No Doubt's live act began to attract regional interest, and Interscope Records signed them in 1991. The band's debut a year later, an odd fusion of '80s and ska, sank without a trace in the wake of the grunge movement. As a result, Interscope refused to support No Doubt's tour or further recordings. The band responded by recording on their own during 1993-94; the result was the self-released The Beacon Street Collection, much rawer and more punk-inspired than the debut. Eric Stefani left just after its release, later working as an animator for The Simpsons. By late 1994, Interscope allowed recordings to resume, and Tragic Kingdom was released in October 1995. The album's third single, Don't Speak, which although originally written by Eric was later altered by Gwen to document her breakup with bassist Tony Kanal. Tragic Kingdom went platinum and has sold over 15 million copies to date. As Tragic Kingdom obtained success, the band toured furiously until late '97.
After a long break, the band had prepared a more mellow, and powerfully dramatic album entitled Return of Saturn. It emphasized Gwen's encounters with men, her biological clock, and miscellaneous topics. Although the album had a completely different approach to it, the band was making rock music with less of a punk/ska flare. The album debuted at #2 on the Billboard charts in early April of 2000, and then declined to a flop. The public never did justice to the album, and it serves as a favorite for many die-hard fans.
While touring in Jamaica for Return of Saturn, the band wanted to try adding Reggae to their music, and making more of a dance rock record. 20 months after Return of Saturn debuted, the band was quick to jump on the creation of Rock Steady, released in December of '01. The singles Underneath It All and Hey Baby became international dance club symbols as top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. This album proved that No Doubt had not lost their potential with the public, and that they could appeal to various groups of people.
In 2004, No Doubt announced they would be going on hiatus after the release of the singles compilation The Singles 1992–2003, which contained one new song, a cover of experimental rock band Talk Talk's "It's My Life". Tony Kanal did several projects with Gwen and other artists. Adrian Young married and had a child; Tom Dumont formed a new band, Invincible Overlord, often plays with Matt Costa's band. Gwen embarked on a sucessful solo career which consisted of two albums - "Love. Angel. Music. Baby." and "The Sweet Escape". The first of these albums contains the single "Hollaback Girl", a song which was inescapable for most of 2005 and hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won her a Billboard Award for first track to reach 1 Million legal downloads ever. The self titled track off "The Sweet Escape" went on to become her most notorious calling card.
With the hiatus officially over in late 2008 No Doubt announced tour plans for 2009, kicking it off in Atlantic City. The tour concluded with four dates in Irvine, CA. In May, 2009, the band was featured as a fictional 80's band, "Snowed Out", on CW Network's "Gossip Girl" The band performed their cover of Adam and the Ants 'Stand and Deliver.'
The group entered the studio in May 2010 to start recording on their sixth studio album: Push and Shove which will be release on September 25, 2012 and its first single will be "Settle Down". Their first music video for the new album will also be for "Settle Down" and it will be directed by Sophie Muller (who previously has done numerous music videos for No Doubt). The whole album has been recorded with producer Mark "Spike" Stent (who worked on their previous album Rock Steady) but they have also collaborated with Major Lazer (now Diplo's solo project). No Doubt previously revealed they are taking influence from ska, 80s new wave and Jamaican reggae music for the new record.
Sixteen
No Doubt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With a dolphin smile
With no elbow room
With your body in bloom
You've had your little backyard
Protected by big walls
You didn't dare look over
'Cause you've been too small
Now you're finally sixteen
And you feelin' old
But they won't believe
That you got a soul
'Cause you're only sixteen
And you're feeling real
But you can't seem to cop a feel
Why do they have to force us
Through this metamorphose
Little butterfly
No matter how you try
You'll be segregated
You're gonna be closed off
You're callow and you're green
'Cause you're caught between
You're only sixteen
Try to cross the line
But your little wings are intertwined
Well, you're only sixteen
And you're such a tease
And there's nothing you do
That can really please
"These children
They're not really bad most of them
They're just products
Of rotten neighborhoods
And bad family situations"
You know you can't forsake it
So sit back and take it
You see you're just not ripe
So don't try and fight that
You're only sixteen
You wanna catch a peek
But they look at you
Like you're such a freak
Well you're only sixteen
With a lot to say
But they won't give you
The time of day
Well, you're only sixteen! (You're only sixteen!)
