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4 in the Morning

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This article is about the Gwen Stefani song. For the Faron Young song, see It's Four in the Morning. For other uses, see 4 AM.
"4 in the Morning"
Song

"4 in the Morning" is a song by American singer and songwriter Gwen Stefani from her second studio album The Sweet Escape (2006). Written by Stefani and Tony Kanal, the song is a 1980s-inspired ballad that Stefani began writing while pregnant and finished with No Doubt bandmate Tony Kanal. Stefani has stated that "4 in the Morning" is one of her favorite songs from The Sweet Escape.[1]

"4 in the Morning" was released as the third single from The Sweet Escape on May 8, 2007, and received generally positive reviews from music critics. It peaked at number 54 on the US Billboard Hot 100, failing to replicate the commercial success of previous singles "Wind It Up" and "The Sweet Escape". Nevertheless, the single reached number five in New Zealand and number nine in Australia, while charting inside the top 20 in several European countries.

Background and writing

Stefani began working with No Doubt bassist Tony Kanal just after finishing the Harajuku Lovers Tour 2005, referring to him as her "comfort zone". They two wrote "4 in the Morning" based on a tape of melodies left from working on Stefani's debut album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (2004). It is based on ballads such as Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly with His Song" and Billy Idol's "Eyes Without a Face".[2]

Critical reception

"4 in the Morning"
A 30-second sample of the song's chorus.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"4 in the Morning" was generally well received by contemporary pop music critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic called it "coolly sensual",[3] and Quentin B. Huff of PopMatters referred to it as one of the "few real compositions" from the album.[4] Alex Miller from the NME described the song as "an expertly conceived tear-jerker", stating that "[i]t feels like the kind of song a teenage Stefani, miming along to Talk Talk, would have dreamt of singing one day."[5] Pitchfork Media's Mark Pytlik, however, disapproved of the song, commenting that it destroyed "the mallpop cred that Stefani accrued with L.A.M.B.'s impeccable 'Cool'."[6] Billboard editor Chuck Taylor compared the song to the soundtrack to the 1983 film Flashdance and wrote that "we truly respect Stefani in the 'Morning.'"[7] Bill Lamb from About.com cited "4 in the Morning" as the best song from The Sweet Escape, calling it "beautifully performed and produced" and noting that Stefani "allows her signature vocals to sensually float and glide through the lyrical content."[8]

Commercial performance

Stefani performing "4 in the Morning"

"4 in the Morning" debuted at number 76 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for the week of June 9, 2007,[9] before peaking at number 54 on the issue dated August 4,[10] becoming Stefani's lowest-peaking solo single on the chart to date.[11] It was somewhat more successful in the mainstream market, reaching number 30 on the Pop 100 chart and the top 20 of the Mainstream Top 40 and Pop 100 Airplay charts.[11] The song was successful at the clubs and reached number two on the Hot Dance Club Play.[11] The single fared better on the Canadian Hot 100, where it peaked at number 17.[12]

The song was more successful outside of North America. It peaked at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart and remained on the chart for 10 weeks.[13] It fared somewhat better in the rest of Europe, reaching the top five in Romania, the top 15 in Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Slovakia, and the top 20 in Austria, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland.[14][15][16][17] The song debuted at number nine on the ARIA Singles Chart but was unable to reach a higher position,[18] while peaking at number five on the New Zealand Singles Chart.[19]

Music video

File:4InTheMorningVideo3.PNG
Stefani singing while lying on the bed in the music video for "4 in the Morning"

The music video was directed by Sophie Muller and features a tearful and distraught Stefani, lying in bed as she begins to sing to the camera. In a white inside-out L.A.M.B. T-shirt, she wanders around her apartment lost and questioning her lover, who is in fact absent from the video. The lyrics describe an argument, which she has with an off-screen lover throughout the video.[20] After lying around her apartment and crying during a bath, she leaves her house at night and travels in a car, as she sits tearfully in the back. The video ends with Stefani rolling on the bed.

"4 in the Morning" was given a "First Look" on MTV's Total Request Live on April 27, 2007 and peaked at number seven on May 9.[21][22] On MuchMusic's Countdown, it became Stefani's second least successful charting video (next to "Early Winter", which peaked at number 23) since 2005's "Luxurious", peaking at number seven for two consecutive weeks after a slow ascent.[23]

Track listings

  1. "4 in the Morning" (Album Version) – 4:51
  2. "4 in the Morning" (Thin White Duke Edit) – 4:55
  • Australian and German CD maxi single[26][27]
  1. "4 in the Morning" (Album Version) – 4:51
  2. "4 in the Morning" (Thin White Duke Edit) – 4:55
  3. "4 in the Morning" (Oscar the Punk Remix) – 5:41
  4. "4 in the Morning" (video) – 4:24

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Sweet Escape.[28]

