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Cool (Gwen Stefani song)

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"Cool" is a pop song written by American singer-songwriter Gwen Stefani and Dallas Austin for Stefani's debut solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby (2004). The song's musical style, and its production by Austin, was heavily inspired by music from the 1980s, and its lyrics chronicle a relationship in which two lovers have separated, but remain "cool" with each other and good friends. It received praise from critics, and parallels have been drawn by the media between the lyrical content of "Cool" and the real-life relationship Stefani had with Tony Kanal, a fellow group member of Stefani's in No Doubt. It was released as a single in 2005 (see 2005 in music), and although it failed to match the chart success of its predecessor "Hollaback Girl", which reached number one in several countries, "Cool" is considered to be a worldwide hit as it reached number one in Canada, the top ten in Australia, and the top twenty in the United Kingdom and the United States, where it became Stefani's fifth top-twenty single.

Composition and meaning

"Cool" is a mid-tempo love song featuring numerous woodwind instruments and new wave production, with lyrics reflecting Stefani's past relationship with No Doubt bassist, Tony Kanal. Although their romantic relationship ended, Stefani's lyrics portray her attitude that it is "cool" that they still remain very good and close friends. Stefani and Kanal's relationship had previously provided the inspiration for No Doubt's 1995 number-one Billboard Hot 100 Airplay and worldwide single, "Don't Speak". However, whereas "Cool" presents a solid friendship between former lovers, "Don't Speak" is about a failing relationship and never arrives at a solution for the couple. Stefani and Kanal play the roles of the characters in both songs.

When asked about the song, Stefani responded, "Dallas Austin heard my song 'Underneath It All' and got inspired to write a new song called 'Cool', which he could never finish about his girlfriend and all the bullshit of breaking up, and how he wanted it to be okay. We finished the thing in fifteen minutes. I didn't write all of the melody—I'm ashamed, I want to say that I did—but I also know how magical it is that somebody could be so inspired by my song that they write one."[1]

The lyrics of "Cool" describe a relationship that ended amicably. As Austin had wanted to write a song about the aftermath of his failed relationship, the lyrics recall a romantic relationship that once existed, from the point of view of someone who has moved past the relationship, with Stefani mentioning that she has found new love. The lyrics suggest a progression through a turbulent time to a mutual understanding that takes their relationship to a level of respect. As the word "cool" is one of the most ubiquitous slang terms in modern Western culture, the frequent use of the word throughout the song provides an easily recognisable affirmation to the song's listeners. Although the word has various applications its use in this song conveys a simple and positive message that the two people are okay with themselves, and with each other.

File:CoolCap3.JPG
The song's lyrics and music video present Stefani as "cool" with her former boyfriend and his girlfriend.

Stefani sums up the evolution of their relationship with the line "after all that we've been through, I know we're cool". They are now "hanging out" with his new girlfriend, amid "circles and triangles", while she has married and is pleased that he calls her by her "new last name".

"And I'll be happy for you
If you can be happy for me
Circles and triangles, and now we're
Hanging out with your new girlfriend"
"So far from where we've been
I know we're cool"

The lyrics of "Don't Speak" and "Cool" create a timeline of the events that occurred between Gwen Stefani and Tony Kanal during and between the years of 1994 to 2004; this includes their association in the band No Doubt, while maintaining a personal relationship.

Critical response

"Cool" received a generally positive response from music critics. LAUNCHcast's Jennifer Nine hailed the song as "a liltingly sweet paean to post-break-up friendships",[2] while All Music Guide wrote that the "high school anthem-in-waiting" exuded "sleek, new wave textures."[3] Richard Smirke commented that the song successfully used the same formula as its fellow album tracks "What You Waiting For?" and "Serious", describing it as a "crisp blend of edgy 21C production and early 80s Madonna-esque pop."[4]

Jason Damas, in a review for PopMatters, characterized the song as "a slippery slice of keyboard driven new wave pop that easily could've slotted into any No Doubt album...pitched halfway between The Go-Gos and Cyndi Lauper, but after each chorus there's a string of 'Uh-Oh-Uh-Uh-Oh' backing vocals that sound as if they were lifted straight out of Fleetwood Mac's 'Everywhere'", and added "the lyrics immediately ensure it will be sung along to by lonely 16-year-olds."[5] Other reviews commented on the 80s sound of the song, with Bill Lamb of About.com proclaiming it to be "Gwen's lost Cyndi Lauper tune...[it] has the same warm, reflective feel of major [Lauper] hits in the 80's such as 'Time After Time' and 'All Through the Night'." Lamb also felt that it "doesn't immediately grab attention like her other singles".[6] A note of dissent came from Eric Greenwood, who said the song "is retrofitted with stale synths and chugging guitars to be a feel good, post-break up classic but with dorkier lyrics than even Cyndi Lauper would dare."[7]

Chart performance

File:CoolCap2.JPG
The music video includes flashbacks to Stefani and Kanal as their relationship ends.

Although "Cool" was officially released to radio on July 5, 2005 in North America, it charted a week early on the Billboard Pop 100 Airplay chart, debuting within the top fifty. The song later reached number ten, and number nine on its official equivalent, the Billboard Pop 100. The following week, the song debuted at number eighty-six in its first official week on the Billboard Hot 100, the main U.S. chart. It peaked at number thirteen in its eighth week on the chart, and remained in the top forty until its sixteenth week. "Cool" peaked within the top twenty on the majority of the U.S. Billboard charts on which it appeared, including the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay (the Hot 100's component chart). However, it only reached number thirty-nine on the Adult Contemporary chart, its lowest Billboard peak, and did not chart on the Dance Radio Airplay chart, despite reaching the top five of the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. It also reached the top ten of the ARC Weekly Top 40, a non-Billboard chart.

