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Cool (Gwen Stefani song)

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"Cool"
Song

"Cool" is a song recorded by pop singer Gwen Stefani. It was released as the album's fourth single in the United States radio on July 2005. The song was written and composed by Dallas Austin and Stefani for her debut solo album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (2004). It was originally written by Austin basing himself on No Doubt's "Simple Kind of Life", but he did not finish the song. He then asked for help to Stefani, and they finished the song in fifteen minutes. The single's musical style and production were inspired by pop and new wave arrangements from the 1980s, and its lyrics chronicle a relationship in which two lovers have separated, but remain "cool" with each other as good friends.

The single received generally positive reviews from music critics, being compared to Cyndi Lauper and Madonna 80s songs. The media have drawn parallels between the song's lyrical content and the romantic relationship that Stefani had with Tony Kanal, a fellow group member of No Doubt. The song was moderately well-received on world charts, reaching the top ten in Australia, the Czech Republic and New Zealand, as well as the top twenty in countries such as Denmark, Ireland, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The music video was filmed by British director Sophie Muller in Lake Como, Italy. On it features many flashbacks of when Stefani and her former boyfriend were dating, and nowadays, both are "cool" about their friendship. The song was included on the setlist for Stefani's debut tour Harajuku Lovers Tour 2005, the tour's video album and the New Zealander compilation album Now! Vol, 20.

Writing and composition

"Cool" was originally written by Dallas Austin after listening to No Doubt's "Underneath It All" (2002).[2] Austin commented that he was trying to do his version of No Doubt's "Simple Kind of Life", but he was unable to finish the song. He later asked Stefani if she wanted to co–write lyrics.[2][3] During a studio session together, they finished "Cool" in fifteen minutes. Stefani commented "When he told me about the track and where it came from for him, it just triggered something in me".[3] The lyrics of "Cool" reflect Stefani's former relationship with No Doubt bassist Tony Kanal.[3][4] Although their romantic relationship ended, the lyrics portray Stefani's attitude that it is "cool" that they still remain very good friends.[3][4] Stefani and Kanal's relationship had provided the inspiration for No Doubt's "Don't Speak" (1996),[5] and while "Cool" presents an amicable friendship between former lovers,[3] "Don't Speak" is about a failing relationship and never arrives at a solution for the couple.[5] Stefani said that she had never intended to include "personal" material on Love. Angel. Music. Baby., and commented, "but no matter what you do, things just come out. It just ended this whole thing for me in my head, and it puts an end to a chapter in a really nice way".[3] The lyrics "Cool" sums up the evolution of their relationship with the line "After all that we've been through, I know we're cool".[1]

"Cool"
A 19 seconds sample from "Cool" which plays the bridge, where Stefani sings the line "It's such a miracle that you and me are still good friends/ After all that we've been through, I know we're cool".
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Cool" is a mid-tempo love song featuring a new wave production. The single is composed in D major.[6] It is written in common time, it moves at a moderate tempo of 112 beats per minute, and it has a vocal range from the tone of F♯3 to the note of C♯5.[6] The song is written in the common verse-chorus form,[6] featuring five instruments: bass guitar, drums, guitar, keyboards and synthesizer.[1] "Cool" opens with all five instruments, and as Stefani begins singing, the synthesizer is lowered, and the hard-hitting drum beat steadily increases in volume.[6] She performs her highest pitch (C♯5) during the chorus, after which she sings in a softer, almost sotto voice, and her lowest pitch (E3) at the beginning of the verses.[6] The synthesizer emulates brass and woodwind instruments, while the bass and guitar retain a prominent and regular eighth note pulse, using a I–IV–V chord progression for the verses. In the percussion section a drum kit is used, and the snare is introduced at the beginning of the first chorus, which maintains its beat. During the song's fade-out, Stefani repeats "I know we're cool" and "yeah", and she occasionally emphasizes "cool". Her vocal range covers close to two octaves.[6]

Critical reception

A blonde woman is standing. She is wearing a black and white top, black jeans, a white belt and a pony-tail. She is holding a microphone with her right hand.
Stefani at the Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts in Mansfield, Massachusetts.

