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| artist = [[Gwen Stefani]]
| artist = [[Gwen Stefani]]
| album = [[Love. Angel. Music. Baby.]]
| album = [[Love. Angel. Music. Baby.]]
| released = {{Start date|2006|01|24|mf=y}}
| released = {{Start date|2006|1|24|mf=y}}
| recorded = 2004
| recorded =
| studio = Kingsbury ([[Los Feliz, Los Angeles|Los Feliz]], [[California]])
| studio = Kingsbury ([[Los Feliz, Los Angeles|Los Feliz]], [[California]])
| genre = [[Electroclash]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Usinger |first=Mike |url=https://www.straight.com/article/gwen-stefani-love-angel-music-baby |title=Gwen Stefani – Love. Angel. Music. Baby. |work=[[The Georgia Straight]] |date=November 25, 2004 |access-date=January 22, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208031057/http://www.straight.com/article/gwen-stefani-love-angel-music-baby |archive-date=December 8, 2015}}</ref>
| genre = [[Electroclash]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Usinger |first=Mike |url=https://www.straight.com/article/gwen-stefani-love-angel-music-baby |title=Gwen Stefani – Love. Angel. Music. Baby. |work=[[The Georgia Straight]] |date=November 25, 2004 |access-date=January 22, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208031057/http://www.straight.com/article/gwen-stefani-love-angel-music-baby |archive-date=December 8, 2015 }}</ref>
| length = {{duration|m=4|s=06}}
| length = {{duration|m=4|s=06}}
| label = [[Interscope Records|Interscope]]
| label = [[Interscope Records|Interscope]]
Line 22: Line 22:
| next_year = 2006
| next_year = 2006
}}
}}
"'''Crash'''" is a song by American singer [[Gwen Stefani]] from her debut solo studio album, ''[[Love. Angel. Music. Baby.]]'' (2004). Written by Stefani and fellow [[No Doubt]] bandmate [[Tony Kanal]], who also produced it, the [[electroclash]] song uses [[Car|automobile]] [[metaphor]]s to describe a relationship.<ref name="slant"/>
"'''Crash'''" is a song by American singer and songwriter [[Gwen Stefani]] from her debut solo studio album, ''[[Love. Angel. Music. Baby.]]'' (2004). Written by Stefani and [[No Doubt]] bandmate [[Tony Kanal]], the song uses [[automobile]] metaphors to describe a relationship,<ref name="slant"/> and it received mixed to positive reviews from [[Music journalism|critics]]. Not originally planned as a single, the song was released as the album's sixth and final single on January 24, 2006, during Stefani's pregnancy.


⚫
==Background and writing==
Not originally planned as a [[Single (music)|single]], [[Interscope Records]] eventually released "Crash" as the sixth and final single from ''Love. Angel. Music. Baby.'' on January 24, 2006. Upon its release, the song received mixed reviews from [[Music journalism|music critic]]s and peaked at number 49 on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].

⚫
==Background==
Stefani had been working on her solo project with [[Linda Perry]]. The two penned several songs, including lead single "[[What You Waiting For?]]", but Stefani found the process difficult, commenting, "It's humiliating and intimidating even if they're sweet and excited, because you're drowning in their creativity."<ref>{{cite web |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/s/stefani_gwen/news_feature_112204/ |title=Gwen Stefani: Scared Solo |publisher=[[MTV]] |access-date=March 3, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070317035741/http://www.mtv.com/bands/s/stefani_gwen/news_feature_112204/ |archive-date=March 17, 2007}}</ref><ref name="scared2">{{cite web |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/s/stefani_gwen/news_feature_112204/index2.jhtml |title=Gwen Stefani: Scared Solo |publisher=MTV |page=2 |access-date=December 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060528170552/http://www.mtv.com/bands/s/stefani_gwen/news_feature_112204/index2.jhtml |archive-date=May 28, 2006}}</ref> When the two began working on a song about a deceased friend of Stefani's, Perry began writing the lyrics and Stefani, feeling that Perry was encroaching on her territory, broke down and left.<ref name="scared2"/>
Stefani had been working on her solo project with [[Linda Perry]]. The two penned several songs, including lead single "[[What You Waiting For?]]", but Stefani found the process difficult, commenting, "It's humiliating and intimidating even if they're sweet and excited, because you're drowning in their creativity."<ref>{{cite web |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/s/stefani_gwen/news_feature_112204/ |title=Gwen Stefani: Scared Solo |publisher=[[MTV]] |access-date=March 3, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070317035741/http://www.mtv.com/bands/s/stefani_gwen/news_feature_112204/ |archive-date=March 17, 2007}}</ref><ref name="scared2">{{cite web |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/s/stefani_gwen/news_feature_112204/index2.jhtml |title=Gwen Stefani: Scared Solo |publisher=MTV |page=2 |access-date=December 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060528170552/http://www.mtv.com/bands/s/stefani_gwen/news_feature_112204/index2.jhtml |archive-date=May 28, 2006}}</ref> When the two began working on a song about a deceased friend of Stefani's, Perry began writing the lyrics and Stefani, feeling that Perry was encroaching on her territory, broke down and left.<ref name="scared2"/>


