OK first off, I love her L.A.M.B. CD...I've completely worn this CD out already, but at the same time I'm sort of freaked out by her obsession with Harajuku girls.

I didn't really know much about them and after I first heard "What you wating for" I started reading more about the "harajuku style." Their style certainly has no rhyme or reason though it feels sort of mysterious and it is very GWEN-ish...so I can understad why she is inspired by this look. But I think her use of the 'Harajuku Girl' on her record is over the top. Am I alone on this?

I kind of wondered about this myself when I heard them pop up in another song. I think it wouldn't be so pronounced if she didn't have them in the WYWF video, performing with her and showing up everywhere she goes. If Harajuku is released as a single won't we be Harajukued out? We've already seen them a dozen times. I still love the song though.
[Edited 12/13/04 12:58pm]

No, you're not alone. Love the album, and it's a lot of fun but the constant references to these girls is annoying at best. It also seems a bit shallow to reference them so much just because she likes the way they dress. She's inspired by their clothing and thinks they have original style - apparently Gwen's never seen any of the NYC club kids from the 90s.

Gwen needs to learn to shut the fuck up about the Harajuku girls. It's as if she decided, "I need a running quirk for this record," then made up the dumbest thing imaginible.

I think it's a'ight. I mean at least she's remaining consistant. She tried to be "theme-y" with this album so she decided, since it's all about parties and fashion anyway, why not pick something that's all style. If you wanna label it a misstep then Madonna made a similar one with her cowgirl chic a few years back. And though I love Aguliera for being herself, her style-a-week shinanigans are too much.

Seems to be yet another rip from Madonna (take a subculture mainstream to grab the public's attention). I like the Gwenster, but she certainly owes a debt of gratitude to La Material Girl. ...Oh - and the single's one of the poorest excuses for a "song" I've ever heard (with the melody-line in the verses being stolen from Weezer, among other places). Guess those guys in No Doubt weren't useless tools after all.
[Edited 12/13/04 13:32pm]

i definitely noticed it, it's pretty hard not to, since she mentions it so many times. i can understand writing a song about it but when she sings that one line in WAYWF, "i can't wait to go back into japan, get me lots of brand new fans. Osaka tokyo, you harujuku girls, damn you got some wicked style". it just seems to come out of no where. what does it have to do with the rest of the song? just seems like it was slapped in there for the hell of it. i read an interview with her and she said she wanted to have a theme for the album which is cool, but please.....even still, i love the album!

Is this anything like "Pink Lady and Jeff"?

UptownDeb said:

to me its no different than the average rap artists referencing their money or bank account or how many ladies they have...over and over and over again. at least with the harajuku girls its fun and cute.

SassyBritches said:

Try "grating" and "repetitive" - just like the rap clichees!

VoicesCarry said:

eh, different strokes i suppose.

This has nothin' to do with Harajuku girls....but when Gwen sings "This beat is Bananas...B-A-N-A-N-A-S", on "Hollaback Girl" ....she sounds like a pouty 8 yr.old girl....and it makes me wanna throw up....honestly. The whole fact that she is a 35 yr. old woman with "teenage girl/varsity cheerleader" type lyrics is crazy. I guess having money does play a role in lyrical content. I was just expecting this cd to have more of Gwen's personal style to it rather than just Gwen singing "Andre's" songs, and the other producers' songs.

AnckSuNamun said:

that is my favorite part of the song, lol! when it gets busy at the restaurant i work in i bust out with that...it has a tendency to lighten the mood, lol.

SassyBritches said:

it would fit the mood of a busy restaurant. I'm glad I'm not your co-worker...

Angst over her boyfriend vs. teenage slumber party.


The two faces of Gwen.

AnckSuNamun said:

I cringe everytime I hear "this shit is bananas"...

VoicesCarry said:

im sure touring the world since 1995-96 shes been to japan maybe a few times.

Christopher said:

And it looks like the Harajuku girls hitched a ride home!

VoicesCarry said:

lol you so crazy....

/

im diggin cool and the slow jam mix of real thing the most right now.

That album has just completely vaporized 4 me..
The 'Harajuku Girls' r just about everything that's wrong with the album.
All aesthetics with bland songwriting.

how's it doing on the charts, by the way?

I haven't been keepin up with Gwen's chart progress either....but my brother told me that it sold more than any No Doubt cd in it's first week.

I actually kind of like the constant "Harajuku Girls" references. It keeps the album even lighter. It's quircky and cute, just like Gwen.

AnckSuNamun said:

it debuted at #7 and fell to #15 this past week. There are some songs on the record that NO DOUBT could have done...COOL and DANGER ZONE are very NO DOUBT-ish (I'm talking ROCK STEADY No Doubt era).
[Edited 12/13/04 16:27pm]

purplegypsy said:

Yeah "Cool" does sound like a No Doubt song.

AnckSuNamun said:

that's probably because Gwen is No Doubt's singer?????

abierman said:

musically a ND song...not just vocally. The album isn't meant to sound like a ND album though.

thank god....I don't have to look at that thong avatar anymore.

AnckSuNamun said:

to me, Gwen is No Doubt