"Cool" received generally positive reviews by music critics. LAUNCHcast's Jennifer Nine referred to the song as "a liltingly sweet paean to post-break-up friendships",[7] while Stephen Thomas Erlewine from Allmusic wrote that the "high school anthem-in-waiting"; it also was selected as one of the album's highlights.[8] Richard Smirke of Playlouder commented that the song successfully used the same production formula as fellow album tracks "Serious" and "What You Waiting For?", and described it as a "crisp blend of edgy 21C production and early 80s Madonna-esque pop".[9] Jason Damas, in a review for PopMatters, characterized the song as "a slippery slice of keyboard driven new wave pop", refering to it as a "pitched halfway between The Go-Go's and Cyndi Lauper".[10] Bill Lamb of About.com gave to the single a positive stars and noted "That's a good thing, reminding listeners of the mid-tempo reflective classics 'Time After Time' and 'All Through the Night'" but he noted that it does not draws attention like her previous singles.[11]

While Eric Greenwood for Drawer B wrote about the song it is "a retrofitted [song] with stale synths and chugging guitars" with "dorkier lyrics than even Cyndi Lauper would dare";[12] Sandy Cohen from Toronto Star called it "the year's love anthem".[2] Entertainment Weekly reviewer David Browne called Stefani in "Cool" and another song ("The Real Thing") as "a glacial '80s synthpop zombie[s]".[13] Krissi Murison said the single is a "Madonna's breathless purr".[14] John Murphy wrote for musicOMH "Cool is a track that will appeal to the millions of casual No Doubt fans who bought 'Don't Speak'".[15] Blender magazine ranked "Cool" at number forty-five on its list of "The 100 Greatest Songs of 2005".[16]

Chart performance

A blonde woman is standing with her arms up. She is wearing a long platinum dress that is adorned with jewellery. The background is black.
Stefani performing "Cool" on the Harajuku Lovers Tour 2005.

In the United States, the song debuted at number eighty-six on the Billboard Hot 100, on the issue dated on July 16, 2005.[17] Next week it raised to number sixty-four,[18] and within next eight weeks it reached its peak position at number thirteen on September 3, 2005.[19] It stayed on the chart eighteen weeks.[20] In other US charts, the single topped the Hot Dance Club Songs, as well as reached the numbers four and ten on the Adult Top 40 and Pop 100, respectively.[20] In Australia it debuted and peaked at number ten on September 11, 2005, dropping the chart on November 13, 2005, at number forty-nine.[21] In New Zealand "Cool" became the second highest debut of the week ending September 5, 2005, at eleven.[22] Next week it rose to its peak position, at number nine, becoming her fifth top ten on the country in–a–row.[23]

In European countries the song was moderately received, reaching the top forty in most of them. In the European Hot 100 Singles it debuted at number twenty-six on October 8, 2005, staying there only one week.[24] In the Czech Republic Airplay Chart, "Cool" inaugurated the chart entering to it at number twelve,[25] achieving to reach its peak position on its tenth week at number ten.[26] In Italy, it debuted at number sixteen on September 22, 2005, rising to its peak next week.[27] In the Norwegian Charts, it debuted at number eighteen soaring to number sixteen next week.[28] In the Irish Singles Chart the song debuted on the chart on September 1, 2005, and it reached its highest position at twelve.[29] In the United Kingdom the single debuted and peaked on September 10, 2005, at number eleven, staying in the chart for ten week.[30] Moreover, in Austria "Cool" debuted at number thirty-one also on September 11, 2005. Next four weeks, the song reached its peak position at fifteen, and was last seen on December 16, 2005, after fifteen weeks.[31]

Music video and promotion

Two young people are sitting in front of a lake. The man is wearing a beige vest, a shirt and jeans tan, and a beard. He is looking to the woman. She is a brunette that is wearing a blue sweater, a bra with blue and white squares and a long white skirt.
The music video includes match cut flashbacks to Stefani's previous relationship

The song's music video was directed by Sophie Muller and filmed in Lake Como, Italy.[32] The video follows the song's theme and depicts the relationship that Stefani has with a former boyfriend, who is played by Spanish actor Daniel González. González and his new girlfriend —played by Tony Kanal's girlfriend, Erin Lokitz—[32] are shown walking to a house. Stefani answers the door, and the three of them are seen in each other's company, with intercut scenes of Stefani singing on a bed. There are flashbacks to the time when Stefani and her former boyfriend were dating, where she wears a brunette wig. Flashbacks and modern day are linked with match cut cinematography. The lyrical theme of "Cool" is maintained in the video, frames are incorporated to portray Stefani feeling cool. She is depicted as cool with her former boyfriend and his girlfriend throughout most of the video.[33]

