Gwen Stefani apparently did not take the advice of her most-famous No Doubt hit when talking to Elle for their July women-in-music cover story (on stands June 15). Quite the opposite, in fact: The platinum-coiffed singer offered some curiously candid soundbites on dynamics within the band, her new life as a mother to two genetically-gifted sons with Gavin Rossdale, and may have also confirmed her two solo albums were totally phony. Check these out:
Gwen on motherhood (via Elle.com):
"It’s one thing when you have an infant, butwhen you have this two-or three-year-old going, ‘Mommy, what’s thedeal?’ it’s harder. Kingston’s whole thing is, ‘I need, I need.’ He isinsane right now. We’re just hoping for the best and that he’s notgoing to turn out to be a freak, but we’ll see.”
Gwen on the band (via the inquisitr.com):
“I always referred to No Doubt as a marriage, because that’s what it’s like to be together for so long and go through what we’ve been through. I can’t really have that relationship with them anymore. My priorities are always going to be my husband and my family now. That’s a huge, huge thing.”
Gwen on songwriting (via MTV.com):
"I just feel very in between at the moment. Like in my cocoon waiting to blossom…I'm so screwed.I might never be able to write another song…I want so badly towrite a record. I want to make every other songwriter jealous. But it'sjust not happening right now."
Gwen on her solo work (via MTV.com):
"I just did the circuit. You write with all the same people ChristinaAguilera writes with. And the music's very programmed anddone in this very patchwork way. But it was so fun. I felt like I wasplaying a character."
While it's understandable baby-mama-hood has changed her life entirely (though maybe not to the extent of robbing her of her songwriting abilities), it is fascinating to hear her put her solo career in context. To her credit, both albums — Love, Angel, Music, Baby and The Sweet Escape — spawned a plethora of radio hits, and the former, lest we forget, helped launch the phrase "Hollaback Girl" into this generation's lexicon.
Regardless, the full interview is likely to drum up even more publicity for No Doubt's reunion (currently underway), much more so than that blah Adam and Ants cover. One would think not being able to write songs would throw a kink in that new No Doubt album though, right?
What do you think, Mixers? Which Gwen do you prefer — solo Gwen, or No Doubt Gwen? Are you nervous, excited or indifferent about the long-in-the-works next ND record?
More from EW's Music Mix:
No Doubt begin comeback summer on the 'Today Show': Do we care?
No Doubt: Hear their new single here!
Christina Aguilera adds Le Tigre to list of collaborators for new album: Will her electro-album trump Lady Gaga's?
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pre-rocksteady gwen + “it’s my life” cover gwen + “what u waiting for?” gwen + “4 in the morning” music video gwen…thanks!
I prefer no Gwen
I graduated high school in 96 so I grew up with No Doubt. I was excited and scarred for No Doubt’s future when she planned to go solo but once I heard her first album on MTV leaked I thought it totally sucked. And the second was kinda worst. Whind in up has got to be her worst song ever. But I’m super excited to hear No Doubt is back together and touring. Maybe she needs the No Doubt guys to sort of taser down all that is Gwen from her own music.
Totally prefer NO DOUBT Gwen I have loved them for so long and looked up to her but yeah no solo all that japan and dance music crap that is what is was crap. Sorry Gwen
Christina aka the overly acrobatic singer who prides herself on being a real songwriter unlike her peer Britney, will not be happy with that comment LOL.
No question, Gwen is much better with No Doubt. I can’t stand her solo material, whereas with No Doubt all of their songs are memorable. Hopefully she’ll stick with the band.
Um… why is it an “either-or”? Gwen doesn’t see it that way, so why should anything else. And we are talking about pop music here – her solo work can hardly be called ‘totally phony’ when she had hit after hit. By definition, pop music is the music of the time, and therefore her solo work (and much of her No Doubt stuff) was most assurely the anthesis of phoney. Geesh, why does Jeremy Medina have a job?
