The similarity of musical compositions by different authors is a more than common phenomenon. Often such cases are accompanied by accusations of plagiarism and even litigation. Something similar could have happened in the story of the song Anybody Seen My Baby?, whose chorus melody is very similar to the music from Constant Craving by Katherine Don Lang (kd lang).
But the members of The Rolling Stones found a way to avoid scandal by doing what a gentleman should do.
Anybody Seen My Baby?
It was written for Bridges to Babylon by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. There is an opinion that it is dedicated to the American actress Mary Badham, who was nominated for an Oscar for her role as Gina “Eyes” Finch in the film adaptation of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Allegedly, she had an affair with Mick Jagger, but their relationship did not last long, and soon Mary left the lead singer of The Rolling Stones, about which he was sincerely sad.
When Anybody Seen My Baby? was already ready, and the Rolling Stones listened to it in the studio, the song reminded them of something, but they could not remember what it was. A little later, Keith Richards played a recording of his daughter Angela and her friend. During the chorus, the girls began to sing lines from Constant Craving, which fell one-on-one to the melody.
According to Jagger and Richards, they had no idea about the existence of this composition. True or not, we will not guess. In any case, the song is quite famous, because kd lang received a Grammy for it in the nomination “Best Female Pop Vocal Performance”, and the video was awarded the MTV Music Video Awards.
It is difficult to say how such a borrowing became possible. Mick or Keith could overhear a kd lang song and subconsciously copy the music. It is possible that this is a coincidence.
Members of the group did not tempt fate. They credited Katherine Don Lang and Ben Mink, who wrote Constant Craving, as co-writers of Anybody Seen My Baby?. They received their due deductions and, according to Lang, were very flattered by such attention.
Shortly after the release of the song, it became a worldwide hit that climbed high on the charts in different countries.
Videoclip Anybody Seen My Baby?
The music video was remembered for the participation in it of the then little-known Angelina Jolie. She played a stripper performing in a shabby club who walks off the stage in the middle of a performance. The video was directed by Samuel Baier, who directed the video for Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit and has also worked with many other well-known bands.
Watch the clip Anybody Seen My Baby? – The Rolling Stones
Anybody Seen My Baby Lyrics – The Rolling Stones
She confessed her love to me
Then she finished
On the breeze
Trying to hold on to that
was just impossible
She was more than beautiful
Closer to ethereal
With a kind of
Down to earth flavor
close my eyes
It’s three in the afternoon
Then I realize
That she’s really
Gone for good
Anybody seen my baby?
Anyone seen her around?
love has gone
And made me blind
I’ve looked but I just can’t find
She has gotten lost
In the crowd
I was flippin’ magazines
In that place on Mercer Street
When I thought I spotted her
Getting on a motorbike
Looking rather lady like
Didn’t she just give me a wave?
Salty tears
It’s three in the afternoon
Has she disappeared?
Is she really gone for good?
Anybody seen my baby?
Anyone seen her around?
If I just close my eyes
I reach out
And touch the prize
Anyone seen her around?
Lost, lost and never found
I must have called her
A thousand times
Sometimes I think
She’s just in my imagination
Lost in the crowd
Anybody Seen My Baby Lyrics – The Rolling Stones
She confessed her love to me
And then she flew away
On a light breeze
Trying to hold on
What was just impossible
She was more than beautiful
Rather, intangible
With some
Candid highlight
close my eyes
It’s three o’clock in the afternoon
Now I already understand
What is she really
Gone forever
Has anyone seen my baby?
Has anyone seen her around?
Love is gone,
Blinding me
I searched but couldn’t find
She got lost
In crowd
I’ve been flipping through magazines
When I thought I saw
How did she get on the bike?
While remaining a real lady
Didn’t she wave her hand at me?
salty tears
It’s three o’clock in the afternoon
Has she disappeared?
Is she really gone forever?
Has anyone seen my baby?
Has anyone seen her around?
If I just close my eyes
I get things done
And I get rewarded
Has anyone seen my baby?
Lost, lost and never found
I must have called her
A thousand times
Sometimes I think,
That she only exists in my dreams
Lost in the crowd
