Cool (Gwen Stefani song)

"Cool"
Song

"Cool" is a pop song recorded by Gwen Stefani. It was written by Dallas Austin and Stefani for her debut solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby (2004). Its musical-style and production were heavily inspired by pop music from the 1980s, and its lyrics chronicle a relationship in which two lovers have separated, but remain "cool" with each other as good friends. "Cool" received praise from pop music critics, and the media have drawn parallels between the song's lyrical content and the relationship that Stefani had with her former boyfriend Tony Kanal, a fellow group member of No Doubt.

The song was released as the album's fourth single in 2005 (see 2005 in music) and entered the top twenty on the majority of the charts it appeared on, but it failed to match the success of its predecessor "Hollaback Girl". "Cool" reached number one in Canada.

Writing and inspiration

The lyrics of "Cool" reflect Stefani's former 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 friends. Stefani and Kanal's relationship had provided the inspiration for No Doubt's "Don't Speak" (1996), and while "Cool" presents an amicable friendship between former lovers, "Don't Speak" is about a failing relationship and never arrives at a solution for the couple. Stefani and Kanal supply the basis for the characters.

Stefani said of the song, "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."

Because Austin had wanted to write a song about the aftermath of his failed relationship, the lyrics recall a romantic affiliation that once existed, from the point of view of one who has moved on from their former love, with Stefani indicating that she has found a new partner. They suggest a progression through a turbulent time to a mutual understanding that takes their relationship to a level of respect.

Stefani sums up the evolution of their relationship with the lyric "after all that we've been through, I know we're cool". The former couple are now "hanging out" with Kanal's new girlfriend, while Stefani 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

Hangin' out with your new girlfriend"

"So far from where we've been

I know we're cool"

Stefani said that she 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."

Music and structure

File:Sheet music for Gwen Stefani's Cool.jpg

While the song's first verse has many keyboard notes (bottom), the guitar retains a prominent and regular eighth note pulse (top).

"Cool" is a mid-tempo love song featuring new wave production and is composed in the key of D major and in 4/4 time. It follows the common verse-chorus form. The song uses five instruments: bass guitar, drums, guitar, keyboard, and synthesizer. Stefani begins to sing the first verse in an impassive state as the emphasis on the synthesizer is lowered and the hard-hitting drum beat increases in volume. To distinguish some of the changes in her relationship, she stresses several lyrics by rising to her highest pitch in the song (C#5) and quickly descends. She performs her lowest pitch (E3) at the beginning of each verse and sings in a softer, almost sotto voice towards the end of each chorus.

Throughout the song, the synthesizer emulates brass and woodwind instruments, while the bass and guitar retain a prominent and regular eighth note pulse. In the percussion section three instruments are used: bass, cymbals and snare, with the latter introduced at the beginning of the first chorus. During the song's twenty-one second fade-out, Stefani repeats the lyric "I know we're cool" and emphasizes "cool" occasionally. She sings the word "yeah" four times.

Critical response

"Cool" received a generally positive response from music critics. LAUNCHcast's Jennifer Nine referred to the song as "a liltingly sweet paean to post-break-up friendships", while All Music Guide wrote that the "high school anthem-in-waiting" exuded "sleek, new wave textures". Richard Smirke of PlayLouder commented that the song successfully used the same production formula as its 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".

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-Go's and Cyndi Lauper", and added, "the lyrics immediately ensure it will be sung along to by lonely 16-year-olds". While Blender magazine ranked "Cool" at number forty-five on its list of "The 100 Greatest Songs of 2005", the song attracted some negative feedback as well: Bill Lamb of About.com proclaimed it "Gwen's lost Cyndi Lauper tune", but felt that it "doesn't immediately grab attention like her other singles".

Chart performance

Although "Cool" was officially released to U.S. radio on July 5 2005, it appeared a week early on Billboard magazine's Pop 100 Airplay chart. The song reached the top ten on the Pop 100, and the following week it debuted on the Hot 100, the official U.S. chart. "Cool" peaked at number thirteen in its eighth week and remained on the chart until its twentieth week. The song entered the top twenty on the majority of the Billboard charts on which it appeared, and its remixes topped the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart on November 12 2005. While it reached the top five of the Adult Top 40, it was less successful on the Adult Contemporary format. On the U.S. ARC Weekly Top 40, a chart not associated with Billboard, the song peaked at number six.

In Canada "Cool" was officially released to radio on July 13 2005. It reached number four on the Canadian BDS Airplay chart and remained in the top ten for another two months. "Cool" debuted higher on the Canadian Singles Chart than it did in the U.S. and ascended to number one three months later for two weeks, from October 13 2005. The song had more Canadian success and peaked higher than "Hollaback Girl"'s predecessor "Rich Girl", while in the U.S. "Rich Girl" was the single that charted higher.

The song was released in Australia and Europe on August 22 2005. "What You Waiting For?" (Love. Angel. Music. Baby.'s first single) and "Rich Girl" reached the UK top five, but "Hollaback Girl" had only the top ten. "Cool" continued the trend of lower-charting singles when it debuted and peaked at number eleven. Stefani's previous singles had charted most strongly in Australia, where "What You Waiting For?" and "Hollaback Girl" debuted at number one and "Rich Girl" at number two. "Cool" debuted at number ten and quickly descended the chart, but widespread airplay and Stefani's concurrent promotional visit to Australia stimulated a resurgence of interest in Love. Angel. Music. Baby., which ascended the albums chart again.

