Early Winter
"Early Winter" | ||||
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Single by Gwen Stefani | ||||
from the album The Sweet Escape | ||||
Released | January 18, 2008 | |||
Recorded | 2006 | |||
Studio | Home Recordings (London, England) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:44 | |||
Label | Interscope | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Nellee Hooper | |||
Gwen Stefani singles chronology | ||||
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"Early Winter" is a song by American singer Gwen Stefani from her second solo studio album, The Sweet Escape (2006). Written by Stefani and English pianist Tim Rice-Oxley, the song was released in Europe as the album's fifth and final single on January 18, 2008, by Interscope Records. Musically, "Early Winter" is a soft rock and synth-pop ballad with new wave influences. Critics found it similar to songs by English alternative rock band Keane, of which Rice-Oxley is a member. The lyrics of the song describe the nearing of the end of a relationship, and were speculated to be references to Stefani's own relationship with husband Gavin Rossdale.
Upon its release, "Early Winter" received generally positive reviews from
Background
"She likes to write from the heart. She's obviously quite an emotional person. Within 10 minutes of us sitting down, she was crying. I played her a little bit of a thing that I'd been working on just before she came in and she welled up about it."
—Tim Rice-Oxley, on recording "Early Winter" with Stefani.[1]
"Early Winter" was written by Tim Rice-Oxley, pianist of English alternative rock band Keane, and Gwen Stefani for the latter's second solo studio album The Sweet Escape (2006).[2] The production of the song was handled by Nellee Hooper.[2] Before working with Rice-Oxley in the studio, Stefani called him to discuss some of her ideas behind a potential song, saying "I wanted a ballad. I wanted to write 'Eyes Without a Face' or 'Killing Me Softly' or 'Time After Time,' and he was like, 'OK, Cyndi Lauper, got it,' like he was taking my order."[3] In the studio, Rice-Oxley played "Early Winter" on a piano, and after hearing the song, Stefani approved of it and commented, "It was so beautiful and addictive. I didn't really attack it because it was kind of done, lyrics and everything."[3] After letting the song "sit with her for a bit", she rewrote some of the lyrics.[3]
Stefani was the first artist Rice-Oxley wrote a song for outside of Keane, and the singer remarked that "he's like
Composition
Musically, "Early Winter" is a "sleek, surging" soft rock and synth-pop ballad.[5][6] Similar to Stefani's work with her band No Doubt, it is highly influenced by new wave music.[7] Clark Collis from Entertainment Weekly dubbed it a "tortured and not un-Keane-like lament".[1] The lyrics of "Early Winter" are based on issues related to the end of a relationship, and Jennifer Vineyard from MTV described them to be "poignant lyrics about a couple recognizing the beginning of the end".[3] In the song, Stefani metaphorically compares the end of her relationship with her partner to falling leaves.[8] It was speculated that the song was a reference to Stefani's own relationship with English musician and husband Gavin Rossdale.[1][3]
Release and promotion
"Early Winter" was chosen as the fifth and final single from The Sweet Escape, and was released in Europe as a
Critical reception
The song received generally positive reviews from
Commercial performance
"Early Winter" made its first chart appearance on the
Music video
The music video for "Early Winter" was directed by Stefani's frequent collaborator
Track listing
- "Early Winter" (Album Version) – 4:44
- "Early Winter" (Live) – 6:53
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Sweet Escape.[2]
- Gwen Stefani – lead vocals, songwriting
- Greg Collins – bass guitar, recording
- Pete Davis – additional keyboards, additional programming
- Alex Dromgoole – engineering assistance
- David Emery – engineering assistance
- Nellee Hooper – production
- Aidan Love – programming
- Mark Ralph – guitar
- Tim Rice-Oxley – keyboards, piano, songwriting
- Ian Rossiter – engineering assistance
- Mark "Spike" Stent – additional production, mixing
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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References
- ^ a b c Collis, Clark (January 8, 2007). "Holla Back". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 28, 2008. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
- ^ a b c The Sweet Escape (liner notes). Gwen Stefani. Interscope Records. 2006. B0008099-02 IN02.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b c d e f Vineyard, Jennifer (January 9, 2018). "Baby On Board! Gwen Stefani's Son Joins Her On LP, Spring Tour". MTV News. Archived from the original on October 18, 2016. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
- ^ Sturrock, Tom (May 25, 2012). "Chatroom: Tim Rice-Oxley from Keane". TNT. Archived from the original on October 24, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
- ^ a b c Levine, Nick (December 28, 2007). "Gwen Stefani: 'Early Winter'". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on January 7, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
- ^ Cohen, Jonathan (December 3, 2006). "'Sweet' Relief". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 13, 2014. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
- ^ a b Cinquemani, Sal (December 1, 2006). "Gwen Stefani: The Sweet Escape". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
- ^ a b Battaglia, Andy (January 30, 2007). "Gwen Stefani: The Sweet Escape". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on January 7, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
- ^ "Gwen Stefani – Early Winter (2-Track)" (in German). Universal Music Germany. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Gwen Stefani – Early Winter" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
- ^ a b "Early Winter – Single by Gwen Stefani". iTunes Store (Australia). January 2007. Archived from the original on August 6, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
- ^ a b Anderman, Joan (May 24, 2007). "A sweet escape with Stefani". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on January 6, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
- ^ Murphy, John (December 4, 2006). "Gwen Stefani – The Sweet Escape". musicOMH. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
- ^ Miller, Alex (December 1, 2006). "Gwen Stefani: The Sweet Escape". NME. Archived from the original on October 23, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
- ^ Pytlik, Mark (December 7, 2006). "Gwen Stefani: The Sweet Escape". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on October 24, 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
- ^ "Rádio – Top 100: Gwen Stefani – Early Winter" (in Slovak). IFPI Slovakia. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
- ^ "CZ – Radio – Top 100: Gwen Stefani – Early Winter" (in Czech). IFPI Czech Republic. Archived from the original on February 5, 2009. Retrieved November 17, 2007.
- ^ a b "Gwen Stefani: Early Winter" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
- ^ a b "Gwen Stefani – Early Winter" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
- ^ a b "Gwen Stefani – Early Winter". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
- ^ a b "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
- ^ "Sophie Muller". IMVDb. Archived from the original on August 6, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2008.
- VH1 (Latin America). Archivedfrom the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
- ^ "Fundraiser for Steelo Vazquez". GwenStefani.com. November 18, 2011. Archived from the original on December 4, 2013. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
- ^ Muller, Sophie (Director), Stefani, Gwen (Lead) (2007). Early Winter (Music video). Interscope Records. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
- MTV Buzzworthy. Archived from the originalon June 30, 2015. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
- Ultratip. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
- ^ Gwen Stefani — Early Winter. TopHit. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 200801 into search. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
- ^ "European Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. February 16, 2008. Archived from the original on February 14, 2008. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
- Romanian Top 100. Archived from the originalon February 28, 2008. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200804 into search. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
- ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts – 2008" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Archived from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
- ^ "MAHASZ Rádiós TOP 100 – radios" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. 2008. Archived from the original on October 10, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
- ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 2008". swisscharts.com. Archived from the original on August 25, 2017. Retrieved September 26, 2017.