"Asking 4 It" | |
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Song by Gwen Stefani featuring Fetty Wap | |
from the album This Is What the Truth Feels Like | |
Released | March 18, 2016 |
Recorded | 2015–16 |
Studio | |
Genre | |
Length | 3:30 |
Label | Interscope |
Songwriter(s) | |
Producer(s) |
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"Asking 4 It" is a song by American singer and songwriter Gwen Stefani from her third studio album, This Is What the Truth Feels Like (2016). The song features guest vocals from American rapper Fetty Wap. It was released on March 18, 2016, as the ninth track on This Is What the Truth Feels Like by Interscope Records. The track was written by Stefani, Justin Tranter, Julia Michaels, Tor Hermansen, Mikkel Eriksen, and Fetty Wap. The track's production was handled by Stargate, while additional production was made by Tim Blacksmith and Danny D.
Musically, "Asking 4 It" is a hip hop and trap influenced track, made clear especially in Fetty Wap's rap verse. Lyrically, the song discusses someone's doubts while in a relationship, presumably Stefani referring to her recent divorce from husband Gavin Rossdale. Upon release, "Asking 4 It" received mixed reviews from music critics. Some critics labeled the song as "trippy" and a "club stomper", while others called it "dated" and questioned its "awkward" placement on the album. The track was included on the set list for her 2016 concert series This Is What the Truth Feels Like Tour.
Shortly after the lukewarm response to singles "Baby Don't Lie" and "Spark the Fire", Stefani scrapped any material worked on for her then upcoming third studio album. [1] Stefani's record label, Interscope Records, approached her to consider the idea of working with new songwriters and producers, such as Julia Michaels and Justin Tranter, to which she agreed. [2] During her recording sessions with Michaels and Tranter, Stefani became interested in working with new collaborators. [3] In an interview with Entertainment Weekly , Stefani felt that Fetty Wap had "a voice with so much character", so she subsequently told her team that she wanted to collaborate with him. [4] In the same interview, Stefani stated she was surprised the collaboration even happened due to scheduling conflicts concerning Fetty Wap:
It was tough getting him into the studio, though. They got me [studio] dates, and then I was like, 'I'm working with Fetty this week!' Then I went in, and nope, he doesn't show. Day Two and nope, he doesn't show. Day Three and nope, he doesn't show. I wrote a song for us while I was in the studio and I sent it to him, and nope, no response. It was a miracle it happened. [5]
"Asking 4 It" was written by Stefani, Justin Tranter, Julia Michaels, Tor Hermansen, Mikkel Eriksen, and Fetty Wap. It was produced by Stargate, while additional production was handled by Tim Blacksmith and Danny D. [6] The track was mixed by Mark "Spike" Stent, while Mike Anderson and Miles Walker handled recording and tracking. [7] Fetty Wap is the only featured artist on the album. [8] On February 12, 2016, This Is What the Truth Feels Like became available for pre-order on iTunes Store. [9] Nearly a month later, "Asking 4 It" became available for purchase on March 18, along with the rest of the album. [10] [11]
"Asking 4 It" has been described as a hip hop and trap song, backed by a rapped verse by Fetty Wap, with a length of three minutes and thirty seconds. [12] [13] A writer for Hitsync described "Asking 4 It" as a "bopping, hip hop tinged beat flecked with dancey synths." [14] Chris Mench of Complex described the inclusion of Fetty Wap as Stefani "call[ing] upon one modern-day hit maker", [15] while Clara Hudson of The Daily Free Press called this move "gimmicky". [16] Lyrically, "Asking 4 It" discusses several topics, including a lover's doubts while in a relationship; Stefani sings "You're giving me truth and it's such an unfamiliar subject", which ET Online described as "a sultry take on the uncertainty of a new romance." [17]
