| Revision as of 02:23, 1 November 2005 editWinnermario (talk | contribs)1,033 edits Critical repsonses and notes← Previous edit | Revision as of 02:35, 1 November 2005 edit undoWinnermario (talk | contribs)1,033 edits CleaningNext edit → | ||
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| ==Writing process== | ==Writing process== | ||
| "Hollaback Girl" is a mid-tempo dance track featuring a drum beat of which is similar to ]'s ] number-one single, "]". Stefani had worked with hip hop production group The Neptunes during the early stages of work on her album, but a mild case of ] from ] left early collaborations uninspired and fruitless. Stefani regained her confidence as her album neared completion, approached The Neptunes for a second attempt, and wrote "Hollaback Girl" in the process. In the beat-driven anthem, Stefani declares that although she has been "around the track" a few times, she "ain't no hollaback girl". The song is best known for its repeated use of the word "]", which appears the most frequent in the bridge: "This shit is ]s, B-A-N-A-N-A-S!" The word is excised in the radio and ] versions of the song. | |||
| Stefani |
Stefani gained inspiration for penning "Hollaback Girl" when ] disparsingly called her the music industry's "cheerleader". When asked about the inspiration, Stefani responded without the mention of Love, "The song came about after somebody once called me a cheerleader in a negative light. So I said, 'well fuck you, I am a cheerleader, watch me on stage. I’m gonna make a big cheerleader song and you can fuck off.'"{{ref|CourtneyLove}} A few specific lines in the second verse that point directly towards Love include: | ||
| :"Both of us want to be the winner | :"Both of us want to be the winner | ||
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| :Another one bites the dust" | :Another one bites the dust" | ||
| There are also lyrics in the song that come from pop culture icons. The line "There can only be one" is a reference to the film '']'', and during the line "Another one bites the dust", a reference to ]'s "]", the bassline from the song is played. | |||
| ==Critical response== | ==Critical response== | ||
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| ==Chart performance== | ==Chart performance== | ||
| "Hollaback Girl" was officially solicitated to radio in ] on ] ], however the music video had been released two weeks earlier on ]. Within only six weeks of its release, "Hollaback Girl" had reached the zenith position of the ], which made it the fastest-rising single to reach the top in 2005. It maintained the top position for four weeks before being replaced by ]'s sixteenth U.S. number-one single, "]". After dropping from the zenith position, "Hollaback Girl" showed longevity and subsequently remained in the top ten of the Hot 100 for an additional two months, including six weeks at number two. In total, the single spent thirty-three weeks on the Hot 100, with thirty-two weeks in the top fifty. It finally slid off the chart for the week ending ] |
"Hollaback Girl" was officially solicitated to radio in ] on ] ], however the music video had been released two weeks earlier on ]. Within only six weeks of its release, "Hollaback Girl" had reached the zenith position of the ], which made it the fastest-rising single to reach the top in 2005. It maintained the top position for four weeks before being replaced by ]'s sixteenth U.S. number-one single, "]". After dropping from the zenith position, "Hollaback Girl" showed longevity and subsequently remained in the top ten of the Hot 100 for an additional two months, including six weeks at number two. In total, the single spent thirty-three weeks on the Hot 100, with thirty-two weeks in the top fifty. It finally slid off the chart for the week ending ]. | ||
| Stefani reaching number one with "Hollaback Girl" was noatable as it became the first non-R&B, non-hip hop, or non-'']'' song to reach number one on the Hot 100 since ]'s "How You Remind Me" in late ]. (Although some argue that "Hollaback Girl" is a hip hop song, or at least influenced by it, due to its production.) It also peaked at number one the ] for eight weeks, and also topped its ], the ], for several weeks. The song also climbed to number one for six weeks on a non-Billboard chart, the ]. | Stefani reaching number one with "Hollaback Girl" was noatable as it became the first non-R&B, non-hip hop, or non-'']'' song to reach number one on the Hot 100 since ]'s "How You Remind Me" in late ]. (Although some argue that "Hollaback Girl" is a hip hop song, or at least influenced by it, due to its production.) It also peaked at number one the ] for eight weeks, and also topped its ], the ], for several weeks. The song also climbed to number one for six weeks on a non-Billboard chart, the ]. | ||
Revision as of 02:35, 1 November 2005
"Hollaback Girl" is a pop song written by American singer-songwriter Gwen Stefani and rapper Pharrell Williams for Stefani's debut solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby (2004). Released as the third single in 2005 (see 2005 in music), the song was an international hit, peaking at number one in Australia and Canada for one and three weeks respectively, number eight in the United Kingdom, and number one in the United States, where it became Stefani's first number-one single.
Writing process
"Hollaback Girl" is a mid-tempo dance track featuring a drum beat of which is similar to Toni Basil's 1982 number-one single, "Mickey". Stefani had worked with hip hop production group The Neptunes during the early stages of work on her album, but a mild case of depression from writer's block left early collaborations uninspired and fruitless. Stefani regained her confidence as her album neared completion, approached The Neptunes for a second attempt, and wrote "Hollaback Girl" in the process. In the beat-driven anthem, Stefani declares that although she has been "around the track" a few times, she "ain't no hollaback girl". The song is best known for its repeated use of the word "shit", which appears the most frequent in the bridge: "This shit is bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S!" The word is excised in the radio and music video versions of the song.
