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The DL: An Open Letter to Gwen Stefani
Watch this segment on The DL site
Read more of Sara's emails
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Reader CommentsPage 2
Thank you Sara. Thank you for putting my exact thoughts on the web in such a public manner. Stefani's latest album is pure trash. I listened to the album preview online in hopes that there was a glimmer of the old Gwen somewhere out there. I used to love and respect her style and ability to stand out creativly in such a competetive industry. Now however, she's bought into the overly hyped, rediculously produced, over-indulgent sampling tendancies of many of today's "pop artists." Seriously, when is sampling from "The Sound Of Music" ever going to be a good idea? Gwen, darling, if you need attention you don't have to buy into that whole "There's no such thing as bad publicity." We know she has the talent and style to make good music that actually has a melody and grabs attention without SCREAMING for it. Frankly, if Stefani sticks with her current style I'm prone to ignore her garish attempts at staying in the spotlight and devote my fandom to someone who's willing to work to their full potential as an artist rather than an icon of commercialism.
...I ended with Gwen when she took notion to start spelling Bananas right in the middle of an already perfectly crappy song.
I LOVE GWEN!!! SHE IS GREAT, BUT I AGREE SHE HAS COMPLETELY LOST IT...
I'll join the majority. Gwen, come back to Earth.
I think Sara is simply stating the obvious... think "New Coke" - why fix it if it wasn't broke!
New Gwen is like old Coke comming out with New Coke, only it would taste NOTHING like the old original well recieved #1 brand on the planet. Now imagine that New Coke stayed and original Coke never came back. No Doubt about it.
Dearest Gwen,
I hate to say it, but, I think Sara is right. My wife and I saw NO DOUBT twice
a few years ago here in Detroit and it was right up there with the best concerts
I ever saw. I'm 43 and have seen alot of BIG NAME shows in the past 25 years,so
to say that NO DOUBT was one of the best is saying ALOT!! I hate to say it Gwen,
but...YOU JUMPED THE SHARK!! I know all the kiddies (10-25 yr.olds)
love your new stuff,but it's not even close to the greatness of the NO DOUBT music.
I'll keep watching to see when(or if) NO DOUBT goes back on the road, but please
don't turn your back on us NO DOUBT fans. My wife says"Hi"and she loves you.
Rock On!!
No doubt! Wait, there's that word again. I have always been a fan of Gwen, however now that she has completely forgotten where she came from, I have a hard time listening to her.
Hey, I am all about spreading your wings, and branching out. Max exposure is great, but when you stop doing what made you the star in the first place, you really lose your fans.
Gwen needs to go back to where she came from, if nothing else, to at least show the old fans that she still can do the old fashoned music. Whether it is a No Doubt reunion or at least lending some time to help those, now starving, ska artists like Reel Big Fish, that helped make her a star.
New is good, but never forget where you came from. Pop stars are here today, gone tomorrow, but true stars keep their fans even if everything crashes around them. Just ask the remaining members of Sublime..
Just a thought..
wow... i'm amazed at all the people who are pretending to be open minded and support her new "music". sorry folks, having hiphop producers make a synthed up, studio-brewed, bass-based thump track for her to yell/yodel over is far from respectable. it's like her musical style is devolving as the public is forced to listen. time to go back to singing lyrics over actual musical instruments about something more meaningful then hollerin', dancing and sex. and as far as the argument of "a lot of people like it so it MUST be good" goes, when that many people starting thinking with one brain, something isn't right. MTV, top 40 lists, hot 100 lists, media corp owned radio stations...all are killing individuality and creativity. she's just riding the fad bandwagon. shame on gwen stefani.
Personally, Im embarrassed for her. This song is horrible..she totally abondoned her fan base and I feel like she is totally selling out to the baby crowd bubble gum groupies that go for anything with a beat. Gwen, I love your old work..I even liked Holla back girl..but this hirajuku (cant spell) is NOT GOOD. (This is only MY opinion)..I know there are many people out there that love it..I do not. Come back to the faithfuls!
Dear Sara,
I appreciate the rant. I'm glad to hear that you're still paying attention. However, I'm not sure there was actually a point. You said you liked old Gwen Stefani, but that's like saying you like old cheese. It's still cheese! You even liked Gwen's first solo album. Have you heard this one? Did you think it was really so different that it didn't "qualify" as Gwen?
I know you'll probably get lots of these letters from "Gwenabes" and I admit I am a big Gwen fan. However, I just didn't understand your rant. Please make sure that next time you have something to say, you're actually saying something.
Looking forward to hearing some substance,
Mari
Yes, I agree we need the old Gwen. The last solo album was allright but now is really not nice at all.And, was going on with her body she is so skinny. Remember when she was in No Doubt she has a rocking body. She look healthy like she ate. Anyways please Gwen next album go back to your roots. Stop with the fake girl.Also those girls need to go away far away they are very scary and annoying.
Gwen's solo career = played out hasbeen.
Ever since she went solo,she sucked! Is she black now? Just curious! She's too talented to record these childish,goofy ass tracks. Grow up,you're in you're 30's.
I've been a fan of Gwen for 10 years now and I think what she's doing now is great! She needed to explore her musical talent more so she broke off from ND for a few years... relax guys, No Doubt will be working on a new CD as soon as Gwen comes off tour! Yeah, she's 37, big deal!! There are older artist trying to be something they're not... Gwen is just herself! So if you don't like it, then eff off!!
Okay. What happened to supporting a person for what she does. So she Yodel's no one else Yodel's on a hip hop song. It's fresh. With all of the music sounding the same, Gwen Dares to be different. I love her engergy with No Doubt. And though i'm not for groups just splitting up. Destiny's Child, New Edition, Dru Hill, and other groups to name a few. I actually look forward to seeing how far she's going to go. If you dont like it, dont listen. Let her yodel till she's out of breath.
alright, first of all, nunya:
you need to shut up with the "acting black shit"- it is people like you that stop the world from growing. and HOW exactly is she acting black?
second, i liked gwen with no doubt better, but i'm not about to bash her because she has made changes. look at all she does; she is one hell of a busy woman, but she still manages to pull together a highly creative record... and do it wearing panties.
so, lets all give gwen a break; if you don't like it, DON'T listen to it- she will still have millions of fans even without you.
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I so get what Sara is saying here!!!!! I have been a Huge fan of Gwen since Tragic Kingdom!! Love, Love, Love her!!! I awaited Gwen's latest work with great anticipation, and have been so let down! Does anyone like this? I don't evwen think Gwen does! Seems like she's let even herself down with "Wind it up" Don't know why she chose that song to release first! In her defense, the rest of her new Album is pretty good (sampled it online) But, I have to admit, I am afraid to buy it for fear that damn yodeling will get stuck in my head and I will be "YODELAO YODELADO YODELOOO-ING" all day long!