The song was inspired by her divorce from Bush lead singer, Gavin Rossdale; Stefani wrote several songs during these recording sessions to start "a new chapter in her life". [18] In an interview with Today's Matt Lauer, Stefani stated that the majority of her recent studio work would discuss her breakup with Rossdale. [19] Billboard stated that the lyrics "Are you sure you wanna love me? / I know that it's a lot to handle me / But it is what it is / It's all part of my broken history" were "ultra personal". [20] In his description of the track, Glenn Gamboa of Newsday stated that "'Asking 4 It' strikes at the heart of pop radio" [21] while Jillian Mapes of Pitchfork Media described "Asking 4 It" as "the album's sole feature atop an unconvincing beat." [22] Nicholaus James Jodlowski of Reporter felt that the album's "sound cools down a little", but that the track "is still easy to dance to". [23]
Upon release, "Asking 4 It" received generally mixed reviews from contemporary music critics. In a highly positive review, Leonie Cooper of NME praised Stefani for her "nonchalant divorcée swagger" on the track, later calling "Asking 4 It" a standout track on the album. [24] Similarly, Mesfin Fekadu of The Washington Post called the track a "high point". [25] Mikael Wood of the Los Angeles Times favored the track, labeling it as "trippy". [26] Writing for Entertainment Weekly, Leah Greenblatt dubbed "Asking 4 It" as a "come-on disguised as [a] caution"; Greenblatt further praised the song for being a "stomper". [27]
In a negative review of "Asking 4 It", Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine called the track "dated" and "no more worthy of Stefani's emotional exorcism than 2014's stale 'Spark the Fire'". [28] Emily Blake of Mashable thought that "Asking 4 It" was "an out-of-place hip-hop track", [29] while Jordan Miller of BreatheHeavy felt that the song was "vulnerable" and unfavorably predicted that it will "probably become a single" in the future. [30] Daniel Bromfield of Pretty Much Amazing panned "Asking 4 It" but enjoyed Fetty Wap's contribution to the track; Bromfield thought "it's tragic how completely [Fetty Wap] upstages Stefani" and how Fetty Wap showed emotion during his verse while Stefani did not. [31]
"Asking 4 It" was selected by Stefani for inclusion at her This Is What the Truth Feels Like Tour (2016). The song was included during Act 3 of the concert series, immediately following a performance of Talk Talk's "It's My Life". [32] On the opening night of the tour on July 12 at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts, the show was broadcast live through a feed generated by Live Nation Entertainment and Yahoo! Music. [33] It was accompanied with "bumptious hip hop beats", [34] alongside the singer wearing a green corset designed by The Blonds, in addition to Mariel Haenn and Rob Zangardi. [35]
Recording
Management
Personnel
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Credits adapted from the liner notes of This Is What the Truth Feels Like [7]
Gavin McGregor Rossdale is an English guitarist and actor, best known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Bush. He helped form Bush in 1992; on the band's separation in 2002, he became the lead singer and guitarist for Institute and later began a solo career. He resumed his role in Bush when the band reunited in 2010. In 2013, he received the British Academy's Ivor Novello Award for International Achievement.
Gwen Renée Stefani is an American singer, songwriter, fashion designer and actress. She is a co-founder, lead vocalist, and the primary songwriter of the band No Doubt, whose singles include "Just a Girl", "Spiderwebs", and "Don't Speak", from their 1995 breakthrough studio album Tragic Kingdom, as well as "Hey Baby" and "It's My Life" from later albums.
Love. Angel. Music. Baby. is the debut solo studio album by American singer Gwen Stefani, released on November 12, 2004, by Interscope Records. Stefani, who had previously released five studio albums as lead singer of the rock band No Doubt, began recording solo material in early 2003. She began working on Love. Angel. Music. Baby. as a side project that would become a full album after No Doubt went on hiatus. Stefani co-wrote every song on the album, collaborating with various songwriters and producers including André 3000, Dallas Austin, Dr. Dre, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, the Neptunes and Linda Perry. The album also features guest appearances by Eve and André 3000.
"Luxurious" is a song by American singer and songwriter Gwen Stefani from her debut solo studio album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (2004). Written by Stefani and fellow No Doubt bandmate Tony Kanal, the track contains a sample of the Isley Brothers' 1983 song "Between the Sheets".