{{Listen|pos=left|filename=Crash (Gwen Stefani song).ogg|title="Crash"|description=A 23-second sample of "Crash", an uptempo [[electroclash]] song that has an automobile theme.|format=[[Ogg]]}}
{{Listen|pos=left|filename=Crash (Gwen Stefani song).ogg|title="Crash"|description=The song has an automobile theme.|format=[[Ogg]]}}


Stefani's fellow [[No Doubt]] bandmate [[Tony Kanal]] invited her to his house so that the two could go out with friends.<ref name="freakout">{{cite web |last1=Vineyard |first1=Jennifer |last2=Pak |first2=SuChin |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1480948/gwen-stefani-turns-to-bandmate-for-aid-after-freak-out/ |title=Gwen Stefani Turns To Bandmate For Aid After Freak-Out |publisher=[[MTV News]] |date=December 6, 2004 |access-date=December 30, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704164721/http://www.mtv.com/news/1480948/gwen-stefani-turns-to-bandmate-for-aid-after-freak-out/ |archive-date=July 4, 2017 }}</ref> When she arrived, however, Kanal surprised her by playing some tracks on which he had been working and revealed that he had prepared some for Stefani.<ref name="freakout"/> Although Stefani had wanted to work with Kanal, she was concerned that his work would not fit with her [[dance music|dance]]-oriented album; however, she called it her "favorite track that [she had] written so far", and the two worked on the track, modeling it after [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] group [[Salt-N-Pepa]].<ref name="scared2"/><ref name="freakout"/>
Stefani's [[No Doubt]] bandmate [[Tony Kanal]] invited her to his house so that the two could go out with friends.<ref name="freakout">{{cite web |last1=Vineyard |first1=Jennifer |last2=Pak |first2=SuChin |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1480948/gwen-stefani-turns-to-bandmate-for-aid-after-freak-out/ |title=Gwen Stefani Turns To Bandmate For Aid After Freak-Out |publisher=[[MTV News]] |date=December 6, 2004 |access-date=December 30, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704164721/http://www.mtv.com/news/1480948/gwen-stefani-turns-to-bandmate-for-aid-after-freak-out/ |archive-date=July 4, 2017 }}</ref> When she arrived, however, Kanal surprised her by playing some tracks on which he had been working and revealed that he had prepared some for Stefani.<ref name="freakout"/> Although Stefani had wanted to work with Kanal, she was concerned that his work would not fit with her [[dance music|dance]]-oriented album; however, she called it her "favorite track that [she had] written so far", and the two worked on the track, modeling it after [[hip hop music|hip hop]] trio [[Salt-n-Pepa]].<ref name="scared2"/><ref name="freakout"/>


