How Gwen Stefani's "L.A.M.B." Shook Up Pop | 20 Years Retrospective

[@donutmago8760]

i always say to my friends that gwen stefani's "cool" is a pop song that can never be replicated or be done again. it's a league of its own.

[@EljohnMacaranas]

I feel like part of it has to be her delivery and the production, it’s like hard to replicate

[@vinniechaos]

People always forget to mention the harajuku girls themselves speaking about their experience with gwen all these years later being positive and not having regrets lol

[@CarreRan_]

And several of them have worked with Gwen on later projects as well

[@charmaine8261]

But there is a big difference in the experience of an Asian person living in Asia in this situation. They may not be aware of the sensitive nuances, which an Asian person living in the U.S. could recognise. I do have to say that I don’t know whether they all lived in Asia, but it might explain their reaction. Margaret Cho is a legend and very aware of the nuances.

[@erikm8372]

@charmaine8261 isn’t Margaret Cho American-born and raised, though? I mean, I agree, she’s a very intuitive, aware human being and I do love her as a comedienne, amd she would likely be aware of the nuances you’re referring to as an Asian American. But… did she ever live in Japan or something? I thought she’s Korean American. I mean, she starred in a 90s sitcom called what else? "American Girl". Lol. And the Harajuku Girls were obviously a Japanese inspiration, from a specific subset and subculture of Japanese fashion, specifically the fantasy-like fashionistas and young people’s streetwear. There was a Japanese magazine called _Fruits_ that was Gwen’s major inspiration, which was basically a Harajuku photo album, like paparazzi of people on the streets there. Harajuku girls AND boys, all dressed like the most incredible living cartoon characters you’ve ever seen! 😂 Even more wild than Gwen and her girls, even!

[@erikm8372]

Also, if we’re comparing Asians in Asia versus Asian Americans knowing about the Harajuku girls, what about the "Black Lifestyle" in Japan? It’s basically admiration of hip hop and black culture, men and women, singing, dancing, DJing, or just being cute fashionistas. Working at specific clothing stores like Baby Phat for the girls, Roca for the men, or stuff like that. They go tanning in tanning beds religiously to be darker, in a country where white skin is highly valued. And on certain celebrity impersonation shows, like in the Philippines, did you know that they do blackface? But the excuse is that their country "didn’t enslave black people from Africa" or have a mocking culture (like American blackface), so they think it’s perfectly fine. And I’m not telling anyone what to be mad about. Judging by most of the comments, yeah, most black people seem to think it’s cute and funny even. And the kids can usually sing. But it’s interesting.

[@torquettalk]

It made me sad that only two of them remained with Gwen during the Great Escape song release

[@lindamonsivais6028]

Stole this cd from Walmart and I still listen to it

[@EljohnMacaranas]

SO REAL! Like omg, Walmart robs the people everyday, liberate that CD!

[@makeithappenwithenglish1648]

@@lindamonsivais6028 modern day robin ghetto fabulous hood

[@mousesthemouse6165]

@@EljohnMacaranas lol reminds of the time I stole a lover book and 2 ttpd cds😭

[@MiranErim-i7q]

What you waiting for? Greatest song ever made

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Cannot believe it didn’t smash stateside

[@societycrumbles]

Honestly a masterpiece.

[@Capszuleh]

I would listen to that so much when KZbin started in 2006 ish 😂

[@survivorbest4589]

​@@EljohnMacaranasI heard a rumour that what you waiting for and Kylie minogues Slow were sabotaged by jive records because Gwens and Kylie's pop careers were seen as threats to Britney

[@kingvamp8267]

If we are being honest... One of the greatest LPs of all time

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Definitely one of the 2000s best offerings in the genre

[@BeckyLStoutWriter]

I do like this album, but my favorite Gwen song is "4 In The Morning" from The Sweet Escape. It just hits me in the feels so much. 🤗

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Honestly her sensitive ballads always get overlooked

[@galaxyghost1340]

The looks, the vocals, the lyrics, the melodies, it was all so fun!

[@EljohnMacaranas]

I think it was pop maximalism at its best!

