Jump to content

Gwen Stefani: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Line 120: Line 120:
*2001: "[[Let Me Blow Ya Mind]]" with [[Eve (rapper)|Eve]]
*2001: "[[Let Me Blow Ya Mind]]" with [[Eve (rapper)|Eve]]
*2005: "[[Can I Have It Like That]]" with [[Pharrell]]
*2005: "[[Can I Have It Like That]]" with [[Pharrell]]
*2015: "[[AHR Forever]]" with [[Las Cholas]]
{{col-2}}


===Singles===
===Singles===

Revision as of 18:18, 4 May 2007

Gwen Stefani

Gwen Renée Stefani (born October 3, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, fashion designer and occasional actress. Stefani debuted in 1992 as the frontwoman of the third wave ska band No Doubt. The group's album Tragic Kingdom (1995) propelled them to stardom and sold more than fifteen million copies worldwide. It spawned the singles "Just a Girl", "Spiderwebs", and the airplay number-one "Don't Speak". The band's popularity went into decline with its third album Return of Saturn (2000), but Rock Steady (2001) introduced dancehall and reggae production into its music, which generally received positive reviews.

Stefani recorded her first solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. in 2004. The album contains pop and dance tracks and influence from hip hop and R&B. Its third single "Hollaback Girl" became the first U.S. digital download to exceed sales of one million and "Cool" was one of 2005's most popular radio singles. The Sweet Escape (2006), Stefani's second solo album, was preceded by the single "Wind It Up".

In the media, Stefani is known as a fashion trendsetter,[1] and she debuted her clothing line, L.A.M.B., in 2003. It includes many accessories as well as jackets and jeans and she is producing new material set for an early 2007 release.[2]

Early life

Gwen Stefani was born and raised in Fullerton, California,[3] and grew up in a Roman Catholic household.[4] Her mother named her Gwen after a stewardess in the best-selling 1968 novel Airport, and her middle name, Renée, comes from The Left Banke's 1968 song "Walk Away Renée".[5] Her father, Dennis Stefani, is Italian American and works as a Yamaha marketing executive.[6][7] Her mother Patti Flynn is of Irish and Scottish descent and worked as an accountant before becoming a homemaker.[6][7] She has a sister, Jill, and two brothers, Eric and Todd.[6] As a child, Stefani's musical interests consisted of musicals such as The Sound of Music and Evita.[4] Stefani was on the swim team at Loara High School and graduated in 1987.[8][9] She then attended California State University, Fullerton.[10] Her first job was scrubbing floors at a Dairy Queen, and she once worked at the makeup counter of a department store.[11] Her brother Eric was the keyboardist for No Doubt, but left the band to pursue a career in animation on The Simpsons.[3]

Career

1986–present: No Doubt

File:Gwen-Stefani.jpg
Stefani performing with No Doubt in 2002.

Eric introduced Gwen to 2 Tone music by Madness and The Selecter, and in 1986 he invited her to provide vocals for No Doubt.[3] The band released its self-titled debut album in 1992, which was a commercial failure.[12] No Doubt's third album Tragic Kingdom (1995), which followed the self-released The Beacon Street Collection (1995), took more than three years to make. During this time, the band almost split up because of the failed romantic relationship between Stefani and bandmate Tony Kanal.[13] Their break-up inspired Stefani lyrically, and some of the album's songs, such as "Don't Speak", "Sunday Morning", and "Hey You", chronicled their relationship and her happiness.[14] Five singles were released from Tragic Kingdom and "Don't Speak" led 1996's U.S. year-end airplay chart.[15] The album sold more than sixteen million copies worldwide,[4] and received several Grammy Award nominations.[16]

No Doubt released the less popular Return of Saturn in 2000, which expanded upon the New Wave influences of Tragic Kingdom.[17] On the album, Stefani discussed her often rocky relationship with then-Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale and her overall insecurities, including indecision on settling down and having a child.[18] The band's 2001 album Rock Steady explored more reggae and dancehall sounds while maintaining the band's New Wave influences, generally receiving positive reviews from music critics.[19] The album generated career-highest singles chart positions in the United States,[20] and "Hey Baby" and "Underneath It All" received Grammy Awards. A greatest hits collection, The Singles 1992-2003 (2003), which includes a cover of Talk Talk's "It's My Life", was released to moderate sales. The other members of No Doubt have begun work on a new album[21] and plan to complete it after Stefani's tour is finished.[22]

