Wind It Up (Gwen Stefani song)

"Wind It Up"
Single by Gwen Stefani
from the album The Sweet Escape
Released October 31, 2006 (2006-10-31)
Format
Recorded
Genre
Length 3:09
Label Interscope
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Gwen Stefani singles chronology
"Crash"
(2006)		 "Wind It Up"
(2006)		 "The Sweet Escape"
(2006)

"Crash"
(2006)		 "Wind It Up"
(2006)		 "The Sweet Escape"
(2006)

"Wind It Up" is a song by American singer and songwriter Gwen Stefani. Originally written for inclusion on Stefani's Harajuku Lovers Tour, the song was later recorded for her second solo studio album, The Sweet Escape (2006). The track contains an interpolation of The Sound of Music song "The Lonely Goatherd".

"Wind It Up" was negatively received by most music critics, who criticized the song's use of yodeling and found the track to be over the top. It was released as the album's lead single on October 31, 2006 and reached the top 20 in many music markets. The accompanying music video, which became popular on stations such as Total Request Live, was directed by Sophie Muller and takes influence from The Sound of Music.

Background and writing

In July 2005, Stefani began writing and recording material with Pharrell Williams in Miami, Florida.[1][2] 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.[2]

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.[3] 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.[4] Stefani commented, "I literally cried, and I'm not exaggerating, when I heard the mash-up."[2] Williams, however, did not like the addition of yodeling and The Sound of Music to the track.[3]

The lyrics are not narrative, and Stefani stated, "A song like 'Wind It Up' isn't about anything."[5] In the song, Stefani discusses how boys watch girls dance.[6] The song includes a reference to Stefani's fashion line, with Stefani going, "They like the way that L.A.M.B. is going 'cross my shirt".[7]

Critical reception

"Wind It Up" received generally negative reviews by contemporary pop music critics. Entertainment Weekly's Michael Slezak found the bassline "rubbery" and criticized the song for lacking a melody as well as its reference to Stefani's own clothing line.[7] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic stated 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".[8] Bill Lamb of About.com rated 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.[9] Charles Merwin of Stylus Magazine was mixed on the track, writing that "it's preventing something far less interesting from getting played."[10] John Murphy from musicOMH panned the track as "just horrible, and possibly the worst start to an album this year".[11] Spence D. from IGN characterized the song as "a bugged out Sound Of Music bhangra blitz that sounds like part M.I.A. and part Julie Andrews".[12]

Many criticized the inclusion of yodeling and "The Lonely Goatherd" sample. In a review for Rolling Stone, Rob Sheffield called the track "yodel-trocious" and argued that "the problem isn't the Swiss Miss motif so much as the fourth-rate Neptunes track.[13] Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian was pleased with the track, describing the yodeling as "off-her-head", and referred to the track as "a pinnacle of madness".[14] IndieLondon's Jack Foley 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."[15] USA Today's Ken Barnes, however, found the track "campy" and "a tacky attempt at sexiness", adding that the combination of yodeling and the interpolation was "awkward".[16] Alex Miller of 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".[17]

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

I knew some people wouldn't get it but I think I am enough down the line to not care. The people that did get it are Sound Of Music fans and really got a lot of pleasure from it.

I still think it's brilliant and I stand by it. Why can't you do something weird for a while? These songs are all about having fun, silly records that are to be enjoyed and not taken too seriously.