"Cool" premiered on MTV's top ten chart program Total Request Live on June 30, 2005,[34] where it reached number three.[34] After its July 8, 2005, debut on MuchMusic's Countdown, it reached number one for the week of October 7, 2005.[35] In middle October 2005, the single was included in the setlist for Stefani's first concert tour, Harajuku Lovers Tour 2005,[36] performed as the eleventh song of the show.[37] The song was added to the tour's video album Harajuku Lovers Live,[37] released on December 5, 2005.[38] It also was featured on the New Zealander compilation album Now! Vol, 20.[39]

Track listing

CD single, enhanced CD, maxi single[40]
  1. "Cool" (Album version) – 3:09
  2. "Cool" (Photek remix) – 5:19
  3. "Hollaback Girl" (Dancehollaback, remix by Tony Kanal featuring Elan Atias) – 6:53
  4. "Cool" (Video) – 4:06
CD single[21]
  1. "Cool" (Album version) – 3:09
  2. "Cool" (Photek remix) – 5:19
12" single[21]
  1. Cool (Richard X Remix) – 6:37
  2. Cool (Richard X Dub) – 7:10
  3. Cool (Photek DJ Mix) – 6:34
  4. Cool (Photek Remix) – 5:49

Credits and personnel

Charts

Chart procession and succession

Preceded by U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single
November 12, 2005 		Succeeded by

Release history

Region Date Label Format
United States[45] July 5, 2005 Interscope Records Airplay
United Kingdom[40] August 29, 2005 CD single, Maxi single, enhanced CD
United States[46] September 5, 2010
Germany[47] September 19, 2005 CD single, Maxi single, 12"
Japan[48] September 20, 2005 Universal International CD single, Maxi single, enhanced CD
France[49] February 13, 2006 CD single
Canada[50] March 17, 2008