Outside No Doubt, Stefani has collaborated on the singles "South Side" and "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" with Moby and Eve, respectively. In 2002 Eve and Stefani won a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Let Me Blow Ya Mind".[23] She also collaborated with The Brian Setzer Orchestra on a cover of "You're the Boss", originally performed by Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret, for its 1998 album The Dirty Boogie.

2004–2006: Love. Angel. Music. Baby.

Template:Sound sample box align right Template:Multi-listen start Template:Multi-listen item Template:Multi-listen item Template:Multi-listen end Template:Sample box end

Stefani's debut solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. was released in November 2004. The album features a large number of collaborations with producers and other artists, including Kanal, Linda Perry, OutKast's André 3000, and The Neptunes. Stefani created the album to modernize the music to which she listened when in high school, and L.A.M.B. takes influence from a variety of music styles of the 1980s and early 1990s such as New Wave, new jack swing, and electro.[24] The album debuted on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart at number seven, selling 309,000 copies in its first week.[25] It sold well, reaching multi-platinum status in the United States,[26] the United Kingdom,[27] Australia,[28] and Canada.[29] At the 2005 Grammy Awards, Stefani was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance,[30] and at the next year's awards, Stefani received five nominations for Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.[31]

Stefani performing "Hollaback Girl" in November 2005.

The first single released from the album was "What You Waiting For?", which only reached number forty-seven in the U.S. but reached the top ten in most other charts.[32] "Rich Girl" was released as the album's second single. A duet with rapper Eve, and produced by Dr. Dre, it is an adaptation of a 1990s pop song by British musicians Louchie Lou and Michie One, which itself is a cover of "If I Were a Rich Man", from the musical Fiddler on the Roof. "Rich Girl" proved successful on several formats, and reached the UK and U.S. top ten.[33] L.A.M.B.'s third single "Hollaback Girl" became Stefani's first U.S. and second Australian number-one single; it was less successful elsewhere.[34] The song was the first U.S. digital download to sell more than one million copies legally, and its brass-driven composition remained popular throughout 2005.[35]

Stefani performing "Luxurious" in November 2005.

The fourth single "Cool" was released shortly following the popularity of its predecessor, but failed to match its chart success, reaching the UK and U.S. top twenty.[36] The song's lyrics and its accompanying music video, filmed in Lake Como, Italy, depict Stefani's former relationship with Tony Kanal.[37] "Luxurious" was released as the album's fifth single, but did not perform as well as its predecessors. "Crash" was released in early 2006 as the album's sixth single in lieu of Love. Angel. Music. Baby.'s sequel, which Stefani postponed because of her pregnancy.[38]

Harajuku Girls

Stefani performing with the Harajuku Girls on the Harajuku Lovers Tour 2005.

The release of Stefani's first solo album brought attention to her entourage of four Harajuku Girls, named for the area around the Harajuku Station of Tokyo, Japan. Stefani treats the back-up dancers, who are usually flamboyantly dressed, as a figment of her imagination.[39] They were featured in her music videos, press coverage, and on the album cover for Love. Angel. Music. Baby., and have a song dedicated to them on the album. They were also featured in, and the namesake for, Stefani's Harajuku Lovers Tour 2005.

Stefani's adoption of this component of Japanese culture drew accusations of racism. Salon magazine stated that she had "swallowed a subversive youth culture in Japan and barfed up another image of submissive giggling Asian women".[40] Stand-up comic Margaret Cho has labeled the Harajuku Girls as a "minstrel show" that reinforces ethnic stereotypes of Asian women.[41] The Village Voice rebuked Stefani for contractual obligations that the four not speak English though they are fluent, and stated that "silencing people is the epitome of taking away their autonomy and subjectivity, even if Gwen Stefani thinks her silent Japanese fashionistas are part of an awesome and empowering counterculture."[42]

