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Post by blokesophie on Mar 20, 2005 8:07:01 GMT -5
I never knew how odd her speaking voice was until CD:UK yesterday. It's really really strange...
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Post by KinkyGurl on Mar 20, 2005 19:45:35 GMT -5
i don't like Gwen 4 s*** her song Rich Girl is getting really annoying big time and she does talk weird.
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Post by drbastard on Mar 21, 2005 7:31:06 GMT -5
Or just didn't like it. Hello! How could you not like Anniemal? It's genius. Much better than LAMB which is good but not great. Hello!
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Greg
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Post by Greg on Mar 21, 2005 7:49:14 GMT -5
How could you not like Anniemal? It's genius. Much better than LAMB which is good but not great. Hello! Anniemal is good but not great. LAMB is much stronger in contrast. LAMB is an album made of potential singles. They are all strong songs. The fact that she chose to release 'Rich Girl' (one of, if not the, weakest song(s) on the album) and it has stil been eaten up by radio goes to show just how strong LAMB is. Shre could easily release 'Real Thing' 'Bubble Pop Electric' 'Serious' 'Crash' 'Hollaback Girl' and 'Dnager Zone' as singles.
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Crystaline Green
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Post by Crystaline Green on Mar 21, 2005 8:00:16 GMT -5
I wish record execs would realise that the US and UK markets are quite different when it comes to releasing songs - I remember in the 80s + 90s artists would often release different singles in different countries - just look at Madonnas like a Prayer album for example half the singles released here were completely different to those released in the rest of Europe, the US and Japan.
I think with gwens album which is fantastic but obviously extremely varied (due to the notable amount of producers) it would do her no harm to release stuff like 'serious' and 'cool' in the UK and put out Hollaback Girl and Bubble pop electric in the uS - but thats is probably to much effort for the weird speaking one.
I do like thsoe harajuku girls though. I think she should keep them for promoting the rest of the singles.
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Post by drbastard on Mar 21, 2005 8:14:03 GMT -5
Anniemal is good but not great. LAMB is much stronger in contrast. LAMB is an album made of potential singles[ /quote] But I would argue that Anniemal is a stronger pop album. Hardly any filler and mostly killer.
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Greg
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Post by Greg on Mar 21, 2005 8:40:57 GMT -5
But I would argue that Anniemal is a stronger pop album. Hardly any filler and mostly killer. But you're first comment wasn't on about which was the strongest pop album it was about which is the best album. Anniemal is a stronger pure pop album - that much is true. But Gwen's album isn't a pure pop album. And I don't like/agree with the implication that LAMB is full of filler. Infact that's what puts it above pretty much everything else. It's all killer no filler (but in no way related to Sum 41). One of the merits of LAMB is that it sounds like a greatest hits collection. It seems to travel through time (from the 60's theme of 'Bubble Pop Electric' , the 70's gloss of 'Luxurious', the 80's feel of 'Cool', the early 90's hip-pop stylings of 'Rich Girl' twinned with mid-90's Bring It On, Clueless inspired 'Hollaback Girl' and the 22nd Century sound of 'What You Waiting For?'). It also documents the varying styles of an artist through time. The transitition and evolution from cyber-pop to hip-pop to ballads to rock to jap-pop is something to be commended not condemned. Add to this that all of tracks could easily be singles and what you get sounds very much like it could be mistaken for Gwen Stefani's Greatest Hits Collection Volume 1. And everyone would love 'Real Thing' if it'd appeared on 'Bedtime Stories' or 'Erotica'. It is a Madonna song. But it's not. I am actually prepared to defend Gwen to the death.
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Mr Subways
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Post by Mr Subways on Mar 21, 2005 11:39:33 GMT -5
How could you not like Anniemal? It's genius. Much better than LAMB which is good but not great. Hello! Fair enough, I didn't see the whole thing with Anniemal - it had some good moments, but after about 4 tracks I'd had too much electronic sounds and high pitched vocals for the day. I haven't listened to it since, I think I gave it to someone.
