"Slow Clap" | ||||
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Single by Gwen Stefani | ||||
Released | March 11, 2021 | |||
Genre | Reggae pop | |||
Length | 2:30 | |||
Label | Interscope | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Luke Niccoli | |||
Gwen Stefani singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Slow Clap" on YouTube |
"Slow Clap" is a song by American singer Gwen Stefani. She wrote the song with Ross Golan and the song's sole producer, Luke Niccoli. It was released on March 11, 2021, by Interscope Records, originally as the intended second single from her fifth studio album. It also debuted alongside a line of Amazon-exclusive merchandise. The song is a reggae and pop track that was compared to Stefani's "Hollaback Girl" and work with No Doubt. "Slow Clap" originated as an emotional love song, but transitioned into a positive one following recommendations from Niccoli and Golan. The song's lyrics speak of resilience and its title was inspired by films that portray an underdog.
A version of "Slow Clap" featuring American rapper Saweetie was released on April 9, 2021. Stefani expressed interest in working with Saweetie after viewing her Instagram profile, which resulted in the scheduling of their collaboration the next day. Its accompanying music video was directed by Sophie Muller, and filmed inside of a high school gymnasium and locker rooms.
In late 2020, Gwen Stefani revealed that she had been writing songs and wanted to release something "really soon". [1] In December, she released the song "Let Me Reintroduce Myself" as the lead single for her unreleased fifth studio album. [2] [3] She confirmed the album in January 2021, in an interview with Today , and said its release would occur "probably soon". [4] Stefani also expressed excitement at just putting out new singles: "What's so great about now is you can put music out and write at the same time [...] you can share it faster and not worry about it as much. It's fun." [5] On March 8, she published a series of images onto her social media accounts, featuring objects such as an alarm clock reading "5:44" and a cassette tape with the title "Slow Clap". She confirmed "Slow Clap" as the name of her next single, the following day. [6] The single cover art was simultaneously unveiled, displaying Stefani in a "bedazzled and diamond-fringed" cowgirl-inspired outfit. [6] She is surrounded by various Easter eggs, such as a basketball, bicycle, and an ice cream cone. [7]
Using the same creative team behind "Let Me Reintroduce Myself", "Slow Clap" was written by Stefani, Ross Golan, and the song's sole producer, Luke Niccoli. [8] During an interview with Apple Music 1's Zane Lowe, Stefani stated that she initially imagined writing a "sad love song", but was met with hesitation from both Niccoli and Golan. [9] [10] They convinced her to write a song about resilience and reflection, which became "Slow Clap". She continued:
It's kind of this place of, you always go through different phases where you question yourself [...] I feel like it's that thing that happens to us throughout life. It starts in high school where you feel like you don't fit in, and then sometimes your weirdness actually is what makes you so special, and so the song is kind of about that. It's also about wanting to just, even though I know I've had my 15 minutes of my time, wanting to kind of double dip and just get a little bit more. [10] [11]
"Slow Clap" was released to digital retailers for download and streaming on March 11, 2021, through Interscope Records. [12] It debuted alongside Stefani's exclusive merchandise line through Amazon, and a promotional audio clip of the song on her YouTube channel. [13] [14] Stefani promoted the song through live performances on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on March 15, 2021 [15] as well as Good Morning America on March 31, 2021. [16] The music video for "Slow Clap" was released through Gwen Stefani's YouTube channel on April 27, 2021. [17]
Because of Stefani's cowgirl outfit in the cover art, some fans believed "Slow Clap" would be a country music release. [18] However, the song was described as a high energy, ska-tinged reggae and pop track by music critics. [8] [18] [19] [20] Its instrumentation consists of strings and a "snappy hip hop bass". [21] Niccoli is credited as the song's bassist, guitarist and keyboardist, while Golan provides handclaps and is a background vocalist. [22] Ryan Leas from Stereogum claimed that upon the song's first listen, Stefani sounds more like English singer Charli XCX. [23] Some critics compared the sound to Stefani's work with No Doubt. [8] Feeling the song was reminiscent to her older titles, Kelli Skye Fadroski of Orange County Register described "Slow Clap" as " Rock Steady meets 'Hollaback Girl'". [18] Entertainment Weekly 's Joey Nolfi furthered the Rock Steady comparison, saying "Slow Clap" uses the same "echoey melody" of its title track (2001). [21]