2006–present: The Sweet Escape

Template:Sound sample box align right Template:Multi-listen start Template:Multi-listen item Template:Multi-listen item Template:Multi-listen end Template:Sample box end

Stefani's second solo album The Sweet Escape was released on December 4, 2006 outside North America and on December 5, 2006 in North America. Stefani recollaborated with Kanal, Perry, and the Neptunes along with Akon ("The Sweet Escape", on which he is featured) and Tim Rice-Oxley ("Early Winter"). The album focuses more heavily on dance music for clubs than its predecessor.[7] Its release coincided with the DVD release of Stefani's first tour, entitled Harajuku Lovers Live. The album received mixed reviews by critics, who said that the album "has a surprisingly moody, lightly autobiographical feel...[but] Stefani isn't convincing as a dissatisfied diva"[43] and called the album a "hasty return" that does "the same thing she did last time, except it's not as much fun".[44]

"Wind It Up", the album's lead single, was panned by critics for its use of yodeling and an interpolation of a song from The Sound of Music[45] but was moderately successful, reaching the top twenty in most markets.[46] The title track was well-received and topped the United World Chart.[47] To promote The Sweet Escape, Stefani was a mentor on the sixth season of American Idol and performed the song with Akon. Stefani will be embarking on the international Sweet Escape Tour starting in April 2007, along with opening acts Akon and Lady Sovereign. The tour will visit North America, Central America, Australia, Asia and Europe.[48]

Non-musical projects

File:Gwenharlow.jpg
Stefani as Jean Harlow in the film The Aviator (2004).

Stefani has created a fashion line, named L.A.M.B., which showcases clothing and accessories that she is often seen wearing herself.[49] Tony Kanal donated an x-ray of his broken finger as an image for L.A.M.B. t-shirts.[50] In late 2006, Gwen Stefani released a limited edition line of dolls called "Love. Angel. Music. Baby. Fashion dolls". The dolls are inspired by the various costumes that Stefani and the Harajuku Girls wore while touring for the album.[51] In June 2005, she expanded her collection with the less expensive Harajuku Lovers line, with varied products including a camera, baby clothes, mobile phone charms, and undergarments.[52]

In 2004, Stefani showed interest in making film appearances[53] and began auditioning for films such as Mr. and Mrs. Smith.[54] She made her acting debut playing Jean Harlow in that year's Martin Scorsese movie The Aviator. Shooting her part took four to five days, and Stefani had few lines.[55] Stefani lent her voice to the title character of Malice, a PS2 and Xbox video game; before completion, however, the company opted not to use No Doubt band-members' voices.[56] Stefani is not set to appear in any forthcoming films in the near future.

Personal life

FUPA FUPA rules. Gwen is a pretzel and the guys are her salt.

Stefani's ex-boyfriend and bandmate Tony Kanal

Stefani had a crush on Kanal when he joined the band, but Kanal initially rejected her because her older brother was in the band and Kanal felt it was an unspoken rule that no one of the band date her.[10] The two eventually began dating and were "inseparable" by the early 1990s.[10] Stefani stated that she was heavily invested in the relationship, commenting that "all I ever did was look at Tony and pray that God would let me have a baby with him."[9] Kanal ended the relationship because he said that he needed "space".[57]

During her time with No Doubt, the band toured with ska punk band Reel Big Fish, whose frontman, Aaron Barrett, later wrote the song "She's Famous Now" for Reel Big Fish's 1998 album Why Do They Rock So Hard?. The song is commonly interpreted to be about a relationship between the two and Stefani's subsequent success with No Doubt;[58] however, Barrett later stated that he "was just trying to start a rumor".[59]

Stefani's husband Gavin Rossdale

In December 1995, Stefani met Bush guitarist and lead singer Gavin Rossdale at a No Doubt concert, and the two became involved in a long distance relationship.[60] The couple has kept details about its relationship private, avoiding talking to journalists together.[60] They married in 2002, with a wedding in St Paul's Church in Covent Garden, London.[61] A second wedding was held in Los Angeles, California two weeks later.[61] According to Stefani, it was held so that she could wear a custom-designed wedding dress by British-Gibraltarian fashion designer John Galliano.[62] The couple discovered in 2004 that Rossdale had an illegitimate daughter Daisy with model Pearl Lowe when Rossdale took a paternity test.[63]