[@justabruin]

Rihanna opened for a few shows on the HL tour, too! This era is very important in the history of pop and influenced so many like Riri, Katy Perry, Kesha, Gaga, Fergie, Nelly Furtado and even Madonna tried her hand with "Hard Candy." I went to many shows on this tour and was obsessed with all thing LAMB (album and fashion) and even had that HP camera lol. I miss this era. Truly iconic! I will say this adjustment was much easier to swallow being a No Doubt fan since 1995. Yes, it was controversial but it was so far away from No Doubt it didnt feel like a threat. However, her new album that borders on Country is super hard to swallow. Makes me sad and yearning for this groundbreaking version of Gwen.

[@EljohnMacaranas]

She briefly tried her old style but it came at a pretty rough time (2020-2022) before Y2K made its comeback, I’d love her and ND to try again considering rumors they are going to Coachella again next year!

[@ThePMMpc]

what i think makes lamb special and great is cohesiveness in genre bending record. you have pop, hip hop, r&B, techno, electro, soul, but Gwen is a glue that makes them feel like 1 piece. and it all fits sonically. 8.2 is a fair score. i would give it 8.5 or 8.7. in terms of genre bending the dutchess is really similar to lamb and i feel and hope jade debut album will be the same. amazing video. thank you xoxo

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Thank you! Aaaah i’m so glad youtube gave you a little purple badge, your comments always have me thinking!

[@rolaskatox2828]

Gwen is sooo under-appreciated and LAMB is up there as one of the best pop albums ever made

[@EljohnMacaranas]

I feel like she’s often forgotten about because of the gap between The Sweet Escape and TIWTFL tbh, I believe it was almost 10 years apart. In that time, we had Gaga and others rise up. It’s interesting that her, Nelly, and even Fergie sat out the late 00’s

[@Mr-tu4cj]

@@EljohnMacaranas it makes sense in Gwen’s case anyway, because she never really wanted to be a pop star. She was dragged back into the studio for Sweet Escape (she even says it as a lyric in one of her songs) and I think she just didn’t know what to do musically after the failure of Push and Shove solidified No Doubt’s end. The solo music was supposed to be a fun side project while ND worked on new music.

[@rikkuster]

I loved this album when it came out. I got it for Christmas in 2004 and it still brings back memories of being in high school and winter whenever I listen to it.

[@EljohnMacaranas]

I remember when getting album copies on Christmas was a big deal... what a time!

[@akashvalsan6609]

I remember listening to this album during my school days!

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Bops after bops!

[@AnonymousPikachu]

NOT THE “if you were around when it came out” HELP 😭😭😭😭😭

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Like i was an 8 year old, my lil bro was not born yet 😭

[@alexanderthegreat6679]

Iconic album, artists dream to have a succesful era like this.

[@EljohnMacaranas]

In this day and age, definitely!

[@dannyrivera2733]

Hollaback Girl was the #1 song when I was born and this album was one of those that my sister put on all the time lol it’s a classic, even with all the problematic elements these days

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Honestly, people gonna be mad at me but the problematic elements give it a flavor and edge that most music nowadays lacks

[@cheriebomb158]

This album/era is absolutely iconic and will go down in history as one of the best pop albums of all time. Look at every pop artist (even outside of the genre) from the past 20 years to now and they are HEAVILY influenced by Gwen, yet she rarely ever gets her flowers the way she really should.

[@EljohnMacaranas]

I mean Fergie and Nelly (who were amazing in their own ways) definitely tried Gwen's nachos

[@Capszuleh]

I used to LOVE Gwen Stefani when I was 7. They had barbie CDs with revised versions of all these 2004 hits. My introduction to popular music for sure especially as a church kid 😂

[@Capszuleh]

Also i compare her to charli xcx now because of the strong vocals and hyper pop sounding. It's interesting to see how new wave and dnb evolved to be hyper pop 😂😂

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Early Charli definitely cribbed so much of her like sass and vocal delivery from Gwen even penning songs for her (which sadly never were used)

[@billiegray9109]

She played Jean Harlow in the aviator, she only had one or two lines but encapsulated the old Hollywood glamour the part demanded

[@EljohnMacaranas]

OMG I looked it up and wow!

