Luxurious
"Luxurious" | ||||
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Single by Gwen Stefani featuring Slim Thug | ||||
from the album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. | ||||
Released | October 11, 2005 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | R&B | |||
Length | 4:24 | |||
Label | Interscope | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Gwen Stefani singles chronology | ||||
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Slim Thug singles chronology | ||||
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"Luxurious" is a song by American singer and songwriter Gwen Stefani from her debut solo studio album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (2004). Written by Stefani and fellow No Doubt bandmate Tony Kanal, the track contains a sample of the Isley Brothers' 1983 song "Between the Sheets".
In addition to the Isley Brothers sample, the song features use of keyboards, synthesizers, and electric guitars. "Luxurious" is a R&B ballad whose lyrics describe the persona's desire to be rich in love, simultaneously comparing her lover with luxuries. The song also features Stefani's then-husband Gavin Rossdale who opens the song in French.
The song was released as the album's fifth single in October 2005 along with a remix featuring rapper Slim Thug. A music video was also released which featured Slim Thug, as well as the Harajuku Girls. The track received mixed reviews from critics, who generally found it less impressive than the previous singles. It charted within the top 40 in several countries, but had mediocre success overall and was less popular than the previous singles from Love. Angel. Music. Baby.
Writing and development
Stefani had an emotional breakdown from difficulties collaborating with many other artists and songwriters, so No Doubt bassist Tony Kanal invited her to his house.[1] Kanal had been working on a track, which later became "Crash", the sixth single from the album.[2] However, the two were unable to write anything following that, because they had differing ideas of how the music should sound.[1] Stefani commented that "it was just frustrating and embarrassing to sit there and think we could write songs."[2] Six months later, the two returned to work and came up with the beginnings of a song while working in Kanal's bedroom.[2][3] The two experimented with combining various melodies and including what Stefani referred to as "this really kinda fast rappy part".[3] This was the last song she and Kanal wrote together for the album.[4]
After Stefani and Kanal finished writing "Luxurious", they visited record producer
Composition
"Luxurious" is an
The song begins with Stefani's then-husband
Critical reception
"Luxurious" received mixed reviews from music critics. Bill Lamb of
Laura Heaps from MyVillage agreed, stating that the single "just doesn't stand out" and that Stefani "doesn't do hip hop as well as she does quirky pop",
Commercial performance
In the United States, "Luxurious" debuted on the
The song was released on December 5, 2005, in the United Kingdom and Australia.
Music video
The music video for "Luxurious" was directed by Sophie Muller. In the video, Stefani plays a chola in high school.[3] Then Stefani, accompanied by her Harajuku Girls, receive a manicure at a beauty salon while various couples kiss in their seats and check their cellphones. In the next sequence, she's styling her hair and applying cosmetics in front of a mirror while her roommates along with the Harajuku girls dance behind her and a couple makeout on the bed. She then applies rhinestones near her eyes, lip-liner, mascara and shows off gold jewelry with her name carved on it. During his rap, Slim Thug appears in sequences with either Stefani or two Harajuku Girls. It concludes with Stefani joining her friends in a block party, where they celebrate with breakdancing and a barbecue. The video is intercut with sequences of Stefani breaking open piñatas and lying on a candy-covered floor, styled in a fashion resembling Mexican painter Frida Kahlo.[31]
Stefani had generally developed music video concepts while writing the song, but since she had not expected "Luxurious" to become a single, she had not given much thought to a music video for the song. The image she had for her persona was a high school girl named Mercedes, who she described as "very inspiring":[3]
She's this total like chola girl, white face, and she used to sit in class and put on tons of makeup. And I used to just watch her, mesmerized. And she would just wear this dark liner and this red lipstick and she had this safety pin and she'd be picking her eyelashes apart. She hadn't taken that mascara off for months.[3]
Stefani called Muller, who had directed several videos for Stefani and No Doubt, to direct the music video. Muller did not understand Stefani's vision for the video, so Stefani became involved in developing ideas for the video.[3]
The video had limited success on music video programs. On
Track listings
- European and Canadian 2-track CD single
- "Luxurious" (Album Version) – 4:24
- "Luxurious" (Remix featuring Slim Thug) [This Is How We Roll Edit] – 4:04
- Australian & European CD maxi single
- "Luxurious" (Album Version) – 4:24
- "Luxurious" (Remix featuring Slim Thug) [This Is How We Roll Edit] – 4:04
- "Cool" (Richard X Remix) – 6:37
- "Luxurious" (Video) – 4:06
- US 12-inch single
- A1. "Luxurious" (Remix featuring Slim Thug) – 4:22
- A2. "Luxurious" (Album Version) – 4:24
- B1. "Luxurious" (A Cappella) – 3:42
- B2. "Luxurious" (Instrumental) – 4:24
Some vinyl copies accidentally have the Slim Thug remix twice on side A.
