Serious (Gwen Stefani song)
"Serious" | |
---|---|
Song by Gwen Stefani | |
from the album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. | |
Released | November 12, 2004 |
Studio | Kingsbury Studios, Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California |
Genre | Synth-pop |
Length | 4:48 |
Label | Interscope |
Songwriter(s) |
|
Producer(s) |
|
"Serious" is a song by American singer Gwen Stefani for her debut solo studio album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (2004). It was released on November 12, 2004, along with the rest of the aforementioned album by Interscope Records. The track was written by Stefani and her No Doubt bandmate, Tony Kanal. The latter also produced the song with Mark "Spike" Stent, who Stefani and Kanal previously worked with on No Doubt's fifth studio album, Rock Steady (2001). "Serious" is a synth-pop song with lyrics pertaining to a strong romantic interest in a significant other.
"Serious" received generally positive reviews from music critics upon release and was frequently compared to the works of both early
Background and composition
In early 2003, Stefani began embarking on recording sessions for her debut album.
"Serious" takes influence from the "'80s style" and
Critical reception
Upon release, the song received generally positive reviews from
A critic from Sputnikmusic awarded the recording five out of a five stars, calling it "one of the better songs on the album". The reviewer noted Kanal's role in the song's production: "this song wouldn't be that wonderful without him".[9] Another highly positive review came from Marcus Floyd from Renowned for Sound; in his review of the parent record, he called it "another catchy melody and addictive arrangement from the platinum blonde star".[13] Lisa Haines, a music editor and columnist for BBC, was less favorable in her review, opining that "the cheeky upstart charm Madonna sported in the 80s is embraced to shrewd effect" for the track's duration.[14]
Promotion
Music video
A music video was produced for the song, but it was never officially released.[6] Stefani's long time collaborator, Sophie Muller, directed the music video during Gwen's first concert tour entitled Harajuku Lovers Tour. A minute long clip of the video surfaced on YouTube on October 13, 2006.[15] At the beginning of the clip, Stefani and her dance troupe, the Harajuku Girls, are shown dancing on various rooftops in a city. The women also appear in front of a yellow building advertisement that reads "Cash Loan" in a red font, followed by "Buy · Sell · Trade" in a green font below. The ladies sport "'80s hairstyles", to which a critic from Spin predicted was in an attempt "to rival some of the best videos from two decades ago".[15] Other parts of the video display the dancers wearing jumpsuits or camouflage outfits; Stefani also wears a denim skirt or a pair of white shorts with a matching tank top. The clip was featured in a list compiled by VH1's Christopher Rosa, titled "8 Amazing Unreleased Music Videos That We Really Need To See". Rosa noted that the video "is now virtually unfindable on the Web", and was disappointed by stating: "We wanted some Madonna realness, Gwen!"[6]
Live performances
Stefani included the song on the setlist for her 2005 concert tour entitled Harajuku Lovers Tour.[16] The track was performed as a finale/encore alongside "Bubble Pop Electric" during the original setlist of the show,[17] but was performed earlier in later shows as "Hollaback Girl" became the new encore, preceded by "Serious" and the aforementioned song.[18][19] In the performance, Stefani was carried out in a stretcher by the Harajuku Girls, dressed up as nurses.[20]
Credits and personnel
Personnel
- Gwen Stefani – lead vocals, songwriting
- Lee Groves – keyboards, programming, mixing
- Rob Haggett – assistant engineering, mixing
- production, programming, synthesizer
- Colin "Dog" Mitchell – additional recording
- Mark "Spike" Stent – producer[a], mixing
- David Treahearn – assistant engineering, mixing
- Kingsbury Studios, Los Feliz, California– recording location
- The Mix Suite, Olympic Studios, London, England – mixing location
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Love. Angel. Music. Baby.[21]
Notes
References
- ^ Moss, Corey. "Gwen Stefani Recording Solo Material". MTV News. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
- ^ Eliscu, Jenny (January 30, 2005). "'I'll cry just talking about it'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
- ^ a b Vineyard, Jennifer (2004). "Gwen Stefani: Scared Solo". MTV. p. 3. Archived from the original on December 1, 2008. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
- ^ Vineyard, Jennifer (2004). "Gwen Stefani: Scared Solo". MTV. p. 2. Archived from the original on December 2, 2008. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
- ^ a b Haines, Lisa. "Review of Gwen Stefani - Love Angel Music Baby". BBC News. Archived from the original on November 6, 2014. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
- ^ a b c Rosa, Christopher (October 21, 2015). "8 Amazing Unreleased Music Videos That We Really Need To See". VH1. Viacom. Archived from the original on November 28, 2015. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
- ^ a b c McCroy, Winnie (January 5–11, 2005). "A sound that pops, and more". The Villager. 74 (35). Archived from the original on June 23, 2007. Retrieved March 22, 2007.
- ^ a b c Cills, Hazel (November 28, 2014). "Looking Back at Gwen Stefani's Racist Pop Frankenstein Ten Years Later". Vice. Archived from the original on August 31, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
- ^ a b Ryou–Neko (November 14, 2005). "Gwen Stefani – Love. Angel. Music. Baby". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
- ^ Weber, Theon (March 17, 2016). "Review: We've Got Some Doubts About Gwen Stefani's 'This Is What the Truth Feels Like'". Spin. Archived from the original on March 20, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
- ^ Damas, Jason (November 29, 2004). "Gwen Stefani: Love.Angel.Music.Baby". PopMatters. Archived from the original on October 24, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
- ^ Cinquemani, Sal (November 20, 2004). "Gwen Stefani: Love. Angel. Music. Baby". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved February 27, 2007.
- ^ Floyd, Marcus (December 21, 2014). "Record Rewind: Gwen Stefani – Love. Angel. Music. Baby". Renowned for Sound. Archived from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
- ^ Haines, Lisa (November 29, 2004). "Review of Gwen Stefani – Love Angel Music Baby". BBC Music. Archived from the original on June 24, 2009. Retrieved March 22, 2007.
- ^ a b Spin staff (October 16, 2006). "New Gwen Video on YouTube". Spin. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
- ^ Stevenson, Jane (December 10, 2005). "Air Canada Centre, Toronto – December 9, 2005". Toronto Sun. Archived from the original on April 13, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
- ^ Sitt, Pamela (November 22, 2005). "Gwen Stefani gives it up for the girls". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
- ^ Williams, Rob (November 16, 2005). "Clothes minded singer offers more style than substance". Winnipeg Sun. Sun Media. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) Archived at Jam! on November 17, 2005. - ^ Harrison, Jim (October 19, 2005). "Live Review: Gwen Stefani in San Jose, CA". SoundSpike. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
- ^ Moss, Corey (October 24, 2005). "Gwen Stefani Brings Solo Show To Hollywood 'Hometown' Crowd". MTV (Viacom). Archived from the original on March 31, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
- ^ Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (CD liner notes). Gwen Stefani. Interscope Records. 2004. B0003469-02.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)