Stefani gained inspiration for penning "Hollaback Girl" when Courtney Love disparsingly called her the music industry's "cheerleader". When asked about the inspiration, Stefani responded without the mention of Love, "The song came about after somebody once called me a cheerleader in a negative light. So I said, 'well fuck you, I am a cheerleader, watch me on stage. I’m gonna make a big cheerleader song and you can fuck off.'" A few specific lines in the second verse that point directly towards Love include:
- "Both of us want to be the winner
- But there can only be one
- So I'm gonna fight, gonna give it my all
- Gonna make you fall, gonna sock it to you
- That's right, I'm the last one standing
- Another one bites the dust"
There are also lyrics in the song that come from pop culture icons. The line "There can only be one" is a reference to the film Highlander, and during the line "Another one bites the dust", a reference to Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust", the bassline from the song is played.
Critical response
"Hollaback Girl" generally received exceptional response from music critics. LAUNCHcast's Jennifer Nine hailed the song as "the stomping, stripped-back track", while All Music Guide called it the "thumping, minimal beats of The Neptunes." Richard Smirke also commented along the lines of All Music Guide, emphasing, "...Hollaback Girl ."
Jason Damas, in a review for PopMatters, characterized the song as sounding "almost exactly like Dizzee Rascal, which perhaps recognizes that The Neptunes are no longer the most innovative producers in modern hip-hop", and added, "Lyrically, this is where Gwen sinks the lowest here, especially on a breakdown where she repeats "This shit is bananas/ B-A-N-A-N-A-S!" several times." A negative backlash came from Eric Greenwood, who called the song "moronic and embarrassingly tuneless. I’d quote the lyrics, but they’re so bad, I almost feel sorry for her. A 35-year old woman singing about pom-poms and 'talking shit' in high school betrays such a delusional self-image that it’s hard not to be taken aback. And on top of that, The Neptunes’ beats are clunky and the production is senselessly bombastic."
Chart performance
"Hollaback Girl" was officially solicitated to radio in North America on April 5 2005, however the music video had been released two weeks earlier on March 21. Within only six weeks of its release, "Hollaback Girl" had reached the zenith position of the Billboard Hot 100, which made it the fastest-rising single to reach the top in 2005. It maintained the top position for four weeks before being replaced by Mariah Carey's sixteenth U.S. number-one single, "We Belong Together". After dropping from the zenith position, "Hollaback Girl" showed longevity and subsequently remained in the top ten of the Hot 100 for an additional two months, including six weeks at number two. In total, the single spent thirty-three weeks on the Hot 100, with thirty-two weeks in the top fifty. It finally slid off the chart for the week ending October 29.
Stefani reaching number one with "Hollaback Girl" was noatable as it became the first non-R&B, non-hip hop, or non-American Idol song to reach number one on the Hot 100 since Nickelback's "How You Remind Me" in late 2001. (Although some argue that "Hollaback Girl" is a hip hop song, or at least influenced by it, due to its production.) It also peaked at number one the Billboard Pop 100 for eight weeks, and also topped its component chart, the Billboard Pop 100 Airplay, for several weeks. The song also climbed to number one for six weeks on a non-Billboard chart, the ARC Weekly Top 40.
The song was also a crossover success, climbing to number four on the Rhythmic Top 40, and number eight on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. Both of these peak positions were the highest that a non-African American/Urban Latino solo artist had attained during the noughties decade. On the opposite spectrum, even though the song has minimal hip hop influence, it was able to crossover and chart on the Hot Adult Top 40 at number eighteen. This position is notable as the Hot AC is usually an extremely conservative chart, and will not play urban music or any music influenced by hip hop. Because of these positions, "Hollaback Girl" has become one of the most successful crossover hits of all time, and lead to Stefani being labelled as an urban artist for a short period of time. However, her succeeding single, "Cool", returned her to her pop and dance music roots.
Digitally, "Hollaback Girl" broke many records. It was the best-selling digital single for the latter three weeks of May 2005, and broke the record for the most downloads sold ever in a week, selling over 60,000 (this record was later broken by Kanye West's "Gold Digger"). As of the week ending October 4, the song had exceeded sales of one million. This made "Hollaback Girl" the first song to ever succeed digital sales of one million, and it was certified 5x platinum. It should noted that this is the equivalence of the certification level of a regular commercial single. Because of its sales, it topped both digital charts, the Hot Digital Songs and Hot Digital Tracks, concurrently. The song's downloads were mainly responsible for its longevity on the Billboard Hot 100 after airplay had begun to decline.
The success of "Hollaback Girl" was also duplicated worldwide, as it reached number one in Australia for one week, number one in Canada for three weeks, and number one in Ireland for two weeks. However, surprisingly, in the U.K., it did not perform as well as its two predecessors, "What You Waiting For?" and "Rich Girl", which both peaked at number four. "Hollaback Girl" entered at number eight, stalling at its peak position for two weeks. Although its success was limited in the U.K., widespread airplay guaranteed that it would remain the top forty for another ten weeks. It also reached the top five in Germany and China, and the top ten in the Netherlands.