Charts

Release history

Region Date Format Label Ref.
United States May 8, 2007 Contemporary hit radio Interscope [53]
Germany June 22, 2007
Universal [24][27][54]
Australia June 23, 2007
  • CD maxi single
  • digital download
 [26]
United Kingdom June 25, 2007
  • CD single
  • digital download
 Polydor [25][55]

References

  1. ^ "Q&A". gwenstefani.com. Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved March 28, 2007.
  2. ^ "Four In The Morning – In Studio (Webisode #2)". Interscope Records. November 3, 2006. Retrieved July 7, 2007.
  3. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Sweet Escape – Gwen Stefani". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  4. ^ Huff, Quentin B. (December 14, 2006). "Gwen Stefani: The Sweet Escape". PopMatters. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  5. ^ Miller, Alex (December 1, 2006). "Gwen Stefani: The Sweet Escape". NME. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved February 26, 2007.
  6. ^ Pytlik, Mark (December 7, 2006). "Gwen Stefani: The Sweet Escape". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved February 26, 2007.
  7. ^ Taylor, Chuck (May 12, 2007). "The Billboard Reviews: Singles". Billboard. 119 (19): 38. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  8. ^ Lamb, Bill. "Gwen Stefani – 4 in the Morning". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved May 29, 2007.
  9. ^ Cohen, Jonathan (May 31, 2007). "Rihanna, Shop Boyz Rocket To The Top Of Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  10. ^ "The Hot 100: The Week of August 4, 2007". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h "The Sweet Escape – Gwen Stefani | Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  12. ^ a b "Billboard Canadian Hot 100: The Week of August 4, 2007". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  13. ^ a b "Gwen Stefani: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  14. ^ a b "Gwen Stefani – 4 in the Morning" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  15. ^ a b "Chart Track: Week 26, 2007". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 9, 2010.
  16. ^ a b "Romanian Top 100 – Issue nr: 30/2007" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. August 6–12, 2007. Archived from the original on August 8, 2007. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  17. ^ a b "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200731 into search. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  18. ^ a b "Gwen Stefani – 4 in the Morning". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  19. ^ a b "Gwen Stefani – 4 in the Morning". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  20. ^ Vineyard, Jennifer; Warburton, Richard (March 12, 2007). "Gwen Stefani Lets Her Lover Have It In New Clip". MTV News. Viacom. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  21. ^ "The TRL Archive – Recap: April 2007". ATRL. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  22. ^ "The TRL Archive – Recap: May 2007". ATRL. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  23. ^ Countdown. July 27, 2007. MuchMusic. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ a b "4 in the Morning (2-Track)" (in German). Amazon.de. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  25. ^ a b "4 In The Morning". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  26. ^ a b "Gwen Stefani Store – 4 In The Morning". Getmusic. Universal Music Australia. Archived from the original on February 26, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  27. ^ a b "4 in the Morning (Enhanced, Maxi)" (in German). Amazon.de. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  28. ^ The Sweet Escape (CD liner notes). Gwen Stefani. Interscope Records. 2006. B0008099-02 IN02.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  29. ^ "Gwen Stefani – 4 in the Morning" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  30. ^ "Gwen Stefani – 4 in the Morning" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  31. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 44. týden 2007 in the date selector. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  32. ^ "Hitlisten.NU – Gwen Stefani – 4 in the Morning" (in Danish). Tracklisten. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  33. ^ "4 in the Morning – Gwen Stefani". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  34. ^ "Gwen Stefani: 4 in the Morning" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  35. ^ "Gwen Stefani – 4 in the Morning" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  36. ^ "Gwen Stefani – 4 In The Morning" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. GfK Entertainment. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  37. ^ "Gwen Stefani – 4 in the Morning". Top Digital Download. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  38. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 29, 2007" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  39. ^ "Gwen Stefani – 4 in the Morning" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  40. ^ "Gwen Stefani – 4 in the Morning". VG-lista. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  41. ^ "Poland Top 5". Nielsen Music Control. Archived from the original on November 6, 2007. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  42. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  43. ^ "Gwen Stefani – 4 in the Morning". Singles Top 100. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  44. ^ "Gwen Stefani – 4 in the Morning". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  45. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  46. ^ "Gwen Stefani Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  47. ^ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2007". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
  48. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2007" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  49. ^ "Top Selling Singles of 2007". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  50. ^ "Romanian Top 100 2007" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on March 15, 2009. Retrieved January 11, 2008.
  51. ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 2007". swisscharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  52. ^ "Year End Charts – Hot Dance Club Play Tracks". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2007. Archived from the original on December 26, 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2008.
  53. ^ "CHR/Top 40 – Week Of: May 8, 2007". Radio & Records. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  54. ^ "4 In The Morning (International Version): Gwen Stefani: MP3-Downloads" (in German). Amazon.de. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  55. ^ "4 In The Morning (UK Version): Gwen Stefani: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
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