==Critical reception==
==Critical reception==
"Crash" received mixed reviews from [[Music journalism|music critic]]s. In a review for ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[Kelefa Sanneh]] noted that the song "successfully conjure[s] up the infectious spirit of early [[Madonna]]."<ref>{{cite web |last=Sanneh |first=Kelefa |author-link=Kelefa Sanneh |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/22/arts/music/22snoo.html |title=Critic's Choice: New CD's |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 22, 2004 |access-date=November 29, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528062546/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/22/arts/music/22snoo.html |archive-date=May 28, 2015 }}</ref> [[David Browne (journalist)|David Browne]] of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' called the song "a pricey [[Retro style|retro]] fashion blurb" on which Stefani appears as "an old-school, gold-chained rapper".<ref>{{cite web |last=Browne |first=David |author-link=David Browne (journalist) |url=https://ew.com/article/2004/11/29/love-angel-music-baby/ |title=Love. Angel. Music. Baby. |work=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=November 23, 2004 |access-date=December 30, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907123002/http://ew.com/article/2004/11/29/love-angel-music-baby/ |archive-date=September 7, 2017 }}</ref> Krissi Murison of ''[[NME]]'' disagreed, calling it one of "the best bits of the decade of decadence" and referring to it as "Salt-N-Pepa's [[cartoon]] rap".<ref>{{cite web |last=Murison |first=Krissi |author-link=Krissi Murison |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/gwen-stefani/7561 |title=Gwen Stefani : Love Angel Music Baby |work=[[NME]] |date=December 10, 2004 |access-date=June 1, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406192513/http://www.nme.com/reviews/gwen-stefani/7561 |archive-date=April 6, 2012}}</ref> Jason Shawhan of [[Dotdash Meredith|About.com]] stated that the song's "great [[Narada Michael Walden]] bleepy [[Synthesizer|synth]] noises [...] pop out of the mix like the [[Vehicle audio|car stereo]] just decided to sing along",<ref>{{cite web |last=Shawhan |first=Jason |url=http://dancemusic.about.com/od/reviews/fr/GwenStefLamb.htm |title=Gwen Stefani – Love, Angel, Music, Baby |publisher=[[About.com]] |date=November 23, 2004 |access-date=March 6, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090531192423/http://dancemusic.about.com/od/reviews/fr/GwenStefLamb.htm |archive-date=May 31, 2009}}</ref> and Jennifer Nine of [[Yahoo! Music]] commented that the song had "icy-cool schoolyard sass".<ref>{{cite web |last=Nine |first=Jennifer |url=http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/041125/33/1xcq5.html |title=Gwen Stefani – Love, Angel, Music, Baby |publisher=[[Yahoo! Music]] |date=November 25, 2004 |access-date=March 6, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050312004242/http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/041125/33/1xcq5.html |archive-date=March 12, 2005}}</ref>
"Crash" received mixed reviews from critics. In a review for ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[Kelefa Sanneh]] noted that the track "successfully conjure[s] up the infectious spirit of early [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]]."<ref>{{cite web |last=Sanneh |first=Kelefa |author-link=Kelefa Sanneh |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/22/arts/music/22snoo.html |title=Critic's Choice: New CD's |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 22, 2004 |access-date=November 29, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528062546/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/22/arts/music/22snoo.html |archive-date=May 28, 2015 }}</ref> [[David Browne (journalist)|David Browne]] of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' called the song "a pricey retro fashion blurb" on which Stefani appears as "an old-school, gold-chained rapper".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Browne |first=David |author-link=David Browne (journalist) |url=https://ew.com/article/2004/11/29/love-angel-music-baby/ |title=Love. Angel. Music. Baby. |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=November 23, 2004 |access-date=December 30, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907123002/http://ew.com/article/2004/11/29/love-angel-music-baby/ |archive-date=September 7, 2017 }}</ref> Krissi Murison of ''[[NME]]'' disagreed, calling it one of "the best bits of the decade of decadence" and referring to it as "Salt-N-Pepa's [[cartoon]] rap".<ref>{{cite web |last=Murison |first=Krissi |author-link=Krissi Murison |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/gwen-stefani/7561 |title=Gwen Stefani : Love Angel Music Baby |work=[[NME]] |date=December 10, 2004 |access-date=June 1, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406192513/http://www.nme.com/reviews/gwen-stefani/7561 |archive-date=April 6, 2012}}</ref> Jason Shawhan of [[About.com]] stated that the song's "great [[Narada Michael Walden]] bleepy synth noises [...] pop out of the mix like the [[car audio|car stereo]] just decided to sing along",<ref>{{cite web |last=Shawhan |first=Jason |url=http://dancemusic.about.com/od/reviews/fr/GwenStefLamb.htm |title=Gwen Stefani – Love, Angel, Music, Baby |publisher=[[About.com]] |date=November 23, 2004 |access-date=March 6, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090531192423/http://dancemusic.about.com/od/reviews/fr/GwenStefLamb.htm |archive-date=May 31, 2009}}</ref> and Jennifer Nine of [[Yahoo! Music]] commented that the track had "icy-cool schoolyard sass".<ref>{{cite web |last=Nine |first=Jennifer |url=http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/041125/33/1xcq5.html |title=Gwen Stefani – Love, Angel, Music, Baby |publisher=[[Yahoo! Music]] |date=November 25, 2004 |access-date=March 6, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050312004242/http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/041125/33/1xcq5.html |archive-date=March 12, 2005}}</ref>