The song debuted higher on the Canadian charts than in those of the U.S., entering at number thirty-five. "Cool" moved up the Canadian charts slowly, jumping only to number thirty in its second week. Just over three months after its release, it reached number one on October 8, and remained at number one for the following two weeks. The success of "Cool" in Canada surpassed the peak of "Hollaback Girl"'s predecessor, "Rich Girl", whereas in the United States, "Rich Girl" peaked higher than "Cool". The differences in the chart positions are often seen due to population—the U.S. population is greater than Canada's tenfold, but despite this, "Cool" was more popular in Canada.

After some success in North America, "Cool" was released in Europe and Australia on August 22, 2005. The first two singles from Love. Angel. Music. Baby., "What You Waiting For?" and "Rich Girl", had both reached number four in the United Kingdom, but "Hollaback Girl", the worldwide hit, had only managed number eight. "Cool" debuted at number eleven to become Stefani's fourth top twenty U.K. single, but it was her first to not peak within the top ten. Stefani's previous singles had charted most strongly in Australia, where "What You Waiting For?" and "Hollaback Girl" both debuted at number one, and "Rich Girl" peaked at number two. "Cool" debuted at number ten before quickly slipping from the top forty, however its widespread airplay and Stefani's concurrent promotional visit to Australia stimulated a resurgence of interest in the Love. Angel. Music. Baby album, which began to climb the charts again. In China and the Netherlands the song entered the top five, but it was only a modest hit in Germany, where it reached number twenty.

Music video

File:CoolCap1.JPG
The music video expands upon the themes in the song by showing that at moments, Stefani is actually "uncool".

The music video for "Cool" was directed by Sophie Muller, and was shot in Lake Como, Italy. It follows the theme of the song very closely, showing the relationship that Stefani has with her former boyfriend, Tony Kanal, who is played by Daniel Gonzalez. Gonzalez is seen walking with his girlfriend (who is played by Kanal's girlfriend, Erin Lokitz) to a house. Stefani answers the door, and the three of them are seen in each other's company, with intercut scenes of Stefani rolling around on a bed. There are brief flashbacks to the time when Stefani and Kanal were dating, where she wears a brunette wig, representing her younger self, as her natural brown hair has not been seen since she was twelve-years-old. Although the lyrical theme of "Cool" is maintained within the video, shots are also incorporated to show Stefani feeling "uncool". For the majority of the video, she is shown as being "cool" with her former boyfriend and his girlfriend, but there are also moments where she thinks about the past when she was dating Kanal, and is depicted as uncomfortable.

The video showcases the scenery of Lake Como's restaurants, forests, and lakes. It is also the first video of Stefani's that does not feature her Harajuku Girls, who were present throughout most of the promotion of Love. Angel. Music. Baby. The complete version of "Cool" heard in the music video has not been released commercially and features an orchestral arrangement that differs from the 1980s musical style of the single or album versions. "Cool" premiered on top-ten music video chart program Total Request Live on June 30, 2005, reaching a peak of number two, and also peaked at number two on VH1's Top 20 Video Countdown. After debuting at number thirty on MuchMusic's Countdown, it climbed to number one for a single week three months later.

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Cool". For reasons that have not been confirmed, the U.S. digital single was deleted from iTunes and other online music stores shortly after its release. It was the first digital single to ever be deleted.

U.S. digital single

  1. "Cool (Photek Remix)"
  2. "Cool (Richard X Remix)"

International CD single

  1. "Cool (Album Version)"
  2. "Cool (Photek Remix)"
  3. "Hollaback Girl (Dancehollaback Remix by Tony Kanal)"
  4. "Cool" (CD-ROM music video)

Sample

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Charts

Week-by-week chart positions (click image to view data in tabular form). "Cool" peaked at number thirteen in the U.S., and reached number one in Canada.
Chart Position (2005)
U.S. Singles Chart #13
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Airplay #19
U.S. Pop 100 #9
U.S. Pop 100 Airplay #10
U.S. Hot Digital Songs #12
U.S. Hot Digital Tracks #10
U.S. Top 40 Mainstream #9
U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play* #4
U.S. Adult Top 40 #4
U.S. Adult Contemporary #39
U.S. ARC Weekly Top 40 #6
Canadian Singles Chart #1
U.K. Singles Chart #11
Australian ARIA Singles Chart #10
Chinese Singles Chart #3
German Singles Chart #20
Netherlands Singles Chart #4
Slovak Republic Airplay Chart #1
World Chart Show #1

* (Richard X/Photek Mixes).

Notes

  1. ^ Cool. NoDoubtWeb.com. Retrieved Oct. 25, 2005.
  2. ^ Nine, Jennifer. Gwen Stefani - 'Love, Angel, Music, Baby'. LAUNCHcast. November 25, 2004. Retrieved Oct. 25, 2005.
  3. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Love.Angel.Music.Baby. All Music Guide. Retrieved Oct. 25, 2005.
  4. ^ Smirke, Richard. Love. Angel. Music. Baby.. PlayLouder. November 23, 2004. Retrieved Oct. 25, 2005.
  5. ^ Damas, Jason. GWEN STEFANI - Love.Angel.Music.Baby.. PopMatters. November 29, 2004. Retrieved Oct. 25, 2005.
  6. ^ Lamb, Bill.Gwen Stefani - Cool. About.com. Retrieved Oct. 25, 2005.
  7. ^ Greenwood, Eric. Gwen Stefani - Love Angel Music Baby. DrawerB. Retrieved Oct. 25, 2005.

References

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