Baby Can I Hold You
"Baby Can I Hold You" | ||||
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Single by Tracy Chapman | ||||
from the album Tracy Chapman | ||||
B-side |
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Released | October 1, 1988 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:14 | |||
Label | Elektra, Asylum | |||
Songwriter(s) | Tracy Chapman | |||
Producer(s) | David Kershenbaum | |||
Tracy Chapman singles chronology | ||||
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"Baby Can I Hold You" is the third single released by the American contemporary folk artist Tracy Chapman, released in October 1988. The song reached the top 50 in the United States, unlike its predecessor, "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution", but it failed to become Chapman's second top 40 hit, peaking at number 48. It did, however, give her a second chart entry on the US Adult Contemporary charts, peaking at number 19 in early 1989. Given the commercial decline Chapman suffered following the release of her second album Crossroads, "Baby Can I Hold You" also became her last top 50 hit until 1996's "Give Me One Reason". In July 1990, the song reached number one in Portugal. Chapman re-released the song in 2001, in support of her first greatest hits album Collection.
Charts[]
Chart (1988–1990) | Peak position |
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Australia (ARIA)[3] | 68 |
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[4] | 27 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[5] | 89 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[6] | 16 |
Portugal (AFP)[7] | 1 |
UK Singles (OCC)[8] | 94 |
US Billboard Hot 100[9] | 48 |
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[10] | 19 |
Certifications[]
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[11] | Gold | 45,000![]() |
United Kingdom (BPI)[12] sales since 2000 |
Silver | 200,000![]() |
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Boyzone version[]
"Baby Can I Hold You" / "Shooting Star" | ||||
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Single by Boyzone | ||||
from the album Where We Belong | ||||
A-side | "Shooting Star" (double A-side) | |||
Released | November 24, 1997[13] | |||
Length | 3:16 | |||
Label | Polydor | |||
Songwriter(s) | Tracy Chapman | |||
Producer(s) | Stephen Lipson | |||
Boyzone singles chronology | ||||
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In 1997, the Irish boy band Boyzone released a cover of "Baby Can I Hold You" as a double A-side with the non-album track "Shooting Star". "Baby Can I Hold You" thus became their second single from their third studio album, Where We Belong. The single, like "Picture of You" before it, peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart and stayed in the top 75 for fourteen weeks. The song was the 26th-best-selling single of 1997 in the United Kingdom and has received a platinum sales certification from the British Phonographic Industry for sales and streams of over 600,000 units. The song reappeared on lead singer Ronan Keating's greatest-hits compilation 10 Years of Hits.
Track listings[]
UK CD1[14]
- "Baby Can I Hold You" (7-inch edit) – 3:16
- "Shooting Star" – 4:13
- "Mystical Experience" – 4:10
- "Mystical Experience" (remix) – 4:36
UK CD2 (in limited-edition digipak)[15]
- "Baby Can I Hold You" (7-inch edit) – 3:16
- "Shooting Star" (radio edit) – 4:11
- "Words" (Spanglish version) – 4:04
- "From Here to Eternity" – 3:54
UK cassette single[16]
- "Baby Can I Hold You" (7-inch edit) – 3:16
- "Shooting Star" – 4:11
Charts[]
Weekly charts[]
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Year-end charts[]
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Certifications[]
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United Kingdom (BPI)[35] | Platinum | 600,000![]() |
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Ronan Keating version[]
"Baby Can I Hold You" | ||||
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Single by Ronan Keating | ||||
from the album 10 Years of Hits | ||||
Released | July 6, 2005 | |||
Recorded | 2004 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 3:14 | |||
Label | Polydor Records | |||
Songwriter(s) | Tracy Chapman | |||
Producer(s) | Steve Mac | |||
Ronan Keating singles chronology | ||||
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In 2005, Boyzone frontman Ronan Keating released his own cover of "Baby Can I Hold You" as the third and final single from his greatest hits compilation, 10 Years of Hits. It became the second song that he originally recorded with Boyzone to be re-released for his own solo career. In the United Kingdom, the single was only released via digital download and thus it failed to chart. In Germany, the single received a full-scale release and peaked at number 42 on the German Singles Chart.
Track listings[]
Digital download
- "Baby Can I Hold You" – 3:14
German CD single[36]
- "Baby Can I Hold You" (German Radio Mix) – 3:10
- "Baby Can I Hold You" (Live & Acoustic) – 3:09
- "This Is Your Song" (Live At Wembley Arena) – 4:38
- "Life Is A Rollercoaster" (Live & Acoustic) – 3:47
Charts[]
Chart (2005) | Peak position |
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Germany (Official German Charts)[37] | 42 |
Nicki Minaj copyright infringement lawsuit[]
The song created buzz in popular media in 2018, when Nicki Minaj used an interpolation of "Baby Can I Hold You" in her song "Sorry" featuring Nas. Minaj had used the sample believing it was from the song "Sorry" by Shelly Thunder, unaware that song was actually a cover of "Baby Can I Hold You".[38] Minaj left the song off her fourth studio album due to clearance issues, but the song was leaked to Funkmaster Flex shortly after the album's release in August.[39] In October that year, Chapman sued Minaj for copyright infringement, claiming that Minaj leaked the song to Flex after Chapman denied her team's request for clearance of the song multiple times beginning in June.[40][41][42][43][44][45] In September 2020, District Court judge Virginia A. Phillips ruled in favor of Minaj stating that Minaj's experimentation with Chapman's song constitutes fair use rather than copyright infringement.[46] In January 2021, the dispute was settled when Minaj paid Chapman $450,000 to avoid a pending trial.[47]
Cover versions[]
In 2000, Chapman re-recorded the song as a duet with Luciano Pavarotti for the CD Pavarotti and Friends for Cambodia and Tibet.[citation needed]
References[]
- ^ Whiteley, Sheila (2000). Women and Popular Music: Sexuality, Identity, and Subjectivity. ISBN 9780415211901.
- ^ "Tracy Chapman | Roots Rock Review". April 6, 2018.
- ^ a b Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
- ^ "RPM 100 Singles" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 49 no. 14. February 4, 1989. p. 6. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "Tracy Chapman – Baby Can I Hold You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "Tracy Chapman – Baby Can I Hold You". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "Top 3 Singles in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7 no. 28. July 14, 1990. p. VII. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "Tracy Chapman Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "Tracy Chapman Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "Danish single certifications – Tracy Chapman – Baby Can I Hold you". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
- ^ "British single certifications – Tracy Chapman – Baby Can I Hold you". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. November 22, 1997. p. 37. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
- ^ Baby Can I Hold You / Shooting Star (UK CD1 liner notes). Boyzone. Polydor Records. 1997. 569165-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
- ^ Baby Can I Hold You / Shooting Star (UK CD2 liner notes). Boyzone. Polydor Records. 1997. 569167-2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
- ^ Baby Can I Hold You / Shooting Star (UK cassette single sleeve). Boyzone. Polydor Records. 1997. 569164-4.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
- ^ "Boyzone – Baby Can I Hold You" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "Boyzone – Baby Can I Hold You" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15 no. 6. February 7, 1998. p. 11. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14 no. 50. December 13, 1997. p. 17. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "Boyzone: Baby Can I Hold You" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "Boyzone – Baby Can I Hold You" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "Boyzone – Baby Can I Hold You" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (11.12.– 18.12.1997)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). December 12, 1997. p. 30. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Baby Can I Hold You". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 12, 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "Boyzone – Baby Can I Hold You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "Boyzone – Baby Can I Hold You". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "Boyzone – Baby Can I Hold You". Singles Top 100. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "Boyzone – Baby Can I Hold You". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "Top 100 Singles 1997". Music Week. January 17, 1998. p. 27.
- ^ "Årslista Singlar, 1998" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "British single certifications – Boyzone – Baby Can I Hold You/Shooting Star". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "Baby Can I Hold You: Amazon.de: Musik". Amazon.de. January 1, 1970. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
- ^ "Ronan Keating – Baby Can I Hold You" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ Espinoza, Joshua (August 11, 2018). "Nicki Minaj Drops Nas-Assisted Track "Sorry"". Complex. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ Aswad, Jem (August 12, 2018). "Nicki Minaj, Nas Drop 'Sorry,' a Song Cut From 'Queen'". Variety. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ Holmes, Charles (October 23, 2018). "Tracy Chapman Sues Nicki Minaj for Copyright Infringment". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ Cullins, Ashley (October 23, 2018). "Hollywood Docket: Nicki Minaj Track "Sorry" Sparks Tracy Chapman Lawsuit". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ "Tracy Chapman sues Nicki Minaj for copyright infringement". Associated Press. October 23, 2018. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ "TRACY CHAPMAN SUES NICKI MINAJ ... You Stole 'Baby Can I Hold You'". TMZ. October 23, 2018. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ Lockett, Dee (October 23, 2018). "Tracy Chapman Has Reportedly Sued Nicki Minaj for Never Clearing That Sample". Vulture.com. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ Reed, Ryan (February 27, 2019). "Nicki Minaj Denies Copyright Infringement in Response to Tracy Chapman Lawsuit". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ Maddaus, Gene (September 16, 2020). "Judge Rules in Favor of Nicki Minaj in Tracy Chapman Copyright Dispute". Variety. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ Brodsky, Rachel (January 9, 2021). "Nicki Minaj to pay Tracy Chapman $450k in 'Sorry' copyright infringement lawsuit". The Independent. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
- 1980s ballads
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