In "Slow Clap", Stefani sings about her personal achievements, professionally, and not being an underdog, referencing the tale of David and Goliath. [21] [24] The song's initial inspiration stemmed from a "hustle meeting" she had with Interscope, that left her feeling vulnerable. [9] The title was inspired by films of the 1980s, specifically ones where the protagonist gets "clapped back to life". [9] In a later interview, Stefani acknowledged the 1986 film Lucas , specifically. [25] Fadroski summarized the song's lyrics as "a pep talk delivered with confidence", while Rachael Dowd from Alternative Press described them as "about snapping back into reality after going through a lull point in life". [18] [5] The refrain is playful and fun, with Stefani chanting: "Clap, clap / Walk into the room like a boss / Slow clap / Putting on a little extra sauce." [21]
Sam Damshenas from Gay Times lauded the single, writing that Stefani is "at her absolute best". [26] Nolfi enjoyed "Slow Clap", calling it an earworm that Stefani deserves "a round of applause for". [21] Leas felt the song was "infectious enough [to] get stuck in your head" after a few listens, and that it recalled Stefani's career in the 1990s when she "laid [the] groundwork" for other artists. [23] Fabio Magnocavallo from Euphoria felt the song's lyrics were deeper than they initially come across, and appreciated Stefani for "taking her sound wherever the hell she wants it to go" in an industry dominated by younger artists. [27] In his list of "Songs We'll Leave Behind in 2021", Amit Vaidya from Rolling Stone India featured "Slow Clap" and argued that it "has to be one of the most ridiculous attempts at the artist trying to reclaim her place on the Top 40 again". [28]
"Slow Clap" | ||||
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Single by Gwen Stefani and Saweetie | ||||
Released | April 9, 2021 | |||
Length | 3:11 | |||
Label | Interscope | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Saweetiesingles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Slow Clap" (feat. Saweetie) on YouTube |
A version of "Slow Clap" featuring American rapper Saweetie was released on April 9, 2021, through Interscope Records as the album's second single.[ pages needed ] [29] The collaboration was first announced five days prior, via Stefani's social media accounts. [30] Saweetie, along with Kameron Glasper and Tayla Parx receive additional credits as songwriters to "Slow Clap". [31] Stefani enlisted Saweetie for a guest feature after watching the rapper dance to her 2005 single "Luxurious" in an Instagram post. The collaboration was scheduled within one day, resulting in Saweetie taking to her Instagram account again, writing: "I'm going in to work with someone, here's a clue: she's iconic." [25] Saweetie's verse was written within just one day, and then added to the song. Following the guest addition, Stefani chose to create a second music video for "Slow Clap", as the filming for the original one was already underway. [32]
In Saweetie's verse, she recalls her adolescence by namedropping candies Laffy Taffy and Bubblicious, and also provides a shoutout to Stefani's singles "Hollaback Girl" and "Rich Girl" (2004): "I ain't no Hollaback bitch / Now I got it, I ain't gotta act rich." [25] [33] Variety 's Ellise Shafer felt Saweetie rapped with "unapologetic confidence" in her verse. [25]
Complex 's Jordan Rose enjoyed the collaboration: "Gwen Stefani proves how elite of a collaborator she is by calling in Saweetie to add a whole new flavor to the song [...] The meshing of her patented pop vocals with Saweetie's rap rhythms makes for a unique song." [34] Kaido Strange from mxdwn.com wrote that Saweetie's appearance "brings the song alive". [35]
Alongside the announcement of a new version of "Slow Clap", Stefani confirmed that a music video release would occur as well; she tweeted "[You] didn't think we'd leave [you] without a music video, did [you]?!" [36] It was directed by Sophie Muller, a longtime collaborator of Stefani and No Doubt, and released on April 9, 2021. [37] [38] Its release was preceded by a ten-second trailer, which was posted to YouTube the day prior. [39]
The music video begins with Stefani and Saweetie inside of a high school gymnasium and locker room. They are shown wearing jerseys and athletic uniforms, with the latter artist also sporting hot pink hair and a pair of star-spangled booty shorts. [40] Both artists, occasionally seated in the audience, interact with groups of students skipping rope and dribbling basketballs. It ends with both artists dressed in prom attire, with Stefani and Saweetie wearing frilly pink and blue dresses, respectively, and jumping on a trampoline. [40] Some background dancers are shown wearing jeans and Juicy Couture. [32]