Eric Greenwood of Drawer B opined that the song "carelessly revisits Stefani's blatant fondness for 80's [[Pop music|pop]], but not even [...] Tony Kanal can save her from lifeless retreads like these."<ref>{{cite web |last=Greenwood |first=Eric |url=http://www.drawerb.com/features/1106173438.htm |title=Gwen Stefani – Love Angel Music Baby (Interscope) |publisher=Drawer B |date=January 19, 2005 |access-date=March 3, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061020163243/http://www.drawerb.com/features/1106173438.htm |archive-date=October 20, 2006}}</ref> ''[[The Washington Post]]'' reviewer Sean Daly compared it to Salt-N-Pepa's 1987 song "[[Push It (Salt-n-Pepa song)|Push It]]" and added that Stefani "pushes it real good".<ref>{{cite web |last=Daly |first=Sean |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8973-2004Nov23.html |title=No Doubt About It |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=November 24, 2004 |access-date=June 1, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102040908/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8973-2004Nov23.html |archive-date=November 2, 2012 }}</ref> Jason Damas of ''[[PopMatters]]'' gave it a very strong review, writing that "Stefani nails all the vocal mannerisms" and that Kanal "reveals a major mainstream pop jones here, especially in the way he layers the cut [...] with dozens of orchestra hits [...] which have been absent from almost all pop albums for a decade or more now."<ref>{{cite web |last=Damas |first=Jason |url=https://www.popmatters.com/stefanigwen-love-2496078967.html |title=Gwen Stefani: Love.Angel.Music.Baby. |work=[[PopMatters]] |date=November 29, 2004 |access-date=December 30, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526051554/https://www.popmatters.com/stefanigwen-love-2496078967.html |archive-date=May 26, 2018 }}</ref> Sal Cinquemani of ''[[Slant Magazine]]'' gave the song a mixed review, stating that it "features some near-fatal car metaphors" but that Stefani "maintains her signature sass throughout".<ref name="slant">{{cite web |last=Cinquemani |first=Sal |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/gwen-stefani-love-angel-music-baby |title=Gwen Stefani: Love. Angel. Music. Baby. |work=[[Slant Magazine]] |date=November 20, 2004 |access-date=December 30, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231103525/https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/gwen-stefani-love-angel-music-baby |archive-date=December 31, 2017 }}</ref>
Eric Greenwood of Drawer B opined that the track "carelessly revisits Stefani's blatant fondness for 80's pop, but not even [...] Tony Kanal can save her from lifeless retreads like these."<ref>{{cite web |last=Greenwood |first=Eric |url=http://www.drawerb.com/features/1106173438.htm |title=Gwen Stefani – Love Angel Music Baby (Interscope) |publisher=Drawer B |date=January 19, 2005 |access-date=March 3, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061020163243/http://www.drawerb.com/features/1106173438.htm |archive-date=October 20, 2006}}</ref> ''[[The Washington Post]]'' reviewer Sean Daly compared it to Salt-n-Pepa's 1987 single "[[Push It (Salt-n-Pepa song)|Push It]]" and added that Stefani "pushes it real good".<ref>{{cite news |last=Daly |first=Sean |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8973-2004Nov23.html |title=No Doubt About It |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=November 24, 2004 |access-date=June 1, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102040908/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8973-2004Nov23.html |archive-date=November 2, 2012 }}</ref> ''[[PopMatters]]''{{'}}s Jason Damas gave it a very strong review, writing that "Stefani nails all the vocal mannerisms" and that Kanal "reveals a major mainstream pop jones here, especially in the way he layers the cut [...] with dozens of orchestra hits [...] which have been absent from almost all pop albums for a decade or more now."<ref>{{cite web |last=Damas |first=Jason |url=https://www.popmatters.com/stefanigwen-love-2496078967.html |title=Gwen Stefani: Love.Angel.Music.Baby. |work=[[PopMatters]] |date=November 29, 2004 |access-date=December 30, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526051554/https://www.popmatters.com/stefanigwen-love-2496078967.html |archive-date=May 26, 2018 }}</ref> Sal Cinquemani of ''[[Slant Magazine]]'' gave the song a mixed review, stating that it "features some near-fatal car metaphors" but that Stefani "maintains her signature sass throughout".<ref name="slant">{{cite web |last=Cinquemani |first=Sal |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/gwen-stefani-love-angel-music-baby |title=Gwen Stefani: Love. Angel. Music. Baby. |work=[[Slant Magazine]] |date=November 20, 2004 |access-date=December 30, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231103525/https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/gwen-stefani-love-angel-music-baby |archive-date=December 31, 2017 }}</ref>


==Release and commercial performance==
==Release and commercial performance==
[[Image:GwenStefaniCrash1.jpg|right|thumb|Stefani wore a L.A.M.B. [[auto racing|racecar]]-style [[tracksuit]] for performances of "Crash" on the [[Harajuku Lovers Tour]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/gwen-stefani-gives-it-up-for-the-girls/|title=Gwen Stefani gives it up for the girls|last=Sitt|first=Pamela|date=November 21, 2005|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231051835/https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/gwen-stefani-gives-it-up-for-the-girls/|archive-date=December 31, 2017|access-date=December 30, 2017}}</ref>]]
[[Image:GwenStefaniCrash1.jpg|right|thumb|Stefani wore a L.A.M.B. [[auto racing|racecar]]-style [[tracksuit]] for performances of "Crash" on the [[Harajuku Lovers Tour]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/gwen-stefani-gives-it-up-for-the-girls/|title=Gwen Stefani gives it up for the girls|last=Sitt|first=Pamela|date=November 21, 2005|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231051835/https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/gwen-stefani-gives-it-up-for-the-girls/|archive-date=December 31, 2017|access-date=December 30, 2017}}</ref>]]


