THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

672-Sonny & Cher-I Got You Babe.

1965-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.01. Groundhog Day.

Sonny Bono was born Salvatore Phillip Bono, on February 16th, 1935, in Detroit, Michigan, United States, he died on January 5th, 1998, of injuries incurred when he hit a tree, while skiing at the ‘Heavenly Mountain Resort,’ in South Lake Tahoe, California, United States, at the age of 62. The epitaph on Bono’s headstone reads ‘AND THE BEAT GOES ON.’ His mother who was of Italian descent, called him ‘Sono,’ as a term of endearment, which evolved over time into ‘Sonny.’

Sonny Bono began his music career as a songwriter at ‘Specialty Records,’ before going on to work, initially as a ‘gofer’ for the legendary Phil Spector (1939-2021) (see also best songs 820-782-737-262-192-127-91 and 20) in the early 1960’s. Sonny Bono’s first major success as a songwriter was co-writing ‘Needles and Pins,’ initially a Number 1 hit in Canada for Jackie De Shannon, (1963) and then a Number 1 hit in the UK for The Searchers (1964.) Bono had first met Cher in a Los Angeles coffee shop in 1962, and recommended her to Phil Spector, who initially employed her as a session singer. Among the classic songs that Cher sang backing vocals on, include ‘Be My Baby,’ (see also best songs 127) for The Ronettes, and ‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin,” (see also best songs 782) for the Righteous Brothers. Soon after meeting, Sonny & Cher began a romantic relationship, alongside their working relationship, and they married in 1964, and remained married until their divorce in 1975. Between 1971-1974, Sonny & Cher starred in the ‘CBS’ television variety show, ‘The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour.’ Their last appearance together was on the ‘Late Night with David Letterman’ television talk show, on November 13th, 1987, on which they sang an unrehearsed, and unscheduled rendition of ‘I Got You Babe.’ After separating from Cher, Sonny Bono went on to be an actor in many films, and television series, such as ‘Fantasy Island,’ and ‘Charlie’s Angels.’ Films that he appeared in include, ‘Troll,’ (1986) and ‘Hairspray’ (1988.) During the mid 1980’s Sonny Bono entered politics, becoming the 16th ‘Mayor of Palm Springs,’ between 1988-1992, and then becoming the ‘Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California’s 44th district,’ from 1995, until his death in 1998.

The discography of Sonny & Cher includes five studio Albums released between 1965-1973, and 23 singles issued between 1964-1973, there is also one soundtrack Album, two live Albums, and eight official compilation Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, 11 of their singles have reached the top 40, with ‘I Got You Babe’ making the Number 1 spot, while in the UK, they have had eight top 40 hits, with ‘I Got You Babe’, also peaking the highest at Number 1.

‘I Got You Babe’ was the second of three singles singles released from the debut studio Album ‘Look at Us,’ by Sonny & Cher, from August 1965, and was written and produced by Sonny Bono. Bono was somewhat inspired to write the song after hearing Bob Dylan’s 1964 song ‘It Ain’t Me Babe,’ Bono wrote ‘I Got You Babe,’ with his own opposite sentiment, using for that period the unusual song lyric ‘Babe.’ ‘I Got You Babe’ was recorded with some of the top session musicians of the era, including members of ‘The Wrecking Crew.’

‘I Got You Babe’ became a Number 1 single again in the UK in 1985, when covered by the British Reggae band ‘UB40,’ (see also best songs 537 and 173) with guest female vocals provided by the American singer Chrissie Hynde, their version also reached Number 28 on Billboard in America. In 1993 Cher re-recorded ‘I Got You Babe’ with the American animated characters ‘Beavis and Butt-Head’ for the compilation comedy Album ‘The Beavis and Butt-Head Experience.’ The song met with critical acclaim, and charted in the UK at Number 35. Other significant covers of the song are from David Bowie, (1947-2016) and Marianne Faithfull, who recorded a live version for the 1973 television special, ‘The 1980 Floor Show,’ for the musical variety series ‘The Midnight Special.’ In 1968 the American singer Etta James (1938-2012) recorded a ‘Funky’ version of ‘Got You Babe,’ which reached Number 69 on Billboard, and was then used in 2020 in a ‘Walmart commercial.’

‘I Got You Babe’ was notably used in the 1993 film ‘Groundhog Day,’ starring Bill Murray, where his character is awakened to the song every morning at precisely 6.00.a.m. on the alarm clock in his hotel room. The movie has grown a cult following over the years, with fans getting together to watch the film every February 2nd, and because of this, ‘I Got You Babe’ has become part of the ‘Groundhog Day’ tradition.

‘I got flowers in the spring, I got you to wear my ring, and when I’m sad, you’re a clown, and if I get scared, you’re always around.’