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Slow Down Baby

{{Short description|2007 single by Christina Aguilera}}

{{Good article}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2014}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Slow Down Baby

| cover = Christina Aguilera - Slow Down Baby (single).png

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Christina Aguilera

| album = Back to Basics

| released = {{start date|2007|07|24}}

| recorded =

| studio =

  • Allido Sound (New York City, NY){{cite AV media notes|title=Slow Down Baby|others=Christina Aguilera|date=2007|type=liner notes|location=Australia|publisher=RCA Records|id=8 8697-13691-2}}
  • The Record Plant (Los Angeles, CA){{cite AV media notes|title=Slow Down Baby|others=Christina Aguilera|date=2007|type=liner notes|location=Australia|publisher=RCA Records|id=8 8697-13691-2}}

| venue =

| genre =

| length = {{duration|m=3|s=27}}

| label = RCA

| writer =

| producer =

  • Mark Ronson
  • Christina Aguilera (add.)

| chronology = Christina Aguilera

| prev_title = Candyman

| prev_year = 2007

| next_title = Oh Mother

| next_year = 2007

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|tCEY7Org0rM|"Slow Down Baby"}}|header=Audio video}}

}}

"Slow Down Baby" is a song recorded by American singer Christina Aguilera from her fifth studio album, Back to Basics (2006). It was released as the album's fourth single on July 28, 2007 by RCA Records. It was written by Aguilera, Mark Ronson, Kara DioGuardi and Raymond Angry, and produced by Ronson and co-produced by Aguilera. The song is built around samples of "Window Raisin' Granny" (1973) by American group Gladys Knight and the Pips and "So Seductive" (2005) by American rapper Tony Yayo. Due to the inclusion of the samples, the original songs' writers obtained writing credits.

Musically, "Slow Down Baby" is a pop and R&B song that incorporates elements of funk, hip hop and soul. It features claviola, horn, organ and piano instrumentation. The single was only released in Australia during the Oceanian leg of Aguilera's Back to Basics Tour (2007). "Slow Down Baby" peaked at number 21 on the Australian Singles Chart, although it did not receive any promotion in that country.

Background

Aguilera's fifth studio album, Back to Basics, is made up of two discs. Aguilera worked with "more beat-driven" producers on the first disc, such as DJ Premier and Mark Ronson, who included samples in the production. The second disc consists solely of collaborations with producer Linda Perry.{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1533622/christina-makes-her-comeback-twice-nice.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315223547/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1533622/christina-makes-her-comeback-twice-nice.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 15, 2012|title=Christina Makes Her Comeback Twice As Nice By Expanding Basics Into Double LP|work=MTV News|publisher=Viacom|last=Moss|first=Corey|date=June 6, 2006|access-date=December 11, 2011}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/christina-aguilera-channels-billie-holiday-20060316|title=Christina Aguilera Channels Billie Holiday|magazine=Rolling Stone|publisher=Wenner Media|last=Gitlin|first=Lauren|date=March 16, 2006|access-date=December 11, 2011}} Aguilera sent letters to different producers that she hoped could help her with the direction she was taking for the project, encouraging them to experiment, re-invent and create a modern soul feel.{{cite news|title=Aguilera takes twin-track approach for new album|work=Music Week|publisher=Intent Media|date=August 12, 2006|last=Clarke|first=Stuart}} She described the first disc as "kind of a throwback with elements of jazz, blues and soul music combined with a modern-day twist, like hard-hitting beats".

Aguilera and Ronson wrote "Slow Down Baby" alongside Kara DioGuardi and Raymond Angry, and Ronson completed the production with assistance from Aguilera. In an interview for Herald Sun, Ronson elaborated on the collaboration: "I heard [Aguilera] was looking for tracks. I was a bit narrow-minded, I assumed nothing I was doing would be something she'd be into. I sent around some hip hop tracks I had lying about and got a call four days later saying she liked them."{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/music/mark-ronson-hitman-to-the-stars/story-e6frf9hf-1111114294974|title=Mark Ronson, hitman to the stars |first=Cameron|last=Adams|work=Herald Sun|publisher=The Herald and Weekly Times|date=August 30, 2007|access-date=February 19, 2012}} He stated that he had initially imagined offering "Slow Down Baby" to someone like rap duo M.O.P. Ronson provided the beats and played the guitar and bass, while Angry played the claviola, organ and piano. Ronson recorded Aguilera's vocals at Allido Sound in New York City and additional recording was helmed by Oscar Ramirez at The Record Plant in Los Angeles, California. Dave "Hard Drive" Pensado later completed the mixing process at Larrabee North in North Hollywood.