"Crash" had originally not been planned as a major single release from ''Love. Angel. Music. Baby.''<ref>{{cite web |last=Moss |first=Corey |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1512621/for-gwen-stefani-egyptian-cotton-is-something-like-love/ |title=For Gwen Stefani, Egyptian Cotton Is Something Like Love |publisher=MTV News |date=November 1, 2005 |access-date=December 30, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226132800/http://www.mtv.com/news/1512621/for-gwen-stefani-egyptian-cotton-is-something-like-love/ |archive-date=December 26, 2014 }}</ref> In late 2005 Stefani announced that she was pregnant (while performing the song on tour in [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida]]) and would be delaying her second solo album,<ref>{{cite web |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1519189/gwen-stefani-confirms-pregnancy-while-onstage-in-florida/ |title=Gwen Stefani Confirms Pregnancy While Onstage In Florida |publisher=MTV News |date=December 24, 2005 |access-date=December 30, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222063049/http://www.mtv.com/news/1519189/gwen-stefani-confirms-pregnancy-while-onstage-in-florida/ |archive-date=February 22, 2016 }}</ref> and the song was announced as the sixth single in January 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1520583/for-the-record-quick-news-on-eminem-beyonce-pink-gwen-stefani-camron-jamie-foxx-coldplay-more/ |title=For The Record: Quick News On Eminem, Beyonce, Pink, Gwen Stefani, Cam'ron, Jamie Foxx, Coldplay & More |publisher=MTV News |date=January 11, 2006 |access-date=December 30, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302181908/http://www.mtv.com/news/1520583/for-the-record-quick-news-on-eminem-beyonce-pink-gwen-stefani-camron-jamie-foxx-coldplay-more/ |archive-date=March 2, 2016 }}</ref> The song impacted US [[contemporary hit radio]] and [[rhythmic contemporary]] radio stations in the US on January 24, 2006.<ref name="fmqb"/>
"Crash" had originally not been planned as a major single release from ''Love. Angel. Music. Baby.''<ref>{{cite web |last=Moss |first=Corey |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1512621/for-gwen-stefani-egyptian-cotton-is-something-like-love/ |title=For Gwen Stefani, Egyptian Cotton Is Something Like Love |publisher=MTV News |date=November 1, 2005 |access-date=December 30, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226132800/http://www.mtv.com/news/1512621/for-gwen-stefani-egyptian-cotton-is-something-like-love/ |archive-date=December 26, 2014 }}</ref> In late 2005 Stefani announced that she was pregnant (while performing the song on tour in [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida]]) and would be delaying her second solo album,<ref>{{cite web |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1519189/gwen-stefani-confirms-pregnancy-while-onstage-in-florida/ |title=Gwen Stefani Confirms Pregnancy While Onstage In Florida |publisher=MTV News |date=December 24, 2005 |access-date=December 30, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222063049/http://www.mtv.com/news/1519189/gwen-stefani-confirms-pregnancy-while-onstage-in-florida/ |archive-date=February 22, 2016 }}</ref> and the song was announced as the sixth single in January 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1520583/for-the-record-quick-news-on-eminem-beyonce-pink-gwen-stefani-camron-jamie-foxx-coldplay-more/ |title=For The Record: Quick News On Eminem, Beyonce, Pink, Gwen Stefani, Cam'ron, Jamie Foxx, Coldplay & More |publisher=MTV News |date=January 11, 2006 |access-date=December 30, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302181908/http://www.mtv.com/news/1520583/for-the-record-quick-news-on-eminem-beyonce-pink-gwen-stefani-camron-jamie-foxx-coldplay-more/ |archive-date=March 2, 2016 }}</ref> The song impacted US [[contemporary hit radio]] and [[rhythmic contemporary]] radio stations in the US on January 24, 2006.<ref name="fmqb"/>


The single debuted at number 95 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] on February 11, 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2006-02-11 |title=The Hot 100: The Week of February 11, 2006 |work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=November 28, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151128192244/http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2006-02-11 |archive-date=November 28, 2015 }}</ref> It reached number 49 for two weeks and remained on the chart for a total of eight weeks.<ref name="hot100"/> "Crash" was somewhat more successful on the pop charts, reaching number 20 on the [[Mainstream Top 40 (Pop Songs)|Top 40 Mainstream]] and number 28 on the [[Pop 100]], and had some crossover success, reaching number 38 on the [[Rhythmic Airplay Chart|Rhythmic Top 40]].<ref name="usps"/><ref name="uspop100"/><ref name="usr"/>
The single debuted at number 95 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] on February 11, 2006.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2006-02-11 |title=The Hot 100: The Week of February 11, 2006 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=November 28, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151128192244/http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2006-02-11 |archive-date=November 28, 2015 }}</ref> It reached number 49 for two weeks and remained on the chart for a total of eight weeks.<ref name="hot100"/> "Crash" was somewhat more successful on the pop charts, reaching number 20 on the [[Mainstream Top 40 (Pop Songs)|Top 40 Mainstream]] and number 28 on the [[Pop 100]], and had some crossover success, reaching number 38 on the [[Rhythmic Airplay Chart|Rhythmic Top 40]].<ref name="usps"/><ref name="uspop100"/><ref name="usr"/>


