The Hollaback Girl is back. Along with a hosting job on NBC’s Emmy-award winning singing competition show, The Voice, Gwen Stefani returns to the music scene with a new single and a future album currently slated for a December release.
Stefani found her voice as front woman of the Grammy-award winning band No Doubt before pursuing a solo career. Stefani released two successful albums, Love Angel Music Baby and The Sweet Escape, which were certified multi-platinum and spawned off hits such as “Hollaback Girl,” “Rich Girl,” “Sweet Escape” and “Wind it Up” before diving headfirst into a life of marriage, motherhood, and fashion.
Finally after eight years Gwen Stefani makes a triumphant splash with lead single, “Baby Don’t Lie.”
Co-written by Stefani herself, the track tells the tale of a relationship plagued by a lack of trust as Stefani pleads, “baby don’t lie, I don’t want to fight no longer.”
Though not impressive on the surface, Stefani has once again created a simply unforgettable song.
With an intro reminiscent of “Hollaback Girl,” a listeners is transported into a pop, funky, reggae dance world combining a traditional cookie-cutter sound with a tropical swag and the new electronic dance beats that have cemented their popularity in the 2010s. With a clear and piercing voice, Stefani’s mastery of her own instrument is evident as she was able to turn a simple melody into one full of levels and dynamics.
The infectious chorus that cleverly utilizes three words over, and over, and over again latches and embeds itself into one’s brain infecting even the strongest critic.
Unfortunately, radio listeners haven’t felt the same. After an initial release on Oct. 20, “Baby Don’t Lie” now rests uncomfortably at the #74 spot on Billboard Hot 100’s chart, while being #27 on the Adult Pop Songs category.
The only sign of promotion has been the mere mention of the single on The Voice, followed by a radio interview with Ryan Seacrest. One day after the premiere, Stefani released the music video – the only aspect of the song that is worse than it’s promotion.
The video features Stefani walking along a yellow road reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz. Along the way we receive a nice Beats headphones product placement and an unnecessary dance break. All in all, the music video is an odd world that rests simply on Stefani’s beauty and it’s aggressive special effects.
Given more time and attention the single would surely be a smash-hit. Maybe her judging stint on The Voice will allow the world to be exposed to the magic that is Gwen Stefani.
The Hilights
Album Title: TBD
Release date of single: Oct. 20, 2014
Release of album: December, specific date TBD
Cost: $1.29
Rating of song: 4 out of 5 stars
Rating of video: 3 out of 5