Composition

{{listen

| filename = Christina Aguilera - Slow Down Baby.ogg

| title = "Slow Down Baby"

| description = A 21-second sample of "Slow Down Baby"'s chorus, featuring the "Window Raisin' Granny" and "So Seductive" samples and elements of R&B, hip hop, funk and soul genres.

| pos = left

| format = Ogg

}}

"Slow Down Baby" is an uptempo pop and R&B song that blends modern and "old school" R&B. It has elements of funk, hip hop and soul.{{cite news|url=http://www.journal-news.com/featr/content/shared/living/stories/2006/08/NEW_CDS_0818_COX.html|title=Aguilera's new CD is exceptional|work=JournalNews|publisher=Cox Enterprises|last=Murray|first=Sonia|date=August 18, 2006|access-date=December 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060823013609/http://www.journal-news.com/featr/content/shared/living/stories/2006/08/NEW_CDS_0818_COX.html|archive-date=August 23, 2006}} Nick Levine of Digital Spy called it "hot'n'horny retropop", and JournalNews critic Sonia Murray observed that it "savvily" combines hip hop and early soul. "Slow Down Baby"'s instrumentation consists of pianos and horns,{{cite news|url=http://articles.boston.com/2006-08-13/news/29249697_1_pianos-christina-aguilera-basics|title=Aguilera is too clever by half|date=August 13, 2006|last=Anderman|first=Joan|work=The Boston Globe|publisher=The New York Times Company|access-date=December 10, 2011|archive-date=June 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609203320/http://articles.boston.com/2006-08-13/news/29249697_1_pianos-christina-aguilera-basics|url-status=dead}} which recall the 1970s blaxploitation film genre.{{cite web|url=http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/060817/33/20kaq.html|title=Christina Aguilera - Back To Basics |date=August 17, 2006|work=Yahoo! UK & Ireland|publisher=Yahoo! Inc|last=Gennoe|first=Dan|access-date=December 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718135447/http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/060817/33/20kaq.html|archive-date=July 18, 2011}} In the lyrics, Aguilera tells a "lusty" man to leave her alone as she sings, "If you knew anything you'd realise I'm wearing a ring". The song contains two samples, "Window Raisin' Granny" (1973) by R&B group Gladys Knight & the Pips—written by William Guest, Merald Knight, Edward Patten and Gladys Knight—and "So Seductive" (2005) by rapper Tony Yayo—written by Marvin Bernard, Michael Harper and Curtis Jackson. Due to its sampling, the original songs' writers are credited as songwriters. According to sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Universal Music Publishing Group, "Slow Down Baby" is written in the time signature of common time with a moderate beat rate of 110 beats per minute. The song is written in the key of F-sharp minor and Aguilera's vocal range spans from the low-note of A3 to the high-note of G5.{{cite web|title=Christina Aguilera, 'Slow Down Baby' – Composition Sheet Music|work=Musicnotes.com|publisher=Universal Music Publishing Group}} According to Spence D. of IGN, "Slow Down Baby" interpolates a "vocal page" from LL Cool J's "Jingling Baby" (1990).

Critical reception

File:Backtobasicstoronto.jpg]]

The Guardian critic Dorian Lyskey was positive regarding "Slow Down Baby", writing that it "smartly slaps a 50 Cent samplehow funk".{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/aug/04/popandrock.shopping4|title=Christina Aguilera, Back to Basics|last=Lyskey|first=Dorian|work=The Guardian|date=August 4, 2006|access-date=December 10, 2011}} John Murphy of musicOMH named it one of the album's highlights and deemed it "fresh and funky". Moreover, Murphy called it "sharp and sassy infectious pop" and used it as an example of Aguilera being "at her best".{{cite web|url=http://www.musicomh.com/albums/christina-aguilera_0806.htm|title=Christina Aguilera – Back To Basics|work=musicOMH|last=Murphy|first=John|access-date=December 10, 2011|archive-date=March 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310142805/http://www.musicomh.com/albums/christina-aguilera_0806.htm|url-status=dead}} Writing for The Boston Globe, Joan Anderman commented that the song's "tangle of horns and pianos [are] pushed to the edge of sonic sense". Len Righi of The Morning Call wrote that Aguilera "sings with remarkable conviction" throughout the album, but the soul and funk of "Slow Down Baby" put her at "Aretha Franklin's doorstep".{{cite news|url=https://www.mcall.com/2006/08/19/christina-aguilera-back-to-basics-rca/|title=Christina Aguilera "Back To Basics" (rca)|date=August 19, 2006|work=The Morning Call|last=Righi|first=Len|publisher=Tribune Company|access-date=February 19, 2012}} The Virginian-Pilot writer Malcolm Venable commented that "Slow Down Baby", alongside "Back in the Day" and "Without You", displays Aguilera's "well-shaking" vocals and "tight, seemingly effortless songwriting".{{cite news|title=Soundwaves|date=December 29, 2006|work=The Virginian-Pilot|publisher=Landmark Media Enterprises|last=Venable|first=Malcolm}}