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Love. Angel. Music. Baby.[6]
- Gwen Stefani – lead vocals, songwriting
- Chipz – programming
- Greg Collins – recording
- Sheldon Conrich – keyboards
- Brian "Big Bass" Gardner – mastering
- GMR – French spoken word
- Simon Gogerly – programming, recording
- Lee Groves – mix programming
- Rob Haggett – second assistant engineer
- Nellee Hooper – production
- Tony Kanal – keyboards, production, programming, songwriting, synthesizers
- Jason Lader – additional engineering, programming
- Aidan Love – programming
- Kevin Mills – assistant engineering
- Colin "Dog" Mitchell – recording
- Ian Rossiter – assistant engineering
- Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing
- David Treahearn – assistant engineering
Charts
Chart (2005–2006) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[29] | 25 |
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[36] | 66 |
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[27] | 6 |
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[37] | 8 |
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[23] | 10 |
Canada CHR/Pop Top 30 (Radio & Records)[38] | 7 |
Finland ( Suomen virallinen lista)[28]
|
2 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[39] | 65 |
Greece (IFPI Greece)[40] | 14 |
Ireland (IRMA)[41] | 34 |
Italy (FIMI)[42] | 31 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[43] | 31 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[30] | 17 |
51 | |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[45] | 39 |
44 | |
7 | |
US Billboard Hot 100[17] | 21 |
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[20] | 37 |
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[22] | 33 |
US | 10 |
US Pop 100 (Billboard)[18] | 13 |
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[21] | 9 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA)[47] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | October 11, 2005 | Contemporary hit radio | Interscope | [48] |
Australia | December 5, 2005 | CD | Universal Music Australia | [49] |
United Kingdom | Interscope | [50] |
References
- ^ Viacom. Archivedfrom the original on July 4, 2017. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- ^ a b c Vineyard, Jennifer (2004). "Gwen Stefani: Scared Solo". MTV. p. 2. Archived from the original on December 2, 2008. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Moss, Corey (November 1, 2005). "For Gwen Stefani, Egyptian Cotton Is Something Like Love". MTV News. Viacom. Archived from the original on December 26, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- ^ Sitt, Pamela (November 22, 2005). "Gwen gives it up for the girls". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2009.
- ^ a b Smirke, Richard (November 23, 2004). "Gwen Stefani: Love. Angel. Music. Baby". Playlouder. Archived from the original on October 23, 2006. Retrieved June 2, 2009.
- ^ a b c d Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (CD liner notes). Gwen Stefani. Interscope Records. 2004. 000346902.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Sheet music for "Luxurious". EMI April Music. 2004.
- ^ About.com. The New York Times Company. Archivedfrom the original on November 2, 2007. Retrieved March 4, 2007.
- ^ a b Heaps, Laura. "Luxurious – Gwen Stefani". MyVillage. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved June 2, 2009.
- ^ Shepherd, Sam. "Gwen Stefani – Luxurious (Polydor)". musicOMH. Archived from the original on January 15, 2010. Retrieved October 11, 2010.
- ^ Damas, Jason (November 29, 2007). "Gwen Stefani: Love.Angel.Music.Baby". PopMatters. Archived from the original on October 24, 2013. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- ^ Lai, Alex (December 7, 2005). "Gwen Stefani – Luxurious Single Review". Contactmusic.com. Archived from the original on February 5, 2016. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- ^ Cinquemani, Sal (November 20, 2004). "Gwen Stefani: Love. Angel. Music. Baby". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- Pitchfork Media. Archivedfrom the original on July 7, 2010. Retrieved June 2, 2009.
- Complex. August 28, 2013. Archivedfrom the original on December 7, 2015. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
- ^ "The Hot 100: The Week of November 05, 2005". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on November 8, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
- ^ a b "Gwen Stefani Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- ^ a b "Pop 100". Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 49. December 3, 2005. p. 52.
- ^ a b "Gwen Stefani Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- ^ a b "Gwen Stefani Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- ^ a b "Gwen Stefani Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- ^ a b "Gwen Stefani Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- ^ a b "Singles : Top 50". Jam!. January 29, 2006. Archived from the original on February 6, 2006. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. December 3, 2005. p. 29.
- ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 5th December 2005" (PDF). ARIA. December 5, 2005. p. 29. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 19, 2005. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
- ^ a b "Gwen Stefani: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- ^ Ultratip. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
- ^ a b "Gwen Stefani: Luxurious" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
- ^ a b "Gwen Stefani – Luxurious". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- ^ a b "Gwen Stefani – Luxurious". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- ^ Jenessa (August 3, 2009). "Fashion Meets Music: Gwen Stefani". M.I.S.S. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved December 19, 2011.
- ^ "The TRL Archive – Debuts". ATRL. Archived from the original on April 23, 2009. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
- ^ "The TRL Archive – Recap: November 2005". ATRL. Archived from the original on August 19, 2013. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
- MuchMusic. CHUM Limited. Archivedfrom the original on March 15, 2007. Retrieved March 15, 2007.
- ^ Video on Trial. Season 1. Episode 14. November 27, 2005. MuchMusic.
- ^ "Gwen Stefani – Luxurious" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- Ultratip. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
- ^ "R&R Canada CHR/Pop Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1637. December 16, 2005. p. 30. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
- ^ "Gwen Stefani – Luxurious" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
- ^ "Top 50 Singles" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. February 12–18, 2006. Archived from the original on February 19, 2006. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Gwen Stefani". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
- ^ "Gwen Stefani – Luxurious". Top Digital Download. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 6, 2006" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- ^ "Gwen Stefani – Luxurious". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- ^ "American single certifications – Gwen Stefani – Luxurious". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
- ^ "FMQB: CHR". FMQB. Archived from the original on June 2, 2013. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
- ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 5th December 2005" (PDF). ARIA. December 5, 2005. p. 29. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2008. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. December 3, 2005. p. 29.