The quiz show Pointless had a round today in which contestants had to say which singers (I cannot bring myself to say ‘artists’ – grumpiness has its standards) released the following songs:
Bye Bye Baby 1975
Baby 2010
Love to Love You Baby 1976
Plug-in Baby 2001
I Got You Babe 1965
Hey Baby 1962
Ice Ice Baby 1990
Baby Come Back 1968
Baby Love 1964
Always Be My Baby 1996
Your Baby Ain’t Your Baby Any More 1974
Baby One More Time 1999
Babe 1993
Be My Baby 1963
Decent question, and one that stretched across the generations. I did OK, but then, I am a trivial person. But now, here’s a thing. I have never heard anyone refer to their inamorata as ‘baby’. Never. I’ve lived in the north, Midlands and in London, Yorkshire and Lancashire. I’ve worked with colleagues with a variety of ethnicities, genders, sexuality, and a range of ages. It may be I don’t eavesdrop enough, though my wife would contest that. Darling, honey, sweetheart, yep, all that, honeybun too, but never ever have I heard a British person call their partner ‘baby’. Have you ?
Grumpy Wisdom 