In December 2005, Stefani and Rossdale announced that they were expecting their first child together. The pregnancy was first reported by Us Weekly, and Stefani confirmed the pregnancy by shouting "I want you to sing so loud that the baby hears it" during a concert in Fort Lauderdale, Florida after her press agent stated that it was untrue.[63] On May 26, 2006, their son, Kingston James McGregor Rossdale, was born via caesarean section at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.[64] Kingston weighed 3.4 kilograms (7 pounds, 5 ounces).[65] Stefani plans to have another baby.[66]

Image

Stefani performing in November 2005.

Stefani is often identified by her unique appearance. During No Doubt's breakthrough, Stefani appeared in the band's first three music videos wearing a bindi, a forehead decoration most common in Asia, and briefly popularized the accessory in 1997.[67] First attracting attention in the "Just a Girl" music video, Stefani is known for her midriff and frequently wears shirts that expose it.[68] Stefani's makeup design generally includes light face powder, bright red lipstick, and arched eyebrows, and she wrote a song titled "Magic's in the Makeup" about her makeup for No Doubt's Return of Saturn.[4]

Stefani is a natural brunette, though her hair has not been its natural color since Stefani was in ninth grade.[69] Since then, she has had platinum blonde hair. Stefani discussed this in the song "Platinum Blonde Life" on Rock Steady and played original blonde bombshell Jean Harlow in 2004.[70] Stefani also dyed her hair blue in 1998[67] and pink in 2000,[71] appearing on the cover of Return of Saturn with pink hair.

In 2006, Stefani modified her image, inspired by that of Elvira Hancock, a rich coke whore portrayed by Michelle Pfeiffer in the 1983 film Scarface.[67] Stefani raised concerns in January 2007 about her rapid weight loss following her pregnancy. She stated she lost the weight through diet and exercise but admitted to obsessing over her weight due to the size zero trend.[72] She later stated that she had been on a diet since the sixth grade to fit in size 4 clothing, commenting, "It's an ongoing battle and it's a nightmare. But I like clothes too much, and I always wanted to wear the outfits I would make."[73]

