‘Baby I Don't Care’ is a song by English pop rock band Transvision Vamp and the first single taken from their second album, Velveteen (1989). It was released in 1989 and remains their highest-charting single, peaking at number three in both the United Kingdom and Australia. It was ranked at number 25 on the Australian end-of-year chart for 1989. The song was later featured as the title track on the band's 2002 compilation album, Baby I Don't Care.
Transvision Vamp were a UK pop-rock band formed in 1986 by guitarist Nick Christian Sayer and vocalist Wendy James. They had four UK Top 20 singles in the late 1980s, with ‘Baby I Don't Care’ their biggest hit. Sayer wrote ‘Baby I Don't Care’ about James' best friend, whom he was crushing on. The singer told The Guardian: "I think it was his way of telling her that she didn't have to love him in return because he loved her anyway." “You can tell me all your stories but spare me the plays” The lyric is a reference to the acting aspirations of James' friend. "Some years later, she took her life," she told The Guardian. "The song is particularly moving now."
Jerry Smith, reviewer of British music newspaper Music Week, named this track as "another excellent slice of cartoon pop". He found song "very catchy" and expressed opinion that it "will put them back on top". James Brown of New Musical Express noted consistency of quality of a string of band's hits. Music & Media called song a "pure pop in the post-Blondie/ Bangles sense" and praised catchy chorus.
Transvision Vamp officially disbanded in February 1992 and Wendy James launched a solo career the following year. She had limited success with her debut album Now Ain't the Time for Your Tears, which was written in its entirety by Elvis Costello. Their bassist, Dave Parsons, had the most success post-Transvision Vamp. He formed Bush in 1992 and was with them until 2002.
Label – MCA
Songwriter – Nick Christian Sayer
Producer - Duncan Bridgeman
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]Well, you can give me all your love
And anything else you got too
But don't pay it any mind
If it seems like I'm acting cool
[Verse 2]
Well, you can dress me in your mirror
Give me kisses forever and a day, yeah
But there's just one thing
You don't have to say
[Pre-Chorus]
You don't have to say you love me
And you don't have to say any prayers
No, you don't have to say you love me
Baby, it's alright
[Chorus]
'Cause honey, I don't care
Oh baby, I don't care
Oh honey, I don't care
Oh honey, I don't care
[Verse 3]
Well, you can turns the lights down low
Some things are better that way, yeah
And you can tell me all your stories
But please, spare me the plays
[Pre-Chorus]
'Cause you don't have to say you love me
And you don't have to save any tears
No, you don't have to say you love me
Baby, it's alright
[Chorus]
'Cause honey, I don't care
Oh honey, I don't care
Oh baby, I don't care
Oh honey, I don't care
[Bridge]
Deep in your eyes
I see your thoughts
I know you want me
Sometimes it hurts
But you know that some things
Are best left never said
[Pre-Chorus]
You don't have to say you love me
And you don't have to say you care
No, you don't have to say you love me
Baby, it's alright
[Outro]
'Cause honey, I don't care
Oh, when I tell you, baby
I, I don't care
Oh baby, please believe me
I, I don't care
Oh, when I tell you, baby
I, I don't care
Oh baby, please believe me
Don't you see that I don't care? (I, I don't care)
Oh baby, I don't care
Oh honey, I don't care (I, I don't care)
You know, you know that I don't care
You know, you know
That you don't have to say you love me (I, I don't care)
And you don't have to say you care
No, you don't have to say you love me (I, I don't care)
Baby, it's alright
Oh honey, it's alright (I, I don't care)
Oh baby, I don't care
Oh honey, I don't care (I, I don't care)