[@billiegray9109]

@EljohnMacaranas dunno why she didn't get more roles

[@joshlikesfries]

I think the overall Harujuku Girls being “ controversial” Conversation is what would modern viewers and listeners nit-pick about this Album. but besides that The whole music was SO SO SO GOOD! I mean COOL IS JUST POP PERFECTION 😫

[@EljohnMacaranas]

I think they definitely would have never flown today for sure. But the music itself aged like fine wine.

[@archivesunset4214]

well she appropriated Indian, asian and Chicano culture in one album cycle...clearly this isn't nitpicking

[@joshlikesfries]

@ Exactly! that and yet she doesen’t see them as Apporiation.

[@archivesunset4214]

@@joshlikesfries gwen stefani is a known culture vulture and appropriator tho...that's why he music career flopped after 1 album

[@nathanrotter153]

This was put together very well. Thank you!

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Thank you for watching!

[@Sequoya]

Great retrospective! This album was my go to vocal warm up before band practice. Harajuku Girls is fun to sing. “I’m your biggest fan”. I’m going to listen again to celebrate.

[@EljohnMacaranas]

It was such a cool record to revisit! Very nostalgic! Thanks for watching!

[@christiangomez5855]

I'm glad you're doing this cause I grew up with her & started listening to her recently & loving how weirdly good she is & how this era influenced some of the girls😩😩😩

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Like she basically set it up for Gaga and company to really evolve what pop stars were at the time despite eventually falling off herself

[@christiangomez5855]

@@EljohnMacaranas it's sad but she made her time worth it & memorable💁‍♂💁‍♂💁‍♂

[@littlemonster7357]

Also the fact that dont speak starts with the lyrics "you and me," and in cool, she ends it with a quiet "me and you", its obvious that she did it purposefully as a retrospect to the former song..

[@EljohnMacaranas]

UGH WE LOVE SYMMETRY

[@cnj420]

I remember when What You Waiting For? was released. It really shook up my understanding of pop. Pretty sure she is actually Indie Pop, at least back then.

[@EljohnMacaranas]

I'd say Alt-pop just because she has a label and resources but she def influenced Indie pop artists

[@eekyoucarlos]

you're not indie if you're on a major label

[@davidsunnyside]

My favorite Gwen years was 2004. She had the hit It’s My Life with No Doubt then gave us the Masterpiece What You Waiting For? My life was changed forever. Their It’s My Life cover is still played in the radio and is a staple grocery store song lol! ❤

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Smash after smash!

[@agwarddd]

L.A.M.B. was one of the first albums I actually bought for myself, so it holds a special place for me as to what it represents for the early 2000s. It’s a subtle influence, not the easiest to see, but I think it stands as something of a quintessential early 2000s time capsule, representing an element of liberation and frivolity that I usually joke comes from the fact that despite Y2K bug panic, the world didn’t end, we were all still here, and the attitude became “fuck it, lets have some fun for a while”, yet also encapsulating aspects of what it was to be a woman in that era, facing the lingering conservative attitude that persisted and persists in trying to police what a woman can do with her own life and career. Gwen took on the attitudes against her new solo career and said, I hear you, but actually I do not care, because I am free to create, explore and experience what I want to experience, even if that is just something fun and frivolous, because I can do whatever I want and be whatever I want. And I feel like that influenced a lot of woman artists of the time to just explore more for themselves and their careers.

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Gwen was so ahead of her time honestly. She was both vulnerable yet strong, she vocalized her wants for the traditional yet always did it in a way that was glamorous. Very tough line to tread during her time when women were being pinched into corners of pop or whatever genre they were in. I feel like so many artists we love owe Gwen some thanks for widening the lane of what a pop star could be. Even with some problematic elements (as with most of 2000’s culture tbh), she was a pioneer for sure!

