Jump to content

Cool (Gwen Stefani song)

This is a good article. Click here for more information.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 174.158.186.109 (talk) at 21:13, 24 May 2011 (Undid revision 430735454 by Tbhotch (talk) Numbers over 10 are not spelled out.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

"Cool"
Song

"Cool" is a song by American recording artist Gwen Stefani, from her debut solo album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (2004). Written by Dallas Austin and Stefani, the song was released to mainstream radio in the United States in July 2005 as the album's fourth single. It was written by Austin basing the song on No Doubt's "Simple Kind of Life", but he did not finish it. He then asked for help from Stefani, and they finished the song in 15 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 from the 1980s. 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 20 in Denmark, Ireland, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The accompanying music video was filmed by British director Sophie Muller in Lake Como, Italy. It features many flashbacks to when Stefani and her former boyfriend were dating, and currently, both are fine with 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 Gwen Stefani's group No Doubt's song "Underneath It All" (2002).[2] Austin commented that he was trying to write 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 15 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 of "Cool" sum 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 about how her relationship with her ex-boyfriend finished well.
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 voce, 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 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.

"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 called it a "high school anthem-in-waiting" theme; 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 twenty-one century production and an "early 80s Madonna-esque pop".[9] Jason Damas, in a review for PopMatters, characterized it as "a slippery slice of keyboard" New Wave song referring to it as a "pitched halfway between The Go-Go's and Cyndi Lauper".[10] Bill Lamb of About.com gave the song four out of five stars, stating that it "sounds like the lost Cyndi Lauper tune. That's a good thing, reminding listeners of the mid-tempo reflective classics 'Time After Time' and 'All Through the Night'", but he added that the song does not draws attention like her previous singles.[11]

Eric Greenwood for Drawer B wrote 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 described Stefani, in "Cool" and in another song ("The Real Thing"), as "a glacial '80s synthpop zombie".[13] Krissi Murison from the NME deemed the track a "Madonna's breathless purr".[14] John Murphy wrote for musicOMH that "Cool" would remind No Doubt fans to "Don't Speak".[15] Blender magazine editors ranked "Cool" at number forty-five on its list of "The 100 Greatest Songs of 2005".[16]

Chart performance

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.

In the United States, the song debuted at number 86 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the issue dated July 16, 2005.[17] Next week it rose to number 64,[18] and it reached its peak position at number 13 on September 3, 2005.[19] It stayed on the chart for 18 weeks.[20] On other Billboard charts, the single topped the Hot Dance Club Play, reached number four on the Adult Top 40 and number nine on the Pop 100.[20][21] In Australia it debuted and peaked at number ten on September 11, 2005, dropping off the chart on November 13, 2005 at number 49.[22] In New Zealand "Cool" became the second highest debut of the week ending September 5, 2005, at number 11.[23] Next week it rose to its peak position of number nine,[24] becoming her fifth consecutive top ten in the country.[25]

In European countries the song performed moderately, reaching the top 40 in most of them. It debuted at number 26 on the European Hot 100 Singles on October 8, 2005, staying there for one week.[26] On the Czech Airplay Chart, "Cool" inaugurated the chart entering it at number 12, achieving its peak position of number ten in its tenth week.[27] In Italy, it debuted at number 16 on September 22, 2005, peaking at number 15 the week after.[28] On the Norwegian chart, the single debuted at number 18, climbing to number 16 the following week.[29] "Cool" debuted and peaked at number 12 on the Irish Singles Chart during the week ending September 1, 2005.[30] In the United Kingdom the single debuted and peaked at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart for the week of September 4, 2005, spending ten weeks on the chart.[31] In Austria "Cool" debuted at number 31 on September 11, 2005. Four weeks later, the song reached its peak position of number 15, and was last seen on December 16, 2005, after 15 weeks.[32]

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.[33] 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—are shown walking to a house.[33] 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 present day images 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.[34]

The music video for "Cool" premiered on MTV's top ten chart program Total Request Live on June 30, 2005,[35] where it reached number three.[35] After its July 8, 2005 debut on MuchMusic's Countdown, it reached number one for the week of October 7, 2005.[36] In mid-October 2005, the single was included in the setlist for Stefani's first concert tour, Harajuku Lovers Tour 2005,[37] performed as the eleventh song of the show.[38] The song was added to the tour's video album Harajuku Lovers Live,[38] released on December 5, 2005.[39] It also was featured on the New Zealand compilation album Now! Vol, 20.[40]

Track listings

Personnel

Charts

Chart procession and succession

Preceded by US Hot Dance Club Play number-one single
November 12, 2005 		Succeeded by

