covers
At about the same time "(You're) Having My Baby" was climbing the Hot 100, a female country vocalist named Sunday SharpeSunday Sharpe
Sunday Sharpe is an American country music singer. She charted seven times on the Hot Country Songs charts in the mid 1970s, reaching Top 20 with "I'm Having Your Baby" and "A Little at a Time"...
recorded a cover version called "I'm Having Your Baby." With lyrics altered to the female perspective but otherwise identical to Anka's version, "I'm Having Your Baby" peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart in October 1974. The song was also covered on November 18, 2009 episode
Ballad (Glee)
"Ballad" is the tenth episode of the American television series Glee. The episode premiered on the Fox network on November 18, 2009, and was written and directed by series creator Brad Falchuk. "Ballad" sees the glee club split into pairs to sing ballads to one another. Rachel is paired with club...
of Glee
Glee (TV series)
Glee is an American musical comedy-drama television series that airs on Fox in the United States, and on GlobalTV in Canada. It focuses on the high school glee club New Directions competing on the show choir competition circuit, while its members deal with relationships, sexuality and social issues...
.