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Post by ollie2k5 on Mar 24, 2005 8:16:15 GMT -5
Fair enough, I didn't see the whole thing with Anniemal - it had some good moments, but after about 4 tracks I'd had too much electronic sounds and high pitched vocals for the day. I haven't listened to it since, I think I gave it to someone. I'd completely agree with that...some great tracks on there like Heartbeat, Anniemal, Me Plus One and Chewing Gum, but then it decends a bit to Greatest Hit which is a bit to repetitive for me and the rest of the tracks are just bland. My Best Friend actually makes me angry because of the boring factor it supplies. Minus the continuous bloody Harajuku nonsense (i mean there's a track dedicated to them, isn't that enough?) Love. Angel. Music. Baby. is a stronger album all around, mainly on the quality of it's potential singles. What You Waiting For? was quite good, Rich Girl is ok, Hollerback Girl (coming next) is good, Bubble Pop Electric is excellent, Serious is excellent, Crash and Danger Zone are really good too...all around there are many more high points for me. Shoot the Harajuku people and I'd be happier, but still, great record.
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Dudie
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Post by Dudie on Mar 25, 2005 3:26:20 GMT -5
Is Usher a euphemism for something in this context? Because none of the album sounds remotely like Usher to me. I'm amazed this thread even exists. She makes great, varied, fresh-sounding pop music. She has a distinctive voice and an even more distinctive style of dress. She puts on great live performances. Oh, and she's stunning. Seriously, what exactly do you people want in a pop star? I despair at times, really I do. I'm totally with thisisnotatest on this. She can't do anything wrong for me. She's my icon.
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passionoia
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Post by passionoia on Mar 25, 2005 9:53:58 GMT -5
thisisnotatest is right, on a superficial level she is the perfect popstar. But scratch that and there's emptiness, it's all just very vacuous.
There's nothing beyond the popstar. All my favourite popstars have that something, a sense of character, a bit of a life. If you asked me to write an essay on who I think they are I could do pages without even ever mentioned their music, performances etc... If you asked me who Gwen was all I could say was '....well she likes Japan?!!'
Mind you she's not the only one, there are a few out there like that and they always seem to do pretty well. I suppose it's because they act the part and look a bit exciting but you're comforted in that safety blanket that they don't have the character to do anything really dangerous that might upset. But with the true greats for me are the ones you always get the impression that the record company are constantly in fear, watching them ready for damage limitation for when they do or say something that could potentially destroy everything.
I don't dislike Gwen she's ok, her album's solid but sounds more like an album of Gwen mimicing various pop babes of the past twenty odd years (pop babe's i'll add who have all produced better) which goes towards making a good set of tracks but fails to define any sense of Gwen Stefani's own style. Like I've said before LAMB is full of songs where you go 'Wow that sounds just like ......' but in twenty years I doubt we'll be listening to the latest pop song by some new act thinking 'Wow that sounds like Gwen Stefani'.
She's alright though for what she is, Stepford pop!
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Post by CrazyBiotch on Mar 30, 2005 12:07:40 GMT -5
I thought the song "Harajuku Girls" was gonna be her next single, can anyone confirm this?
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Post by drbastard on Mar 31, 2005 8:36:58 GMT -5
thisisnotatest is right, on a superficial level she is the perfect popstar. But scratch that and there's emptiness, it's all just very vacuous. I agree and there's nothing wrong with that I suppose. Like Kylie, Gwen is musically bulimic but when used as a vessel for other people she works. Her face is wonderful too. Her personality isn't but who cares when she looks good in clothes. She may be a talent vortex but she's a good looking one with good songs.
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Dudie
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Post by Dudie on Mar 31, 2005 13:39:08 GMT -5
Yay. As it says in my avatar - what's not to like?
Can this thread be removed from here now please because no way does Gwen belong with Jonathan King and the rest of the tossers, although calling Jonathan King a Clown and an idiot is a huge compliment to him?
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Scruffy
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Post by Scruffy on Mar 31, 2005 14:00:39 GMT -5
I really enjoy LAMB as an album, good fun, good tunes and she has a nice voice. I do have to say though going for Rich Girl and Hollaback Girl is horrific and seems a good waste of some lovely 80's style pop masterpieces. I do think that her label pushing her to work with big names has possibly stopped us hearing a possibly amazing album but I overall the problem I have with Gwen is more her label's post album decisions that annoy me then Gwen herself..
