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.
Orange County Girl
Gwen Stefani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Getting greedy 'cause he said he had another sick flow
So I had to hollaback, guess I didn't get enough
Still be the one to land and I send my "tick-tock"
If you give me a clap, I'm gonna give an encore
Don't want it to end, I wanna skank some more
I'm tripping on the best dream that I never had
I guess behind the orange curtain is not so bad
From the West Side of Anaheim, a small world after all
Hanging out at the hotel, selling makeup at the mall
Making out to "Purple Rain", just like everybody else
Dame un beso, now stop, I'm trying to save myself
In the ordinary calling girl way
Back in the 714 days
Trying to figure what I wanna be
Hanging in the garage, me and ND
I'm just an Orange County girl
Living in an extraordinary world
I'm just an Orange County girl
Living in an extraordinary world
Sing
La la la la la la la la la
And the girls sing
La la la la la la la la la
And the guys sing
La la la la la la la la la
And the girls sing
La la la la la la la la la
A lot of things have changed, but I'm mostly the same
These are a few of my favorite things
Still rollin' cause the "Sound Of Music"
I'm nothing better than a great big huge hit
You know I'd pay you just to let me run, dance, and sing
I know I'm living the "E" ticket dream
For a girl from O.C., it's almost unheard of
So I wanna thank you all so much for the love (especially my girlfriends)
Pharrell on repeat, make a hurricane in Miami
Working with him, I'm gonna get myself another Grammy
I got the L.A.M.B., and he's rocking the Ice Creams
Blend it together, something fresh and kinda in between
Remember music is something that I love
And I don't really give a ***
The music don't come in no color
And the time has come to hit you with the chorus
I'm just an Orange County girl
Living in an extraordinary world
I'm just an Orange County girl
Living in an extraordinary world
Sing
La la la la la la la la la
And the girls sing
La la la la la la la la la
And the guys sing
La la la la la la la la la
And the girls sing
La la la la la la la la la
And the dream goes...
On and on and on and on
On and on and on and on
On and on and on and on
On and on and on and on
On and on and on and on
On and on and on and on
On and on and on and on
And the dream goes...
I'm just an Orange County girl
Living in an extraordinary world
I'm just an Orange County girl
Living in an extraordinary world
The song, ‘Orange County Girl’ by Gwen Stefani is a tribute to her hometown of Anaheim, in Orange County, California. The lyrics describe her journey as a young girl with big dreams living in Orange County, where she had a lot of fun while trying to figure out what she wanted to be. She talks about her love for music, the influence of her music collaborations, her passion for performing and ultimately how grateful she is for everything she’s achieved.
The first verse talks about Gwen’s return to the studio, eager to record more music after finding inspiration from Pharrell, who had told her he had another sick flow. She says she didn’t get enough of something, and that she wants more. She sings about how the audience loves her so much that she can’t help but want to give an encore performance. The line, “I guess behind the orange curtain is not so bad,” refers to the Orange County area, which is sometimes known for being conservative or hidden. However, Gwen feels a certain amount of pride in being from there.
In the second verse, Gwen talks about how she was just an “ordinary calling girl,” trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up; hanging in the garage with her bandmates from No Doubt. She also refers to her days spent selling makeup at the mall, and making out to Prince’s song “Purple Rain,” which was a popular song in the 1980s. The chorus repeats that she’s just an Orange County girl, living in an extraordinary world, as if to remind us of how she started this music journey, before it turned into the amazing success it has become.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't know what I'm doing back in the studio
I am unsure why I am back in the recording studio.
Getting greedy 'cause he said he had another sick flow
I feel a bit greedy because the other person said that they have another great idea for a song.
So I had to hollaback, guess I didn't get enough
I had to respond because I still want to work on music some more and it's not enough for me yet.
Still be the one to land and I send my "tick-tock"
I still want to be the one in control and set the pace and deadlines for the project.
If you give me a clap, I'm gonna give an encore
If the audience likes my performance, I will give them an additional one.
Don't want it to end, I wanna skank some more
I don't want the fun to stop yet, I want to keep dancing and enjoying myself.
I'm tripping on the best dream that I never had
I am blown away by the amazing opportunity and dream-come-true experience that I never thought I would have.
I guess behind the orange curtain is not so bad
I realized that the Orange County area that I grew up in is not so bad after all.
From the West Side of Anaheim, a small world after all
I am from the West side of Anaheim, which is a small world when you think about it.
Hanging out at the hotel, selling makeup at the mall
I used to hang out at hotels and work at makeup stores in the mall when I was younger.
Making out to "Purple Rain", just like everybody else
I, like many others, made out to the song "Purple Rain" because it was popular and romantic.
Dame un beso, now stop, I'm trying to save myself
Give me a kiss, but now stop, I am trying to remain abstinent and not go too far physically.
In the ordinary calling girl way
I was just an ordinary girl, doing ordinary things.
Back in the 714 days
I was living in the Orange County area with the 714 area code at that time.
Trying to figure what I wanna be
I was still figuring out what I wanted to do for a career or future path.
Hanging in the garage, me and ND
Me and my band No Doubt used to hang out and practice in the garage.
I'm nothing better than a great big huge hit
There is nothing better than creating a successful and iconic song.
You know I'd pay you just to let me run, dance, and sing
I love performing so much that I would pay to do it instead of being paid for it.
I know I'm living the "E" ticket dream
I know that I am living a dream-like experience that is only comparable to the highest level of enjoyment at Disneyland which is the "E" ticket ride.
For a girl from O.C., it's almost unheard of
It is rare for a girl from Orange County to achieve the level of success that I have.
So I wanna thank you all so much for the love (especially my girlfriends)
I want to express my gratitude to everyone, especially my female friends, for all of their support and love.
Pharrell on repeat, make a hurricane in Miami
Listening to Pharrell's music repeatedly can make you feel like a powerful force, like a hurricane in Miami.
Working with him, I'm gonna get myself another Grammy
Collaborating with Pharrell will lead me to receive another Grammy award.
I got the L.A.M.B., and he's rocking the Ice Creams
I have my fashion line L.A.M.B., and Pharrell has his fashion line Ice Creams, and we are a great combination together.
Blend it together, something fresh and kinda in between
We will creatively blend our fashion styles together to make something new and unique.
Remember music is something that I love
I want to remind everyone that music is my passion and something I deeply care about.
And I don't really give a ***
I don't really care about anything else. Music is the most important thing to me.
The music don't come in no color
Music does not have a particular race or ethnicity, it is universal and can be enjoyed by anyone.
And the time has come to hit you with the chorus
It is now time to repeat the chorus and have everyone sing along.
And the dream goes...
The dream continues on and on endlessly.
On and on and on and on
The dream keeps progressing perpetually without stopping.
I'm just an Orange County girl
I am just a girl from Orange County, nothing more or nothing less.
Living in an extraordinary world
Despite my humble beginnings, I am now living in a wonderful and extraordinary world.
And the girls sing
The females in the audience sing.
And the guys sing
The males in the audience sing.
La la la la la la la la la
Everyone is repeating a nonspecific phrase to the beat.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GWEN STEFANI, PHARRELL WILLIAMS, PHARRELL L WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind