Lena Torres
Are You That Somebody? is a song by American singer Aaliyah, featuring a baby cooing in the background. The baby's voice adds a sentimental tone to the classic '90s R&B hit. The song was written by Static Major and Timbaland, with the latter also producing the track and performing a guest rap. The baby sound effect was initially suggested by Timbaland, who played it for Aaliyah, who reacted positively, calling it cute. The identity of the baby, however, remains a mystery, as the engineer who recorded the sample in 1964 did not keep any records, and cannot recall the baby's identity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artist | Aaliyah |
| Producers | Timbaland, Static Major |
| Baby sound effect | Cooing, laughing, crying |
| Baby sound origin | "Happy Baby" from Authentic Sound Effects Volume 8 (1964) |
| Genre | R&B, pop, avant-funk, soul |
| Tempo | 66 beats per minute |
| Time signature | Common time |
| Key | F major |
| Vocal range | F♯3 to Bb♯4 |
| Record labels | Blackground Records, Atlantic Records, Elektra Records |
| Release date | May 26, 1998 |
| Awards | Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (1999) |
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What You'll Learn
The baby cooing sound was sampled from a 1964 sound effects compilation
The baby cooing sound in the song "Are You That Somebody?" by Aaliyah has an interesting history. The song, produced by Timbaland, features a distinct baby cooing sound in the background, which adds a sentimental tone to the classic '90s R&B hit. The baby's identity remains a mystery, and the engineer who recorded it, Michael Scott Goldbaum, also has no recollection of who the baby was.
The baby cooing sound was, in fact, sampled from a 1964 sound effects compilation. Specifically, it came from the track ""Happy Baby" from Authentic Sound Effects Volume 8, produced by Jac Holzman and engineered by Goldbaum. The sound effects were mostly recorded between 1962 and 1963 by Goldbaum, with additional effects recorded by Holzman and others.
Timbaland, the producer of "Are You That Somebody?", had a CD in the studio with the baby cooing sound and decided to include it in the song. He recalled that the moment he added the sound, it pulled the song together, and Aaliyah reacted positively to it, describing it as "cute". The baby coo has also appeared in several other songs over the years, including Prince's "Delirious," "Look Around" by the Rascals, and "Bugg'n" by TNGHT.
The inclusion of the baby cooing sound in "Are You That Somebody?" showcases Timbaland's innovative approach to music production, incorporating unique elements that contribute to the overall appeal of the song. The song received critical acclaim upon its release, and the baby cooing sound has undoubtedly become a memorable part of the song's legacy.
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The baby's identity is unknown
The identity of the baby in the song "Are You That Somebody?" by Aaliyah has remained a mystery. The song, released in 1998, features a baby cooing in the background, adding a sentimental tone to the classic '90s R&B hit. The baby's voice was not unique to this song, however. It had previously appeared in songs such as "'Happy Baby' from the 1964 album "Authentic Sound Effects Volume 8", "Delirious" by Prince, "Look Around" by the Rascals, and "Bugg'n" by TNGHT.
The baby's voice sample in "Are You That Somebody?" was recorded by Michael Scott Goldbaum, who was tasked with recording real-world sounds for the label. When asked about the identity of the baby, Goldbaum stated that he could not remember who the baby was, as it had been a long time and he had recorded many people. He confirmed that it was not anyone he knew.
The lack of information about the baby's identity is surprising in an age where most sounds and samples can be easily traced. The sample has become a small outlier, remaining uncatalogued and adrift in a sea of noise. Despite the mystery, the baby's voice has become iconic, and the song went on to become one of Aaliyah's biggest hits, peaking at No. 1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and Rhythmic charts.
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The baby sound was pitched by Timbaland
The baby sound in the song "Are You That Somebody?" was pitched by Timbaland. The song was recorded by American singer Aaliyah for the Dr. Dolittle soundtrack in 1998. It was written by Static Major and Timbaland, the latter of whom also produced the song and performed a guest rap.
Timbaland received a call from Aaliyah's manager, Barry Hankerson, who informed him that Aaliyah was contracted to sing the theme song for the film and asked Timbaland to write and produce the song within a few hours. Working with his frequent collaborator, Static Major, Timbaland created the track under significant time constraints.
During the creative process, Timbaland decided to incorporate a baby sound effect into the song. He had a CD in the studio with the sound of a baby cooing and pitched it to the group. The baby sound added a unique and sentimental tone to the song, and Aaliyah reacted positively to its inclusion, describing it as "cute."
The baby's cooing in "Are You That Somebody?" has become almost as memorable as Aaliyah's voice, and the song went on to become one of her biggest hits. It peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and Rhythmic charts and earned Aaliyah a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 1999.
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The baby sound was added at the last minute
The baby sound effect in "Are You That Somebody?" was indeed added at the last minute. The song was recorded by American singer Aaliyah and released in 1998 as the theme song for the film Dr. Dolittle. It was written by Static Major and Timbaland, with the latter also producing the track and performing a guest rap.
Timbaland, a master of his craft, had to write and produce the track under tight time constraints. He had a CD in the studio with the sound of a baby cooing and pitched it to the group. The baby sound effect was initially taken from producer Jac Holzman's 1964 track "Happy Baby" from Authentic Sound Effects Volume 8.
According to Timbaland, the baby sound pulled the song together. He recalled that Aaliyah reacted positively to the addition, saying, "Oh that's so cute!". The baby sound effect added a sentimental tone to the classic '90s R&B hit.
Despite the song's success, the identity of the baby remains a mystery. The sample was recorded in 1964 for a sound effects compilation, but the label did not keep a paper trail, and the engineer who recorded it, Michael Scott Goldbaum, does not remember who the baby was. The baby's voice has also appeared in several other songs over the years, including Prince's "Delirious" and "Look Around" by the Rascals.
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The baby sound adds a sentimental tone to the song
The baby sound in "Are You That Somebody?" by Aaliyah adds a sentimental tone to the song. The baby's cooing in the background is almost as memorable as Aaliyah's voice. The soft voice gives a sentimental feel to the classic '90s R&B hit.
The baby sound effect was not initially intended to be included in the song. Producer Timbaland had a CD in the studio with the sound of a baby cooing and played it for Aaliyah, who reacted positively, calling it "cute" and the "missing piece of the whole beat".
The baby sample was recorded in 1964 for a sound effects compilation, but the label did not keep a paper trail, and the engineer who recorded it, Michael Scott Goldbaum, does not remember the baby's identity. The mysterious baby's voice has appeared in several other songs over the years, including "Delirious" by Prince, "Look Around" by the Rascals, and "Bugg'n" by TNGHT.
"Are You That Somebody?" is a collaboration between Aaliyah, Timbaland, and Static Major. It was written and produced by Timbaland and Static Major for the Dr. Dolittle soundtrack in 1998. The song received critical acclaim upon its release, with music critics praising its off-beat innovative production. In 1999, Aaliyah earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for the song.
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Frequently asked questions
"Are You That Somebody" is a song by American singer Aaliyah.
The song utilises a sample of a baby crying and laughing, staccato guitars, beatboxing, and drum and bass.
Although Aaliyah and Timbaland initially didn't think the baby sound effect would fit, Aaliyah reacted positively to it, saying, "Oh that's so cute!".