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Stefani, Gwen (2004). Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (Liner Notes) (Media notes). California, United States: Interscope Records. {{cite AV media notes}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |publisherid=, |coauthors=, and |notestitle= (help); Unknown parameter |albumlink= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |artist= ignored (|others= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b c Cohen, Sandy. "'Underneath It All' helped conceive the year's love anthem". Toronto Star. Torstar. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  3. ^ a b c d e f Vineyard, Jennifer (June 21, 2005). "Gwen Stefani's Song About Tony Kanal To Be Her Next Single". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved November 28, 2005.
  4. ^ a b "Los Temerarios". Billboard. Nielsen Company: 68. July 9, 2005. ISBN 00062510. OCLC 1532948. {{cite journal}}: Check |isbn= value: length (help)
  5. ^ a b Varga, George (October 20, 2005). ""The phenom": Information on the inspiration for "Don't Speak"". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Platinum Equity. Retrieved October 20, 2005.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Commercial sheet music for "Cool". EMI Music Publishing. Distributed by Hal Leonard Publishing.
  7. ^ Nine, Jennifer (October 22, 2004). "Gwen Stefani — 'Love, Angel, Music, Baby'". Yahoo! Music LAUNCHcast. Yahoo!. Retrieved October 25, 2005.
  8. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "allmusic ((( Love.Angel.Music.Baby. > Review )))". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved October 25, 2005.
  9. ^ Smirke, Richard (November 23, 2004). "Love. Angel. Music. Baby". Playlouder. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); |archive-url= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  10. ^ Damas, Jason (November 29, 2004.). "Gwen Stefani – Love.Angel.Music.Baby". PopMatters. Retrieved October 25, 2005. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ Lamb, Bill. "Gwen Stefani — 'Cool' Review". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved October 25, 2005.
  12. ^ Greenwood, Eric (January 19, 2005). "Gwen Stefani, Love Angel Music Baby (Interscope)". Drawer B. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  13. ^ Browne, David (November 23, 2004). "Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (2004)". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  14. ^ Murison, Krissi (December 10, 2004). "Gwen Stefani : Love Angle Music Baby - Album Reviews". NME. Time Inc. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  15. ^ Murphy, John. "Gwen Stefani - Love Angel Music Baby (Polydor)". musicOMH. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  16. ^ "The 100 Greatest Songs of 2005". Blender. October 1, 2006. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  17. ^ "Week of July 16, 2005". Billboard. Nielsen Company. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  18. ^ "Week of July 23, 2005". Billboard. Nielsen Company. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  19. ^ "Paul McCartney Chaos and Creation in the Backyard". Billboard. Nielsen Company: 90. September 3, 2005. ISBN 00062510. OCLC 1532948. {{cite journal}}: Check |isbn= value: length (help)
  20. ^ a b c d e f "Cool - Gwen Stefani". Billboard. Nielsen Company. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  21. ^ a b c d "Gwen Stefani - Cool". Australian Recording Industry Association. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  22. ^ "Single Top 40 05/09/2005". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Hung Medien. September 5, 2005. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  23. ^ a b "Gwen Stefani - Cool". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  24. ^ a b "Gwen Stefani Album & Song Chart History – European Hot 100". Billboard. Nielsen Company. Retrieved January 6, 2010.
  25. ^ "IFPI ČR Hitparáda - Radio Top100 Oficiální Týden - 200601". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry Czech Republic. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  26. ^ a b "Radio Top100 Oficiální Czech Republic – Stefani Gwen – Cool". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry Czech Republic. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  27. ^ a b "Gwen Stefani - Cool". Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  28. ^ a b "Gwen Stefani - Cool". VG-lista. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  29. ^ a b "The Irish Charts – All there is to know". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  30. ^ a b "Chart Stats - Gwen Stefani - Cool". Chart Stats. The Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  31. ^ a b "Gwen Stefani - Cool". Ö3 Austria Top 40 (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  32. ^ a b Collis, Clark (January 8, 2007). "Holla Back". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved April 11, 2007.
  33. ^ "Gwen Stefani - Cool". Gwen Stefani Official Youtube Channel. YouTube. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  34. ^ a b "The TRL Archive — Debuts". Total Request Live. MTV Networks. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; March 28, 2007 suggested (help); |archive-url= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  35. ^ #1s. MuchMusic programming. Original airdate: October 2006. Retrieved January 30, 2007.
  36. ^ Zahlaway, Jon (September 29, 2005). "Gwen Stefani adds more shows to inaugural solo tour". LiveDaily. Retrieved October 1, 2010.
  37. ^ a b "Gwen Stefani : Video : Harajuku Lovers Live [DVD]". Gwen Stefani Official Website. Interscope Records. Retrieved October 1, 2010.
  38. ^ "Gwen Stefani Harajuku Lovers Live > Overview > Allmovie". Allmovie. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved October 1, 2010.
  39. ^ Now! Vol, 20 (Liner Notes) (Media notes). New Zealand: EMI Group. 2006. {{cite AV media notes}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |albumlink= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |artist= ignored (|others= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  40. ^ a b "Cool [Single, Enhanced, Maxi]". Amazon United Kingdom. Amazon Inc. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  41. ^ a b c d e f "Gwen Stefani - Cool". Ultratop (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
  42. ^ "Single Top 100 Over 2005" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
  43. ^ "UK Year-End Charts 2005" (PDF). ChartsPlus. The Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 26, 2008.
  44. ^ "Hot 100 Songs – 2005 Year-End Chart". Billboard. Nielsen Company. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  45. ^ "Available for Airplay: 7/5 Mainstream". FMQB. Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Inc. and Mediaspan Online Services. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  46. ^ "Cool (Rmx) [Single, Enhanced, Import]". Amazon United States. Amazon Inc. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  47. ^ "Cool [Single, Maxi]". Amazon Germany (in German). Amazon Inc. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  48. ^ "Cool (Rmx) [Single, Enhanced, Maxi, Import, from US]". Amazon Japan (in Japanese). Amazon Inc. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  49. ^ "Cool". Amazon France (in French). Amazon Inc. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  50. ^ "Cool (3 Mixes) (4 Tracks) [Single]". Amazon Canada. Amazon Inc. Retrieved September 27, 2010.

External links

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