"(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care" is a 1957 song recorded by

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the " King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. His ener ...

and performed in the MGM film '' Jailhouse Rock''. It was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller for the film. Presley plays electric bass on the song.

Background

Elvis Presley's version, one of the few songs in which he plays the electric bass, was recorded on May 3, with the vocal track added on May 9, 1957, and released on his '' Jailhouse Rock'' EP. It reached number fourteen on the R&B charts. It later become a minor pop standard, with notable versions being performed by

Buddy Holly Charles Hardin Holley (September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959), known as Buddy Holly, was an American singer and songwriter who was a central and pioneering figure of mid-1950s rock and roll. He was born to a musical family in Lubbock, Texas ...

, who included the song on his eponymous second album, and his version made the British singles chart in 1961, reaching no. 12. A 1983 re-release of the Elvis Presley version reached no. 61 on the UK singles chart. The song's narrator addresses the object of their affection, and points out all the ways that the addressee is square, how they are out of touch with modern trends in music and romance. Then the narrator tells the subject of the song that they love them in spite of, and maybe because of this.

Recordings

Other artists besides Presley who have recorded or played the song include: *

The Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatles, most influential band of al ...

played impromptu versions during the '' White Album'' sessions, in 1968 and the ''Get Back'' Sessions on January 7, 1969 * Carl Mann *

Cliff Richard Sir Cliff Richard (born Harry Rodger Webb; 14 October 1940) is an Indian-born British musican, singer, producer, entrepreneur and philanthropist who holds both British and Barbadian citizenship. He has total sales of over 21.5 million ...

Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. With a heavy, guitar-driven sound, they are ...

(during live medleys) *

Joni Mitchell Roberta Joan "Joni" Mitchell ( Anderson; born November 7, 1943) is a Canadian-American musician, producer, and painter. Among the most influential singer-songwriters to emerge from the 1960s folk music circuit, Mitchell became known for her st ...

included a cover of it on her album '' Wild Things Run Fast''. This version went to #47 on the US Hot 100. * Bobby Fuller * Don McLean * Scotty Moore * The Professionals *

Queen Queen or QUEEN may refer to: Monarchy * Queen regnant, a female monarch of a Kingdom ** List of queens regnant * Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king * Queen dowager, the widow of a king * Queen mother, a queen dowager who is the mother ...

, recorded live during their Magic Tour * Hüsker Dü, played live during the Spin Radio show, 28 August 1985 * Brian Setzer *

Ray Condo Ray Condo (May 16, 1950 – April 15, 2004), born Ray Tremblay, was a Canadian rockabilly singer, saxophonist, and guitarist. Biography Born Ray Tremblay in Hull, Quebec, Ray grew up in nearby Ottawa, Ontario, the third of five children. Ray's t ...

* Bobby Vee * Bryan Ferry *

The Primitives The Primitives are an English indie pop band from Coventry, best known for their 1988 international hit single "Crash". Formed in 1984, disbanded in 1992 and reformed in 2009, the band's two constant members throughout their recording caree ...

Billy Swan William Lance Swan (born May 12, 1942) is an American country singer-songwriter, best known for his 1974 single, "I Can Help". Biography Swan was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, United States. As a child, he learned drums, piano and guita ...

* Johnny Hallyday, French version, recorded 1961 titled "Sentimentale" *

Eddy Mitchell Claude Moine (; born 3 July 1942), known professionally as Eddy Mitchell, is a French singer and actor. He began his career in the late 1950s, with the group Les Chaussettes Noires (The Black Socks). He took the name ''Eddy'' from the American ...

, French version, recorded 1963 titled "Sentimental" *

Beccy Cole Beccy Cole (born Rebecca Diane Thompson, 27 October 1972), also known as Beccy Sturtzel, Rebecca Diane Albeck and Bec O'Donovan, is an Australian country music singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She has released ten studio albums, wi ...

recorded a version in 2010 for her album, '' Preloved''. *

Cee Lo Green Cee or CEE may refer to: * C, third letter of the Latin alphabet * Cee, Spain, A Coruña, Galicia * Center for Excellence in Education, US * Central and Eastern Europe Central and Eastern Europe is a term encompassing the countries in the ...

, on the 2011 compilation '' Rave On Buddy Holly'' *

Sam Hui Samuel Hui Koon-kit (born 6 September 1948), usually known as Sam Hui, is a Hong Kong musician, singer, songwriter and actor. He is credited with popularising Cantopop both via the infusion of Western-style music and his usage of vernacular Canto ...

, Cantonese version, recorded 1978, titled "咪當我老襯" *

John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist who achieved worldwide fame as founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of ...

, appeared on ''The Complete Lost Lennon Tapes'' as a home demo *

Glitter Band The Glitter Band are a glam rock band from England, who initially worked as Gary Glitter's backing band under that name from 1973, when they then began releasing records of their own. They were unofficially known as the Glittermen on the first fo ...

* Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, recorded at the Jive Hive in 1960 * Phil Seymour *

Jerry Only Gerald Caiafa Jr. (born April 21, 1959), better known by his stage name Jerry Only, is an American musician, best known as the bassist for the Misfits and later the vocalist as well. He is the only member to appear in every Misfits lineup. Bio ...

( Misfits bassist ), on his solo album Anti-Hero released in 2022

References

External links

*
Lyrics
of

's cover of "(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care" from '' Live at Wembley '86'', from Queen official website. 1957 songs Buddy Holly songs Cliff Richard songs Elvis Presley songs Pop standards Songs written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller Songs written for films {{1950s-pop-song-stub