Wind It Up (Gwen Stefani song)

Infobox Single
Name = Wind It Up


Artist = Gwen Stefani
from Album = The Sweet Escape
Released = flagicon|USA October 31, 2006
flagicon|World December 1, 2006
Format = Digital download, 12" vinyl, CD
Recorded = 2005
Genre = Pop rap
Length = 3:09
Label = Interscope
Writer = Gwen Stefani, Pharrell Williams, Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II
Producer = The Neptunes
Certification = Gold (ARIA)
Last single = "Crash"
(2006)
This single = "Wind It Up"
(2006)
Next single = "The Sweet Escape"
(2007)

"Wind It Up" is a song written by Gwen Stefani and Pharrell originally for inclusion on Stefani's Harajuku Lovers Tour 2005. Because of favorable reception, the song was later recorded for her second solo album "The Sweet Escape" (2006). The track includes an interpolation of "The Sound of Music" song "The Lonely Goatherd".

"Wind It Up" was panned by music critics, who criticized the song's use of yodeling and found the track to be over the top. The track was released as the album's lead single in late 2006 (see 2006 in music) and reached the top twenty in most music markets.

Background and writing

In July 2005, Stefani began writing and recording material with Williams in Miami, Florida. [ [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1506360/20050725/stefani_gwen.jhtml "For The Record: Quick News On Gwen Stefani, Gang Of Four, Korn, Christina Aguilera, Jewel, 'Idol' & More"] . MTV News. July 25, 2005. Retrieved April 29, 2007.] Vineyard, Jennifer. [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1543813/20061023/stefani_gwen.jhtml "Gwen Stefani's New LP, "The Sweet Escape", Set For December"] . MTV News. October 23, 2006. Retrieved April 29, 2007.] During one of their sessions, they penned "Wind It Up" for a September 2005 fashion show revealing the 2006 collection of Stefani's fashion line L.A.M.B. The pair had difficulties constructing a melody that could match the song's bassline. [ [http://feeds.interscope.com/artist/gwenstefani/podcast "Wind It Up - In Studio"] . Interscope Records. Retrieved May 15, 2007.]

Stefani asked DJ Jeremy Healy to create a mashup of the song and "The Lonely Goatherd", a song from the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical and 1965 film "The Sound of Music". [http://www.mtv.co.uk/channel/mtvuk/news/27022007/pharrell_hated_stefanis_yodelling "Pharrell Hated Stefani's Yodelling"] . MTV UK & Ireland. February 27, 2007. Retrieved April 29, 2007.] Stefani considered "The Sound of Music" her favorite film, and she had wanted to incorporate a beat to one of its songs all her life. [Infantry, Ashante. "Stefani has it all, baby". "Toronto Star". A27.] Stefani commented, "I literally cried, and I'm not exaggerating, when I heard the mash-up." Williams, however, did not like the addition of yodeling and "The Sound of Music" to the track.

The lyrics are not narrative, and Stefani stated, "a song like 'Wind It Up' isn't about anything." [Collis, Clark. [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1562569,00.html "Holla Back"] . "Entertainment Weekly". November 22, 2006. Retrieved January 22, 2007.] In the song, Stefani discusses how boys watch girls dance. [Flynn, Paul. [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/reviews/story/0,,1942733,00.html "Hot tunes"] . "The Observer". November 12, 2007. Retrieved from "Guardian Unlimited" April 29, 2007.] The song includes a reference to L.A.M.B., with Stefani going, "They like the way that L.A.M.B. is going 'cross my shirt".Slezak, Michael. [http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2006/10/snap_judgment_g.html "Snap judgment: Gwen Stefani's 'Wind It Up'"] . "Entertainment Weekly". October 24, 2006. Retrieved April 29, 2007.] [ [http://www.villagevoice.com/blogs/statusainthood/archives/2006/10/gwen_stefani_is_1.php "Gwen Stefani is Crazy"] . "The Village Voice". October 24, 2006. Retrieved April 29, 2007.]

Critical reception

"Wind It Up" received mixed reviews by contemporary pop music critics. "Entertainment Weekly" found the bassline "rubbery" and criticized the song for lacking a melody as well as its reference to Stefani's own clothing line. Allmusic said that The Neptunes had forced the sampling "into one of their typical minimalist tracks, over which Gwen spouts off clumsy material-minded lyrics touting her fashion line and her shape". [Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:w9j9kectyq7x~T10 "The Sweet Escape"] . Allmusic. Retrieved December 7, 2006.] About.com gave the song three and a half stars, giving it "high marks for entertainment value", but commented that it sounded like a retread of "Rich Girl" from Stefani's debut album "Love. Angel. Music. Baby." [Lamb, Bill. [http://top40.about.com/od/singles/gr/winditup.htm "Gwen Stefani - Wind It Up: Review of Gwen Stefani's Single Wind It Up"] . About.com. Retrieved April 29, 2007.] "Stylus" was mixed on the track, commenting that "it's preventing something far less interesting from getting played." [Merwin, Charles. [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/gwen-stefani/the-sweet-escape.htm "Gwen Stefani - The Sweet Escape - Review"] . "Stylus Magazine". December 6, 2006. Retrieved April 29, 2007.] OMH Media called the track "just horrible, and possibly the worst start to an album this year". [Murphy, John. [http://www.musicomh.com/albums/gwen-stefani-2_1206.htm "Gwen Stefani - The Sweet Escape : album review"] . OMH Media. Retrieved April 29, 2007.]