"Crash" was the only single from ''Love. Angel. Music. Baby.'' that did not receive a [[CD single]] release in Canada; in addition, the track experienced minimal radio success, peaking at number 87 on the [[Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems|BDS Airplay Chart]] in March 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Charts/BDS_2.html |title=The Hits Charts (Airplay) : Top 100 singles |publisher=[[Jam!]] |date=March 2, 2006 |access-date=January 22, 2013 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20050417090813/http%3A//jam.canoe.ca/Music/Charts/BDS_2.html |archive-date=April 17, 2005}}</ref>
"Crash" was the only single from ''Love. Angel. Music. Baby.'' that did not receive a [[CD single]] release in Canada; in addition, the track experienced minimal radio success, peaking at number 87 on the [[Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems|BDS Airplay Chart]] in March 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Charts/BDS_2.html |title=The Hits Charts (Airplay) : Top 100 singles |publisher=[[Jam!]] |date=March 2, 2006 |access-date=January 22, 2013 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20050417090813/http%3A//jam.canoe.ca/Music/Charts/BDS_2.html |archive-date=April 17, 2005}}</ref>


Due to Stefani's pregnancy, a live music video was released instead of a [[narrative]] video. The video was directed by [[Sophie Muller]] at a performance in [[Anaheim, California]], during Stefani's [[Harajuku Lovers Tour]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1525104/for-the-record-quick-news-on-britney-spears-mariah-carey-50-cent-gwen-stefani-nick-lachey-more/ |title=For The Record: Quick News On Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, 50 Cent, Gwen Stefani, Nick Lachey & More |publisher=MTV News |date=February 28, 2006 |access-date=December 30, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704202219/http://www.mtv.com/news/1525104/for-the-record-quick-news-on-britney-spears-mariah-carey-50-cent-gwen-stefani-nick-lachey-more/ |archive-date=July 4, 2017 }}</ref>
Due to Stefani's pregnancy, a live music video was released instead of a [[narrative]] video. The video was directed by [[Sophie Muller]] at a performance in [[Anaheim, California]], during Stefani's [[Harajuku Lovers Tour]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1525104/for-the-record-quick-news-on-britney-spears-mariah-carey-50-cent-gwen-stefani-nick-lachey-more/ |title=For The Record: Quick News On Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, 50 Cent, Gwen Stefani, Nick Lachey & More |publisher=MTV News |date=February 28, 2006 |access-date=December 30, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704202219/http://www.mtv.com/news/1525104/for-the-record-quick-news-on-britney-spears-mariah-carey-50-cent-gwen-stefani-nick-lachey-more/ |archive-date=July 4, 2017 }}</ref>


==Track listings==
==Track listings==
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! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
|-
! scope="row"| Global Dance Tracks (''[[Billboard Magazine|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/gwen-stefani/chart-history/dgl/|title= Gwen Stefani – Global Dance Songs |work= Billboard |access-date= May 23, 2020}}</ref>
! scope="row"| Canada CHR/Pop Top 30 (''[[Radio & Records]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/2000s/2006/RR-2006-03-03.pdf|title=R&R Canada CHR/Pop Top 30|magazine=[[Radio & Records]]|issue=1647|page=57|date=March 3, 2006|access-date=May 14, 2024}}</ref>
| 20
|-
! scope="row"| Global Dance Tracks (''[[Billboard Magazine|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/gwen-stefani/chart-history/dgl/|title= Gwen Stefani – Global Dance Songs |magazine= Billboard |access-date= May 23, 2020}}</ref>
| 39
| 39
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[[Category:Music videos directed by Sophie Muller]]
[[Category:Music videos directed by Sophie Muller]]
[[Category:Songs about cars]]
[[Category:Songs about cars]]
[[Category:Songs about sexuality]]
[[Category:Songs written by Gwen Stefani]]
[[Category:Songs written by Gwen Stefani]]
[[Category:Songs written by Tony Kanal]]
[[Category:Songs written by Tony Kanal]]

Latest revision as of 19:55, 27 June 2024

"Crash"
Single by Gwen Stefani
from the album Love. Angel. Music. Baby.
ReleasedJanuary 24, 2006 (2006-01-24)
StudioKingsbury (Los Feliz, California)
GenreElectroclash[1]
Length4:06
LabelInterscope
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Tony Kanal
Gwen Stefani singles chronology
"Luxurious"
(2005) 		"Crash"
(2006) 		"Wind It Up"
(2006)

"Crash" is a song by American singer and songwriter Gwen Stefani from her debut solo studio album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (2004). Written by Stefani and No Doubt bandmate Tony Kanal, the song uses automobile metaphors to describe a relationship,[2] and it received mixed to positive reviews from critics. Not originally planned as a single, the song was released as the album's sixth and final single on January 24, 2006, during Stefani's pregnancy.

