1 What You Waiting For?

2 Rich Girl

3 Hollaback Girl

4 Cool

5 Bubblepop Electric

6 Luxurious

7 Harajuku Girls

8 Crash

9 The Real Thing

10 Serious

11 Danger Zone

12 Long Way To Go

 

December 2004 saw Gwen Stefani release her first solo album following more than a decade of success with her band No Doubt. And what an album! Followed everywhere by her Harajuku Girls, Gwen dominated the music scene for the next few years. What You Waiting For was a huge announcement of her solo career and a huge hit that even opened Now 60 despite only peaking at no.4 in the UK charts. 3 further singles made the top 40 including top tenners Rich Girl and Hollaback Girl. Fourth single Cool was cruelly denied a top 10 place having to settle for a no.11 peak.

 

This album was really a ‘leaving school’ soundtrack for me. I didn’t leave school as I stayed on for sixth form but I was in Year 11 and doing me GCSEs for this and lots of my friends did leave school so it was definitely an end of an era/beginning of a new one feel! Gwen was so huge at this time and although she’s had her moments since, she’s never produced an album of this high quality since.

 

The singles:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 2, 20206 yr by Leanne 🧘🏻‍♀️

What You Waiting For was an absolutely amazing single and I remember being so gutted when I heard the album as it didn’t deliver what I was expecting. Cool was good and love Danger Zone but everything else I found pretty weak despite me really wanting to like it all.

A terrific album with excellent single choices. What Are You Waiting For was a fantastic single and then the highlights for me, 'Rich Girl ' featuring Eve, I have one memory of my late granny dancing to this when I was watching The Hits and this came on at her house. The ultimate highlight was 'Hollaback Girl ' what a terrific song I was gutted that this peaked at #8. 'Cool' was great with the nostalgic video.

I remember downloading WYWF from Limewire but the download had this bubbly, underwater effect which ruined my listening experience. :lol: The song is such an unconventional single to launch a solo career - and the video is amazing! Cool will always remain my favourite Gwen track. :wub: Someone introduced Danger Zone to me on this forum recently - how I never heard it before I do not know, it's great!