Justin Curto from Vulture wrote that the video gave off "high school vibes" which were reminiscent of the "Hollaback Girl" music video. [41] According to Newsweek 's Jon Jackson, Twitter users criticized the video as cultural appropriation because of Stefani's "hip hop-inspired look" and "the visual presentation of her amid people of color". [42]
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Slow Clap" | 2:30 |
Credits adapted from Tidal. [22]
Region | Date | Format(s) | Version | Label | Ref. |
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Various | March 11, 2021 | Original | Interscope | [12] | |
April 9, 2021 | with Saweetie | [29] | |||
Italy | June 4, 2021 | Contemporary hit radio | Universal | [43] | |
Original | [43] |
Gwen Renée Stefani Shelton is an American singer-songwriter and fashion designer. She is a co-founder and lead vocalist 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.
"Hollaback Girl" is a song by American singer-songwriter Gwen Stefani from her debut solo studio album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (2004). It is a hip-hop song that draws influence from 1980s hip-hop and dance music. The song was written by Stefani, Pharrell Williams, and Chad Hugo, with the latter two handling production as the Neptunes. The song was released as the album's third single on March 22, 2005, and was one of the year's most popular songs, peaking inside the top 10 of the majority of the charts it entered. It reached number one in Australia and the United States, where it became the first digital download to sell one million copies.
"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 five studio albums, two extended plays, 37 singles, six promotional singles, one video album, and 28 music videos. She has sold more than 30 million records worldwide. Stefani is also the lead singer of the rock band No Doubt, with which she has released several albums.
Harajuku Lovers Live is the first live long-form video by American recording artist Gwen Stefani. It was released on DVD on December 4, 2006, by Interscope Records. The DVD was directed by Sophie Muller and produced by Oil Factory Productions. It is a recording of one of Stefani's concerts during her Harajuku Lovers Tour 2005 in late 2005 to promote her first album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby., released in November 2004. The performance was recorded in November 2005, in Anaheim, California. The concert features performances of all twelve songs from Love. Angel. Music. Baby. and two new songs from her second studio album, The Sweet Escape, as well as interviews with the musicians and dancers and a documentary of tour preparation.
"4 in the Morning" is a song by American singer Gwen Stefani from her second studio album, The Sweet Escape (2006). It was written by Stefani and co-written and produced by Tony Kanal, with additional production by Mark "Spike" Stent. Interscope Records serviced the song to US contemporary hit radio on May 8, 2007, as the album's third single; elsewhere it was released in June 2007. Described as one of her favorite songs on the album, Stefani began writing the song while pregnant and finished with Kanal, drawing inspiration from Roberta Flack and Billy Idol records.
"Now That You Got It" is a song by American singer and songwriter Gwen Stefani from her second solo studio album, The Sweet Escape (2006). Stefani co-wrote the song with its producers Sean Garrett and Swizz Beatz. "Now That You Got It" is a reggae song featuring hip hop beats, staccato piano sample and military snare drums. Lyrically, the song places Gwen asking her lover to give all that she wants. A remix featuring Damian Marley was produced for the song's release as the album's fourth single on August 26, 2007, by Interscope Records.
"Baby Don't Lie" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Gwen Stefani. Written by Stefani, Ryan Tedder, Benny Blanco and Noel Zancanella, and produced by Tedder and Blanco, "Baby Don't Lie" is a midtempo electropop and reggae-pop track. The song was made available for digital download on October 20, 2014, and a day later to mainstream radio stations. It served as Stefani's musical comeback as a solo artist; her previous solo single, "Early Winter", was released in January 2008.
"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 Pharrell Williams, who also 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 live-action/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.
"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.
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 to 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).
"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.
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