Discography

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Back in Love: "Fashionistas". MuchMoreMusic programming. Original airdate: September 2006. Retrieved November 13, 2006.
  2. ^ "Backstage at Gwen's L.A.M.B. Show!". Entertainment Tonight. September 16, 2006. Retrieved November 13, 2006.
  3. ^ a b c Jeffries, David. "Gwen Stefani > Biography". All Music Guide. Retrieved April 14, 2007.
  4. ^ a b c d Van Meter, Jonathan. "The First Lady of Rock". Vogue (April 2004). Retrieved from Style.com April 16, 2007.
  5. ^ Entertainment Weekly, issue 910. Page 94, sidebar. December 8, 2006
  6. ^ a b c "Gwen Stefani - Profile". E!. Retrieved April 16, 2007.
  7. ^ a b c "Escape Artist". ELLE, issue 258, page 220. February 7, 2007. Retrieved January 25, 2007.
  8. ^ Hancock, Noelle. "Gwen Talks Blobs and Plastic Surgery". Us Weekly. January 30, 2007. Retrieved April 27, 2007.
  9. ^ a b "'I'll cry just talking about it'". The Observer. January 30, 2005. Retrieved from Guardian Unlimited April 16, 2007.
  10. ^ a b c "Gwen Stefani". Hello!. Retrieved April 16, 2007.
  11. ^ "Gwen Stefani". It's Good to Be... E! Entertainment Television. March 28, 2004.
  12. ^ Bush, John. "No Doubt > Biography". All Music Guide. Retrieved April 14, 2007.
  13. ^ Ali, Lorraine. "It's My Life". Newsweek. 2004. Retrieved April 17, 2007.
  14. ^ "Gwen & Tony: Still Cool". CHUM Limited. July 19, 2005. Retrieved January 25, 2007.
  15. ^ "Billboard Year-End Chart-Toppers: 1997". Rock on the Net. Retrieved April 17, 2007.
  16. ^ Bush, John. List of Grammy award nominations, 1998. CNN. Retrieved April 30, 2007.
  17. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Return of Saturn > Review". All Music Guide. Retrieved April 27, 2007.
  18. ^ Willman, Chris. "Future Tense?". Entertainment Weekly, issue 539. May 12, 2000. Retrieved April 27, 2007.
  19. ^ Cinquemani, Sal. "Music Review: No Doubt: Rock Steady". Slant Magazine. 2004. Retrieved April 30, 2007.
  20. ^ "No Doubt > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". All Music Guide. Retrieved April 17, 2007.
  21. ^ Vineyard, Jennifer and Richard, Yasmine. "No Doubt — Minus Gwen — In Early Stages Of New Album". MTV News. May 12, 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2006.
  22. ^ Cohen, Jonathan. "Stefani: No Timetable For No Doubt Reunion". Billboard. December 12, 2006. Retrieved December 31, 2006.
  23. ^ Armor, Jerry. "Alicia Keys, U2 Big Winners At 44th Annual Grammy Awards". Yahoo! Music News. February 28, 2002. Retrieved April 30, 2007.
  24. ^ Vineyard, Jennifer. "Gwen Stefani: Scared Solo". MTV News. Retrieved April 23, 2007.
  25. ^ Whitmire, Margo. "U2's 'Bomb' Explodes At No. 1". Billboard. December 1, 2004. Retrieved March 13, 2007.
  26. ^ Hooper, Joseph. "Escape Artist". ELLE. Retrieved April 23, 2007.
  27. ^ "Platinum Awards Content". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 23, 2007.
  28. ^ "Accreditations - 2005 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved April 23, 2007.
  29. ^ "Gold & Platinum Certification". Canadian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved April 23, 2007.
  30. ^ "47th Grammy winners and nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 27, 2007.
  31. ^ "ASCAP Members Receive Multiple Nominations for the 48th Annual Grammy Awards. American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers. Retrieved February 27, 2007.
  32. ^ "Gwen Stefani - What You Waiting For?: Charts". Music Square. Retrieved April 17, 2007.
  33. ^ "Gwen Stefani and Eve - Rich Girl: Charts". Music Square. Retrieved April 17, 2007.
  34. ^ "Gwen Stefani - Hollaback Girl: Charts". Music Square. Retrieved April 17, 2007.
  35. ^ Hiatt, Brian. "Stefani, Peas Lead Singles Boom". Rolling Stone. January 19, 2006. Retrieved April 17, 2007.
  36. ^ "Gwen Stefani - Cool: Charts". Music Square. Retrieved April 17, 2007.
  37. ^ Vineyard, Jennifer. "Gwen Stefani's Song About Tony Kanal To Be Her Next Single". MTV News. June 21, 2005. Retrieved April 27, 2007.
