In 2004, Stefani released her first solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. The album featured several collaborations with producers and other artists, including No Doubt bandmate Tony Kanal, Linda Perry, André 3000, Nellee Hooper, and The Neptunes. It was primarily inspired by pop and new wave music of the 1980s, and emerged an international success with sales of over seven million copies. The third single Hollaback Girl became the first U.S. digital download to sell one million copies.
The debut album also drew attention to the Harajuku Girls, Stefani's entourage of four Japanese backup dancers named for the fashionable suburb in Tokyo. Originally hired in 2004 for the album, the Girls continued to appear alongside Stefani, and are featured in these music videos: "What You Waiting For?", "Rich Girl", "Hollaback Girl", "Luxurious", "Crash", "Wind It Up", "The Sweet Escape", and "Now That You Got It".
Stefani's second solo album The Sweet Escape was released December 5, 2006. Collaborating again with her on the project were Perry, The Neptunes, along with Akon and Tim Rice-Oxley of Keane, and producers Pharrell and Kanal. Despite mixed reviews of the album as a whole, the title track The Sweet Escape became an international success and earned Stefani a Grammy nomination, and remains the most successful song of her solo career.
Although it had been speculated that the album would contain only material originally written for L.A.M.B. that did not make the final cut, only two songs left over from L.A.M.B. were included in the record: 80's-influenced U Started It; and Wonderful Life, which features Depeche Mode's Martin L. Gore on guitar.
Stefani is equally known as a fashion trendsetter. In 2003, she created a clothing fashion line named L.A.M.B. which shares the initials of her debut solo album. This collection was later expanded with the introduction of a newer line in 2005 called Harajuku Lovers, which draws its inspiration from Japanese culture and fashion.
On May 26, 2006, Stefani gave birth to her first child, a baby boy named Kingston James McGregor Rossdale. The father is British grunge musician Gavin Rossdale, former frontman of the now-defunct bands Bush and Institute, who she married in 2002.
In January 2008, Stefani's now ex-father-in-law confirmed that she would be expecting her second child in the summer. On August 21, 2008, second son Zuma Nesta Rock Rossdale was born.
Gwen Stefani said in 2011 that she was no longer planning to release another solo album.
On April 12, 2014, Stefani made a surprise appearance at the Coachella festival, where she joined Pharrell Williams onstage during his set to perform "Hollaback Girl". She and Williams were coaches for season 7 of The Voice. After nine years since her last appearance, she attended the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards, and during an interview on the red carpet she said, "I didn't know I was gonna have a baby, I didn't know I was gonna be on The Voice, I didn't know I was gonna be writing new music, so I'm just like, what's gonna be next?".
On September 8, 2014, Stefani told MTV News during New York Fashion Week that she is working on both a No Doubt album and a solo album. She also revealed that she is working with Williams. Stefani released her comeback single "Baby Don't Lie" on October 20, 2014, co-written with producers Ryan Tedder, Benny Blanco, and Noel Zancanella. Billboard magazine revealed that her third studio album is set to be released in December and Benny Blanco is set to executive produce it. In late October, a sneak peek of a new track from Stefani's third album, named "Spark the Fire", was premiered. The song was produced by Pharrell Williams.
On October 17, 2015, Stefani performed a one-night concert at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, where she performed a new song, reportedly about her breakup with ex-husband Gavin Rossdale, titled "Used to Love You". It was released as a digital download on October 20, 2015. The video was released later that same day. The song was released to Mainstream radio in the U.S. on October 27, 2015. The track is the first official single off her third solo album, This Is What the Truth Feels Like, which she has been working on since June of that year. Neither "Baby Don't Lie" or "Spark the Fire" were included on the album. Stefani said much of the previous material felt forced and inauthentic, while the songs written since she returned to the studio are more natural and better describe where she is in her life. The album's second single, "Make Me Like You", was released on February 12, 2016.
In November 2015, she announced that she began dating fellow “The Voice” judge Blake Shelton. The couple got engaged in October 27, 2020. The couple got married in July 3, 2021.
Long Way to Go
Gwen Stefani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When snow hits the asphalt, cold looks and bad talk come
We've got a long way to go
It's beyond Martin Luther, upgrade computer
Her/His skin wasn't the same color as mine
But she/he was fine, she/he was fine
If all men are made equal
Up until the time we went out on a date
I was fine, I was fine
Now I'm getting dirty looks, I wonder what they'd say
If we were blind, we were blind people
We've got a long way to go
When snow hits the asphalt, cold looks and bad talk come
We've got a long way to go
It's beyond Martin Luther, upgrade computer
We've got a long way to go
When snow hits the asphalt, cold looks and bad talk come
We've got a long way to go
It's beyond Martin Luther, upgrade computer
Beauty is beauty, whether it's black or white
Yellow or green baby, you know what I mean
What if Picasso only used one color
There shouldn't be a rule, how to choose your lover
Lovers in love is such a wonderful thing
Maybe in time, we'll get together and sing
I really hope so, there's nothing wrong with this picture
We got a long way to go, we gotta get there quicker
We've got a long way to go
When snow hits the asphalt, cold looks and bad talk come
We've got a long way to go
It's beyond Martin Luther, upgrade computer
We've got a long way to go
When snow hits the asphalt, cold looks and bad talk come
We've got a long way to go
It's beyond Martin Luther, upgrade computer
What color is love [3x]
We've got a long way to go
When snow hits the asphalt, cold looks and bad talk come
We've got a long way to go
It's beyond Martin Luther, upgrade computer
We've got a long way to go
When snow hits the asphalt, cold looks and bad talk come
We've got a long way to go
It's beyond Martin Luther, upgrade computer
...that all men are created equal...