— Gwen Stefani, The Sun[18]

Commercial performance

"Wind It Up" debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 40 on the issue dated November 18, 2006, becoming Stefani's highest debut on the chart, both solo and as a member of No Doubt.[19] It peaked four weeks later at number six and remained on the chart for 18 weeks.[20][21] It peaked at number seven on the Pop 100 chart, but was less successful on the Pop 100 Airplay chart, only reaching number 19. The single performed well in clubs, reaching number five on the Hot Dance Club Play chart, and peaked at number 18 on the Mainstream Top 40 chart.[22]

Stefani performing "Wind It Up" during the 2007 Sweet Escape Tour

"Wind It Up" met similar success in Europe, reaching number five on the European Hot 100 Singles.[23] The single debuted at number eight on the UK Singles Chart, selling 10,381 downloads in its first week.[24] The following week, it rose to number three (behind Take That's "Patience" and Cliff Richard's "21st Century Christmas") with 17,706 copies sold,[25] earning Stefani her second highest-peaking single in the United Kingdom after "The Sweet Escape".[26] It had less success across the continent, reaching the top 10 in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Norway, and the top 20 in Austria, France, Sweden, and Switzerland.[27][28]

The song was generally successful elsewhere. In Australia, "Wind It Up" debuted at number eight on the ARIA Singles Chart and spent its first seven weeks within the top 10. It peaked at number five in its fifth week on the run, spending 19 weeks on the chart,[29] and was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).[30] The track topped the New Zealand Singles Chart in its third and fourth week, and stayed on the chart for 20 weeks altogether.[31] Three years later, on March 14, 2010, the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) certified "Wind It Up" gold.[32]

Music video

The music video features a key motif and incorporations of The Sound of Music

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 composed 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.[33] She pulls the key, a symbol of "the sweet escape", from her mouth as an allusion to performances by escapologist Harry Houdini.[34] The song's title is often visualized by a colorful sign that reads "wind it up". Another video was produced in 3-D, but this 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.[35]

The stage was designed like a hill with sheep for performances on The Sweet Escape Tour, as a reference to a scene from The Sound of Music

The video was successful on music video television programs. "Wind It Up" was first aired November 10, 2006 on MTV,[33] and it premiered on the station's top-10 chart program Total Request Live four days later.[36] The video debuted at number eight on the countdown and reached a peak at number two.[37] After its November 17 debut on MuchMusic's Countdown, it reached number two for the week of January 26, 2007.[38] In a review of the music video, The Guardian's Anna Pickard 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."[39]

Track listings

  1. "Wind It Up" (Main Mix) – 3:11
  2. "Wind It Up" (Original Neptunes Mix) – 3:08
  1. "Wind It Up" (Main Mix) – 3:11
  2. "Wind It Up" (Original Neptunes Mix) – 3:08
  3. "Wind It Up" (Instrumental Mix) – 3:02
  4. "Wind It Up" (video) – 3:11
A1. "Wind It Up" (Main Mix) – 3:11
A2. "Wind It Up" (Original Neptunes Mix) – 3:08
B1. "Wind It Up" (Instrumental Main Mix) – 3:11
B2. "Wind It Up" (Instrumental Neptunes Mix) – 3:10

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Sweet Escape.[45]

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[30] Gold 35,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[32] Gold 5,000*

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region Date Format Label Ref.
United States October 31, 2006 Contemporary hit radio Interscope [83]
Germany November 24, 2006 Digital download [84]
Australia November 27, 2006
Universal [85]
Germany December 8, 2006
[41][43]
United Kingdom December 11, 2006
Polydor [40][86][87]