Background and writing

[edit]

Stefani had been working on her solo project with Linda Perry. The two penned several songs, including lead single "What You Waiting For?", but Stefani found the process difficult, commenting, "It's humiliating and intimidating even if they're sweet and excited, because you're drowning in their creativity."[3][4] When the two began working on a song about a deceased friend of Stefani's, Perry began writing the lyrics and Stefani, feeling that Perry was encroaching on her territory, broke down and left.[4]

"Crash"
The song has an automobile theme.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Stefani's No Doubt bandmate Tony Kanal invited her to his house so that the two could go out with friends.[5] When she arrived, however, Kanal surprised her by playing some tracks on which he had been working and revealed that he had prepared some for Stefani.[5] Although Stefani had wanted to work with Kanal, she was concerned that his work would not fit with her dance-oriented album; however, she called it her "favorite track that [she had] written so far", and the two worked on the track, modeling it after hip hop trio Salt-n-Pepa.[4][5]

Critical reception

[edit]

"Crash" received mixed reviews from critics. In a review for The New York Times, Kelefa Sanneh noted that the track "successfully conjure[s] up the infectious spirit of early Madonna."[6] David Browne of Entertainment Weekly called the song "a pricey retro fashion blurb" on which Stefani appears as "an old-school, gold-chained rapper".[7] Krissi Murison of NME disagreed, calling it one of "the best bits of the decade of decadence" and referring to it as "Salt-N-Pepa's cartoon rap".[8] Jason Shawhan of About.com stated that the song's "great Narada Michael Walden bleepy synth noises [...] pop out of the mix like the car stereo just decided to sing along",[9] and Jennifer Nine of Yahoo! Music commented that the track had "icy-cool schoolyard sass".[10]

Eric Greenwood of Drawer B opined that the track "carelessly revisits Stefani's blatant fondness for 80's pop, but not even [...] Tony Kanal can save her from lifeless retreads like these."[11] The Washington Post reviewer Sean Daly compared it to Salt-n-Pepa's 1987 single "Push It" and added that Stefani "pushes it real good".[12] PopMatters's Jason Damas gave it a very strong review, writing that "Stefani nails all the vocal mannerisms" and that Kanal "reveals a major mainstream pop jones here, especially in the way he layers the cut [...] with dozens of orchestra hits [...] which have been absent from almost all pop albums for a decade or more now."[13] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine gave the song a mixed review, stating that it "features some near-fatal car metaphors" but that Stefani "maintains her signature sass throughout".[2]

Release and commercial performance

[edit]
Stefani wore a L.A.M.B. racecar-style tracksuit for performances of "Crash" on the Harajuku Lovers Tour[14]

"Crash" had originally not been planned as a major single release from Love. Angel. Music. Baby.[15] In late 2005 Stefani announced that she was pregnant (while performing the song on tour in Fort Lauderdale, Florida) and would be delaying her second solo album,[16] and the song was announced as the sixth single in January 2006.[17] The song impacted US contemporary hit radio and rhythmic contemporary radio stations in the US on January 24, 2006.[18]

The single debuted at number 95 on the Billboard Hot 100 on February 11, 2006.[19] It reached number 49 for two weeks and remained on the chart for a total of eight weeks.[20] "Crash" was somewhat more successful on the pop charts, reaching number 20 on the Top 40 Mainstream and number 28 on the Pop 100, and had some crossover success, reaching number 38 on the Rhythmic Top 40.[21][22][23]

"Crash" was the only single from Love. Angel. Music. Baby. that did not receive a CD single release in Canada; in addition, the track experienced minimal radio success, peaking at number 87 on the BDS Airplay Chart in March 2006.[24]

Due to Stefani's pregnancy, a live music video was released instead of a narrative video. The video was directed by Sophie Muller at a performance in Anaheim, California, during Stefani's Harajuku Lovers Tour.[25]

Track listings

[edit]
A1. "Crash" (album version) – 4:06
B1. "Crash" (instrumental) – 4:05
B2. "Crash" (a cappella) – 4:06
  1. "Crash" (album version) – 4:06

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Love. Angel. Music. Baby.[28]

  • Gwen Stefani – lead vocals, songwriting
  • Brian "Big Bass" Gardner – mastering
  • Lee Groves – keyboards, mix programming
  • Rob Haggett – second assistant engineer
  • Tony Kanal – keyboards, production, programming, songwriting, synthesizers
  • Colin "Dog" Mitchell – recording
  • Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing
  • David Treahearn – assistant engineering

Charts

[edit]
Weekly chart performance for "Crash"
Chart (2006) Peak
position
Canada CHR/Pop Top 30 (Radio & Records)[29] 20
Global Dance Tracks (Billboard)[30] 39
US Billboard Hot 100[20] 49
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[21] 20
US Pop 100 (Billboard)[22] 28
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[23] 38

Release history

[edit]
Release dates and formats for "Crash"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
United States January 24, 2006 Contemporary hit radio Interscope [18]
Rhythmic contemporary radio

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Usinger, Mike (November 25, 2004). "Gwen Stefani – Love. Angel. Music. Baby". The Georgia Straight. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  2. ^ a b Cinquemani, Sal (November 20, 2004). "Gwen Stefani: Love. Angel. Music. Baby". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  3. ^ Vineyard, Jennifer. "Gwen Stefani: Scared Solo". MTV. Archived from the original on March 17, 2007. Retrieved March 3, 2007.
  4. ^ a b c Vineyard, Jennifer. "Gwen Stefani: Scared Solo". MTV. p. 2. Archived from the original on May 28, 2006. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  5. ^ a b c Vineyard, Jennifer; Pak, SuChin (December 6, 2004). "Gwen Stefani Turns To Bandmate For Aid After Freak-Out". MTV News. Archived from the original on July 4, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  6. ^ Sanneh, Kelefa (November 22, 2004). "Critic's Choice: New CD's". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 28, 2015. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  7. ^ Browne, David (November 23, 2004). "Love. Angel. Music. Baby". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on September 7, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  8. ^ Murison, Krissi (December 10, 2004). "Gwen Stefani : Love Angel Music Baby". NME. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2007.
  9. ^ Shawhan, Jason (November 23, 2004). "Gwen Stefani – Love, Angel, Music, Baby". About.com. Archived from the original on May 31, 2009. Retrieved March 6, 2007.
  10. ^ Nine, Jennifer (November 25, 2004). "Gwen Stefani – Love, Angel, Music, Baby". Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on March 12, 2005. Retrieved March 6, 2007.
  11. ^ Greenwood, Eric (January 19, 2005). "Gwen Stefani – Love Angel Music Baby (Interscope)". Drawer B. Archived from the original on October 20, 2006. Retrieved March 3, 2007.
  12. ^ Daly, Sean (November 24, 2004). "No Doubt About It". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2007.
  13. ^ Damas, Jason (November 29, 2004). "Gwen Stefani: Love.Angel.Music.Baby". PopMatters. Archived from the original on May 26, 2018. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  14. ^ Sitt, Pamela (November 21, 2005). "Gwen Stefani gives it up for the girls". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  15. ^ Moss, Corey (November 1, 2005). "For Gwen Stefani, Egyptian Cotton Is Something Like Love". MTV News. Archived from the original on December 26, 2014. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  16. ^ Vineyard, Jennifer (December 24, 2005). "Gwen Stefani Confirms Pregnancy While Onstage In Florida". MTV News. Archived from the original on February 22, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  17. ^ "For The Record: Quick News On Eminem, Beyonce, Pink, Gwen Stefani, Cam'ron, Jamie Foxx, Coldplay & More". MTV News. January 11, 2006. Archived from the original on March 2, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  18. ^ a b "Available for Airplay". FMQB. Archived from the original on December 14, 2006. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  19. ^ "The Hot 100: The Week of February 11, 2006". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 28, 2015. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
  20. ^ a b "Gwen Stefani Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  21. ^ a b "Gwen Stefani Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  22. ^ a b "Pop 100". Billboard. Vol. 118, no. 8. February 25, 2006. p. 56.
  23. ^ a b "Gwen Stefani Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  24. ^ "The Hits Charts (Airplay) : Top 100 singles". Jam!. March 2, 2006. Archived from the original on April 17, 2005. Retrieved January 22, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  25. ^ "For The Record: Quick News On Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, 50 Cent, Gwen Stefani, Nick Lachey & More". MTV News. February 28, 2006. Archived from the original on July 4, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  26. ^ "Gwen Stefani – Crash (12", Promo)". Discogs. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
  27. ^ "Gwen Stefani – Crash (CD, Promo)". Discogs. Archived from the original on November 8, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
  28. ^ Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (liner notes). Gwen Stefani. Interscope Records. 2004. B0003469-02.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  29. ^ "R&R Canada CHR/Pop Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1647. March 3, 2006. p. 57. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  30. ^ "Gwen Stefani – Global Dance Songs". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
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