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Post by flyingfool on Apr 15, 2005 3:48:45 GMT -5
It's a pity that Gwen Stefani has suffered as an artist, and I do not mean that she has been suffering for her art! Does anyone remember the good old No Doubt, the pre-bubblegum-pop No Doubt? She had susbtance back then. Backed by those ska tunes, her potential really shone and so did her abilities as an artist. I am not sure what her latest venture is supposed to be? I'm sorry, it just plane sucks.
I am not speaking badly of her for going it on her own, but her career as a solo artist, although different, isn't a good sort of different. Some see it as her breaking free from her old shackles, but seriously, I know she could do better.
I will be the first to admit that all those synth tunes have a nice toe tappin' beat to them, but they really lack in substance and direction. "Hollaback Girl?" What's up with the B-A-N-A-ANAS? I just don't see that as being on par with "Don't Speak" or "Bathwater." And "Rich Girl - Nice "Fiddler on the Roof" remake!
She seems to be degrading into the spoiled brat type of person we tend to get sick of. Her songs for the most part tend to be about her, her breaking free, money, LAMB and Harajuku, oh and lest we forget, her! Her obsession with the Harajuku district of Tokyo and Japan in general is a little odd and off the mark. I know a bit about Japan, and know a lot about it's culture. Those are not Harajuku girls! End of story. Harajuku is a trendy part of Tokyo populated by youth who are trying to break Japans rigid conformist society by dressing really crazy. You could equate them to the Punk/Goth kids of America (and sorry if I'm lumping any of you into this category), but way more extreme.
Gwen, let those sexy Japanese girls go!
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Post by tricolore on Apr 15, 2005 7:19:53 GMT -5
I liked her up until 'What You Waiting For?' Minus her previous collaboration with Eve.
I liked her back in the days when she was a 'Rock Chick' but now she seems to be turning herself into this Ghetto/Urban 'Gurl'. Which to me, seems really fake.
Thanks for nothing Gwen. In my opinion her solo album is crap apart from 'What You Waiting For?' and 'Bubble Pop Electric'.
Can't stand 'Rich Girl' and 'Hollaback Girl' the backing tracks and production seems really basic and that they were made using eJay demo CDs free inside packets of Frosties.
Cut the shit and go back to No Doubt! Thanks!
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Post by Josh on Apr 15, 2005 14:46:32 GMT -5
"Hollaback Girl?" What's up with the B-A-N-A-ANAS? I just don't see that as being on par with "Don't Speak" or "Bathwater." And "Rich Girl - Nice "Fiddler on the Roof" remake! It's not supposed to be though; Gwen Stefani the Solo Artist and Gwen Stefani the Front Woman of No Doubt are meant to be two different artists completely. I remember seeing pics from the Tsunami Concert and her solo and No Doubt performances might as well have not been the same person; they were just different in terms of look and attitude. I think the Gwen Stefani we have right now is the more experimental one - I get the feeling once she returns to No Doubt they may well just pick up where they left off (which will seemingly make quite a few people very happy!)
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Post by veryjammy on Apr 15, 2005 18:54:24 GMT -5
The fact that No Doubt were never huge over here, bar Don't Speak, and that she has exploded since going solo shows me what the public think of her new direction. Sure, Hey Baby, Just a Girl, Hella Good, It's My Life were all decent sized hits but it speaks volumes that the only album of theirs that ever really sold was their greatest hits. And let's be honest here - for TEN YEARS worth of singles, they don't really have a lot to show for themselves do they? Half of it is mediocre, their quality control was non-existent.
I too am frustrated by the record labels decisions. But it's all about America. Look at how Hollaback Girl has shot into the top10 after 3 weeks. What You Waitin For peaked at no 50 over there. So I suspect single-wise we'll be seeing a lot more of Urban Gwen than Synth-Pop Gwen.