References

  1. ↑ "For The Record: Quick News On Gwen Stefani, Gang Of Four, Korn, Christina Aguilera, Jewel, 'Idol' & More". MTV News. Viacom. July 25, 2005. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Vineyard, Jennifer (October 23, 2006). "Gwen Stefani's New LP, The Sweet Escape, Set For December". MTV News. Viacom. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Pharrell Hated Stefani's Yodelling". MTV UK. MTV Networks Europe. February 27, 2007. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  4. ↑ Infantry, Ashante (November 30, 2006). "Stefani has it all, baby". Toronto Star. Star Media Group. Archived from the original on August 31, 2009. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
  5. ↑ Collis, Clark (November 22, 2006). "Holla Back". Entertainment Weekly. Time. p. 4. Archived from the original on February 13, 2008. Retrieved January 22, 2007.
  6. ↑ Flynn, Paul (November 12, 2007). "Hot tunes". The Observer. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  7. 1 2 Slezak, Michael (October 24, 2006). "Snap judgment: Gwen Stefani's 'Wind It Up'". Entertainment Weekly. Time. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  8. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Sweet Escape – Gwen Stefani". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  9. ↑ Lamb, Bill. "Gwen Stefani – Wind It Up". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved April 29, 2007.
  10. ↑ Merwin, Charles (December 6, 2006). "Gwen Stefani – The Sweet Escape". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved April 29, 2007.
  11. ↑ Murphy, John. "Gwen Stefani – The Sweet Escape (Polydor)". musicOMH. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  12. ↑ D., Spence (December 5, 2006). "Gwen Stefani – The Sweet Escape". IGN. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  13. ↑ Sheffield, Rob (December 12, 2006). "Gwen Stefani: The Sweet Escape". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Archived from the original on April 20, 2007. Retrieved August 18, 2007.
  14. ↑ Sullivan, Caroline (December 1, 2006). "Gwen Stefani, The Sweet Escape". The Guardian. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  15. ↑ Foley, Jack. "Gwen Stefani – The Sweet Escape". IndieLondon. Retrieved April 29, 2007.
  16. ↑ Barnes, Ken (December 4, 2006). "This week's reviews: Gwen, Ciara, 'Dreamgirls,' Eminem proteges, McKnight and more". USA Today. Gannett Company. Archived from the original on May 18, 2008. Retrieved April 29, 2007.
  17. ↑ Miller, Alex (December 1, 2006). "Gwen Stefani: The Sweet Escape". NME. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved May 8, 2007.
  18. ↑ Swift, Jacqui (February 23, 2007). "Has Gwen really got it all?". The Sun. News Group Newspapers. Retrieved April 29, 2007. (subscription required)
  19. ↑ Hope, Clover (November 9, 2006). "Timberlake, T.I. Remain No. 1 With 'My Love'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  20. ↑ Hasty, Katie (December 7, 2006). "Beyonce 'Irreplaceable' At No. 1 On Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  21. ↑ "The Hot 100: The Week of March 17, 2007". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  22. 1 2 "The Sweet Escape – Gwen Stefani | Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  23. 1 2 "European Hot 100: Week of December 30, 2006". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on January 21, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  24. ↑ Jones, Alan (December 11, 2006). "Take That make it three weeks atop singles chart". Music Week. Intent Media. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  25. ↑ Jones, Alan (December 17, 2006). "Take That take top spots again". Music Week. Intent Media. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  26. 1 2 "Gwen Stefani: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  27. 1 2 "Ultratop.be – Gwen Stefani – Wind It Up" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
  28. 1 2 "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200705 into search. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  29. 1 2 "Australian-charts.com – Gwen Stefani – Wind It Up". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  30. 1 2 "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2007 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved April 29, 2007.
  31. 1 2 "Charts.org.nz – Gwen Stefani – Wind It Up". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  32. 1 2 "Latest Gold / Platinum Singles". Radioscope. 17 July 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-07-24. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
  33. 1 2 Vineyard, Jennifer (November 10, 2006). "Gwen Stefani Makes The Hills Come Alive In 'Wind It Up' Clip". MTV News. Viacom. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  34. ↑ Hooper, Joseph (February 7, 2007). "L.A.M.B. Chops". Elle. Hearst Corporation. p. 4. Archived from the original on February 14, 2012. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
  35. ↑ "Music videos get 3-D treatment". NME. Time Inc. UK. March 5, 2007. Retrieved May 13, 2007.
  36. ↑ "The TRL Archive – Debuts". ATRL. Retrieved May 29, 2007.
  37. ↑ "The TRL Archive – Recap: November 2006". ATRL. Retrieved March 17, 2007.
  38. ↑ "MuchMusic Countdown". MuchMusic. CHUM Limited. January 26, 2007. Archived from the original on February 2, 2007. Retrieved April 30, 2007.
  39. ↑ Pickard, Anna (December 14, 2006). "Gwen Stefani – Wind it up". The Guardian. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  40. 1 2 "Wind It Up". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  41. 1 2 "Wind It Up (2-Track)" (in German). Amazon.de. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  42. ↑ "Wind It Up" (Australian CD single liner notes). Gwen Stefani. Universal Music Australia. 2006. 1717497.
  43. 1 2 "Wind It Up (Enhanced)" (in German). Amazon.de. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  44. ↑ "Wind It Up" (UK 12" single liner notes). Gwen Stefani. Interscope Records. 2006. 1717386.