[@Itsdarienalmanza]

Growing up I listened to LAMB. On my uncles sides I grew up with OutKast so when I saw the collab that officially made me love this album! Great Video ❤

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Thank you! Also omg OutKast forever! I was so happy to see Andre 3000 score an AOTY nom this year!

[@AnonymousPikachu]

Gwen Stefani and Christina were my first music obsessions. Wonderful work king

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Christina and her look so good even now, aged as well as their music!

[@KayHahnAlexandra]

I think you are officially my favorite KZbinr at this point I just love your calming voice and you are just very articulate and I can tell that you know a lot or do a lot of research before these videos and I just think you are wonderful thank you so much♥️

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Thank you so much for the lovely comment! 💙 Made my day!

[@KayHahnAlexandra]

@ aww Thank YOU!! Ty for noticing and replying it just made my day 🥹☺️💓

[@AnonymousPikachu]

Also the closer when I first heard it as a kid shook me to my core I loved it

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Track 10 but Gwen Stefani lowkey

[@Mr-tu4cj]

Gwen’s first three solo albums are so good. Rich Girl is the best LAMB song imo. It’s such a shame that she scrapped her 2020 work, because based on the leaks it seems like it would’ve been a beautiful full-circle moment, since the music is very reggae/ska infused and leans more into LAMB’s upbeat sound than Truth did.

[@EljohnMacaranas]

I feel like Truth always gets overlooked, and agreed Rich Girl was the moment.

[@CatNagTaylorsVersion]

“Confessional pop queen” is such a of the time take of Gwen I’ve ever heard because no one’s said it since

[@EljohnMacaranas]

I feel like that title def slipped but for older folks, she really was

[@LadderProductionFilms]

I just now realized Andre 3000 is Johnny in Bubble Pop Electric 😂 I’ve been listening to that song for 20 years now🎉

[@jamiecloughgaming25387]

THICK!

[@EljohnMacaranas]

I love when artist do alter egos even for just a song or two!

[@drewardi]

One of my fav pop records, it was the first physical CD I ever bought I was and still am obsessed with the photoshoot, booklet and album in general all these years 🔥💕

[@brookespieler]

love the video! maybe make a part 2 covering the sweet escape album? i think that album gets quite overlooked too

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Definitely at some point, I feel bad it lived in LAMB’s shadow

[@eviesmith212]

some of the tracks like yummy, breakin up, wind it up etc really paved the way for hyperpop and pc music imo

[@justjarod7440]

@@EljohnMacaranas it’s like LAMB’s little sister

[@frankiemoran3660]

I was in high school when this album dropped and Gwen created her own cultural moment with this album!!! It started the wave of Juicy Couture track suits, the Calligraphic font being everywhere, hello kitty, anime, and Japanese culture was something you expressed instead of hiding. It was so fun to be at your high school football or basketball games and HOLLABACK GIRL would play over the speakers during warmups and halftime!!! It was a good time! I had a resurgence of listening to LAMB album back in 2019 and it was then that it hit me what Gwen was really saying with this album!!!! It’s still a huge source of inspiration for me. She intertwined the music and aesthetics so cohesively that it’s the first time I experienced world building from an artist or musician.

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Gwen honestly really shook up the culture in a way that like I feel the youth of today wish they'd been around to see in real time. Like truly an iconic record!

[@frankiemoran3660]

@ I also forgot to mention how COOL is my absolute favorite of Gwen’s songs. Timeless classic. It feels like something from before that time. “I’ll be happy for you, if you can be happy for me.” Gets me every time

[@101supersmiley]

i was fully 5/6 years old and my parents played this around me allll the time. it's so incredibly nostalgic to me and definitely shaped the my music taste as i grew up. what you waiting for and danger zone have ALWAYS been faves of mine, even now. rock steady, the sweet escape and the duchess were also impactful albums in my childhood so to see how they all came about at the same time is so cool. i also LOVEDDDDD the wywf interpolation in boa. a great video!!! going to listen to the album now

[@EljohnMacaranas]

WYWF is such an iconic jam, I was so happy when Megan used its melody for Boa!

