Amy Grant Talks About Her New Version of "Baby Baby" with Tori Kelly

Amy Grant's 1991 #1 career smash hit "Baby Baby" has re-entered the Billboard Christian chart again some 25 years later. This week, "Baby Baby" (with new vocals by Tori Kelly in tandem) debuted on Billboard's Hot Christian Songs chart (dated May 21) at No. 8, as well as Christian Digital Songs at No. 2, selling 10,000 downloads in its first week, according to Nielsen Music. 

"Baby Baby" was the lead single, written by Keith Thomas and Grant hereslf, from her #1 album "Heart in Motion."  The album perched at #1 on the Christian Albums for 16 weeks and climbed to No. 10 on the all-genre Billboard 200. The LP produced three additional Hot 100 top 10s in 1991-92: "Every Heartbeat" (No. 2), "That's What Love Is For," (No. 7) and "Good for Me" (No. 8). 

In an interview with Billboard, Grant confesses that re-releasing "Baby Baby" was not her idea. "I wish I could say that it was my decision, but it was my manager Jennifer Cooke's idea. (Grant is managed by Cooke, along with Brooks Parker). When she suggested recording an update of "Baby Baby," I think I was on board with it out of the gate. I'd like to think that it's one of those timeless songs and we just wanted to bring it up-to-date. Plus, with the 25th anniversary, it was good timing."

Neither was Tori Kelly Grant's choice as a duet partner. "My daughter Corrina loves Tori Kelly, so initially she suggested the pairing, but yes, I did consider other artists. If I used an older vocalist, it would have been a totally different kind of emotional connect, and with my original vocal being used, it was a good match with Tori."

Neither was it Grant's idea to utilize Dave Gracia as the co-producer with Keith Thomas. "I had not worked with Dave Garcia before. The record company [Sparrow/Capitol Christian Music Group] chose him. [Garcia] had worked with Tori in the past, so it made for a good fit," she confesses.

But she does admit that she is currently working on a new Christmas album to be released later this year.  And she will also be travelling and touring heavily in the latter part of the year. 

 

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