American singer Gwen Stefani has released four studio albums, one extended play, 32 singles, five promotional singles, one video album, and 28 music videos. She has sold more than nine million albums as a solo artist. Stefani is also the lead singer of the rock band No Doubt, with which she has released several albums.
"The Real Thing" is a song by American singer and songwriter Gwen Stefani from her debut studio album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (2004). It was produced by Nellee Hooper and written by Stefani, Linda Perry, and Stefani's then-husband Gavin Rossdale, who is credited under the moniker GMR. In 2005, the song was released as a promotional single in the Philippines, where Interscope Records distributed a CD single. Inspired by the music of New Order, Stefani approached the group with the idea of collaborating. Despite initially declining, they eventually changed their minds and lent members Bernard Sumner and Peter Hook to perform background vocals and bass, respectively. American duo Wendy & Lisa also contribute to the song's instrumentation, playing guitar and keyboards, and created a "Slow Jam Remix" of the song which appears on the select editions of the parent album.
"Spark the Fire" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Gwen Stefani. The song was released on December 1, 2014. It was originally intended to be featured on Stefani's third studio album This Is What the Truth Feels Like, but it was scrapped in favor of new material. Stefani wrote "Spark the Fire" in collaboration with the song's producer Pharrell Williams. It is a dance-pop and hip hop track that incorporates funk. Along with the previous single, "Baby Don't Lie", the track was marketed as Stefani's musical comeback as a solo artist.
"Shine" is a song written and recorded by American singer Gwen Stefani featuring fellow American musician Pharrell Williams, who solely produced the song. Originally intended for Stefani's band No Doubt, it is a reggae pop and ska song that is featured in the 2014 animated film Paddington. The lyrics revolve around the lead character Paddington Bear's journey to London and his identity crisis. Stefani initially disagreed with Williams' choice to use direct references to Paddington in the lyrics, but praised this decision after watching the film with her children. She reported that her involvement with the recording was inspired by her then-husband Gavin Rossdale and her children's connection to England.
"Used to Love You" is a song recorded by American singer Gwen Stefani for her third studio album, This Is What the Truth Feels Like (2016). It was written by Stefani, Justin Tranter, Julia Michaels, J.R. Rotem and Teal Douville, and produced by Rotem. After scrapping the album and its two singles, "Baby Don't Lie", and "Spark the Fire", in favor to start over, Interscope Records released "Used to Love You" as the album's first official single on October 20, 2015. It was then serviced to mainstream radio on October 27, 2015.
"Misery" is a song recorded by American singer Gwen Stefani for her third solo studio album, This Is What the Truth Feels Like (2016). Initially released as a promotional single, it became the record's third and final single on May 23, 2016, when it was sent to hot adult contemporary radio. Stefani co-wrote the song with Justin Tranter, Julia Michaels, Mattias Larsson, and Robin Frediksson, with the latter two serving as the producers. An electropop song, "Misery" uses digital hand clapping and an upbeat samba to produce a futuristic-sounding melody. The lyrics describe a lover who has recently started a relationship and is confused over what to think about it. Several critics drew comparisons between these lyrics to Stefani's personal and romantic life with her boyfriend, Blake Shelton.
"Make Me Like You" is a song by American singer Gwen Stefani for her third solo studio album, This Is What the Truth Feels Like (2016). The record's second single, it was released digitally on February 12, 2016, and distributed to contemporary hit radio on February 16 in the United States by Interscope. Mattias Larsson and Robin Frediksson produced the song, which was co-written by Stefani, Larsson, Frediksson, Justin Tranter, and Julia Michaels. A pop and disco recording, "Make Me Like You" incorporates light rock, with guitars and digital harps over an uptempo melody. The lyrics, which were inspired by Stefani's relationship with singer Blake Shelton, explore finding and renewing love after a fractured relationship.