[@MeganiumForever]

This album is one of my top 10 pop bibles of all time. I love it so much! Gwen is too underrated in this day and age.

[@andyo5543]

The sweet escape was meant to originally be scraps from LAMB, but she basically made a whole new album while recording. Also serious and I believe luxurious were both released to radio to see what was a better single and luxurious won.

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Luxurious def sounds great for radio, shocked Serious never caught on

[@sceetsceet03]

"Cool" is a relatable masterpiece. The song is the story of my bestfriend and I. At first the song was hard to listen to for years. It cut like a knife, but years of growth and life later it's affect on me has 180'd. As the song says, "Time always heals the pain".

[@luigirocha4614]

Amazing video for an amazing album. And you should check some unreleased tracks that recently leaked. “boom” and “information” are 10/10.

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Omg I need to! Thank you for letting me know and watching! 💙

[@jajajajose]

@@luigirocha4614 don’t wait too long is also a beautiful song that wasn’t released and originally meant to be on lamb , and although I see why it wasn’t added due to its sad feeling, and lamb being more of an eccentric loud pop vibe, I feel like it would’ve been great regardless and I wish it made it to the album 💿

[@luigirocha4614]

@ wow, another underrated gem! Somehow i found it similar to Running (No Doubt).

[@jajajajose]

@ yes! I saw someone else say that as well

[@CatNagTaylorsVersion]

This album ate

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Underrated

[@missoliviajordan]

Gwen should be on Everyone's vision board!

[@bz-tm5xv]

growing up i was obsessed with gwen and lamb was my favorite album ever. i stole my brothers ipod to listen to cool every night and i had MASTERED rich girl in just dance 2014 😭 i recently rediscovered her and no doubt and just fell in love all over again

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Rich Girl on Just Dance was so much fun, like honestly her catalog has aged so well!

[@Landiiana]

Cool is a caliber of itself. It’s one of the most beautiful ballads

[@EljohnMacaranas]

It honestly is one of the GOATs

[@Charlie-jl3ur]

LOVE THIS ALBUM, but, I’m not gonna lie, The Sweet Escape is my favorite of hers!

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Wind It Up cracks me up so hard

[@Charlie-jl3ur]

@@EljohnMacaranasoh yes, the archetypical comeback pop song about anything and everything simultaneously. Gaudy and over the top, brash, annoying and iconic, protohyperpop song which somewhat predicted what would be the sound and aesthetic of the early 2010s (brashness, cheese and humour)

[@Honeycomblife]

I remember when it came out Great time in music

[@kolapso3687]

Serious is really underrated. The bridge is great.

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Another person mentioned they tested it for radio play, it should have been considered

[@OpticalSorcerer]

I always wish Gwen made more albums between SE and "Truth." I feel like she wouldn't be as underrated as she is now. And the revival of pop-rock would make a great album for her.

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Honestly I think she really just loved motherhood and didn’t care for making records despite being so effortlessly gifted at it!

[@OpticalSorcerer]

@EljohnMacaranas Totally valid. That's what sucks about the music world, though: if you're gone for too long (I'd say more than 3 years), you're suddenly irrelevant.

[@eboni730]

I remember being in the 2nd grade when hollaback girl came out. I forgot how much of staple no doubt and gwen Stefani was in my early childhood years. I had all the harajuku lover's merch too

[@CatNagTaylorsVersion]

Bubblegum electric should’ve been a single

[@EljohnMacaranas]

I feel like Luxurious or Crash should have been swapped out for The Real Thing and maybe that track idk

[@drakehollie414]

Initial Talk did a Harajuku Girls mashup with Janet's What Have You Done for Me Lately and it goes HARRRRD dude you MUST check it out!