While "Cool" entered the top ten in the Netherlands, New Zealand and on Russian and South African radio, it was a moderate top twenty success in Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, and Norway. The song reached number six on the United World Chart on October 15 2005.

Music video

File:CoolCap3.JPG

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

The song's music video was directed by Sophie Muller and filmed in Lake Como, Italy. It follows the song's theme very closely and depicts the relationship that Stefani has with a former boyfriend, who is played by Daniel Gonzalez. Gonzalez is seen walking with his new girlfriend (played by Tony 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 flashbacks to the time when Stefani and her former boyfriend were dating, where she wears a brunette wig, which represents her younger self. (Stefani's natural brown hair has not been seen since she was in grade school.) While the lyrical theme of "Cool" is maintained within the video, there are frames incorporated to portray Stefani feeling "uncool". Throughout most of the video, she is presented as "cool" with her former boyfriend and his girlfriend, but there are moments where she reminisces about the past and is uncomfortable.

The video showcases the scenery of Como's forests, lakes and restaurants and was the first from Love. Angel. Music. Baby. not to include Stefani's Harajuku Girls, who were present during the majority of the album's promotion. The complete version of "Cool" featured in the music video was released commercially through CD singles and digital downloads and introduced an orchestral arrangement that differs from the 1980s musical-style of the original version on Love. Angel. Music. Baby. There were no videos for the song's remixes.

"Cool" premiered on MTV's top-ten chart program Total Request Live on June 30 2005, where it reached number three. On VH1's Top 20 Video Countdown, the video reached number two. After its July 8 debut on MuchMusic's Countdown, it ascended to number one for the week of October 7. "Cool" debuted and peaked at number nine on LAUNCHcast's top one-hundred most-watched videos for the week of July 23.

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Cool". For reasons that were never confirmed, the U.S. digital download was removed from iTunes and other online music stores shortly following its release. It was the first digital download to be removed.

• Australian/Canadian/European CD single

1. "Cool" (album version)
2. "Cool" (Photek remix)
3. "Hollaback Girl" (Dancehollaback remix by Tony Kanal)
4. "Cool" (CD-ROM music video)

• U.S. digital download

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

The song was featured in the film Click (2006), but did not appear on its accompanying soundtrack album.

Credits and personnel

• Lead vocals: Gwen Stefani
• Audio mixing: Mark "Spike" Stent
• Bass guitar: Tony Reyes
• Drums: Dallas Austin
• Engineers: Caesar Guevara, Doug Harms, Kevin Mills
• Guitar: Tony Reyes

• Keyboards: André 3000, Dallas Austin
• Producer: Dallas Austin
• Additional production: Nellee Hooper
• Programmer: Jason Lader
• Synthesizer: Tony Kanal
• Recorded at Darp Studios in Atlanta, Georgia and at O'Henry Sound Studios in Burbank, California, U.S.

Charts

Chart (2005) Peak position U.S. Billboard Hot 100 13 U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play1 1 (1) U.S. Billboard Adult Top 40 4 U.S. Billboard Pop 100 9 U.S. Billboard Top 40 Mainstream 9 U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary 23 Canadian Singles Chart 1 (2) South African Airplay Chart 4 Russian Airplay Chart 5 Dutch Singles Chart 6

Chart (2005) Peak position United World Chart 6 New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart 9 Australian ARIA Singles Chart 10 Mexican Singles Chart 11 UK Singles Chart 11 Irish Singles Chart 12 Italian Singles Chart 15 Norwegian Singles Chart 16 German Singles Chart 20 Swiss Singles Chart 24

¹ Photek/Richard X remixes

References

• "ARC Weekly Top 40 timeline – Gwen Stefani". Rock on the Net. Retrieved October 19 2005.
• "Australian Recording Industry Association". Australian airplay and sales charts. Retrieved October 19 2005.
• "BBC: The Official UK Charts Company". United Kingdom sales chart. Retrieved October 19 2005.
• "Billboard". Billboard Hot 100 airplay and sales charts. Retrieved October 19 2005.
• 70 Countries Worldwide, Number 1 Hit Singles, week of October 21 (2005). "Charly-1300". Retrieved October 17 2005.
• "Jam Canoe". Canadian airplay and sales charts. Retrieved October 19 2005.
• Vineyard, Jennifer. MTV.com. "Gwen Stefani's Song About Tony Kanal To Be Her Next Single". Retrieved November 28 2005.
• Rainey, Billy; Vineyard, Jennifer. MTV.com. "Gwen Stefani: Scared Solo (2004/2005)". Retrieved October 15 2005.
• NoDoubtWeb.com. "Stefani discusses Dallas Austin's inspiration from 'Underneath It All'". Retrieved October 15 2005.
• "Recording Industry Association of New Zealand". New Zealand sales chart. Retrieved October 19 2005.
• "The phenom": Information on the inspiration for "Don't Speak". October 20 2005. "Sign on San Diego". Retrieved October 20 2005.
• "United World Chart". The world's most popular albums and songs. Retrieved October 19 2005.

External links

• Gwen Stefani music videos — watch "Cool" at LAUNCHcast