This Is What the Truth Feels Like is the third studio album by American singer Gwen Stefani. It was released on March 18, 2016, by Interscope Records. Initially, the album was scheduled to be released in December 2014 with Stefani working with a handful of high-profile producers, and Benny Blanco serving as executive producer. However, after the underperformance of her 2014 singles and the writer's block Stefani suffered, she did not feel comfortable curating an album and scrapped the whole record in favor of starting again. The album's release was scheduled after Stefani hinted at it on her Twitter account.
"Rare" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Gwen Stefani from her third studio album, This Is What the Truth Feels Like (2016). It was released on March 18, 2016, along with the rest of This Is What the Truth Feels Like by Interscope Records. The track was written by Stefani, Justin Tranter, Julia Michaels, and Greg Kurstin; Kurstin was the track's sole producer.
MasterCard Priceless Surprises Presents Gwen Stefani is a promotional concert tour by American singer and songwriter Gwen Stefani as part of their Priceless campaign. This became Stefani's first tour since 2007's The Sweet Escape Tour; however, tickets available for the tour were only accessible by MasterCard holders. Stefani's recent partnership with MasterCard allowed her to create a concert experience for her fans in a more intimate setting, as she did not perform in large concert venues. The shows contained material from Stefani's first two studio albums, as well as songs that would later appear on her third release, This Is What the Truth Feels Like (2016).
The This Is What the Truth Feels Like Tour was the third solo concert tour by American singer-songwriter Gwen Stefani, in support of her third solo studio album, This Is What the Truth Feels Like (2016). It began on July 12, 2016, in Mansfield, Massachusetts at the Xfinity Center and continued throughout North America before concluding on October 16, 2016, in Inglewood, California at The Forum.
"Christmas Eve" is a song by American singer and songwriter Gwen Stefani for her fourth studio album, You Make It Feel Like Christmas (2017). The song was written by Stefani, Justin Tranter, and busbee, with the latter of the three handling production alongside Eric Valentine. It was the first song conceived for the album, and "originated from a run Stefani took in rural Oklahoma. Details about the song first emerged in August 2017, when its title appeared as a registered work on two global music databases. The song a slow-burning Christmas ballad with lyrics that reference the holiday season.
"Under the Christmas Lights" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Gwen Stefani for her fourth studio album, You Make It Feel Like Christmas (2017). It was written by Stefani, Justin Tranter, and busbee, who co-produced the song with Eric Valentine. The song was released alongside the rest of the album on October 6, 2017 through Interscope Records. Details about the track first emerged in August 2017, when the song title appeared as a registered work on BMI and GEMA. "Under the Christmas Lights" is a pop and Christmas song with a doo-wop melody and romantic lyrics.
You Make It Feel Like Christmas is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Gwen Stefani. The album, which is Stefani's first full-length Christmas-themed album, was released on October 6, 2017, by Interscope Records. The record was executively produced by Stefani and Busbee, with additional production coming from Eric Valentine. The standard version of You Make It Feel Like Christmas contains twelve songs, featuring six original songs penned by Stefani, Busbee and Justin Tranter, and six cover versions of Christmas standards. While going on a nature walk near the Oklahoma ranch house belonging to boyfriend Blake Shelton, Stefani felt inspired to record a Christmas album and began writing what would later become "Christmas Eve". Recording sessions took place in the summer months of 2017; several of the tracks' titles leaked in August, leaving Stefani to confirm the project in September. The album's original songs make references to Stefani's newfound love and relationship with Shelton.
"Secret Santa" is a song by American singer Gwen Stefani for the 2018 reissue of her fourth studio album, You Make It Feel Like Christmas (2017). It was written by Stefani, Justin Tranter, and busbee while production was handled by busbee and Eric Valentine. The song was sent to Italian radio stations for airplay on November 30, 2018 as the second single in Italy and the album's third overall. It serves as one of two previously unreleased original tracks on the reissued album. "Secret Santa" is a Christmas pop ballad accompanied by an acoustic guitar and castanets. It contains flirtatious lyrics and metaphors that reference the Christmas tradition of Secret Santa.
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