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Oh I need to because that instrumental is heavenly

[@maizymaizy]

I was obsessed with no doubt as a kid, and then a couple years after lamb was released (but while the merch was still in stores, including the dolls) I found out about Gwen's solo career and I lost my shit. Lamb and the sweet escape were a cultural reset for me, 9 year old me would never be the same. I wanted one of the dolls so bad but never got one lol

[@KayHahnAlexandra]

No doubt was my first concert right after rocksteady came out when I was in sixth grade and then a year later she comes out with this. It was so fkn Rad❤❤❤

[@andie599]

I LOOOOVE that you consider Crash by Charli xcx to be a spiritual successor. Charli is my fave and after having Crash on repeat for a year I came across LAMB and was hooked

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Crash honestly feels like a proper sequel to like immortalizing and enshrining staple 80’s sounds, like on a couple of tracks, you just feel Gwen’s essence like it’s an unintentional homage but she def channeled LAMB on that sonically. Visually, Brat feels like a darker fork of LAMB’s like excess, I’m still gagged by it all.

[@andie599]

@ yesssss I agree 👏🏼🙌🏼

[@ChristianTTPD]

I used to listen to this album all the time when I was younger (I was born a couple years after this came out) and I stopped because I played it to death but this video reminded me of how much I love this album so thanks! Funny story but for some reason I always used to get her and Christina Aguilera confused all the time I guess they kinda looked the same. I'm also gonna go out on a limb and guess that your next video will be the Fame Monster video since you mentioned in a recent video plus the anniversary was this week. I can't wait for that video because that is my favorite album/ep of all time

[@MrPk266]

Great video! Still a good, fun album.

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Thanks for watching! Man, it was fun revisiting it!

[@BRPartyPeople]

Iconic pop music Era. She needs to book a trip to Japan and remind herself of who she really is, that country stuff is really not making it for me 😂

[@EljohnMacaranas]

World tour!

[@gracielaayala2226]

What a time to be alive ❤❤❤😊

[@EljohnMacaranas]

I was just 8, no worries at all 😭

[@phnogueira1]

There's a couple of songs that, the first time you hear them, you know they'll be a fixture in the rest of your life. Cool is that for me

[@EljohnMacaranas]

It’s a timeless classic

[@KayHahnAlexandra]

She was my first female rock icon. I touched her hand and she had this like glittery gold glitter on her eyelids. I’ll never forget it and I remembered garbage opened for them. Shirley Manson was sick. I didn’t know who garbage was at the time and then she just killed it with lamb. I still have a lamb shirt.

[@CoconutGirl333]

I listened to this song religiously at 9 years old. Danger Zone is a banger. Ugh too many bops on this album.

[@kbinsobeih]

6:37 many people don’t know this point about Luxurious having the instrumental as remix BEFORE Fergie’s glamorous. 12:54 worth mentioning hollaback girl samples another one bits the dust by Queen

[@strawberrylime33]

I love your analysis of albums!! Can you do a video analysis for The Pretty Reckless or Linkin Park?

[@EljohnMacaranas]

I def might do Linkin Park one of these days, I was working on a Green Day video in preparation for the dark times ahead tbh, perfect protest album

[@beatrizgomes4094]

@@EljohnMacaranas Is it about the 20th anniversary of American Idiot? Oh, I would love you for this

[@GullibleTarget]

Omg. This album was SO good!

[@EljohnMacaranas]

One of my faves of the 2000s period like the production is so lush

[@KayHahnAlexandra]

Oh my God thank you so much for reminding me of bubble pop electric. I totally forgot about that one that was a total banger in my opinion.

[@mbmd_nation]

'Cool' is probably her best song ever released

[@choyborjon1987]

El mejor álbum de ese año 2004, todas las canciones fueron las más escuchadas ❤🎉

[@EljohnMacaranas]

FRFR

[@albertqhumperdinck]

I was in my last year of highschool when Hollaback girl came out, which meant I couldn`t appreciate the cheerleader aesthetic, and was mostly bummed that Gwen was pivoting away from the No Doubt sound that was such a part of my childhood (I had tragic kingdom on cd AND cassette) I remember rolling my eyes when I heard Rich Girl because by that point pre-2008 aspirational bling was done to death (and the fiddler on the roof motif seemed like ...a choice) But by the time I was in my late 20s, going back and revisiting What You Waiting For was REVELATORY. I`m like 40 now and I still f*ck with WYWF, banger, anthem, all-timer.