Definitely better with No Doubt, as a unit those guys are amazing. I went to see their concert last week and had an unbelievable time. IMO Gwen is at her best when she’s doing pushups on stage while Adrian is dancing around in a tutu. I’d like to see those Harajuku girls top that.
Definitely better with No Doubt, as a unit those guys are amazing. I went to see their concert last week and had an unbelievable time. IMO Gwen is at her best when she’s doing pushups on stage while Adrian is dancing around in a tutu. I’d like to see those Harajuku girls top that.
Gwen said in an interview when her first solo single was coming out that the solo career was a chance to work with other people and be influenced by them. She basically said that this was not really “her.” At least she was upfront about it from the beginning, she’s always known that No Doubt is where she is most creative.
I’m definitely a Gwen + No Doubt fan. did like some of her (slower) solo stuff, but I’m just too excited to see ND perform. (ONE WEEK!)
With the exception of ‘Cool’, i’m inclined to agree with Gwen that her solo music is horrible.
Love Gwen! Love No Doubt! Concert was AMAZING!
Where do you get these headlines from?
She doesn’t even allude to her solo stuff being crap. She says that it was fun.
I’m one of very few people who love both solo Gwen and Gwen with No Doubt. Can’t wait for the new ND album!
I love that she is being a real parent too! Go Gwen, and I love all of your music!
So, like we needed to have her confirm her music is crap??? What are we – Deaf???
The headline for this article is a little ridiculous. She didn’t even hint at her work being “crap” as you insinuate. Talk about sensationalist reporting. I guess I’m in the minority of people who like Gwen in both No Doubt and her solo endeavors. I look forward to her future projects.
I love both Gwens, but Solo Gwen was not crap by any stretch of the imagination! “Love. Angel. Music. Baby.” was just a great pop album (and was nominated for Album of the Year at the Grammys!), and “The Sweet Escape” had enough high points to make it listenable.
I PREFER NO GWEN TOO.
I PREFER NO GWEN TOO.
I loved SOLO GWEN!!!! I cant believed she spent so long on something she didn’t like anywhere near as much as ND! I would never of known who she was unless it was for her solo career! There would be no school girl/women wearing her clothes and perfume, there would be no gwen being in a movie with leonardo di caprio and Gwen would never of been the worlds no.1 style icon!
I think she wasn’t satisfied with the second solo album of 2006, which was slammed left and right in reviews for being too mediocre. I liked it but it just lacked the excitement of the first one from 2004. I actually listen to Now that You’ve Got It more than the other songs.
Going to 3 No Doubt shows this summer. Though I prefer No Doubt, I supported Gwen throughout the solo tour. Whatever. Good music is good music.
“I know I’ve been a real bad girl”
“and I could be your girl forever”
-this was my wedding song. I slow ground my wife in front of the inlaws while most of my family drank cheap champagne. Most beautiful moment in my life. Thank you Gwen!
No Doubt sucks no doubt. Get away Gwen! Dump Gavin! Marry me! Lose the brat! Think of us!!!!
ah, people are harsh. I like Gwen’s solo work, but I miss the more emotionally revealing work she did with No Doubt – it would be nice to see her push herself to that again. So bring on the reunion album!
1st, saw the No Doubt show last night in Philly in front of 25K People (biggest show of the tour and one of the biggest of their career), an AMAZING time. Don’t leave before the last song of the encore, amazing version of Sunday Morning (one of the best songs they ever wrote). 2nd, As far as the band’s future….I think this is their farewell tour, honestly. Gwen is simply too happy and settled with Gavin. What inspired Gwen’s writing? Turmoil with Tony and then meeting and settling in with Gavin and all their drama. Now that she is married and happy, I honestly think the well is dry. It cant be a mistake that they havent done anything but cover songs in years. Gwen has pretty much admitted they tried to record an album and had nothing. She has stated plainly that they are doing this tour as an attempt to spark some kind of inspiration for an album, and judging by the above comments, it isnt working. Bittersweet, I guess, but enjoy the tour, the show is freakin INCREDIBLE!!!