...children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by...
...by the color of their skin...
...but by the content of their character...
...this will be the day when all of God's children...
...will be able to sing with new meaning...
...not only that...
The lyrics to Gwen Stefani’s “Long Way to Go” tackle the issue of racial segregation and discrimination in a very direct way. In the beginning lines, Stefani sings about how when it snows, “cold looks and bad talk come”. This can be interpreted as negative reactions from people due to the color of someone’s skin. The chorus highlights how far society still has to go to achieve true racial equality, as it is “beyond Martin Luther” to fix. The verses recount the story of someone going on a date with someone who had different colored skin, emphasizing how odd looks and negative reactions occurred afterward. Stefani’s message emphasizes the importance of treating everyone equally, and highlights the need to overcome prejudiced mentalities in society.
The overall message of the song comes through very clearly, and falls in line with many of the themes present in Gwen Stefani’s music. Stefani is often known for her messages of female empowerment and self-confidence, and this song stands out as an example of her tackling another important issue within society. The song also highlights her signature pop-electronic style, with upbeat production and catchy melody that emphasize its message. “Long Way to Go” is a song that directly addresses an issue that plagues society to this day, and does so in a way that offers a message of hope and calls for action.
Line by Line Meaning
We've got a long way to go
As a society, there's still a lot of work to be done to achieve true equality and acceptance.
When snow hits the asphalt, cold looks and bad talk come
Even in the worst weather conditions or circumstances, hate and discrimination still persist.
It's beyond Martin Luther, upgrade computer
We need to go beyond the progress made by civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. and update our ways of thinking and technology to further promote equality.
Her/His skin wasn't the same color as mine
There are still prejudices based on skin color, race, or ethnicity in society today.
But she/he was fine, she/he was fine
However, it's important to recognize and appreciate each other's unique qualities and beauty.
If all men are made equal
We should recognize the fundamental worth and value of all people.
Then she/he was fine, she/he was fine
Regardless of race or ethnicity, everyone deserves to be respected and valued for who they are as a person.
Up until the time we went out on a date
It's unfortunate that people's opinions and behaviors can change once they learn about someone's race or ethnicity.
I was fine, I was fine
Before going out on a date, there was no issue with the person's race or ethnicity.
Now I'm getting dirty looks, I wonder what they'd say
After going out on a date with someone of a different race or ethnicity, there can be negative reactions and judgment from others.
If we were blind, we were blind people
If society didn't place value or importance on physical appearances, we could achieve true equality and acceptance.
Beauty is beauty, whether it's black or white
There's beauty in diversity, and it's important to see beyond skin color.
Yellow or green baby, you know what I mean
People of all different races and ethnicities are diverse and unique in their own way.
What if Picasso only used one color
Just like an artist uses all different colors in their work to create a masterpiece, we should embrace and appreciate diversity in people.
There shouldn't be a rule, how to choose your lover
Everyone should have the right to choose who they love and be with, regardless of race or ethnicity.
Lovers in love is such a wonderful thing
Love is a beautiful and powerful force that can bring people together.
Maybe in time, we'll get together and sing
Hopefully, in the future, we can all come together and celebrate our differences with love and acceptance.
I really hope so, there's nothing wrong with this picture
It's important to recognize that there's nothing wrong with loving someone of a different race or ethnicity.
We got a long way to go, we gotta get there quicker
Although there's still a lot of work to be done, it's important to continue striving for equality and acceptance as quickly and effectively as possible.
What color is love [3x]
Love has no color or boundaries, it's a universal feeling that can be experienced by anyone, regardless of race or ethnicity.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ANDRE BENJAMIN, DR MARTIN LUTHER JR KING, GWEN STEFANI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Audrey Johnson
i remembered this song cause i’m a huge gwen fan and this is amazing especially with everything that’s going on right now
Kiersten
This song stuck with me as a kid, her style was so different from anyone I had ever heard and I was in love!!!!!
Samantha Petri
I was raised in Ohio and I remember listening to this in middle school and feeling exactly what this songs meaning is. I live in Los Angeles now in a bi racial marriage and I’m so glad I heard this song when I was young.
Feleciapink22
One of my favorite songs ever by Gwen!! :) Gwen Stefani forever!! :D Can't wait for the new No Doubt album!! ^_^
FZ
this song deserved a music video 🙏🏽
K L
THIS SONG SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
Griffin Zink
*sings for itself
J. L.
Griffin Zink it’s a phrase.
starpaladinerin
Turns out this song was a tribute to Rosa Parks. Rest in peace, Rosa. On that note, I haven't listened to this song in years but it still carries the same message - love really isn't a heterosexual/Caucasian privilege. I love it.
JLoveLamar
How was this a tribute to Rosa Parks? Outkast has a song called Rosa Parks