[@EljohnMacaranas]

What You Waiting For is probably one of the most feminist songs to ever exist without being on the nose about it. Her talking about her dreams of motherhood but also fame but also just being happy and keeping everyone happy. Like Olivia's All American Bitch definitely echos the song for zoomers.

[@luismiguelalvarez9352]

'Cool' aged like the finest wines.

[@andyo5543]

The sweet escape was meant to originally be scraps from LAMB, but she basically made a whole new album while recording.

[@EljohnMacaranas]

The key concept was cute! I do know Jimmy Iovine wanted her and Akon to collab since like LAMB dropped

[@kbinsobeih]

6:37 many people don’t know this point about Luxurious having the instrumental as remix BEFORE Fergie’s glamorous. Also Cool was first offered to Christina Aguilara

[@EljohnMacaranas]

It’s kinda insane Polow made the remix and Interscope ended up reusing it for Fergie anyway 😭

[@KayHahnAlexandra]

Oh my God oh my God oh my God serious what the hell that was I think my favorite song at one point I was like 13 on this came out maybe 14 but then I was in high school and realized I had never even heard this one off the album and my friend Natalie put it on a playliston a CD and we would carpool to high school together and wow nostalgia

[@robertschrader]

Underrated?! This record was everywhere until at leas the early 2010s.

[@cherrywineluxe]

it's underrated in current times

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Def in conversations now about pop, like it's natural bc of the time passing

[@makeithappenwithenglish1648]

The original brat. Lamb to gwen is similar to brat to charlie

[@EljohnMacaranas]

LITERALLY

[@Kevin-rg3yc]

The debate surrounding the harajuki girls reminds me the debate of Rosalia where people only conflicted bc the “Latinos” living in the native countries praise and love Rosalia but people forget that cultural appropriation is effective more to black/POC people living in the western part of the world more specifically the USA and Europe since it’s about a dominated group (white people) taking from a marginalized group and the harajuki girls Gwen Stefani is the same thing, it’s also notable that Asian American/European women I feel would give a more nuanced stand on this given this type of drama effects them way more as well. I just say this bc I see white people in the section trying to twist about the original dancers being happy of this and native Asians loving what Gwen was doing. Yes LAMB is a classic outside of the horrible cultural appropriation Gwen has done throughout her prime and the fact she still refuses to acknowledge it by calling herself Japanese is a choice indeed but the music was fire from no doubt days going to LAMB I generally do feel Gwen was at best when she was a frontwoman of no doubt especially as a songwriter but LAMB gave her proof she can solidified herself as a pop queen for sure. Luxurious, cool, hollaback girl, rich girl are my favorite tracks

[@Radicalkylie]

I just did a video about her a reherd lamb and its uer best album definitely shame because if she removed harajuku girls from the tricklist it could've been a masterpiece

[@EljohnMacaranas]

I feel like HG as a song would have been cute as a bonus track, the instrumental is amazing though!

[@АндрейКириллов-и1х]

Gwen Stefani pop icon ❤

[@catmarie7641]

Not speaking for all Mexicans, but as one..Luxurious was so iconic. Having my favorite pop star at the time pay homage to a culture I knew was great. Gwen always kept her blonde hair I don’t think she was attempting to pass as anything but a white girl. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I get why others may be offended tho

[@KayHahnAlexandra]

I’ve been pretty down and out since June I got bit by a brown recluse and got the plate and five screws taken out of my ankle so I haven’t been able to work but when I have some money, I will definitely subscribe to your Patreon or help your channel in anyway I can

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Oh I’m so sorry to hear about all that, and I don’t have a Patreon but I do have channel memberships where I upload things early sometimes and do polls and am starting to post exclusive content!

[@KayHahnAlexandra]

@@EljohnMacaranas Ty 🙏🏼💓ooooh ok awesome then I’ll definitely do that!!

[@KayHahnAlexandra]

@@EljohnMacaranas how much is it ? Or where would I find that.. sorry I just started being active on here and a lot has changed w yt over the years

[@Vondutxh]

Classic!! Even tho I loved the sweet escape more but I still love Lamb sm!!😭😭

[@lynetteminute]

She split with her husband way after L.A.M.B. Anyway, such a cool album, was the first album I bought after a new release.