Many criticized the inclusion of yodeling and "The Lonely Goatherd" sample. "Rolling Stone" called the track "yodel-trocious" and commented that "the problem isn't the Swiss Miss motif so much as the fourth-rate Neptunes track. [ [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/12640869/review/12811225 "The Sweet Escape : Review"] . "Rolling Stone". December 12, 2006. Retrieved April 29, 2007.] "Guardian Unlimited" was pleased with the track, describing the yodeling as "off-her-head", and referred to the track as "a pinnacle of madness". [Sullivan, Caroline. [http://arts.guardian.co.uk/filmandmusic/story/0,,1960973,00.html "Gwen Stefani, The Sweet Escape"] . "Guardian Unlimited". December 1, 2006. Retrieved April 29, 2007.] Pitchfork Media gave the song one star, stating that Stefani was "yodeling and groaning all over this mess", and called it "the most punishingly ludicrous club jam since 'The Ketchup Song'". [Macia, Peter. [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/track_review/39343-wind-it-up "Gwen Stefani: 'Wind It Up' [Track Review"] . Pitchfork Media. October 25, 2006. Retrieved April 29, 2007.] IndieLondon noted "Wind It Up" as a highlight of "The Sweet Escape" and called it "Stefani's gift that she can take something that, on paper, sounds cheesy and make it utterly, utterly cool." [ [http://www.indielondon.co.uk/Music-Review/gwen-stefani-the-sweet-escape "Gwen Stefani - The Sweet Escape"] . IndieLondon. Retrieved April 29, 2007.] "USA Today", however, found the track "campy" and "a tacky attempt at sexiness" and stated the combination of yodeling, and the interpolation was "awkward". [Barnes, Ken. [http://blogs.usatoday.com/listenup/2006/12/this_weeks_revi.html "This week's reviews: Gwen, Ciara, 'Dreamgirls,' Eminem proteges, McKnight and more"] . "USA Today". December 4, 2006. Retrieved April 29, 2007.] The "NME" also found the song campy, commenting that its "dumb sexual bravado has all the sophistication of a teenage boy's wet dream", and compared the yodeling, interpolation, and "erotic rap" to "a trench foot which screams for amputation from the tracklisting". [Miller, Alex. [http://www.nme.com/reviews/gwen-stefani/8100 "Gwen Stefani: The Sweet Escape"] . "New Musical Express". 2006. Retrieved May 8, 2007.]

In the face of criticism, Stefani has defended the track:

Chart performance

"Wind It Up" was moderately successful in North America. In the United States, it debuted on the "Billboard" Hot 100 at number forty in November 2006. [ [http://www.musicsquare.net/charts/billboard_hot_100/2006/46 "Billboard Hot 100 (46/2006): Charts"] . Music Square. Retrieved April 29, 2007.] It peaked at number six after six weeks [ [http://www.musicsquare.net/charts/billboard_hot_100/2006/52 "Billboard Hot 100 (52/2006): Charts"] . Music Square. Retrieved April 29, 2007.] and remained on the chart for eighteen weeks. [http://www.musicsquare.net/charts/song/11385 "Gwen Stefani - Wind It Up: Charts"] . Music Square. Retrieved April 28, 2007.] It peaked at number seven on the Pop 100 but was less successful on the Pop 100 Airplay, only reaching number nineteen. The single performed well in clubs, reaching number five on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play, and charted at number eighteen on the Top 40 Mainstream. [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:azfwxqtrldke~T31 "The Sweet Escape > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles"] . Allmusic. Retrieved April 28, 2007.]

"Wind It Up" had similar success in Europe, reaching number four on the Eurochart Hot 100. [ [http://top40-charts.com/songs/full.php?sid=18556 "Gwen Stefani Wind It Up"] . Top40-Charts.com. Retrieved May 29, 2007.] In the United Kingdom, the single debuted at number eight and peaked at number three the next week, leaving the chart after ten weeks. It had less success across the continent, reaching the top ten in Belgium, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Norway and top twenty in Austria, Sweden, and Switzerland.

The song was generally successful elsewhere. In Australia, "Wind It Up" debuted at number eight and spend its first seven weeks within the top ten. It peaked at number five, spending nineteen weeks on the chart, and was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association. [ [http://aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupagesARIACharts-Accreditations-2007Singles.htm "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2007 Singles"] . Australian Recording Industry Association. 2007. Retrieved April 29, 2007.] The song topped New Zealand's RIANZ Singles Chart in its third and fourth week and stayed on the chart for twenty weeks.

Music video

The song's music video was directed by Sophie Muller. Although it does not follow a substantial plot, it features outfits and scenes inspired by "The Sound of Music". Stefani and her Harajuku Girls are often dancing in front of fields of flowers and a background of key-like symbols comprised of two G's placed back to back. In a scene mimicking "The Sound of Music", Stefani portrays Maria von Trapp while the dancers, dressed in pajamas, portray her children and jump on a bed. In another scene, Stefani uses curtains to create sailor suits for the Harajuku Girls. Stefani also appears as a nun and an orchestra conductor. One scene uses smoke to create the illusion that Stefani is a submerged escape artist searching for a key.Vineyard, Jennifer. [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1545444/20061109/stefani_gwen.jhtml "Gwen Stefani Makes The Hills Come Alive In 'Wind It Up' Clip"] . MTV News. November 10, 2006. Retrieved April 29, 2007.] She pulls the key, a symbol of "the sweet escape", from her mouth as an allusion to performances by escapologist Harry Houdini. [Hooper, Joseph. [http://www.elle.com/coverstory/10142/gwen-stefani.html "Escape Artist"] . "ELLE", issue 258, page 220. February 7, 2007. Retrieved May 29, 2007.] The song's title is often visualized by a colorful sign that reads "wind it up". Another video was produced in 3-D, but the version was never released. After seeing the video, Jimmy Iovine, co-founder of Interscope Records, decided to work with James Cameron to produce other 3-D music presentations. [ [http://www.nme.com/news/gwen-stefani/26842 "Music videos get 3-D treatment"] . "NME". March 5, 2007. Retrieved May 13, 2007.]

The video was successful on music video television programs. "Wind It Up" was first aired November 10, 2006 on MTV, and it premiered on the station's top-ten chart program "Total Request Live" three days later. [ [http://host17.hrwebservices.net/~atrl/trlarchive/db.html "The TRL Archive - Debuts"] . Popfusion. Retrieved May 29, 2007.] The video debuted at number eight on the countdown and reached a peak at number two. [ [http://www.popfusion.net/records/recaparchive/2006_11.html "The TRL Archive - Recap - November 2006"] . Popfusion. Retrieved March 17, 2007.] After its November 17 debut on MuchMusic's "Countdown", it reached number two for the week of January 26, 2007. [ [http://www.muchmusic.com/tv/countdown/index.aspx "MuchMusic Countdown"] . MuchMusic. Retrieved April 30, 2007.] In a review of the music video, "Guardian Unlimited" poked fun at the number of personas that appear in the video, referring to some of them as "Nunzilla", "Gweninatrix", and "CinderGwennie", and commented that "your speakers have a mute setting for good reason." [Pickard, Anna. [http://music.guardian.co.uk/pickardofthepops/page/0,,1972052,00.html Wind it up"] . "Guardian Unlimited". Retrieved February 12, 2007.]

Track listings

;CD single
# "Wind It Up" (Main Mix) -3:11
# "Wind It Up" (Original Neptunes Mix) -3:08
# "Wind It Up" (Instrumental Mix) -3:02
# "Wind It Up" Video -3:16

US & UK (Promo) CD single

# "Wind It Up" (Album Version)

Other releases

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

12" Promo Record

Side A
# Main Mix - 3:11
# Instrumental - 3:02

Side B
# Original Neptunes Mix - 3:08
# Original Neptunes Mix Instrumental - 3:10

Credits and personnel

* Lead vocals: Gwen Stefani
* Producers: Chad Hugo, Pharrell Williams
* Arrangers: Jeremy Healy, Paul Morris
* Recording engineer: Brian Garten
* Audio mixing: Mark "Spike" Stent

Charts

{|class="wikitable"!align="left"|Chart (2007) [ [http://toplatino.net/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=226 "Ranking del 21 de enero de 2007 (Semana 4)"] . Top Latino. Retrieved April 29, 2007.] !align="center"|Peak
position
-
align="left"|Australian ARIA Singles Chart
align="center"|5
-
align="left"|Belgian Singles Chart
align="center"|8
-
align="left"|Dutch Top 40
align="center"|4
-
align="left"|French Singles Chart
align="center"|12
-
align="left"|German Singles Chart
align="center"|21
-
align="left"|Latin America Top 40
align="center"|37
-
align="left"|Norwegian Singles Chart
align="center"|7
-
align="left"|Swedish GLF Singles Chart
align="center"|19

References

External links

*
* [http://www.gwenstefani.com/default.aspx Gwen Stefani's official site]
** [http://www.gwenstefani.com/lyrics.aspx?pid=75&tid=950 "Wind It Up" lyrics]
** [http://www.gwenstefani.com/music/default.aspx?pid=75 "The Sweet Escape" audio]