Release history

Region Date Label Format
United States[49] July 5, 2005 Interscope Records Airplay
United Kingdom[41] August 29, 2005 CD single, CD maxi single
United States[50] September 5, 2005 CD maxi single, 12" single
Germany[51] September 19, 2005 CD single, CD maxi single
Japan[52] September 20, 2005 Universal Music CD maxi single
France[53] February 13, 2006 CD single
Canada[54] 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); 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 web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |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 "Gwen Stefani – Cool". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc: 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". 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 (November 25, 2004). "Gwen Stefani – Love, Angel, Music, Baby". Yahoo! Music. Yahoo! Inc. Retrieved October 25, 2005.
  8. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Love.Angel.Music.Baby. – Gwen Stefani". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved October 25, 2005.
  9. ^ Smirke, Richard (November 23, 2004). "Love. Angel. Music. Baby. – Gwen Stefani". 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.
  11. ^ Lamb, Bill. "Gwen Stefani – Cool". 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): Gwen Stefani". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  14. ^ Murison, Krissi (December 10, 2004). "Gwen Stefani : Love Angle Music Baby". NME. IPC Media. 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. Alpha Media Group. January 10, 2006. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  17. ^ "Hot 100 – Week of July 16, 2005". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  18. ^ "Hot 100 – Week of July 23, 2005". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  19. ^ "Paul McCartney Chaos and Creation in the Backyard". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 90 September 3, 2005. ISBN 00062510. OCLC 1532948. {{cite journal}}: Check |isbn= value: length (help)
  20. ^ a b c d "Cool – Gwen Stefani". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  21. ^ a b c "Love.Angel.Music.Baby. – Gwen Stefani – Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
  22. ^ a b c d "Gwen Stefani – Cool". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  23. ^ "RIANZ Top 40 Singles (#1476)". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. September 5, 2005. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  24. ^ "RIANZ Top 40 Singles (#1477)". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. September 5, 2005. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
  25. ^ a b "Gwen Stefani – Cool". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  26. ^ a b "Gwen Stefani Album & Song Chart History – European Hot 100". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved January 6, 2010.
  27. ^ a b "RADIO TOP100 Oficiální" (in Czech). Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  28. ^ a b "Gwen Stefani – Cool". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  29. ^ a b "Gwen Stefani – Cool". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  30. ^ a b "Irish Top 50 Singles, Week Ending 1 September 2005". Irish Recorded Music Association. Chart-Track. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
  31. ^ a b "Chart Stats – Gwen Stefani – Cool". Chart Stats. The Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  32. ^ a b "Gwen Stefani – Cool" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  33. ^ a b Collis, Clark (November 22, 2006). "Holla Back". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved April 11, 2007.
  34. ^ "Gwen Stefani – Cool". YouTube. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  35. ^ 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)
  36. ^ #1s. MuchMusic programming. Original airdate: October 2006. Retrieved January 30, 2007.
  37. ^ Zahlaway, Jon (September 29, 2005). "Gwen Stefani adds more shows to inaugural solo tour". LiveDaily. Retrieved October 1, 2010.
  38. ^ a b "Gwen Stefani : Video : Harajuku Lovers Live [DVD]". Gwen Stefani Official Website. Interscope Records. Retrieved October 1, 2010.
  39. ^ "Gwen Stefani: Harajuku Lovers Live > Overview". Allmovie. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved October 1, 2010.
  40. ^ 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)
  41. ^ a b "Cool [Single, Enhanced, Maxi]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  42. ^ a b c d e f "Gwen Stefani – Cool". Ultratop (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
  43. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 39 – 2005". Radio 538 (in Dutch). Top 40. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
  44. ^ "Musicline.de – Chartverfolgung – Gwen Stefani – Cool". Media Control (in German). PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved October 13, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  45. ^ "Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista – 2005. 43. hét". Mahasz (in Hungarian). Retrieved January 6, 2010.
  46. ^ "Nederlandse Top 100 – 2005" (PDF). Radio 538 (in Dutch). Top 40. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
  47. ^ "UK Year-End Charts 2005" (PDF). The Official Charts Company. ChartsPlus. Retrieved May 26, 2008.
  48. ^ "2005 Year End Charts – Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  49. ^ "Available for Airplay: 7/5 Mainstream". FMQB. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  50. ^ "Cool (Rmx) [Single, Enhanced, Import]". Amazon.com. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  51. ^ "Cool [Single, Maxi]" (in German). Amazon.de. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  52. ^ "Cool (Rmx) [Single, Enhanced, Maxi, Import, from US]" (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  53. ^ "Cool" (in French). Amazon.fr. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  54. ^ "Cool (3 Mixes) (4 Tracks) [Single]". Amazon.ca. Retrieved September 27, 2010.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cool_(Gwen_Stefani_song)&oldid=430737949"