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Hollaback Girl

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"Hollaback Girl"
Song

"Hollaback Girl" is a pop song written by Gwen Stefani and Pharrell Williams for Stefani's debut solo album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (2004). The song is strongly influenced by 1980s hip hop and dance music,[1] and was written in response to a comment about Stefani made by grunge musician Courtney Love in an interview with Seventeen.

The song was released in 2005 as the album's third single, and it proved to be one of the biggest successes of the year. It reached the number one spot in Australia and the United States, and became the first U.S. digital download to sell more than one million copies and the first to sell more digital singles than CDs.[2][3] At the 2006 Grammy Awards, the song was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Record of the Year.[4] Despite its commercial success, "Hollaback Girl" had a polarizing effect on music critics and was especially criticized for its repeated use of the word "shit".[5][6]

Writing and inspiration

Stefani had worked with The Neptunes during the early stages of writing Love. Angel. Music. Baby.; however, a case of writer's block resulted in several fruitless and uninspired collaborations.[7] As the album neared completion, Stefani regained her confidence and booked another session with The Neptunes, including hip hop producer Pharrell Williams, who had produced for artists such as Britney Spears, Snoop Dogg, and Justin Timberlake. Stefani flew to New York City to meet up with Williams, and after finishing two songs within a week, Stefani ended the assembly early and prepared to return home. A few minutes later, Williams called her back into the studio to write another song. Said Stefani, "I was tired. I wanted to go home, but he was like, 'don't leave yet.'"[8]

When she returned to the studio, Williams began to play Stefani his first solo album, and she became jealous upon hearing it.[7] Excited by his material, she decided to write another song with Williams, despite her belief that the album already contained far too many tracks.[8]

To search for inspiration, Stefani and Williams had a lengthy discussion in which Stefani said that she had yet to write a song about her intentions for pursuing a solo career. She remarked how the album was missing an "attitude song", and she recalled a derogatory comment that grunge musician Courtney Love had made about her in an interview with teen magazine Seventeen.

"Being famous is just like being in high school. But I'm not interested in being the cheerleader. I'm not interested in being Gwen Stefani. She's the cheerleader, and I'm out in the smoker shed."[9][10]

Stefani believed that some of the fans of No Doubt would be upset with her solo effort, commenting, "[They] were probably like, 'Why is she doing this record? She's going to ruin everything'."[7] She revealed that she too did not know why she was recording a solo album. For the remainder of the evening, Stefani and Williams incorporated this inspiration into the lyrics that eventually became "Hollaback Girl". The two decided that Stefani did not have to have an answer for her intentions and that the choices she made were based on what she felt was wrong or right.[7] On its creation, Stefani said, "to me, it is the freshest attitude song I've heard in so long."[8] Williams was pleased with the song, commenting, "Gwen is like the girl in high school who just had her own style."[8]

Because Stefani never disclosed the song title's meaning, reviewers came up with various interpretations. In a satirical, line-by-line analysis of the song's lyrics, OC Weekly critic Greg Stacy speculated that "Gwen is apparently the captain of the cheerleader squad; she is the girl who 'hollas' the chants, not one of the girls who simply 'hollas' them back".[11] The most commonly accepted meaning is that a hollaback girl responds to a confrontation with words but that Stefani would rather take initiative and "step it up".[12]

Music and structure

File:HollabackGirlRiff.png
The riff repeated during the chorus.

"Hollaback Girl" is a hi-tempo song combining old school hip hop with dance music.[1] The song is in 4/4 time and alternates scales between B major and D♯ minor.[13] It is written in verse-chorus form with a bridge before the fourth and final chorus. The song features few instrumentals, primarily a minimal beat at 108 BPM[14] from a drum machine.[15][16] A keyboard plays the song's riff, a six-note pattern which plays as Stefani repeats the line "this my shit" during the chorus, and a horn section joins during the second chorus.[12][13] In part because of its cheerleading motif, the song drew comparisons to Toni Basil's 1982 hit "Mickey".[17][18]

