Baby Mine is a luscious and bold synth-pop anthem about struggles in relationships. It has a courageously vulnerable and emotional core but balances it out with an eighties-inspired R&B-pop funk that makes you want to nod your head.
The power of tracks like this is their ability to keep a listener engaged musically while also not compromising the flow of the narrative.
The song has multiple layers of synths that work together to create a cohesive melody. The pulsating synths work well with the high-register ethereal synths, for example, to create a diverse and rich sonic texture right from the beginning. The drumming also works with the pulsating synths to emphasise the pace of the track.
The use of the bass guitar and syncopated riffs in the quieter points of the verse is also a nice touch.
Ben Freeman’s vocals have this great mix of honesty and energy which makes the track cathartic to listen to. You get a sense of the real emotions behind the lyrics and Freeman does a great job of bridging that boundary of emotion and lyrics through his performance.
The song follows a long-term relationship on the rocks. I like the narrative of the couple slowly drifting apart instead of something more dramatic. The gentle numbing of time feels like a less explored and more realistic perspective of relationship troubles. The serious themes discussed are juxtaposed with the energy and enthusiasm of the instrumental. Instead of feeling jarring, however, this dissonance, to me, feels like Freeman is describing the energy he needed to save his relationship. That dedication to making it work from both partners has manifested its energy into this bold and confident eighties-inspired pop instrumental. I was surprised that they managed to make those two tonally different aspects work so well together.
Overall, the track is built on raw and real emotion It’s that core that elevates it to more than a sum of its parts. That being said, its groovy synth-pop energy is also a big plus.
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