Spark the Fire

"Spark the Fire"
Single by Gwen Stefani
Released December 1, 2014
Format
Genre
Length 3:22
Label
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Pharrell Williams
Gwen Stefani singles chronology
  • "Spark the Fire"
  • (2014)

"Spark the Fire" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Gwen Stefani for her upcoming third studio album. It was written by Stefani with the song's producer Pharrell Williams. "Spark the Fire" is primarily an alternative hip hop song, which incorporates elements of general pop and house music.

"Spark the Fire" was released as the follow-up single to her previous work, "Baby Don't Lie". Both songs are expected to be included on Stefani's upcoming third studio album, which will be released in 2015. Upon release, the song received mixed reviews. Some critics noted that the track was less interesting than Stefani and William's previous collaboration, "Hollaback Girl". Although, the official music video for the single received generally positive reviews and has nominated for "Funniest Video of the Year" at the 2015 Much Music Video Awards. Lyrically, the song refers to "letting loose" and having a good time.

Commercially, "Spark the Fire" was a failure, considering that it has yet to chart on any music charts, minus Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart, where it debuted and peaked at 29. To further promote the single, Stefani performed the song numerous times, including performances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon where she performed a medley of her previous hit singles, such as "Rich Girl", "What You Waiting For?", and "The Sweet Escape".

Background

After releasing two solo albums - Love. Angel. Music. Baby (2004) and The Sweet Escape (2006) - Stefani returned to work with her band No Doubt, and in 2012 they released their sixth studio album, Push and Shove.[1] During that time, she claimed, "I never need to do that or want to do it again. I'm happy being in No Doubt."[2] However, after an appearance during Pharrell Williams' performance at the 2014 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Pharrell teased that the rare live appearance from Stefani was the start of a comeback effort for the singer.[1][3]

In an interview with the Windy City Media Group, Stefani said "[the song] was so perfect for my story-for what I was feeling in my own personal life-that I didn't even get it as a feminist anthem. I thought it was just about me! I was just feeling me."[4]

Critical reception

Lucas Villa of AXS said "[i]nstead of rekindling [the] past magic" behind Stefani and Williams' "Hollaback Girl", "Spark the Fire" "just lets out a whole lot of hot air."[5]

Music video

The music video was released shortly before midnight on December 1, 2014 on Stefani's official VEVO YouTube account.

Synopsis

At the opening of the video, Stefani is shown floating on a cloud over an animated cityscape. Throughout the music video, Stefani and Williams party in a night club with a large group of people. Groups of animated emoticons and animated figures are shown throughout the video as well.[6]

Reception

Eliza Berman of TIME Magazine, gave the video a positive review, saying "[the video] comes to life in the colorful blend of animation and reality..."[7] Due to the positive response to the video, the music video has been nominated for "Funniest Video of the Year" at the 2015 Much Music Video Awards in Canada.

Live performances

Stefani performed the song live on the December 1, 2014 episode of The Voice, where she and Williams are part of the judging panel. The performance opened with Stefani floating down to the stage on a huge, animated cloud head and dressed in a powder-blue, cloud-decorated jumpsuit. Pharrell Williams also joined her on the stage, wearing a dark blue Adidas tracksuit.[8]

Stefani also performed the song with Williams on December 31, 2014, on New Year's Eve with Carson Daly in New York City.[9]

On February 2, 2015, Stefani performed the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, along with her previous singles "Rich Girl", "What You Waiting For?", and "The Sweet Escape".[10]

Track listing

  1. "Spark The Fire" – 3:22

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2015) Peak
position
US Hot Dance Club Play[11] 29

Release history

Country Date Format Label
France[12] December 1, 2014 Digital download Polydor
Italy[13] Universal
Spain[14]
United States[15]
Germany[16] January 23, 2015 Universal

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lipshutz, Jason (April 13, 2014). "Gwen Stefani's Coachella Cameo Hints At Solo Return?". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
  2. ↑ "No Doubt's Gwen Stefani: 'I never want to make another solo album'". NME (IPC Media). September 7, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
  3. ↑ Rettig, James. "Gwen Stefani - "Spark the Fire"". Stereo Gum. Stereo Gum. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  4. ↑ Azzopardi, Chris. "MUSIC Gwen Stefani: Underneath it all". http://www.windycitymediagroup.com''. Windy City Media Group. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  5. ↑ Villa, Lucas (December 2, 2014). "Gwen Stefani premieres emoji-filled music video for 'Spark the Fire'". AXS.
  6. ↑ Blistein, Joy. "Watch Gwen Stefani Burn Up Wildly Animated 'Spark the Fire' Video". http://www.rollingstone.com''. Rolling Stone Magazine. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  7. ↑ Berman, Eliza. "Watch the Trippy Video for Gwen Stefani's 'Spark the Fire'". http://www.time.com''. TIME Magazine. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  8. ↑ http://www.mtv.com/news/2013062/gwen-stefani-pharrell-spark-the-fire-performance-voice/
  9. ↑ Shaffer, Jordyn. "Gwen Stefani & Pharrell Williams Sing 'Spark The Fire' On NYE". Hollywood Life. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  10. ↑ Stern, Bradley. "Gwen Stefani Performs Medley Of Hits On 'Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon': Watch". http://www.idolator.com''. Idolator. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  11. ↑ "Gwen Stefani Chart History". http://www.billboard.com''. Billboard Magazine. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  12. ↑ http://amazon.fr/Spark-Fire-Gwen-Stefani/dp/B00QHL1OKQ
  13. ↑ http://amazon.it/Spark-Fire-Gwen-Stefani/dp/B00QHE90NQ
  14. ↑ http://amazon.es/gp/product/B00QHHMRM4
  15. ↑ http://amazon.com/Spark-Fire-Gwen-Stefani/dp/B00QG32BW0
  16. ↑ http://amazon.de/Spark-Fire-Gwen-Stefani/dp/B00QHZATN0

External links