Reception

"Hollaback Girl" had a polarizing effect on music critics. LAUNCHcast's Jennifer Nine described it as a "stomping, stripped-back track",[19] and All Music Guide said that it had the "thumping, minimal beats of The Neptunes."[15] Richard Smirke called it "a trademark Neptunes hip-hop stomp."[20] In its review of Love. Angel. Music. Baby., Rolling Stone gave the song a positive review, writing that "Stefani's gum-snapping sass brings out the beast in her beatmasters, especially the Neptunes in 'Hollaback Girl'."[21] Blender listed it as the eleventh best song of 2005.[22]

On the other hand, Jason Damas, in a review for PopMatters, described the song as sounding "almost exactly like Dizzee Rascal", 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".[5] Eric Greenwood of Drawer B Media 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."[6]

Nick Sylvester of Pitchfork insulted the track, referring to it as a "Queen pastiche...which has about as much club potential as a 13-year old with a milk moustache and his dad's ID."[23] Maxim was equally unimpressed with the song, and in its September 2005 issue, published a list of the "20 Most Annoying Songs Ever" with "Hollaback Girl" in first place.[24]

File:GwenStefaniOnCelebrityDeathmatch.png
Stefani spells out the names of produce on Celebrity Deathmatch.

"Hollaback Girl" was mocked on an episode of the animated television series Family Guy titled "Deep Throats"; after watching a VH1 special about Gwen Stefani, Brian Griffin states, "I don't know what a Hollaback Girl is – all I know is that I want her dead."[25] The song's bridge, in which Stefani exclaims "This shit is bananas" and then proceeds to spell "bananas", was later parodied in an episode of the claymation television show Celebrity Deathmatch, in which Stefani spells out "bananas", "broccoli", and "cumquat" during an interview with Tally Wong.[26] The song was also parodied as "Hollaback Boy" by Midtown bassist Gabe Saporta's side project, Cobra Starship.

Chart performance

The single was officially solicited to radio in North America on April 5, 2005, although the music video had been released two weeks earlier, on March 21. "Hollaback Girl" entered the Billboard Hot 100, the main U.S. chart, at number eighty-two, and within six weeks of its release, it had reached the top of the chart, making it the fastest-rising single to reach the top in 2005; it also became Stefani's first U.S. number one.[27] It maintained the number one position for four weeks.[28] The single spent thirty-one weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, twenty-nine of which were in the top fifty.[27] It was removed from the Hot 100 for the week ending October 29, 2005.[27] On the year-end chart, the song was the second most successful, beaten by Mariah Carey's "We Belong Together".[29]

"Hollaback Girl" held the record for most U.S. radio airplays in one week, with 9,582 plays, and maintained this feat for over a year before Shakira and Wyclef Jean's "Hips Don't Lie" overtook the position.[30] It peaked at number one on the Billboard Pop 100 for eight weeks,[31] and was a small success in the dance clubs, peaking at number fifteen on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.[32] The song was a crossover success, and reached number four on the Rhythmic Top 40, and number eight on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.[32]

The song was noted for having a large number of digital downloads, becoming the first single to sell more digital downloads than CDs.[2] In October 2005, "Hollaback Girl" was the first single to ever sell one million digital downloads and later went on to sell a total of 1.2 million downloads;[2][3] it was certified 5× platinum. Due to its downloads, it reached number one on both digital sales charts concurrently, and it topped the year-end Hot Digital Songs chart.[33]

"Hollaback Girl" was a successful single in Canada, where the song debuted at number twelve on the Canadian Singles Chart; however, it fell from there and was unable to reach a higher position.[34] It remained in the top fifty for six months.[34] However, the Canadian Recording Industry Association later argued that based on Canada's population relative to the U.S., the single should have sold around 120,000 copies and that the comparatively lower sales of 25,000 were a sign that Canadian copyright law should be tightened to discourage non-commercial peer-to-peer filesharing.[35] Columnist Michael Geist disputed the comparison, arguing that the Canadian online music market was still developing.[36]