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Her and Blake seem so much happier than her old deal, glad she found new love!

[@KayHahnAlexandra]

Hollaback girl was a diss track about Cortney love

[@Anthony-fz9ye]

Love the album. I think I actually bought a CD back in the day (even though I knew how to Limewire…) I think I could skips Harajuku Girls a lot because her vocal delivery is a bit uncomfortable like a chicken clucking. It’s okay but maybe my least favorite song on the album Were there any good besides or leaks in this ‘era’? Nothing is coming to mind It’s so strange after the controversy about the harajuku girls that No Doubt later went tanked their bop of a song Looking Hot by having a wildly inappropriate music video. Have you seen it? Also Sweet Escape sounds like unfinished demos/cheap. None of the tracks are iconic to me except for Wind It Up (I think its campness helps) and Early Winter which I just love and never get sick of

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Weirdly enough, I do think she used up whatever material she had. Literally gave it her all, part of me does believe she never really wanted to go solo based on retrospective interviews and her taking that long hiatus way back when. She’d done so much with No Doubt, she didn’t realize how much people would love or demand her as a soloist.

[@KayHahnAlexandra]

REVOLUTIONARY

[@ayay7154]

I always viewed Gwen as a combination of Brittany Murphy and Lady Gaga

[@KayHahnAlexandra]

YESSSSSS🎉

[@edonisiscoool9360]

Danger zone feels so blackout by Britney Spears like

[@Vondutxh]

You need to make a video about her second album TSE is actually good !!

[@EljohnMacaranas]

TSE being overshadowed by LAMB was a crime, though tbh Gwen was so into motherhood at the time she did not care

[@KayHahnAlexandra]

Oh shoot, I spoke too soon. You already knew that of course my bad.

[@zeegeejay]

I miss back when Gwen was cool.

[@rolaskatox2828]

i find the “cultural appropriation” criticism very tired and white savior-y

[@EljohnMacaranas]

It’s interesting because Japanese folks from the country were whatever about it but within the states, they were like “hold on” like I think there’s nuance to it. Like it would not fly today for sure, like the optics of it were bad but Gwen did employ 4 women who likely would have struggled at the time to find work like that.

[@GullibleTarget]

Its performative activism. I have white people telling me im oppressed and straight people shaving their head and marching for me. Ofcourse making sure they're recorded doing it and posting it.

[@sandrostegmaier4990]

L.A.M.B. and Stripped by Christina Aguilera are my pop bibles.

[@EljohnMacaranas]

FR FR Stripped is so good!

[@Goatchild90]

One of the albums that made High School fun. Sheesh I'm old.

[@EljohnMacaranas]

But think about this way, you were one of the last people to learn reading comprehension in school. Like nowadays, it's just daycare lmao

[@Goatchild90]

@ facts 😂😂😂

[@gretchengeorge5302]

“Twenty two thousands?”

[@EljohnMacaranas]

I record these at 2 in the morning lmao

[@erikm8372]

I’m not sure how old you were in 2004, but how did you spell "banana" prior to hearing "Hollaback Girl"?? 😂 🤔

[@EljohnMacaranas]

i was a very dumb 8 year old

[@cymonearmstrong8764]

Legendary album but wish she didn’t do the thing with treating Asian women as props

[@MK_1Ultra]

Not that anyone cares, but as an asian i didnt find the lambs offensive. More i heard white people and asians with white mentalities to find if offensive.

[@EljohnMacaranas]

I personally thought it was whatever but needed to mention the brief controversy like my only note is that it IS still pretty rough for Asian women to make it (and last) in the US for pop

[@blackpanda7298]

She’s evil.

[@slystone4892]

Is indeed a great album Cool is one of the most beautiful ballads of the century. Btw her next album is another good album although not as great.

[@EljohnMacaranas]

Cool is just so timeless, every time I put it on: just feels like a lost record from the 80s but still fresh