Babaji (song)

"Babaji" is a song written by Roger Hodgson and credited to Hodgson and Rick Davies that was first released by Supertramp on their 1977 album Even in the Quietest Moments... It was subsequently released in Europe and in Australia as the follow up single to "Give a Little Bit."

"Babaji"
European single cover
Single by Supertramp
from the album Even in the Quietest Moments...
B-side"From Now On"
ReleasedNovember 1977 (1977-11)
GenreProgressive rock
Length4:49
LabelA&M
Songwriter(s)Rick Davies, Roger Hodgson
Producer(s)Supertramp
Supertramp singles chronology
"Give a Little Bit"
(1977)		 "Babaji"
(1977)		 "The Logical Song"
(1979)

Lyrics and music

Hodgson wrote "Babaji" in honour of Mahavatar Babaji, whom he regarded as a Christ- or Krishna-like figure, or even a manifestation of the spirit or force of God.[1] According to Supertramp drummer Bob Siebenberg, "Babaji is like Roger's light of life" and "Roger's guiding light sort of guy."[1] The lyrics reflect this in lines such as "All my life I felt that you were listening/Watching for ways to help me stay in tune" and "Babaji, oh won't you come to me/Won't you help me face the music."[2] Music critic Dale Winnitowy described the song's religious content as "George Harrison-like."[3] The lyrics emphasise the need for effort in order to attain enlightenment from the search for Babaji.[4]

Other band members were less enthralled with the song's spiritual subject matter. Keyboardist Rick Davies told NME that "Personally, I decry it. I'd sooner remain anonymous than become religious. I might fight with Roger on this next album about that ... It's not right. You've got people in the band who couldn't give a damn."[5] Saxophonist John Helliwell stated that "when [Hodgson] wrote about Christ or Babaji—whoever that is—we just wished he would sing about something else."[6]

According to Siebenberg, Hodgson "came up with the different bits of time" that he played on the song.[1] He said that of the songs on Even in the Quietest Moments... "Babaji" took the longest to work out the drum parts because everything had to be very precise, including which parts were played on which drum or bell.[1]

Reception

Music critic Mark Moran described "Babaji," as well as "Give a Litte Bit," as having a "leisurely pace and gentle melody" which Helliwell attributed to the band's growing maturity.[7] Steve Wosahla of the Messenger-Press similarly acknowledged those two songs as representing the "more 'subtle' approach the band had hoped to incorporate" into Even in the Quietest Moments..., calling them "excellent complements" to the harder songs on the album.[8] Brandon Sun critic Graham Hicks felt that the song "could have been a classic" but falls short due to the non-electric piano being unable to achieve the "light, strident" notes Hicks believes the song calls for, and due to "unimaginative and repetitive" percussion and bass guitar playing.[9] Sounds critic Geoff Barton found "Babaji" to be "less than enthralling."[1] AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine described it as " a pseudo-spiritual moment that falls from the pop mark."[10]

"Babaji" was later released on the 2000 compilation album The Very Best of Supertramp 2.[11]

References
  1. Melhuish, Martin (1986). The Supertramp Book. Omnibus Press. pp. 124–126. ISBN 0711907870.
  2. Green, Susan (10 June 1977). "Supertramp Searches for a New Tune". The Burlington Free Press. pp. 1C, 3C – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Supertramp Shows Well with Clockwork Competence". Star-Phoenix. 9 April 1977. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. Beech, Bob (29 April 1977). "Quiet Moments Supertramp's Best". Richmond Review. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Giles, Jeff (29 March 2016). "40 Years Ago: Supertramp Blow Up with 'Breakfast in America'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  6. Milano, Brett (26 June 1985). "Supertramp Finds New Lease on Life". The Boston Globe. p. 73 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Moran, Mark (25 May 1977). "Supertramp a Super 'Event'". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. D9 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. Wosahla, Steve (21 July 1977). "In the Groove: Supertramp". Messenger-Press. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. Hicks, Graham (30 April 1977). "For the Record". Brandon Sun. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Even in the Quietest Moments..." AllMusic. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  11. O'Brien, Jon. "The Very Best of Supertramp, Vol. 2". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
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