Music Review: Gwen Stefani "Hollaback Girl"

Gwen Stefani

from JoeUser Forums
Hollaback Girl
Album: Love, Angel, Music, Baby.
Year: 2005

In the pep squad beats of "Hollaback Girl," Gwen Stefani cockily declares she's not any guy's sloppy seconds.

Drums, mimicking marching band, tapped assertively in the background while Gwen chants that is her music. Except she cusses like she discovered it and thinks it's so hot. She tells the girls to step to the beat (" Uh huh, this is my s***/All the girls stomp your feet like this"). Be prepared to hear it a lot. It will be said at least 34 times within the span of 3 minutes, 19 seconds.

She's been picked over many times before. But this time, she's not going to tolerate it. She's not going to be girl a guy settles for after being rejected by someone else. ("A few times I've been around that track/So it's not just gonna to happen like that/Because I ain't no hollaback girl/I ain't no hollaback girl"). After the second time the section is sung, synths flare and pop.

In the excessive-swearing-filler section, she says it's her new music four times. Here, the keyboard is made to sound like a tuba. ("Ooooh ooh, this my s***, this my s***...."). It's such a waste of excellent keyboard effects.

She confronts the girl who's been gossiping about her. The girl saying she's going to nab the guy because she's hotter and cooler than Stefani. Stefani's like, "I so heard what you said about me in gym today, bee-yotch." Stefani says the whole popular clique is on her side.. Stefani says she's going to kick the girl's ass. Then, she tells the girl to stop hiding behind her pom-poms. ("I heard that you were talking s***/And you didn't think that I would hear it/People hear you talking like that, getting everybody fired up/So I'm ready to attack, gonna lead the pack/
Gonna get a touchdown, gonna take you out/That's right, put your pom-poms downs, getting everybody fired up").

Stefani challenges her to a schoolyard fight after school where they wouldn't be any authority figures around to see it. She tells the girl she doesn't have a chance against her. She's going to give 110 percent and make her eat sweaty, leftover snacks-from-last-night's-football-game dirt. She's going to win! Cue Rocky theme. ("So that's right dude, meet me at the bleachers/No principals, no student-teachers/Both of us want to be the winner, but there can only be one/So I'm gonna fight, gonna give it my all/Gonna make you fall, gonna sock it to you/That's right I'm the last one standing, another one bites the dust").

After the chorus and swearing section, she breaks into a vulgar, self-promoting cheer twice. Drum and handclaps accompany as Stefani. She calls for the crowd to say that the single is banananas, slang for meaning cool. She then spells the word. Then, she shouts it back louder. ("Let me hear you say this s*** is bananas/B-A-N-A-N-A-S/(This s*** is bananas)/(B-A-N-A-N-A-S/Again/This s*** is bananas/B-A-N-A-N-A-S/(This s*** is bananas)/(B-A-N-A-N-A-S").

After the chorus and swearing section, the single ends with a campy fake tuba.

Stefani works really hard to appeal to teen girls. She has a detached, conceited tone in her vocals which come across as pitiful. Gwen Stefani wants to be cool so badly. She's dressing in the latest styles and saying the up-to-the-minute slang. But she forgets the best dance pop singers don't worry about being accepted. They naturally exude confidence in their music. A quality Stefani doesn't have. The synth pop elements are the reason to the listen to the single. It's a mix of 1980s dance mixed with modern R&B.


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10,053 views 18 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
This was definitely one of my least favorite songs on the CD. I'm surprised the CD didn't receive a Parental Advisory label for it!
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
I agree. I don't mind a few words here or there but it's over-the-top. It's like the entire song! A Parental Advisory deftinely should've been issued for it. I wonder they will edit it for radio.

I wish maybe Danger Zone or Serious had been released as the next single. I really do enjoy listening to those songs. I love the 80s influences on those songs.
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Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
learn how to spell bananas, and second of all she is who she is listen to the song dumass... she aint trying to be someone else shes proving herself, so what if its thru violence. u frikr
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
This song annoys the hell out of me, but it's one of those songs that you just can't get out of your head. Even my four year old has been singing it.

Stefani works really hard to appeal to teen girls.


Exactly. I can just picture drama queen teen girls who think they're badasses going around singing this song while they animatedly discuss which classmate's asses they could kick.

Anonymous User:
learn how to spell bananas, and second of all she is who she is listen to the song dumass... she aint trying to be someone else shes proving herself, so what if its thru violence. u frikr


Learn how to spell bananas? What grade are you in, sweetie? You like rocking out to this song? Are you going to challenge little Stacey to a fight cause she talked about your momma on the playground?

Too bad you're too much of a coward to register so that I could troll you properly.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
Thanks, Texas for sticking up for me.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
I like the song for the beat of music and that dance mix that you mentioned. I also like Gwen Stefani because she can be so campy and makes her videos fun to watch.

The cussing seems to be the norm in most songs these days doesn't it? I don't like that either and didn't realize there was so much of it in this one. I still like her anyway.
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
Since the release of the CD and her self starvation for the movie The Aviator, my stock in Gwen Stefani has plummeted.
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
Foreverserentiy:

Songs are practically R-rated today. I do agree that a lot of language is used in music. It's such an unimaginative way to make a point.

Alison, the thing is she only in the Aviator for barely five minutes. Why starve yourself?

I found her solo album to be all over the place. There are some songs I like on it but it's not consistent. Plus, the endless self-promotion gets on my nerves.
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
Ohh but she looks so good
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
what are u all like......50? seriously..oh no she said the s word lets all run and hide. ever listen to 50 cent...now THAT should..and does have a parental advisory..god, old timers these days. honestly, and quit talking crap about gwen, shes awesome. shes not "trying to be someone she isnt" shes showing how senseless it is...ever heard of hidden meanings or are u all just stupid. and neway, she dsnt dress in the latest clothes..seen her other videos lately? also, who cares if things aren't consistent CHANGE IS AWESOME.
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
whutever, please do not call the other posters on my threads stupid. They have a right to their opinions as you do. If I see you doing it again, I will delete your posts immediately. Got it?

True, 50 Cent has a ton of language on his albums and it rightfully deserves the Parental Advisory. However, Stefani uses it enough that if I had a young kid who wanted the CD, I would have to tell them no.

Change to a certain degree is good. But on "Love, Angel, Music, Baby," first she's Kylie-lite, then she's down with Andre 3000, and then she's 80s girl. So exactly what style is she?
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
I was at the gym when this song's music video came on the television. (I didn't have my radio tuned to the station that carries MTV, so I didn't actually hear the song.)

The video however is definitely appealing to the eye. I look forward to hearing the song some time. Apparently there are marching drum sounds. I like martial music. (Like Adam Ant.)
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
omg you have to have more songs like this it is like the best song we have ever heard oh yeah gwen your our girl and you are the best singer ever you should have a concert here in New York i think that it would be cool we would come and see you and get your autograph if you would give it to us and we would like it if you sang the B-A-N-A-N-A- song cause we really like it and that's all we have to say about this shit and bananas......lol


hugs and kisses,
*Hannah*and*Mackenzie*
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
I think it is wonderful that a powerful female in the music industry is able to compete and make such waves. If she wasn't THE BEST FEMALE ARTIST W/ FAME at the moment we would not be talking about her. Not to mention... just because we listend to her back in the 90's and have grown up does not mean that she now MUST sing about the PTA and back aches. She is an artist, let her be one. On the swearing issue, just shut up.
Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
well i think the banana song is the all time best every time its on we sing along to it and dance calls us losers or whateva but stefanie is awsome