In the rest of the world, reaction to "Hollaback Girl" was generally positive, though not as overwhelming as in North America. It was released in Australia on May 23, 2005, debuting at number one, and in Europe on June 6, 2005, debuting at number twenty-two and eventually reaching number five.[34] In the United Kingdom, however, "Hollaback Girl" did not perform as well as Stefani's previous releases. The song's predecessors, "What You Waiting For?" and "Rich Girl", had both reached number four, while "Hollaback Girl" debuted at number eight, and stalled at the same position the following week.[27] Although its UK success was limited, it remained in the top forty for an additional eleven weeks.[27] The single largely was successful across Europe and Asia, and reached the top five in Austria, Germany, Ireland, and China, and the top ten in Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland.[34] In Latin America, the track reached the top four in Argentina and Brazil.[34]

Music video

File:Hollaback Girl music video shot.jpg
Stefani and her Harajuku Girls in the music video. Several of the scenes feature a yellow 1961 Chevrolet Impala convertible.

The music video was directed by Paul Hunter and filmed in Van Nuys, California, United States.[37] The video opens with a scene of Stefani spending time with her Harajuku Girls, when a crowd of students appear. Stefani and the Harajuku Girls then drive to Birmingham High School in a 1961 Chevrolet Impala, accompanied by the crowd.[37][38] Stefani and the group cause a commotion when they disrupt a football game by walking onto the field and when they go to a grocery store and throw cereal and other food products down an aisle. Throughout the video, there are intercut sequences of choreographed dancing filmed against a black background. Stefani and the Harajuku Girls are outfitted in cheerleading uniforms, accompanied by several Californian spirit groups: the Orange Crush All Stars, a cheerleading squad from Orange County; a marching band from Fountain Valley High School in Fountain Valley; a pep flag team named the Carson High School Flaggies from Carson; and a drill team from Stephen M. White Middle School in Carson.[37] To visualize the song's bridge, the Harajuku Girls spell the word "bananas" with cue cards. The video ends with a close-up frame of Stefani with her arms in the air.

The Chevy Impala convertible from the video includes a painting by artist J. Martin.[10] The design includes Gwen Stefani as seen on the album cover of Love. Angel. Music. Baby. with the words "Hollaback Girl" in calligraphy. Eventually, the car was sold on eBay.[10] Pharrell Williams, one of the song's co-producers, makes a cameo appearance. The complete version of "Hollaback Girl" featured in the music video has been released commercially through CD singles and digital downloads, and some include remixes by Diplo and Tony Kanal.

The video debuted on March 21, 2005 and proved successful on video-chart programs.[39] It debuted on MTV's Total Request Live March 31 at number ten and remained on the program for a total of fifty days,[40] becoming what Rolling Stone called a "a staple of MTV's TRL".[41] The video reached the top of the chart[42] and was retired at number four on June 23, becoming Stefani's first video to retire.[43] It also reached the top of MuchMusic's Countdown three months after its debut, and remained there for two weeks.[34] VH1 listed the song at number five on its Top 40 Videos of 2005,[44] and at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, the music video received four nominations[45] but only won the award for Best Choreography.[46] Stefani did not attend the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards, prompting rumors that she was protesting her lack of nominations the previous year, her multiple losses to Kelly Clarkson, and her not having been asked to perform.[47] Stefani denied the rumors, responding, "the only reason I am not attending the MTV Video Music Awards is because I will be recording and spending time with my family."[48]

Formats and track listings

Template:Sample box start variation 2 Template:Multi-listen start Template:Multi-listen item Template:Multi-listen item Template:Multi-listen end Template:Sample box end

  • Maxi single
  1. "Hollaback Girl" (album version) – 3:20
  2. "Hollaback Girl" (hollatronic remix by Diplo) – 2:17
  3. "Hollaback Girl" (instrumental) – 3:20
  4. "Hollaback Girl" (CD-ROM music video)
  • CD Single
  1. "Hollaback Girl" (album version) – 3:20
  2. "Hollaback Girl" (hollatronic remix by Diplo) – 2:17

Tony Kanal, Stefani's ex-boyfriend and fellow No Doubt member, produced a remix titled the "Dancehollaback Remix". The track features reggae singer Elan Atias, whose debut album Kanal produced, and appears as a single on iTunes, on the CD single for "Cool", and on a remix CD of Love. Angel. Music. Baby. Stefani later requested to contribute vocals on Atias's song "I Wanna Yell".[49]