Jody Rosen of Entertainment Weekly wrote that the song "neatly blends old- and new-school R&B".{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1225303,00.html|title=Back to Basics|date=August 11, 2006|last=Rosen|first=Judy|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|publisher=Time, Inc|access-date=December 10, 2011|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006124713/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C1225303%2C00.html|url-status=dead}} Tampa Bay Times critic Sean Daly referred "Slow Down Baby" to as "the very essence of Aguilera", indicating "old school, new school and big vocal belting".{{cite news|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2006/08/19/Floridian/Aguilera_takes_out_th.shtml|title=Aguilera takes out the trash|date=August 19, 2006|last=Daly|first=Sean|work=Tampa Bay Times|publisher=Times Publishing Company|access-date=December 10, 2011}} Spence D. of IGN recommended "Slow Down Baby" for digital download and commended Aguilera's "throaty insistence".{{cite web|url=http://music.ign.com/articles/725/725774p2.html|title=Christina Aguilera – Back to Basics|work=IGN|author=Spence D|publisher=News Corporation|date=August 15, 2006|access-date=December 10, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070710013234/http://music.ign.com/articles/725/725774p2.html|archive-date=July 10, 2007|df=mdy-all}} Scott Mervis of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote that the song, alongside the album's first single "Ain't No Other Man" and "Understand", "keep [Aguilera] on the track of torchy old-school soul that lets her limitless voice run wild and free".{{cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06229/714092-42.stm|title=Christina Aguilera 'Back to Basics'|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|publisher=Block Communications|last=Mervis|first=Scott|date=August 17, 2006|access-date=December 10, 2011}} In 2010, Digital Spy's critic Nick Levine included "Slow Down Baby" on a list of Aguilera's ten best songs.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/thesound/a224306/christina-aguilera-the-ten-essential-tunes.html|title=Christina Aguilera: The ten essential tunes|date=June 10, 2010|author=Copsey, Robert|author2=Levine, Nick|work=Digital Spy|publisher=Hachette Filipacchi UK|access-date=December 10, 2011}} On a similar, top-40 list for the Idolator "Slow Down Baby" was ranked at number thirty-three.{{cite web|url=https://www.idolator.com/7916756/christina-aguileras-40-best-songs|title=Christina Aguilera's 40 Best Songs|work=Idolator|first=Mike|last=Wass|date=December 18, 2020|access-date=August 22, 2023}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Commercial performance

To promote the Oceanian leg of the Back to Basics Tour, "Slow Down Baby" was released as the album's fourth single on July 28, 2007, in Australia.{{cite web|url=http://sonybmg.com.au/news/details.do?newsId=20030829004728|title=Christina Aguilera Arrives In Town This Week!|date=July 12, 2007|publisher=Sony Music Australia|access-date=December 12, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070904081540/http://sonybmg.com.au/news/details.do?newsId=20030829004728|archive-date=September 4, 2007}} It debuted at number 41 on the ARIA Digital Tracks chart in the issue dated July 23, 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue907.pdf|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20070819140100/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20070820-0001/issue907.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-08-19|title=The ARIA Report – Week Commencing 23rd July 2007|work=ARIA Charts|publisher=Australian Web Archive|access-date=December 13, 2011}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The song later entered the main singles chart at number 21 in the issue dated August 6, 2007. The position became its peak, which made it Aguilera's first single since "I Turn to You" (2000) to miss the top ten. The same week, "Slow Down Baby" debuted at number 20 on the physical singles chart, and rose to number 22 on the digital chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue909.pdf|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20070819140100/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20070820-0001/issue909.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-08-19|title=The ARIA Report – Week Commencing 6th August 2007|work=ARIA Charts|publisher=Australian Web Archive|access-date=December 13, 2011}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} It remained on the main chart for six weeks.

