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.
What You Waiting For
Gwen Stefani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What a family
How did the years go by?
Now it's only me
Tick-tock
Tick-tock
Tick-tock
Tick-tock
Tick-tock
Tick-tock
Tick-tock
(La, la, la, la, la, la, la)
Like a cat in heat stuck in a moving car
A scary conversation
Shut my eyes, can't find the brake
What if they say that you're a climber?
Naturally I'm worried if I do it alone
Who really cares? 'Cause it's your life
You never know, it could be great
Take a chance 'cause you might grow
Oh, oh-oh
What you waiting
What you waiting
What you waiting
What you waiting
What you waiting for?
What you waiting
What you waiting
What you waiting
What you waiting
What you waiting for?
Tick-tock
Tick-tock
Tick-tock
Tick-tock
Take a chance you stupid ho
Like an echo pedal, you're repeating yourself
You know it all by heart
Why are you standing in one place? (Uh-huh)
Born to blossom, bloom to perish
Your moment will run out 'cause of your sex chromosome
I know it's so messed up how our society all thinks (for sure)
Life is short, you're capable (uh-huh)
Oh, oh-oh
Look at your watch now
You're still a super hot female
You got your million dollar contract
And they're all waiting for your hot track
What you waiting
What you waiting
What you waiting
What you waiting
What you waiting for?
What you waiting
What you waiting
What you waiting
What you waiting
What you waiting for?
I can't wait to go
Back and do Japan
Get me lots of brand new fans
Osaka, Tokyo
You Harajuku girls
Damn, you've got some wicked style, go
Look at your watch now
You're still a super hot female
You got your million dollar contract
And they're all waiting for your hot track
What you waiting
What you waiting
What you waiting
What you waiting
What you waiting for?
What you waiting
What you waiting
What you waiting
What you waiting
What you waiting for?
What you waiting for?
What you waiting for?
Take a chance you stupid ho
Take a chance you stupid ho
What you waiting for?
What you waiting for?
Take a chance you stupid ho
Take a chance you stupid ho
The song "What You Waiting For" by Gwen Stefani is about her struggle to start her solo career. She reflects on the time when she was still with her band No Doubt and how they were like a family. The lyrics start with her reminiscing about the past and wondering how the years have gone by so quickly. She then talks about the fear that holds her back from pursuing her solo career and how society often places limitations on women's success based on their sex chromosome. She encourages herself to take a chance and pursue her dreams, as life is short and full of opportunities.
In the chorus, she repeatedly asks, "What you waiting for?" as if questioning herself and her own hesitation to take action. She also references her upcoming trip to Japan and the excitement of gaining new fans. The song ends with her urging herself to "take a chance, you stupid ho," showing her determination to overcome her fears and pursue her dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
What an amazing time
Reflecting on the past with nostalgia, remembering it as a great time
What a family
Thinking back to the past and the memories of family members. May also imply longing for the close relationships once had
How did the years go by?
Wondering how time has passed so quickly
Now it's only me
Feeling isolated, alone and questioning how they ended up alone in the present
Tick-tock
The sound of a clock ticking, serving as a reminder of time passing and the importance of making a change
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
A nonsensical humming, possibly suggesting a lack of clarity or hesitation regarding the future
Like a cat in heat stuck in a moving car
Feeling stuck in a situation and unable to escape due to passion or desire
A scary conversation
A conversation or moment that is uncomfortable or frightening
Shut my eyes, can't find the brake
Feeling a lack of control, wishing to stop but not knowing how
What if they say that you're a climber?
Fear of being judged, criticized or belittled for pursuing success or climbing the social ladder
Naturally I'm worried if I do it alone
Doubting oneself and feeling uneasy about taking risks without the support or approval of others
Who really cares? 'Cause it's your life
Realizing that other people's opinions don't matter and that one should live their life on their own terms
You never know, it could be great
Encouragement to take a risk because it could potentially lead to something amazing
Take a chance 'cause you might grow
Emphasizing the importance of taking risks and pushing oneself out of their comfort zone because it can lead to personal growth
Look at your watch now
A reminder that time is passing and that one should take action before it's too late
You're still a super hot female
A reminder of one's attractiveness and appeal, which can be a source of confidence or empowerment
You got your million dollar contract
Acknowledging one's success and hard work paying off in a tangible way
And they're all waiting for your hot track
Everyone is eagerly anticipating the next big thing or achievement from the artist
Take a chance you stupid ho
An edgy and provocative call to action, urging the listener to take a risk and pursue their dreams
Like an echo pedal, you're repeating yourself
Feeling stuck in a cycle and repeating the same patterns of behavior or speech without progress or growth
You know it all by heart
Fully aware of a situation or subject, but lacking the motivation or courage to make a change
Why are you standing in one place? (Uh-huh)
Challenging oneself to move forward and take action, rather than staying stagnant
Born to blossom, bloom to perish
A reminder of the human life cycle and the importance of cherishing and making the most of one's time
Your moment will run out 'cause of your sex chromosome
Commenting on issues of gender inequality and how societal factors can impact one's success and opportunities
I know it's so messed up how our society all thinks (for sure)
Acknowledging the pervasive and damaging influence of societal norms and expectations, and questioning their merits or fairness
Life is short, you're capable (uh-huh)
Reminding oneself that life is brief and one should take advantage of their abilities and opportunities while they can
I can't wait to go
Anticipation and excitement for the future and upcoming experiences
Back and do Japan
Looking forward to returning to a particular place, which may hold special memories or significance
Get me lots of brand new fans
Hope for success and continued growth in one's career
Osaka, Tokyo
Specific locations that the artist plans to visit or perform in
You Harajuku girls
Referencing a group of fashion-forward women from Harajuku, Japan, and potentially admiring their style or influence
Damn, you've got some wicked style, go
Impressed or envious of the Harajuku girls' fashion sense and encouraging them to continue expressing themselves
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Gwen Stefani, Linda Perry
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ugravis
Who’s listen it in 2024 ?🙃
@kimberlymarquez4871
Ayyyeee 🥳
@dng6992
bruh , I listen her every year ^___^*||
@BrokenHeart_7793
Yo
@maximavilov5196
Me bro
@sergedamist9174
People with good taste
@alexblue4681
this song aged like a fine wine. if it was released tomorrow i think it would chart higher than it did 20 years ago
@strawmanadeee
thats so real
@ashandcaI
Literally
@KuroMingMing
I thought this is new. First time to hear this.