Real Love Baby
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| "Real Love Baby" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Father John Misty | ||||
| Released | July 26, 2016[1] | |||
| Studio | The Diamond Mine, New York City | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:09 | |||
| Label | Sub Pop | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Josh Tillman | |||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Father John Misty singles chronology | ||||
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"Real Love Baby" is a song by American folk musician Josh Tillman under his pseudonym Father John Misty. It was released on July 26, 2016 as a standalone single through Sub Pop Records. The song was originally written by Tillman for Lady Gaga, but he became enamored with it, and ended up keeping it for himself. It was recorded and produced with Thomas Brenneck, known for his work with the Budos Band, at The Diamond Mine in New York. "Real Love Baby" has been characterized as an Indie rock, folk rock and soft rock song. A limited 2000 copies vinyl, was released on July 26, 2023, seven years after its original release.
Music critics praised the song, highlighting its lyrical honesty and sweetness. "Real Love Baby" debuted at number 30 on Billboard's Adult Alternative Airplay and peaked at number 3 on the UK Physical Singles Chart. In April 2024 it was certified platinum in the US, making it Tillman's best-selling track. Eight years after its release, a music video for the song, directed by Eggs Tyrone, was released on Valentine's Day.
Background
[edit]Tillman wrote and recorded the song while working on a session for Lady Gaga. After developing the song, he felt too fond of it to depart with it. In an interview with Zane Lowe, he recalled, "We were hanging. It was, like, 5 in the morning, someone handing me an acoustic guitar and I'm just like, 'What are hands.' We had so much fun. Mark [Ronson] —just watching him produce, it was amazing."[4] To Q (magazine), he said: "I wrote 'Real Love Baby' with Lady Gaga in mind and ended up writing one of my most vulnerable songs. Writing for yourself is the best way to trick yourself in some unexpected way that isn't attached to your vanity."[5]
Music video
[edit]A music video for the song was released on Valentine's Day in 2024, eight years after its release. It was directed by Eggs Tyrone and cycles through clips from TikTok of people dancing to the song.[6]
Release
[edit]An unmastered version of "Real Love Baby" was initially released with little fanfare on Tillman's SoundCloud page on May 19, 2016. Tillman tweeted that "RLB is not on the record, it's just a thing [...] Have a good summer."[7] It was officially released through Sub Pop in July.[8] Overseas distribution was handled by Bella Union, which distributed their own 7" single. The song was used for a 2017 Discover LA tourism campaign.[9] The single was re-released on July 26, 2023, seven years after its original release.[10]
The song peaked at number 30 on Billboard's Adult Alternative Airplay ranking.[11] "Real Love Baby" did not enter the UK Singles Chart, but peaked at number 3 on the UK Physical Singles Chart.[12]
Reception
[edit]Andy Beta at Pitchfork awarded the song its "Best New Track" designation, commenting: "There's a humbleness and honesty to the song. Like any real love, it's about learning to surrender such power to the other person."[13] Tom Breihan at Stereogum was complimentary of the song, noting, "'Real Love Baby' is an effortlessly smooth ’70s-pop choogle, a song that's either a parody of yacht rock or an entirely respectable stab at doing a straight-up yacht rock song."[14] An uncredited writer for Rolling Stone highlighted the tune: "The achingly lovely "Real Love Baby" might be his prettiest song, and it's definitely his sweetest."[15] Patrick Ryan from USA Today ranked it among the 10 best songs of its year, observing: "Equal parts schmaltzy and sincere, it's a folk-rock rumination on love that's bound to be a hipster wedding staple for years to come."[2]
Credits and personnel
[edit]Credits adapted from the liner notes of the 7" single.[16]
- J. Tillman – lead vocals, backing vocals, acoustic guitar, drums, percussion, handclaps
- Thomas Brenneck – electric guitar, electric bass, synthesizer, handclaps
- Mark Ronson – handclaps
- Jens Jungkurth – recording, mixing
- Abby Echiverri – assistant engineer
- Catalina Velásquez – artwork
Certifications
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[17] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
| ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
[edit]- ^ "Father John Misty". AllMusic. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ a b McDermott, Maeve; Ryan, Patrick (December 21, 2016). "Our take: The 10 best songs of 2016". USA TODAY. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ Blistein, Jon (May 19, 2016). "Hear Father John Misty Rock Gently on 'Real Love Baby'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ Strauss, Matthew (February 1, 2017). "Father John Misty Discusses Trump, Onstage Tirade, Lady Gaga in Revealing New Interview". Pitchfork online magazine. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ Milton, Jamie (January 18, 2017). "Father John Misty says his new album is 'reggae-influenced' and non-political". NME. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ "Father John Misty Shares New Music Video For Single "Real Love Baby" -". mxdwn Music. February 14, 2024. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ Minsker, Evan (May 19, 2016). "Father John Misty Shares "Real Love Baby": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ Minsker, Evan (July 26, 2016). "Father John Misty Releases New Single "Real Love Baby": Listen". Pitchfork online magazine. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ Newman, Melinda (April 18, 2017). "Watch New Discover LA Commercial Featuring Father John Misty's 'Real Love Baby': Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ "Father John Misty: Real Love Baby". Sub Pop. July 26, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
- ^ "Father John Misty - Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ "Official Physical Singles Chart Top 100 - 14 April 2017 - 20 April 2017". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ Beta, Andy (August 1, 2016). "Father John Misty: "Real Love Baby"". Pitchfork online magazine. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (May 19, 2016). "Father John Misty – "Real Love Baby"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ Rolling Stone (August 12, 2016). "Our Favorite Songs Right Now: Green Day, Miranda Lambert and More". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ Real Love Baby (liner notes). Father John Misty. UK: Bella Union. 2016. BELLA633V.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "American single certifications – Father John Misty – Real Love Baby". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 9, 2024.