Live performances

Aguilera first performed the song during a concert held in front of 1,500 fans and invited guests in London on July 20, 2006.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/news/christina-aguilera/39207-christina-gets-burlesque-at-koko|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407163443/http://www.mtv.co.uk/news/christina-aguilera/39207-christina-gets-burlesque-at-koko|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 7, 2022|title=Christina Gets Burlesque at Koko|date=August 1, 2006|work=MTV UK|publisher=Viacom|access-date=December 12, 2011}} The 40-minute concert comprised songs from the then-upcoming Back to Basics and other songs, including "Lady Marmalade" (2001) and "Beautiful" (2002). Aguilera ended the show with "Slow Down Baby", and David Smyth of Evening Standard commented that the song "rounded things up with big horns and bigger beats".{{cite news|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/music/review-23215240-what-a-night-christina.do|title=What a night, Christina|date=July 21, 2006|last=Smyth|first=David|work=Evening Standard|publisher=Alexander Lebedev / Evgeny Lebedev / Daily Mail and General Trust|access-date=December 11, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505111551/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/music/review-23215240-what-a-night-christina.do|archive-date=May 5, 2013|df=mdy-all}} The song was later performed during the worldwide Back to Basics Tour.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/christina-aguilera-wembley-arena-london-428909.html|title=Christina Aguilera, Wembley Arena, London |date=December 17, 2006|work=The Independent|publisher=Independent Print Limited|last=Walsh|first=Ben|access-date=December 12, 2011}} The performance was preceded by newspapers headlines that flashed across a big screen, such as, "Christina goes from 'dirrty' to demure" and "Christina cleans up her act". Aguilera wore black lace thigh-high boots and a white bodysuit.{{cite news|title=Singer entertains with fast-paced 90-minute show|work=The Press of Atlantic City|publisher=Abarta|last=Schaffer|first=Regina|date=April 2, 2007|url=http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/life/story/7374774p-7270883c.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912020639/http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/life/story/7374774p-7270883c.html|archive-date=September 12, 2007|access-date=March 5, 2012}} The performance is included on the video release Back to Basics: Live and Down Under (2008).{{cite web|url=http://www.rca-records.co.uk/releases/album/christina_aguilera/back_to_basics_live_and_down_under_dvd/|title=Christina Aguilera – Back to Basics: Live and Down Under DVD|publisher=RCA Records|access-date=December 12, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515112930/http://www.rca-records.co.uk/releases/album/christina_aguilera/back_to_basics_live_and_down_under_dvd/|archive-date=May 15, 2012|df=mdy-all}}

Formats and track listing

  • CD single and digital download{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/slow-down-baby-single/id260181917|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205112013/https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/slow-down-baby-single/id260181917|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 5, 2015|title=Slow Down Baby – Single by Christina Aguilera|work=iTunes Store|location=Australia|publisher=Apple|access-date=December 10, 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.getmusic.com.au/christinaaguilera/store/detail?id=78647|title=Slow Down Baby – Christina Aguilera|work=Getmusic.com.au|publisher=Universal Music Australia|access-date=December 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406151628/http://www.getmusic.com.au/christinaaguilera/store/detail?id=78647|archive-date=April 6, 2012|url-status=dead}}
  1. "Slow Down Baby" (album version) – 3:27
  2. "Slow Down Baby" (instrumental version) – 3:27

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the "Slow Down Baby" liner notes.{{cite AV media notes|title=Slow Down Baby|others=Christina Aguilera|date=2007|type=liner notes|location=Australia|publisher=RCA Records|id=8 8697-13691-2}}

Recording and samples

Personnel

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

  • Clav, organ and piano – Raymond Angry
  • Recording – Mark Ronson, Oscar Ramirez
  • Mixing – Dave "Hard Drive" Pensado
  • Assistant mixing – The Blitzburg Group

{{col-end}}

Charts

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Weekly chart performance for "Slow Down Baby"

! scope="col"| Chart (2007)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{single chart|Australia|21|artist=Christina Aguilera|song=Slow Down Baby|rowheader=true|access-date=June 17, 2018|refname="chart"}}
scope="row" | New Zealand Airplay (Recorded Music NZ){{cite web|url=http://www.radioscope.net.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=419&Itemid=32|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525102110/http://www.radioscope.net.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=419&Itemid=32|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 25, 2010|title=RadioScope100 – August 5 2007 – RadioScope New Zealand|publisher=RadioScope|date=August 5, 2007|access-date=May 29, 2020}}

| 38

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ Release dates and formats for "Slow Down Baby"

! scope="col"| Region

! scope="col"| Date

! scope="col"| Format(s)

! scope="col"| Label(s)

! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}

scope="row" rowspan="2"| Australia

| July 24, 2007

| Digital download

| rowspan="2"| Sony BMG

| align="center"|

July 28, 2007

| CD

| align="center"|

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Christina Aguilera songs}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2006 songs

Category:2007 singles

Category:Christina Aguilera songs

Category:RCA Records singles

Category:Song recordings produced by Mark Ronson

Category:Songs written by 50 Cent

Category:Songs written by Christina Aguilera

Category:Songs written by Kara DioGuardi

Category:Songs written by Mark Ronson

Category:Sony BMG singles