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Serious (Gwen Stefani song)

"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"
Song by Gwen Stefani
from the album Love. Angel. Music. Baby.
ReleasedNovember 12, 2004
StudioKingsbury Studios, Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California
GenreSynth-pop
Length4:48
LabelInterscope
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)

"Serious" received generally positive reviews from music critics upon release and was frequently compared to the works of both early Madonna and Kylie Minogue, particularly Minogue's track, "Fever". The song was also received well for its mirror production to '80s songs, with additional praise for being "catchy". An accompanying music video for the recording was filmed in Los Angeles but never released; however, a low-quality clip of the video surfaced on YouTube in 2006. Stefani performed the track on her 2005 Harajuku Lovers Tour during the encore of the show, where she danced with the Harajuku Girls in nurse costumes.

Background and composition

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In early 2003, Stefani began embarking on recording sessions for her debut album.[1] After listening to songs recommended to her by No Doubt bassist and former boyfriend Tony Kanal, she considered recording material that "modernized 1980s music".[2] After writing a series of several songs, including "Serious", "Crash", and "Luxurious", the pair gave up after Stefani didn't find anything worth recording from the sessions.[3] When asked about the aforementioned collaborations, Stefani expressed her doubts of whether or not her newly recorded material would be any good: "If I were to write the chorus of 'Yesterday' by the Beatles, and that's all I wrote, that would be good enough to be part of that history."[3][4] Due to Stefani's doubts, the project began a six-month hiatus, which resulted in the singer deciding to collaborate with various new musicians instead. Stefani's change of heart also ensured her work with Kanal would end up on Love. Angel. Music. Baby..

"Serious" takes influence from the "'80s style" and dance music genres, which in turn drew frequent comparisons to the works of Madonna and Club Nouveau.[5][6] It contains a string melody alongside a synthpop[5] rhythm.[7] Opening with "an orchestral [...] before diving into a Prince-ready bumping drum beat and ambient synth",[8] Stefani sings: "I think I'm coming down with something / I think I'm gonna need your medicine" in a provocative tone.[9] The use of cri de coeur is also present.[7] Hazel Cills from Vice found the aforementioned lyric reminiscent of Carol Douglas' 1974 cover of "Doctor's Orders".[8] In between different exclamations "centered around Stefani's manic love", she also announces "breathy, vaudeville 'Oohs' and 'Yeahs'".[8] Theon Weber of Spin described the composition: "'Serious' carved out a bittersweet niche that applied loping ska upstrokes to new-wave synth washes and blurred warm feelings about lovers into warm feelings about the synth-pop era."[10]

Critical reception

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Upon release, the song received generally positive reviews from music critics. Many reviewers noted similarities to works of early Madonna and Kylie Minogue, with the song being compared to several of the singers' songs. Jason Damas from PopMatters praised the track for being "a sure contender for future single release", in addition to calling it his "favorite song on the album". He further added: "No Doubt fans who always secretly suspected that Stefani may someday move to become a Madonna-like dance diva will find their proof in this cut, which plagiarizes Kylie Minogue's "Fever" but makes the song even bigger and catchier."[11] Winnie McCroy of The Villager claimed that "Serious" has staying power; he continued: "Despite your best attempts to shake it, you will find yourself humming the chorus", later comparing the track to Madonna's 1992 single "Erotica", and Falco's 1985 single "Rock Me Amadeus".[7] Also in a highly positive review, Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine favored "Serious" for "flawlessly recreat[ing] the throwaway lyrics, vocal phrasing and background vocals, and synth sounds of the '80s".[12]

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

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Music video

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Stefani and the Harajuku Girls dancing on a rooftop in the unreleased music video for "Serious"

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

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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

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Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Love. Angel. Music. Baby.[21]

Notes

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  • ^a signifies an additional producer

References

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  1. ^ Moss, Corey. "Gwen Stefani Recording Solo Material". MTV News. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ a b Vineyard, Jennifer (2004). "Gwen Stefani: Scared Solo". MTV. p. 3. Archived from the original on December 1, 2008. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
  4. ^ Vineyard, Jennifer (2004). "Gwen Stefani: Scared Solo". MTV. p. 2. Archived from the original on December 2, 2008. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ a b Ryou–Neko (November 14, 2005). "Gwen Stefani – Love. Angel. Music. Baby". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Damas, Jason (November 29, 2004). "Gwen Stefani: Love.Angel.Music.Baby". PopMatters. Archived from the original on October 24, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ 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)
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