If you’re getting into Gwen Stefani’s solo songs, start with the drumline stomp of “Hollaback Girl,” the soft-focus pop of “Cool,” and the sunny hook of “The Sweet Escape” with Akon.
These 17 picks come from her solo releases, including songs with guests and a duet with Blake Shelton. The No Doubt records belong to a different playlist.
1. “What You Waiting For?” by Gwen Stefani
The first single from Love. Angel. Music. Baby. starts with a ticking sound that carries into the dance beat. Stefani sings about the nerves of making a solo record, and the pace makes it sound as if she’s trying to outrun her own doubts.
2. “Hollaback Girl” by Gwen Stefani
Marching drums and handclaps give “Hollaback Girl” its shape. Stefani shifts between leading the chant and letting a crowd of voices answer, so the song has the feel of a cheer even without the video.
3. “Cool” by Gwen Stefani
“Cool” takes the gentle view of a breakup that eventually turned into a friendship. The guitar and synths are bright and soft around the edges, and Stefani gives the chorus room to drift.
4. “Rich Girl (feat. Eve)” by Gwen Stefani
A melody from Fiddler on the Roof becomes a quick, bouncing pop hook here. Stefani takes the tune and Eve brings a different cadence with her rap, which helps the hook sound fresh when it comes back.
5. “The Real Thing” by Gwen Stefani
This Love. Angel. Music. Baby. album track is a good follow-up to “Cool.” Its clipped guitar and chiming synths give the love song a light touch, especially once the higher harmonies come in.
6. “Crash” by Gwen Stefani
“Crash” makes a flirtation sound like an arcade game. Stefani tosses out short commands against a busy beat, and the sudden vocal interjections make the gaps as fun as the hook.
7. “Wind It Up” by Gwen Stefani
“Wind It Up” borrows the yodel from “The Lonely Goatherd” in The Sound of Music. The low beat has a completely different bounce from the show tune, which is what makes the jump back to the yodel so striking.
8. “The Sweet Escape (feat. Akon)” by Gwen Stefani
The little vocal refrain from Akon is the first thing many people remember about “The Sweet Escape.” Stefani’s verses run at a much faster clip, giving the refrain the feel of a deep breath every time it returns.
9. “Early Winter” by Gwen Stefani
“Early Winter” lets the melody unfurl over a patient pulse. The instruments grow louder around Stefani, but her delivery stays close enough to make the last chorus feel personal.
10. “4 in the Morning” by Gwen Stefani
Stefani starts “4 in the Morning” quietly and builds to a chorus with enough space for each line to linger. It’s an easy song to miss if you only know the more percussive singles from The Sweet Escape.
11. “Used to Love You” by Gwen Stefani
There’s a little hesitation in Stefani’s phrasing on this ballad from This Is What the Truth Feels Like. The backing parts lift the chorus without taking away that sense that she’s working out how she feels as she sings.
12. “Make Me Like You” by Gwen Stefani
The light guitar and brisk beat give “Make Me Like You” a disco skip. Stefani sounds amused by her own surprise at falling for someone, especially when the vocal hook seems to chase itself around the chorus.
13. “Misery” by Gwen Stefani
The pulse on “Misery” keeps the track moving even when Stefani holds back at the start. By the chorus, the backing voices make her private impatience sound big enough to fill a room.
14. “Let Me Reintroduce Myself” by Gwen Stefani
The upstroke guitar on this solo single is a quick reminder of Stefani’s ska roots. She uses the loose groove for a playful reintroduction, with echoes of her old looks turning up throughout the video.
15. “Somebody Else’s” by Gwen Stefani
“Somebody Else’s” opens Bouquet with ringing guitar and a chorus that comes easily. Stefani sounds relieved to have some distance from the relationship she’s singing about, and the track keeps the mood light on its feet.
16. “Purple Irises” by Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton
Stefani and Shelton share the lead on this duet from Bouquet. Listen for the points where their voices overlap. His lower tone gives her a different sort of harmony partner from the stacked vocals on her early pop records.
17. “Swallow My Tears” by Gwen Stefani
There’s a restless push to the drums on this Bouquet track. Stefani holds some of the notes over that forward motion, giving a song about feelings that won’t go away a chorus with real lift.
Final Thoughts
Try “Cool,” “Early Winter,” and “Used to Love You” together for the slower side of her solo catalogue. For a more upbeat run, go from “What You Waiting For?” to “The Sweet Escape” and finish with “Make Me Like You.”
Featured Image Credits (Top): compulsiveprep_8, CC BY 2.0