Music video
The music video depicts Stefani spending a day with some pupils at a local high school. Stefani initially encounters the students when she is taking a picture of her entourage of colorfully-dressed Harajuku Girls, and the teenagers call out to her. She releases a small laugh, begins singing, and the teenagers—augmented by a marching band and cheerleaders—follow Stefani and her Harajuku Girls in a yellow car (with the words "Hollaback Girl" on the hood) to the local high school's outdoor campus. When they arrive, they cause controversy by barging in on a football game, and are also seen at a grocery store, marching down one of the aisles, throwing cereal around.
The video is intercut with filmed sequences against a black background in which Stefani, the Harajuku Girls, and the cheerleaders dance along to the marching band. Stefani sports a variety of outfits, including a band costume and a cheerleader's robe. The Harajuku Girls visualise the song's bridge by spelling out the word "bananas" with cue cards. The video is also known for Stefani covering her mouth whenever she says the word "shit", this being most evident during the bridge. At the end of the video, the Harajuku Girls perform a choreographed dance, where Stefani rises from the ground with her hands in the air.
Formats and track listings
U.S. digital download
- "Hollaback Girl (Dancehollaback Remix by Tony Kanal)"
U.S. 12" maxi single #1
- "Hollaback Girl (Radio Clean Version)"
- "Hollaback Girl (Instrumental)"
- "Hollaback Girl (A Cappella—Radio Clean Version)"
- "Hollaback Girl (Dirty Album Version)"
- "Hollaback Girl (Instrumental)"
- "Hollaback Girl (A Cappella—Dirty Album Version)"
U.S. 12" maxi single #2
- "Hollaback Girl (Dancehollaback Remix by Tony Kanal)"
- "Hollaback Girl (Dancehollaback Remix by Tony Kanal—Clean)"
- "Hollaback Girl (Dancehollaback Remix by Tony Kanal—Radio)"
- "Hollaback Girl (Hollatronix Remix)"
- "Hollaback Girl (Hollatronix Remix—Instrumental)"
- "Hollaback Girl (Hollatronix Remix—A Cappella)"
European CD single
- "Hollaback Girl (Album Version)"
- "Hollaback Girl (Hollatronix Remix By Diplo)"
- "Hollaback Girl (Instrumental)"
- "Hollaback Girl" (CD-ROM video)
Charts
| Chart | Position (2005) |
|---|---|
| U.S. Singles Chart | #1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Airplay | #2 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles Sales | #10 |
| U.S. Pop 100 | #1 |
| U.S. Pop 100 Airplay | #1 |
| U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | #8 |
| U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales | #7 |
| U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay | #9 |
| U.S. Hot Digital Songs | #1 |
| U.S. Hot Digital Tracks | #1 |
| U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play | #15 |
| U.S. Dance Radio Airplay | #3 |
| U.S. Mainstream Top 40 | #1 |
| U.S. Rhythmic Top 40 | #4 |
| U.S. Adult Top 40 | #18 |
| U.S. ARC Weekly Top 40 | #1 |
| Canadian Singles Chart | #1 |
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart | #1 |
| U.K. Singles Chart | #8 |
| Iceland Singles Chart | #1 |
| Germany Singles Chart | #3 |
| China Singles Chart | #4 |
| Netherlands Singles Chart | #7 |
| World Chart Show | #1 |
Notes
- Hollaback Girl. Contactmusic.com. Retrieved Oct. 30, 2005.
- Nine, Jennifer. Gwen Stefani - 'Love, Angel, Music, Baby' LAUNCHcast. November 25, 2004. Retrieved Oct. 31, 2005.
- Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Love.Angel.Music.Baby. All Music Guide. Retrieved Oct. 31, 2005.
- Smirke, Richard.Love. Angel. Music. Baby. PlayLouder. November 23, 2004. Retrieved Oct. 31, 2005.
- Damas, Jason. GWEN STEFANI - Love.Angel.Music.Baby.. PopMatters. November 29, 2004. Retrieved Oct. 31, 2005.
- Greenwood, Eric. Gwen Stefani - Love Angel Music Baby. DrawerB. Retrieved Oct. 31, 2005.
References
- Jeckell, Barry A., managing ed. (2005). Billboard.com. Retrieved from http://www.billboard.com on October 30, 2005. Information from Billboard magazine charts.
- "Hollaback Girl". Contactmusic.com. Retrieved from http://www.contactmusic.com/new/home.nsf/webpages/gwenstefanix28x04x05 on October 30, 2005. Stefani discusses her inspiration for writing "Hollaback Girl".
- (2005). Top40-Charts.com. Retrieved from http://top40-charts.com on October 30, 2005. International charting information.
External links
- "Hollaback Girl" lyrics
- "A Probing Analysis of Gwen Stefani's 'Hollaback Girl'" — by Greg Stacy.
- GwenStefani.com — official site.