Well, you're only sixteen! (You're only sixteen!)
Yeah, you're done sixteen! (You're only sixteen!)
You poor little thing
The lyrics to No Doubt's song Sixteen explore the feelings of being caught between childhood and adulthood. The singer describes how as a child, one's life is protected and controlled by parents and other authority figures. The song also reveals how reaching the age of sixteen does not suddenly make someone an adult, highlighting that society often stereotypes and trivializes young people despite their growing maturity. The singer portrays a sense of sympathy and frustration for this reality as the song speaks about being restricted and seen as “callow and…green.” Additionally, the lines, “Why do they have to force us / Through this metamorphose / Little butterfly / No matter how you try / You'll be segregated” convey the idea that young people feel a sense of constraint in breaking free from societal expectations while growing up.
The chorus repeating "you're only sixteen" emphasizes that the singer is still young and inexperienced, yet they feel the pressure to fit in and grow up quickly. The line “But they won't believe / Cause you got a soul” reinforces the idea that outward appearances do not necessarily reflect the internal changes and emotions occurring during adolescence. The song ends with, “You poor little thing”, which feels like a relief, validating the singer's feelings and struggles as a young person.
Line by Line Meaning
You've been a juvenile
You were once young and immature
With a dolphin smile
You used to smile bright and innocently
With no elbow room
You had no freedom or space to explore
With your body in bloom
You were physically growing and developing
You've had your little backyard
You used to have a small, protected space
Protected by big walls
Your parents/guardians sheltered and guarded you
You didn't dare look over
You were too scared to see beyond your sheltered life
'Cause you've been too small
You were too young and inexperienced
Now you're finally sixteen
You're now the legal age of consent (in some places)
And you feelin' old
You feel older and more mature now
But they won't believe
Others won't acknowledge your newfound maturity
That you got a soul
They won't recognize that you have feelings and emotions
'Cause you're only sixteen
Your age is still young and considered inexperienced
And you're feeling real
You feel like your experiences are genuine and valid
But you can't seem to cop a feel
You're unable to fully express your desires physically
Why do they have to force us
Why do society and authority figures impose these expectations on us?
Through this metamorphose
Through this process of growing up and changing
Little butterfly
You're vulnerable and delicate during this transformation
No matter how you try
You can't escape the society's pressure and expectations
You'll be segregated
You'll be divided and separated from others
You're gonna be closed off
You'll be excluded from certain opportunities and social circles
You're callow and you're green
You're still naive and inexperienced
'Cause you're caught between
You're struggling to find a place in the world as an adolescent
You're only sixteen
Your age still limits your freedom and opportunities
Try to cross the line
You're attempting to break free from societal limitations
But your little wings are intertwined
You're not yet fully capable of true independence
And you're such a tease
You're still learning about sexuality and flirtation
And there's nothing you do
Despite your efforts, you're still not taken seriously
That can really please
You're struggling to find validation and acceptance
"These children
They're not really bad most of them
They're just products
Of rotten neighborhoods
And bad family situations"
These adolescents are products of their challenging environment and upbringing
You know you can't forsake it
You're aware you can't ignore or deny your current situation
So sit back and take it
You're forced to accept and tolerate your struggles and frustrations for now
You see you're just not ripe
You're not yet mature or experienced enough to handle certain situations
So don't try and fight that
Don't resist the natural process of growing up and developing
You wanna catch a peek
You want to explore and push boundaries
But they look at you
Others see you as still too young and immature
Like you're such a freak
You're misunderstood and judged for your desires and actions
With a lot to say
You have your own thoughts and opinions to express
But they won't give you
Others won't listen to or consider your perspectives
The time of day
You're ignored and disregarded
Well, you're only sixteen! (You're only sixteen!)
Well, you're only sixteen! (You're only sixteen!)
Yeah, you're done sixteen! (You're only sixteen!)
You poor little thing
Despite your struggles and battles, you're still very young and have a lot to learn and experience
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: STEFANI, TONY, GWEN KANAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind