One of the reasons I really dislike Led Zeppelin is the amount of times that I recall Plant using the word “baby” with reference to his lady friends. It’s not that I regard it as sexist or derogatory, but to my ears “Baby” is not a word I feel I could comfortably use to describe a woman I wanted to either make sweet love to or settle down with. It just sounds bloody stupid. Hearing other males use it whilst singing makes me cringe, and hearing it in everyday conversation between couples is even worse. I dunno…just one of those things that I find bizarre. So here are three examples of the better sex using those same words and sounding mighty good doing it too.

Beverly Knight– Not Too Late For Love, [Affirmation]

“Sweet baby don’t you cry / Everybody feels the same.” Tell ‘em Beverly. I know there were a lot of people out in TC land punching holes in plasterboard walls when Joss ‘It’s obvious I got shagged Robbie Williams, that’s why I told my boyfriend I loved him in my acceptance speech cos I’m guilty as a girl can be’ Stone won Best Urban Act at the 205 Brit Awards over the darker skinned Jamelia and Dizzee, but spare a thought for Beverly Knight. She never gets any credit at all for carrying UK soul on her shoulders.

[buy Affirmation here]

Macy Gray– Sweet Baby, [The Id]

I despised that first Macy Gray LP and come to think of it the second LP was pretty horrifying too. And her cameo in Training Day? This, however, is a real piece of magic with Macy dropping the Sesame Street act for a few minutes and, for once, sounds like she means what’s actually coming out of her mouth.

[buy The Id here]

Aretha Franklin– Since You’ve Been Gone (Sweet Sweet Baby), [Lady Soul]

Aretha’s voice. We need to get the scientists in those underground labs to begin creating some form of biomechanical machinery to replicate that instrument as soon as possible because I don’t want to be sitting here in a few years on her tribute night listening to Mariah and Christian attempting to replicate it. From my very own ultimate ‘Getting Ready T Go Out’ mixtape, this manages to sound lulling, pissed off, fierce, tired, defiant, loving, relieved and horny all in one 2.25 slice of rolling horn, piano and cymbal genius.

[buy Lady Soul here]