Spark the Fire

"Spark the Fire"
Single by Gwen Stefani
Released December 1, 2014 (2014-12-01)
Format Digital download
Genre
Length 3:22
Label
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Pharrell Williams
Gwen Stefani singles chronology
"Baby Don't Lie"
(2014)		 "Spark the Fire"
(2014)		 "Kings Never Die"
(2015)

"Spark the Fire" is a song by American singer and songwriter Gwen Stefani. It was written by Stefani with the song's producer Pharrell Williams. The track combines the genres of dance-pop, hip hop, and funk.

"Spark the Fire" was released as the follow-up single to her previous work, "Baby Don't Lie". Both songs were expected to be included on Stefani's third studio album, This Is What the Truth Feels Like, until the project was scrapped in favor of new material. Upon release, the song received mixed reviews. Some critics noted that the track was less interesting than Stefani and Williams' previous collaboration, "Hollaback Girl". However, the official music video for the single received generally positive reviews and received a nomination 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.

"Spark the Fire" reached number 29 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart, while failing to enter any other major charts. 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.[4] During that time, she claimed, "I never need to do that or want to do it again. I'm happy being in No Doubt."[5] 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.[4][6]

During an interview for MTV News during New York Fashion Week, she confirmed to be working on a solo album and a No Doubt album, stating, "I'm going into the studio tonight with Pharrell [Williams], I'm going to be writing and also just seeing what comes along my way. I've been recording a few things."[7] Williams completed, "When I tell you she's killing it, it's another level."[7] 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."[8]

Critical reception

Upon release, "Spark the Fire" received mixed reviews from critics. Lucas Villa of AXS stated that "[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."[2] However, Hayden Manders of Refinery29 felt that the song "sounds like a throwback for the modern age".[9]

Commercial performance

On March 7, 2015, "Spark the Fire" peaked at number 29 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart. The following week, however, it dropped off the chart.[10] Elsewhere, the song failed to chart. Also, the song peaked at number one on the Twitter Real-Time chart due to heavy streaming of the single.[11]

Music video

The music video was released shortly before midnight on December 1, 2014 on Stefani's official YouTube account. 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.[12] 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..."[13] 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. Williams also joined her on the stage, wearing a dark blue Adidas tracksuit.[14]

Stefani also performed the song with Williams on December 31, 2014, on New Year's Eve with Carson Daly in New York City.[15]

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".[16]

Track listing

Digital download[17]
No. Title Length
1. "Spark the Fire"   3:22

Charts

Chart (2014–15) Peak
position
Russia (Tophit)[18] 326
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[19] 29
US Pop Digital Songs (Billboard)[20] 38

Release history

Region Date Format Label
France[21] December 1, 2014 Digital download Polydor
Italy[22] Universal
Spain[23]
United States[24]
Germany[25] January 23, 2015 Universal

References

  1. ↑ Doyle, Patrick (December 4, 2014). "How Gwen Stefani Discovered Emojis and Jump-Started Her Career". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  2. 1 2 Villa, Lucas (December 2, 2014). "Gwen Stefani premieres emoji-filled music video for 'Spark the Fire'". AXS.
  3. ↑ Frydenlund, Zach (November 24, 2014). "Watch Gwen Stefani's "Spark the Fire" Video (Prod. by Pharrell)". Complex. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  4. 1 2 Lipshutz, Jason (April 13, 2014). "Gwen Stefani's Coachella Cameo Hints At Solo Return?". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
  5. ↑ "No Doubt's Gwen Stefani: 'I never want to make another solo album'". NME (Time Inc. UK). September 7, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
  6. ↑ Rettig, James. "Gwen Stefani - "Spark the Fire"". Stereogum. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
  7. 1 2 Garibaldi, Christina (September 8, 2014). "Gwen Stefani Back In The Studio With Pharrell And She's 'Killing It'". MTV News. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
  8. ↑ Azzopardi, Chris. "MUSIC Gwen Stefani: Underneath it all". Windy City Media Group. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  9. ↑ Manders, Hayden. "Why Gwen Stefani Wants You To "Spark The Fire" & Not Kill The Vibe". Refinery29. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  10. ↑ "Gwen Stefani - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  11. ↑ "Billboard + Twitter All Time Chart". Billboard Twitter Top Tracks for Gwen Stefani. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  12. ↑ Blistein, Joy. "Watch Gwen Stefani Burn Up Wildly Animated 'Spark the Fire' Video". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  13. ↑ Berman, Eliza (2 December 2014). "Watch the Trippy Video for Gwen Stefani's 'Spark the Fire'". Time. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  14. ↑ http://www.mtv.com/news/2013062/gwen-stefani-pharrell-spark-the-fire-performance-voice/
  15. ↑ Shaffer, Jordyn. "Gwen Stefani & Pharrell Williams Sing 'Spark The Fire' On NYE". Hollywood Life. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  16. ↑ Stern, Bradley. "Gwen Stefani Performs Medley Of Hits On 'Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon': Watch". Idolator. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  17. ↑ "iTunes (U.S.) - Music - Gwen Stefani - Spark the Fire - Single". iTunes (U.S.). December 1, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Chart Search". Tophit for Gwen Stefani. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  19. ↑ "Gwen Stefani – Chart history" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for Gwen Stefani. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  20. ↑ [0=ts_chart_artistname%3AGwen%20Stefani&f[1]=ss_bb_type%3Achart_item&type=2&artist=Gwen%20Stefani "Chart Search"]. Billboard Pop Digital Songs for Gwen Stefani. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  21. ↑ http://amazon.fr/Spark-Fire-Gwen-Stefani/dp/B00QHL1OKQ
  22. ↑ http://amazon.it/Spark-Fire-Gwen-Stefani/dp/B00QHE90NQ
  23. ↑ http://amazon.es/gp/product/B00QHHMRM4
  24. ↑ http://amazon.com/Spark-Fire-Gwen-Stefani/dp/B00QG32BW0
  25. ↑ http://amazon.de/Spark-Fire-Gwen-Stefani/dp/B00QHZATN0

External links

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