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Josh
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Post by Josh on Apr 17, 2005 12:42:02 GMT -5
I too am frustrated by the record labels decisions. But it's all about America. Look at how Hollaback Girl has shot into the top10 after 3 weeks. What You Waitin For peaked at no 50 over there. So I suspect single-wise we'll be seeing a lot more of Urban Gwen than Synth-Pop Gwen. True, but downloads were not factored into the Hot 100 when "What You Waiting For?" was released, and although "Rich Girl" seemed to go Top 20 quite easily, it wasn't until the downloads counted it went Top 10 I believe. I don't know how well "What You Waiting For?" sold as a download, but it may have benefited her so much more if those downloads had gone towards her chart position. And I believe "Hollaback Girl" has very much so gone Top 10 so quickly purely because of the downloads, too? Or I could be wrong...
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Post by jasmin on Jun 10, 2005 9:24:08 GMT -5
I think she should let the product sell itself. There is a time when the camera stops rolling and you can talk about without acting it. I've played it on repeat loads of times and one of my favourite is Holloback girls which is slightly reminiscient of Tony Basils Oh Mickey. No one is doing stuff as vibrant as Gwen at the moment, she is a bit of a trail blazer in my eyes. Who has actually said 'this shit is banannas' with such sarcasm. She's my feminist hero for all the faux pase.
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Post by drbastard on Jun 10, 2005 9:37:14 GMT -5
I actually like gwen. I like her album. Harajuku Girls (bizarrely) is my favourite song on the record but I feel slightly uncomfortable with her parading some Japanese women around the world with her, mute slaves that do as they are told. I don't get the Japanese thing at all.
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ttoby
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Post by ttoby on Jun 22, 2005 5:44:34 GMT -5
I've heard she's releasing Cool next......... how very wrong. Bubble Pop Electric should've come out. And she shouldn't even have a thread here!! LAMB is an amazing album. And What You Waiting For is one of the coolest songs ever. Fact.
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Post by posherthanthou on Jun 22, 2005 20:12:32 GMT -5
I admire Gwen too, but I gotta admit I never once liked What You Waiting For. I heard it on the radio and thought what could be worse than that? Seriously. I just hoped her next single would be better. Fair enough, I thought Rich Girl was pretty good. Just pretty good. Then she released Hollaback Girl, which I thought was a tune the first few times I heard it. Perhaps it was only cos it was a different sound, something I don't normally hear around. But I hate it now. What's with the BANANAS? It doesn't really get any more annoying, mind you. It's like MIckey but worse. And now they're announcing the release of Harajuku Girls?
Honestly, what did we do to deserve this?! She clearly needs a whole new tune!
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Post by leopardo1973 on Jun 23, 2005 12:01:30 GMT -5
I like Gwen although I much prefer WYWF to the other two singles. BPE is far more interesting than Cool, and should be released in the UK. What is she thinking.
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Adem
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Post by Adem on Jul 31, 2005 8:41:12 GMT -5
And to add to all this - did anyone else feel "Harajuku Girls" was the weakest moment on this album?
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drbeat
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Post by drbeat on Jul 31, 2005 15:45:19 GMT -5
I thought Rich Girls was the weakest songs on the whole album. I was getting tired of Gwen, she was becoming too popular for her own good, Hollaback Girl was the alternative girls anthem for a while. But then I saw the video for Cool and I changed my mind, she is wearing outfits that dont hurt your eyes when you see them and she looked decent plus the video is very very good imo so all is forgiven Gwen
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Post by HeartGoesBoom on Aug 1, 2005 10:47:27 GMT -5
I love Gwen, and her album is good. i just don't like the talking 'Johnny when you're gonna get here'. Cool is my favourite track and i love the video. The weakest song for me would probably be Bubble Pop.
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Post by drbastard on Aug 3, 2005 3:03:41 GMT -5
Gwen can do ballands - Don't Speak anyone? Yet I find Cool really cold and boring. Her album is wonderful though and I'm the only one who seems to love Harajuku Girls.
"A fatal attraction to cuteness..."
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Post by HeartGoesBoom on Aug 4, 2005 7:22:58 GMT -5
I would like Harajuki girls but it reminds me of her annoying 'muses'
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