Credits and personnel

Charts

Chart (2005)[27][34] Peak
position
Argentina Singles Chart 2
Australian ARIA Singles Chart 1
Austrian Singles Chart 5
Brazilian Singles Chart 4
Canadian Singles Chart 12
Chinese Singles Chart 4
Dutch Top 40 8
Finland Singles Chart 8
French Singles Chart 17
German Singles Chart 3
Greek Singles Chart 14
Irish Singles Chart 4
Italian Singles Chart 6
Chart (2005)[27][32] Peak
position
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart 3
Norwegian Singles Chart 6
Swedish Singles Chart 7
Swiss Singles Chart 6
UK Singles Chart 8
United World Chart 3
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 1
U.S. Billboard Pop 100 1
U.S. Billboard Top 40 Mainstream 1
U.S. Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 4
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs 8
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play 15
U.S. Billboard Adult Top 40 18
Preceded by
"Candy Shop" by 50 Cent featuring Olivia
 Billboard Hot 100 number-one single
May 7 2005 - May 28, 2005 		Succeeded by
Preceded by ARIA (Australia) number-one single
May 29 2005 		Succeeded by

References

  1. ^ a b "Gwen Stefani - Hollaback Girl - Video Streams". ContactMusic.com. 2005. Retrieved January 10, 2007.
  2. ^ a b c Hiatt, Brian. "Stefani, Peas Lead Singles Boom". Rolling Stone. January 19, 2006. Retrieved January 9, 2007.
  3. ^ a b Welte, Jim. "Gwen Stefani single hits digital platinum". MP3.com. October 4, 2005. Retrieved November 12 2005.
  4. ^ "48th Annual Grammy Awards Nominee List". The Recording Academy. Retrieved January 10, 2007.
  5. ^ a b Damas, Jason. "Gwen Stefani: Love.Angel.Music.Baby.". PopMatters. November 29, 2004. Retrieved January 10, 2007.
  6. ^ a b Greenwood, Eric. "Gwen Stefani - Love Angel Music Baby". DrawerB. Retrieved January 10, 2007.
  7. ^ a b c d Vineyard, Jennifer. "Road To The Grammys: The Making Of Gwen Stefani's 'Hollaback Girl'". MTV News. January 31, 2006. Retrieved January 9, 2007.
  8. ^ a b c d Vineyard, Jennifer. "Gwen Stefani Answers No Doubt Fans With 'Attitude Song'". MTV News. March 3, 2005. Retrieved January 10, 2007.
  9. ^ Rubenstein, Atoosa. "Courtney Love speaks about Gwen Stefani". Seventeen (August 2004): pg. 19. Retrieved May 21, 2006.
  10. ^ a b c "Hollaback Girl". NoDoubtWeb.com. May 23, 2005. Retrieved January 9, 2007.
  11. ^ Stacy, Greg. "This Shit Is Bananas". OC Weekly. May 5, 2005. Retrieved January 10, 2007.
  12. ^ a b Wood, Peter. "B—a—N—a—N—a—S". National Review Online. August 30, 2005. Retrieved January 15, 2007.
  13. ^ a b "Gwen Stefani - Hollaback Girl - Free Sheet Music Riff". 8notes.com. Retrieved January 15, 2007.
  14. ^ "Superstars #1 Hits Remixed - Hosh Gureli Interview". About.com. Retrieved January 15, 2007.
  15. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Love.Angel.Music.Baby". All Music Guide. Retrieved January 10, 2007.
  16. ^ "Gwen Stefani: Hollaback Girl". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved January 15, 2007.
  17. ^ Smith, RJ. "Gwen Stefani Love. Angel. Music. Baby.". Blender. Retrieved January 25, 2007.
  18. ^ Huff, Quentin B. "Gwen Stefani: The Sweet Escape". PopMatters. December 14, 2006. Retrieved January 25, 2007.
  19. ^ Nine, Jennifer. "Gwen Stefani - 'Love, Angel, Music, Baby'" LAUNCHcast. November 25, 2004. Retrieved January 10, 2007.
