Cheyne met producer and writer Andy Van in a dance club. Van was the founder of the Vicious Vinyl record label and had remix credits for Tina Arena and CDB. Van had also won an ARIA award for his production work on "Coma" by Pendulum.
The duo started working together mainly as writers and producers in 1988. Their first single "Fly" featured Kellie Wolfgram as the vocalist. However, Cheyne sang on the group's breakthrough single "Don't Call Me Baby" because Andy Van liked her version initially used as the guide track for the intended singer. Van took the song to the MIDEM Conference leading to the band being signed by Virgin Records in the UK and Sony Music for the rest of the world.
"Don't Call Me Baby" proved to be a breakthrough record for Madison Avenue topping the Australian charts in 1999. It sold 200,000 singles in Australia, the best singles sales achieved by any Australian act in that country for 1999 and Madison Avenue were the first Australian dance act to top the Australian singles charts. The single was released internationally in 2000. In the UK, the song sold 400,00 copies and topped the singles chart, and was a hit throughout Europe. "Don't Call Me Baby" also topped the Billboard dance charts in the US. By this stage, Cheyne was widely established as the public face of the band, although Madison Avenue was originally intended to be a collective dance group like C&C Music Factory or Soul II Soul.
The single's accompanying album, Polyester Embassy, was released in 2000 and reached #4 on the Australian album charts. It spawned three further singles:
* "Who The Hell Are You" - a #1 hit in Australia and on the Billboard Dance Charts, it also reached #10 in the UK.
* "Everything You Need" - went to #6 and was certified gold in Australia, as well as breaking into the UK's Top 40.
* "Reminiscing" - a cover version of the 1978 hit by Australian rock band Little River Band, it was the 9th most popular single by an Australian artist in Australia in 2001 (reaching #9 in the Australian singles charts that year).
In 2001, Madison Avenue won the Best Dance Artist at the International Dance Awards in Miami. Destiny's Child, Madonna, *NSYNC and Britney Spears were also nominated for the award.
The group officially disbanded in 2003, with Cheyne going on to pursue a solo career.
Don't Call Me Baby
Madison Avenue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And we could make it something really cool
But you, you think I'm not the kind of girl
I'm hear to tell ya baby I know how to rock your world
Don't think that I'm not strong
I'm the one to take you on
Don't under estimate me
You don't know me the way you really should
You're sure misunderstood
Don't call me baby
You got to know that that will never do
You know I don't belong to you
Its time you knew I'm not your baby
I belong to me
So don't call me baby
Behind my smile is my IQ
I must admit this does not sit with the likes of you
You're really sweet mmm you're really nice
But didn't mama ever tell ya not to play with fire
Don't think that I'm not strong
I'm the one to take you on
Don't under estimate me
Boy ill make you sorry you were born
You don't know me the way you really should
You're sure misunderstood
Don't call me baby
You got to know that that will never do
You know I don't belong to you
It's time you knew I'm not your baby
I belong to me
So don't call me baby
You and me we had a opportunity
And we could make it something really cool
But you, you think I'm not the kind of girl
I'm hear to tell ya baby I know how to rock your world
Don't think that I'm not strong
I'm the one to take you on
Don't under estimate me
Boy ill make you sorry you were born
You don't know me the way you really should
You're sure misunderstood
Don't call me baby
You've got some nerve and baby that'll never do
You know I don't belong to you
It's time you knew I'm not your baby
I belong to me
So don't call me baby
You've got some nerve and baby that'll never do
You know I don't belong to you
It's time you knew I'm not your baby
I belong to me
So don't call me baby
The song "Don't Call Me Baby" by Madison Avenue, released in 1999, is an empowering anthem about a woman asserting her independence and refusing to be defined by a man. The lyrics convey a message of strength and self-confidence, as the singer asserts her ability to "rock [her love interest's] world" and warns him not to underestimate her. She also asserts that she is nobody's property and that she belongs to herself.
The opening lines of the song acknowledge the potential for a great relationship between the singer and her love interest, but his underestimation of her abilities and dismissal of her as a "certain type of girl" prevent it from coming to fruition. She warns him not to "underestimate" her and to respect her autonomy.
Throughout the song, the singer asserts her intelligence and strength, which may not be immediately apparent to her love interest. She warns him not to "play with fire," referring to the danger of underestimating her and challenging her. She repeats the refrain "don't call me baby" as a way of asserting her independence and refusing to be controlled or defined by her love interest's expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
You and me we had a opportunity
We had a chance to do something together
And we could make it something really cool
We could have created something great
But you, you think I'm not the kind of girl
You believe that I'm not the type of person
I'm hear to tell ya baby I know how to rock your world
I can show you a good time and impress you
Don't think that I'm not strong
Don't underestimate me
I'm the one to take you on
I can handle any challenge that comes my way
Don't under estimate me
Don't undervalue my abilities
Boy ill make you sorry you were born
You'll regret crossing me
You don't know me the way you really should
You have a misconception of who I am
You're sure misunderstood
You have misinterpreted my intentions
Don't call me baby
Don't address me using a term of endearment
You got to know that that will never do
You need to understand that it's not acceptable
You know I don't belong to you
I am my own person and not someone you possess
Its time you knew I'm not your baby
You need to acknowledge that I am independent
I belong to me
I am responsible for my own actions and decisions
Behind my smile is my IQ
I am intelligent and have a strong mind
I must admit this does not sit with the likes of you
Unfortunately, you are not up to my level
You're really sweet mmm you're really nice
You have good qualities
But didn't mama ever tell ya not to play with fire
But didn't anyone warn you about the danger of messing with someone like me
You've got some nerve and baby that'll never do
You are bold and that won't work with me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDREW ALPHONSE VAN DORSSELAER, APRIL-CHEYNE COATES, DUANE MORRISON, DUANE WILLIAM M. MORRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Elliott Booth
So good! I don't know why this is so unheard of.
Feathertail2205
Ikr
Leah Stinson
first found on soundcloud :) so happy it's available on yt
DMT 〉👽
Dope stuff!