Music Review: No Doubt "Settle Down"

No Doubt

Settle Down

Album: Push and Shove

Year: 2012

   Gwen Stefani placates her worried friends she’s ok in the lagging “Settle Down.”

     A siren goes off followed by frantic synths, setting a chaotic tone. Stefani checks her phone again. It’s yet another text from one of her friends. She needs her friends to calm down and let her be. (“Get get get in line, and settle down/Get in line, and settle down.”)

          They are constantly asking her where is she is and how she’s doing. They’ve noticed she isn’t talking as much as she used to. Something’s up and they want to know. They believe it’s serious and she’s in trouble. (“What's your twenty? (Do you copy?)/Where's your brain? (Do you copy?)/Checking in to check you out/Concerned about your whereabouts/Copy that (Do you copy?)/You're acting strange (Do you copy?)/So tell me what is going on/So heavy I bet.”)

        In the pre-chorus, she tells them she’s fantastic, great and every other superlative she can think of. There’s a lot going on and it’s tough to explain. (“I'm fine (and nothing's gonna knock this girl down) I'm hella positive for real, I'm all good no/I'm fine (and nothing's gonna knock this girl down)/It's kinda complicated that's for sure.”)

        In the chorus, she knows her friends don’t believe her. Her eyes usually shine at the mention of going out and lately, it’s as though they have been dulled, scraped by an unshakeable problem. A frown has been plastered on her face. They don’t want to see her get overwhelmed again. She tells them it won’t happen and she wants to figure it out on her own. However, she needs them to back off for the time being. (“But you can see it my eyes, you can read on my lips/I'm trying to get a hold on this/And I really mean it this time/And you know it's such a trip/Don't get me started/I'm trying to get a hold on this/Get get get in line, and settle down/Get in line, and settle down.”)

       Stefani tries to play her issue off as casual and easy. She’ll be back to herself within a couple days. She’s gone through something like this a few years ago and it worked out fine. She can’t believe it’s happening again. They have a have a lot riding on them. (“No big deal (I can handle it)/It'll bounce off me (I can handle it)/Been around the block before, doesn't matter anymore/Here we go again (Are you kidding me?)/Are you insane? (Are you kidding me?)/We're underneath the avalanche so heavy again.”)

     The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.

         In the bridge, she says she has a thick skin. (“I'm a rough and tough, I'm a rough and tough/And nothing's gonna knock this girl down/I'm a rough and tough, I'm a rough and tough/And nothing's gonna knock this girl down/I'm a rough and tough, I'm a rough and tough/And nothing's gonna knock this girl down/I'm a rough and tough, I'm a rough and tough.”)

          The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.

         She adds an extra “get get in line and settle down/get in line and sette down” to end the single.

        Stefani’s cross vocals are tight-lipped, padlocked with a giant metal chain only a flamethrower could break through. It’s unusual given No Doubt and Stefani (in her solo work) haven’t ever shied away from talking about insecurity, breakups, etc. Stefani seems to be hinting at getting back together with the band and trying to be successful again with them (going by her doubts about going solo which were clear and bold in “What You Waiting For?”). The guessing game is played with contempt with all the plays fixed in the band’s favor.

         The vague “Settle Down” shuts down its audience with a thundering siren, stifling any questions.