  20. ^ Smirke, Richard. "Love. Angel. Music. Baby." PlayLouder. November 23, 2004. Retrieved January 10, 2007.
  21. ^ "Love Angel Music Baby". Rolling Stone. December 9, 2004. Retrieved January 10, 2007.
  22. ^ "The 100 Greatest Songs of 2005". Blender (January 2006): pg. 79.
  23. ^ Sylvester, Nick. "Gwen Stefani: Love Angel Music Baby". Pitchfork. November 24, 2004. Retrieved January 10, 2007.
  24. ^ "The Most Annoying Songs Ever!". Maxim. October 2005. Retrieved January 9, 2007.
  25. ^ "Family Guy Quotes - Pop Culture Quotes". FamilyGuyQuotes.com. Retrieved January 23, 2007.
  26. ^ Iverson, Dan. "Celebrity Deathmatch: Shaq v. Kobe Review". July 5, 2006. Retrieved January 14, 2007.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g "Gwen Stefani - Hollaback Girl: Charts". MusicSquare. Retrieved January 23, 2007.
  28. ^ Jeckell, Barry A. "'Hollaback' Has Singles Chart Staying Power". Billboard. May 19, 2005. Retrieved January 9, 2007.
  29. ^ "Billboard 2005 Year In Music: The Hot 100". Billboard. December 24, 2005. Retrieved January 10, 2007.
  30. ^ Pietroluongo, Silvio. "Billboard Bits: Bumbershoot, Shakira, Reggae Sumfest". Billboard. June 5, 2006. Retrieved January 10, 2007.
  31. ^ Jeckell, Barry A. "'Idol' Underwood Shoots Straight To No. 1". Billboard. June 23, 2005. Retrieved January 25, 2007.
  32. ^ a b c "Love.Angel.Music.Baby. > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". All Music Guide. Retrieved January 23, 2007.
  33. ^ "Billboard 2005 Year In Music: Hot Digital Songs". Billboard. December 24, 2005. Retrieved January 10, 2007.
  34. ^ a b c d e f g "Gwen Stefani Hollaback Girl". Top40-Charts.com. Retrieved January 23, 2007.
  35. ^ Henderson, Graham. "Protect artists: Reform Canada's copyright laws". Editorial in the National Post. May 11, 2006. Retrieved from Canadian Recording Industry Association January 10, 2007.
  36. ^ Geist, Michael. "Music and the Market". March 5, 2006. Retrieved January 10, 2007.
  37. ^ a b c "FVHS Band films with Gwen Stefani". Fountain Valley High School. March 4, 2005. Retrieved from No Doubt Unofficial International Fanclub January 9, 2007.
  38. ^ "Chevrolet Impala in Hollaback Girl music video". IMCDb. Retrieved January 15, 2007.
  39. ^ "Gwen Stefani - 'Hollaback girl'". MVDBase. Retrieved January 25, 2007.
  40. ^ "The TRL Archive - Debuts". Popfusion. Retrieved January 25, 2007.
  41. ^ Gitlin, Lauren. "Gwen Bounces Back". Rolling Stone. June 7, 2005. Retrieved January 25,2007.
  42. ^ "The TRL Archive - Number Ones". Popfusion. Retrieved January 25, 2007.
  43. ^ "The TRL Archive - Hall of Fame". Popfusion. Retrieved January 25, 2007.
  44. ^ "top 40 of 2005". VH1. Retrieved January 26, 2007.
  45. ^ Ford, Tracey. "Green Day Top VMA Noms". Rolling Stone. July 25, 2005. Retrieved January 10, 2007.
  46. ^ "Green Day Clean Up At The VMA's". MTVe. August 24, 2005. Retrieved January 10, 2007.
  47. ^ Serpe, Gina. "Gwen Stefani Gets All Dolled Up". E!. September 6, 2006. Retrieved January 25, 2007.
  48. ^ Stefani, Gwen. "A Quick Word From Gwen". GwenStefani.com September 1, 2006. Retrieved January 25, 2007.
  49. ^ Kaufman, Gil and Dotiwala, Jasmine. "No Doubt's Tony Kanal Spends Band's Hiatus Producing Reggae LP, Remixing Gwen". MTV News. May 16, 2005. Retrieved January 10, 2007.


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