Winnipeg free press USA × June 10, 2007

Stefani’s stardom has stayed rock steady

She’s not just a girl any more. By Heather Adler

Gwen Stefani might have humble roots as the daughter of a stewardess from Fullerton, Calif., but the platinum blond songstress is now one of the most successful female artists of all time. From ska-pop to reggae to dancehall to rap, the spunky singer has tackled an eclectic mix of musical styles and gone to No. 1 nearly every time, both with her band, No Doubt, and now as a celebrated solo artist. We’re taking a look at the many faces of Gwen and her evolution into one of the most powerful women in music.

Tragic Kingdom Gwen

Tragic Kingdom (1995) was the definitive ska-pop album that put Stefani on the map after selling more than 16 million copies, but it was actually No Doubt’s third record (Stefani wasn’t even the original lead vocalist) and they’d already been in the business for nine years before getting their break. The band almost broke up before the album was even released because Stefani’s relationship with bandmate Tony Kanal had come to a messy end.

Luckily, the record’s infectious mix of reggae, pop, punk and ska did make it to market, and tracks such as Just a Girl, Don’t Speak and Spiderwebs propelled Stefani into the mainstream, despite grunge’s domination at the time.

Stefani also became a style icon with her self-sewn uniform of cropped tops, baggy belted pants, Indian-inspired bindi and platinum blond hair. While opening for grunge kings Bush during this era, Stefani also met her future husband, singer Gavin Rossdale.

Rock Steady Gwen

Rock Steady (2001) launched No Doubt back up the charts, selling seven million copies with its reggae-inspired beats and Jamaican dancehall feel, which they recorded on the island with the help of such guests as Prince (Waiting Room) and The Neptunes (Hella Good, In My Head). Funky pop track Hey Baby marked a clear comeback for the band and showcased Stefani’s first foray into more of a speak-singing/hip-hop-inspired style.

Solo Gwen

In 2004, Stefani reintroduced herself to the world as a solo artist with Love. Angel. Music. Baby., an album she recorded with Kanal, Linda Perry, OutKast’s Andre 3000 and The Neptunes. An eclectic blend of new wave, electro and, well, high school cheers, the album went multi-platinum, garnered her six Grammy nominations and boasted the first digital download to sell more than one million legal copies, Hollaback Girl.

The same year, she started fashion line L.A.M.B., which began as a limited collection of accessories and high-end bags, but soon expanded into a full line inspired by her personal style and teenage Japanese fashionistas known as Harajuku girls. Soon, Stefani was seen everywhere with her own troop of Harajuku girls, who danced in her videos and concerts and acted as human props when she did interviews or strolled red carpets.

Stefani’s sophomore solo effort, the urban-inspired yet completely danceable The Sweet Escape (2006), came after Stefani took a short break to have son Kingston.

What’s Next?

By all accounts, Stefani is now a brand of her own – and business is booming.

But the veteran singer still has plenty she’s hoping to achieve, including working as an actress. She auditioned for Mr. & Mrs. Smith and appeared in Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator playing Jean Harlow.

Recently, Stefani has said she will return to No Doubt for a reunion album and that the band already has 10 songs ready to go. One thing you can count on, however, is that Gwen Stefani will never be just a girl again. No doubt.

The winning formula

Gwen Stefani is a superstar among superstars, having sold millions of records and released countless No. 1 singles. She has the fashion line, the acting career, the zillions of screaming fans, but what makes a star like Stefani? We’re dissecting her to find out just what makes up this veteran pop maven.

• 15 per cent peroxide: Stefani is naturally a brunette, but she hasn’t had her natural hair colour since Grade 9 and has even discussed her love of platinum blond locks on the song Platinum Blonde Life on Rock Steady. At 37, Stefani has been dying her hair for 15 years. That’s a whole lot of peroxide.
• 25 per cent cultural co-opter: Not only has she adopted the style of the street-savvy Japanese fashionistas known as Harajuku girls but Stefani has also used them as her backup dancers and as living decorations around her during interviews/appearances. (They’re under contractual obligation not to speak English, although they are fluent.) She’s also been a serial cultural copycat, adopting the Indian bindi (Tragic Kingdom era), Chola esthetics (Luxurious) and Jamaican style (Hey Baby), among many others.
• 15 per cent Madonna: With her chameleon-like style, Stefani has constantly changed her look and sound, flipping from ska to rap to funk to dancehall in a heartbeat. Likewise, she’s sported countless styles over the years, much like the Material Girl, and when sporting her signature blond bob, Stefani bears a striking resemblance to early Madonna. She’s even married to a less-talented British dude, too.
• 20 per cent secret cos-play addict: She dolled up in an Alice in Wonderland outfit, complete with booty shorts, stiletto heels, white tights and bustier, for debut solo single What You Waiting For?. Then there was the pirate get-up she donned for Rich Girl, which featured a giant sword, more booty shorts and a skin-tight corset, yarrr. And who can forget her skanked-up cheerleader costume and over-the-top band-leader uniform that featured a giant feathered top hat, blue and white coat and, yes, more booty shorts? In Wind it Up she did the whole Sound of Music theme, including dressing as a skankified nun. This girl dresses up more than those creepy dudes at comic conventions who are constantly trying to perfect their Darth Vader costumes. If she wasn’t a superstar, she would totally be all over cos-play events.
• 10 per cent self-conscious dork: Stefani’s music has revealed clues to her self-doubt and insecurities over the years, and she’s admitted to obsessing about her weight. The skinny singer has said she’s been on a diet since the sixth grade to fit into her size 4 clothes. The fat-free songstress was also criticized for dropping pounds at an incredible rate after giving birth to her son, Kingston. Gwen, darling, get your eyes checked. If you think you’re anything but flawless (and flawless at 37, no less), you must be going blind.
• 15 per cent fashion diva: As a child, much of Stefani’s clothing was made by her mother and the fashionable star continued making her own garb thought her career, ultimately culminating in her creation of the L.A.M.B. fashion line, which boasts heaps of A-list stars as clients.

TAGS: Gwen Stefani, No Doubt