  38. ^ Vineyard, Jennifer. "Gwen Stefani Confirms Pregnancy While Onstage In Florida". MTV News. December 24, 2005. Retrieved April 17, 2007.
  39. ^ Collis, Clark. "Holla Back". Entertainment Weekly, issue 909. November 22, 2006. Retrieved April 17, 2007.
  40. ^ Ahn, Mihi. Gwenihana Gwen Stefani neuters Japanese street fashion Salon.com. April 9, 2005. Retrieved March 16, 2006.
  41. ^ Cho, Margaret. "Harajuku Girls". October 31, 2005. Retrieved March 24, 2007.
  42. ^ Ishii, Anne. "English as a Second Language". The Village Voice. January 3, 2006. Retrieved April 17, 2007.
  43. ^ "The Sweet Escape". Entertainment Weekly. December 1, 2006. Retrieved January 9, 2007.
  44. ^ Sheffield, Rob. "Album Reviews". Rolling Stone. December 12, 2006. Retrieved January 9, 2007.
  45. ^ Macia, Peter. "Gwen Stefani: 'Wind It Up' [Track Review]". Pitchfork Media. October 25, 2006. Retrieved April 29, 2007.
  46. ^ "Billboard Hot 100 (46/2006): Charts". Music Square. Retrieved April 29, 2007.
  47. ^ "Gwen Stefani and Akon - The Sweet Escape: Charts". Music Square. Retrieved April 30, 2007.
  48. ^ Cohen, Jonathan. "Gwen Stefani Unveils Solo Tour Dates". Billboard. December 1, 2006. Retrieved April 17, 2007.
  49. ^ Eliscu, Jenny. "Gwen Cuts Loose". Rolling Stone, issue 966. January 27, 2005. Retrieved April 17, 2005.
  50. ^ Fraser M. "Can You Digit?". BBC. August 9, 2005. Retrieved March 21, 2007.
  51. ^ Associated Press. "Gwen Stefani Brings Style to Doll World". September 6, 2006. Retrieved from ABC News April 17, 2007.
  52. ^ Freydkin, Donna. "Designing is a snap". USA Today. May 16, 2005. Retrieved April 16, 2007.
  53. ^ "News Uncut: Short stories on P. Diddy, Gwen Stefani, Erasure, The Raveonettes, Eminem & more". MTV News. November 4, 2004. Retrieved March 21, 2007.
  54. ^ "Gwen Stefani Bares All in Elle Tell-All". ExtraTV. January 30, 2007. Retrieved March 21, 2007.
  55. ^ Associated Press. "Have no fear, No Doubt still here". May 4, 2004. Retrieved from USA Today April 17, 2007.
  56. ^ Hwang, Kaiser. "Remember Malice?". IGN. January 23, 2004. Retrieved March 16, 2007.
  57. ^ Born to Be. MuchMusic programming. Original airdate: March 2006. Retrieved November 13, 2006.
  58. ^ Kamps, Garrett. "Our Live Album Is Better Than Your Live Album". Rhapsody. 2006. Retrieved December 25, 2006.
  59. ^ Backus, Paul. "Reel Big Fish Show Ska is Still Rockin'". New University. Volume 40, Issue 8. November 6, 2006. Retrieved January 5, 2006.
  60. ^ a b Strauss, Neil. "No Doubt's Anniversary Party". Rolling Stone. January 31, 2002. Retrieved April 17, 2007.
  61. ^ a b Springer, Debra. "Gwen Stefani: I'm Pregnant". People. December 21, 2005. Retrieved April 16, 2007.
  62. ^ Levy, Ariel. "The Coronation of Gwen Stefani". Blender. December 2004. Retrieved April 16, 2007.
  63. ^ a b Vineyard, Jennifer. "Gwen Stefani Confirms Pregnancy While Onstage In Florida". MTV News. December 24, 2005. Retrieved April 16, 2005.
  64. ^ "Latest News: Gwen Stefani's Baby, No Charge for Proof's Killer". Rolling Stone. May 30, 2006. Retrieved April 16, 2007.
  65. ^ "Baby boy for Stefani". Associated Press. May 27, 2006. Retrieved from The Sydney Morning Herald April 16, 2007.
  66. ^ Silverman, Stephen M. "Gwen Stefani 'Prays' for Another Baby". People. December 18, 2006. Retrieved April 17, 2007.
  67. ^ a b c Laine, Tricia. "Gwen Vogue". Entertainment Weekly, issue 454. October 16, 1998. Retrieved April 17, 2007.
  68. ^ "I Love 1996". Stylus Magazine. September 8, 2004. Retrieved April 17, 2007.
  69. ^ Toht, Betony. "Transformation". In Style. Retrieved April 28, 2007.
  70. ^ Wloszczyna, Susan. "Beckinsale, a beauty who battles beasts". USA Today. April 26, 2004. Retrieved April 17, 2007.
  71. ^ Greenblatt, Leah. "La Vie en Rose". Entertainment Weekly. March 16, 2007. Retrieved April 17, 2007.
  72. ^ "Gwen Stefani admits to her 'obsession with weight'". Daily Mail. January 30, 2007. Retrieved February 18, 2007.
  73. ^ Corcoran, Liz. "Gwen Stefani: 'I've Always Been on a Diet'". People. April 12, 2007. Retrieved April 17, 2007.

External links

Template:Persondata