  45. ↑ The Sweet Escape (CD liner notes). Gwen Stefani. Interscope Records. 2006. B0008099-02 IN02.
  46. ↑ "ARIA Urban Singles Chart – Week Commencing 18th December 2006" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  47. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Gwen Stefani – Wind It Up" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  48. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Gwen Stefani – Wind It Up" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
  49. ↑ "Gwen Stefani – Wind It Up Hitlisten.nu" (in Danish). Tracklisten. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  50. ↑ "Gwen Stefani: Wind It Up" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  51. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Gwen Stefani – Wind It Up" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  52. ↑ "Gwen Stefani – Wind It Up" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. GfK Entertainment. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  53. ↑ "Top 50 Singles" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. January 21–27, 2007. Archived from the original on January 29, 2007. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  54. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  55. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 50, 2006". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 9, 2010.
  56. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Gwen Stefani – Wind It Up". Top Digital Download. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  57. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 1, 2007" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  58. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Gwen Stefani – Wind It Up" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  59. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Gwen Stefani – Wind It Up". VG-lista. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  60. ↑ "Romanian Top 100 – Issue nr: 5/2007" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. February 12–18, 2007. Archived from the original on February 17, 2007. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
  61. ↑ "Chart Search". Tophit for Gwen Stefani. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  62. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2006-12-17". Scottish Singles Top 40. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  63. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200650 into search. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  64. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Gwen Stefani – Wind It Up". Singles Top 100. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  65. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Gwen Stefani – Wind It Up". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  66. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2006-12-17" UK R&B Chart. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  67. ↑ "Gwen Stefani – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Gwen Stefani. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  68. ↑ "Gwen Stefani – Chart history" Billboard Dance/Mix Show Airplay for Gwen Stefani. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  69. ↑ "Gwen Stefani – Chart history" Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs for Gwen Stefani. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  70. ↑ "Gwen Stefani – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Gwen Stefani. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  71. ↑ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2006". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  72. ↑ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 50 Urban Singles 2006". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  73. ↑ "The Official UK Singles Chart" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. p. 2. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  74. ↑ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2007". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 2, 2011.
  75. ↑ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 50 Urban Singles 2007". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  76. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 2007 – Singles" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  77. ↑ "Rapports Annuels 2007 – Singles" (in French). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  78. ↑ "Year End Charts – European Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2007. Archived from the original on May 13, 2009. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  79. ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2007" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  80. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2007" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  81. ↑ "Year End Charts – Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2007. Archived from the original on August 6, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  82. ↑ "Year End Charts – Pop 100 Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2007. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  83. ↑ "CHR/Top 40 – Week Of: October 31, 2006". Radio & Records. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  84. ↑ "Wind It Up (International Version): Gwen Stefani: MP3-Downloads" (in German). Amazon.de. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  85. ↑ "Wind It Up – Single by Gwen Stefani". iTunes Store (AU). Apple. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  86. ↑ "Wind It Up (UK OnlyVersion): Gwen Stefani: MP3 Downloads:". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  87. ↑ "Wind It Up [12" VINYL]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved August 20, 2015.

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