Don't Call Me Baby


"Don't Call Me Baby" is a song by Australian house music duo Madison Avenue, released as the first single from their only studio album, The Polyester Embassy. Written by Cheyne Coates, Andy Van Dorsselaer, Duane Morrison and Giuseppe Chierchia, the song includes a bassline sample from "Ma Quale Idea" by Italo disco artist Pino D'Angiò, which in turn is based on "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" by McFadden & Whitehead.
"Don't Call Me Baby" was released in Australia on 18 October 1999 and spent six non-consecutive weeks at number two on the ARIA Singles Chart, achieving triple-platinum status. It was also successful internationally, topping the charts in New Zealand and the United Kingdom in 2000. The song has been remixed both in 2014 and 2019 for its 15th and 20th anniversaries, respectively, including remixes by Tommie Sunshine, Mousse T., and Madison Avenue's writer-producer, Van Dorsselaer.

Commercial performance

"Don't Call Me Baby" debuted at number three on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart on 31 October 1999. Three weeks later, the track reached its peak of number two, where it stayed for six non-consecutive weeks. The recording was certified triple platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association, denoting 210,000 shipments of the single. In New Zealand, the song entered the RIANZ Singles Chart at number 39. Two weeks later, the single jumped from number 34 to number two. On its seventh week, "Don't Call Me Baby" peaked at number one on 2 April 2000, where it stayed for one week. The song was awarded a gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand for shipments of 7,500 copies.
In the United Kingdom, "Don't Call Me Baby" originally peaked at number 30 on the UK Singles Chart in late 1999 but re-entered the chart several times during early 2000, prompting a re-release in May. The re-issued single entered at the top of the chart with a sale of 93,794 copies. As of May 2020, the song has sold and streaming 600,000 units in the United Kingdom, receiving a platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry in 2023. In the rest of Europe, the song became a top-10 hit in Greece, Ireland, Norway, and Portugal.

Impact and legacy

In 2011, MTV Dance ranked "Don't Call Me Baby" at number 41 on their list of the "100 Biggest 90's Dance Anthems of All Time". In 2017, BuzzFeed listed the song at number 34 on their "101 Greatest Dance Songs of the '90s" list.

Track listings

1999 releases

Australian maxi-CD single
  1. "Don't Call Me Baby" – 3:49
  2. "Don't Call Me Baby" – 6:40
  3. "Don't Call Me Baby" – 7:34
  4. "Don't Call Me Baby" – 7:50
  5. "Don't Call Me Baby" – 6:10
  6. "Don't Call Me Baby" – 7:37UK CD single
  7. "Don't Call Me Baby" – 3:48
  8. "Don't Call Me Baby" – 6:35
  9. "Don't Call Me Baby" – 7:48UK 12-inch singleUK cassette single
  10. "Don't Call Me Baby" – 3:48
  11. "Don't Call Me Baby" – 6:35
  12. "Don't Call Me Baby" – 7:39European CD single
  13. "Don't Call Me Baby"
  14. "Don't Call Me Baby" European maxi-CD single
  15. "Don't Call Me Baby"
  16. "Don't Call Me Baby"
  17. "Don't Call Me Baby"
  18. "Don't Call Me Baby"

2000 releases

UK CD and cassette single
  1. "Don't Call Me Baby" – 3:47
  2. "Don't Call Me Baby" – 6:59
  3. "Don't Call Me Baby" – 7:00UK 12-inch singleUS maxi-CD single
  4. "Don't Call Me Baby" – 3:47
  5. "Don't Call Me Baby" – 7:48
  6. "Don't Call Me Baby" – 7:39
  7. "Don't Call Me Baby" – 7:24
  8. "Don't Call Me Baby" – 6:35
  • '''US 12-inch single'''

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the Australian maxi-CD single liner notes.
Studios
  • Engineered at Backbeach Recording Studios
  • Mastered at Crystal Mastering
Personnel

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart Position
Australia 83
Ireland 53
New Zealand 16
UK Singles 31
US Dance Club Play 6
US Maxi-Singles Sales 11
US Rhythmic Top 40 83