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Bouquet (Gwen Stefani album)

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Bouquet
Studio album by
Gwen Stefani
ReleasedNovember 15, 2024 (2024-11-15)
Length33:05
LabelInterscope
ProducerScott Hendricks
Gwen Stefani chronology
You Make It Feel Like Christmas
(2017) 		Bouquet
(2024)
Singles from Bouquet
  1. "Somebody Else's"
    Released: September 20, 2024
  2. "Swallow My Tears"
    Released: October 25, 2024

Bouquet is the fifth studio album by American singer and songwriter Gwen Stefani. It was released on November 15, 2024, through Interscope Records. The album serves as her first release since You Make It Feel Like Christmas (2017) and was preceded by two singles: "Somebody Else's" and "Swallow My Tears". It also includes the duet "Purple Irises" with husband Blake Shelton, which was released in February 2024.

Background and development

[edit]

Stefani first started work on the project in February 2020, writing a song called "Cry Happy", which was composed of various lyrics she had compiled onto her phone, and cited this event as her inspiration to continue writing new music for a fifth album.[1][2] The same year she collaborate with her husband Blake Shelton on country pop singles "Nobody but You" and "Happy Anywhere".[3] During initial reports of a new album from Stefani, critics predicted it would serve as her return to pop music, following her lineup of country and holiday music releases in previous years.[4] In a press release, Stefani commented that the album would return to her roots in reggae and ska music.[5] Stefani said she was inspired by world news events, such as the Me Too movement and COVID-19 pandemic, to create uplifting and positive music; she explained: "[Reggae] music was all about unity and anti-racism, and that was in the '70s. Then we (No Doubt) were doing it in the '90s. And now here we are, again, in the same old mess."[1] She released the single "Let Me Reintroduce Myself", musically inspired by her days with No Doubt, in December 2020, and the hip hop-accented "Slow Clap" in March 2021, both of which were expected to appear on Stefani's fifth album.[6][7][8][9]

Stefani began hinting at the album's namesake on September 6, 2024, posting a series of photographs featuring flowers, all prominently.[10] The album was officially announced on September 18, along with its cover art and title, Bouquet, her first release since 2017's You Make It Feel Like Christmas.[11] Stefani said the record has a "flower motif", evident in song titles like "Marigolds", "Empty Vase", and "Late to Bloom", and was inspired by "all the stuff [she] listened to in the station wagon on the way to church" as a child.[10][12] Despite the album's cover art depicting Stefani wearing a cowboy hat, she insisted Bouquet was not a country album and rather a yacht rock project influenced by 1970s pop radio hits. She created the record following a period of "healing [and] transitioning" that stemmed from the divorce to her ex-husband Gavin Rossdale, part of the subject matter to her 2016 album This Is What the Truth Feels Like.[13][14] According to Stefani, she was unable to record the project in a consistent schedule due to her parental duties, but rather in "concentrated bursts of creativity". In an interview with NME's Nick Levine, she added: "I don't go to the studio every day and just self-indulge [...] It's like, hey, [the kids] are at school, I got three hours so let's see if I can get down there to write."[15]

Cover artwork

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Given the album's cover art depicting Stefani in a cowboy hat, critics predicted Bouquet would serve as her first country album.[16][17][18] The artwork used is a photograph of Stefani in a brown tartan suit, holding a singular white flower, sprawled atop a bed.[19] In reaction, Nylon's Dylan Kickham anticipated that "Stefani [would] be riding the cowboy trend like a bronco with at least some of her new music."[17]

Music and lyrics

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Stefani described Bouquet as being full of "seventies pop-rock radio gems" with Nashville influence.[18] The album opens with "Somebody Else's", a heartland rock song combining elements of Stefani's pop and Shelton's country sounds. Its lyrics describe letting go of a former relationship ("I don't know what a woman like me was doing with a man like you").[16][17] The album closes with "Purple Irises", a duet with Shelton, serving as the only collaboration.[17] The love song was originally intended as a solo song, but was lyrically revised to include Shelton.[20][21][22] The couple sings about finding love with each other after past heartbreaks.[23] Stefani's lyric "It's not 1999 / But this face is still mine" refers to what she believes was a highlight in her life, and how she has changed since then.[22]

Promotion

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A color picture of singer Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton performing their song "Purple Irises" live.
Stefani and Blake Shelton performing "Purple Irises" live in July 2024.

Singles

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"Purple Irises", a duet with Shelton, was released months ahead of the album's announcement on February 9, 2024.[24] The song's release came ahead of its live debut at the Super Bowl LVIII TikTok Tailgate Show and just several days after Shelton's digital EP Love Language, which featured the other Stefani collaborations "Nobody but You" (2019) and "Happy Anywhere" (2020), was released.[25] It was accompanied by an airplay release to contemporary hit radio stations in the United States, reaching numbers 15 and 16 on the Adult Contemporary and Adult Pop Airplay charts, respectively.[26][27] It also reached the top 40 on Billboard's Digital Songs Sales charts in the US and Canada.[28][29] An accompanying lyric video to "Purple Irises" was released to Stefani's YouTube channel on February 14, 2024.[30]

Following the album's official announcement, "Somebody Else's" was announced as the lead single. It was released digitally on September 20, 2024, alongside an audio visual on YouTube.[19][31] The song was also serviced to contemporary hit radio, and in the United States it reached number 23 on the Adult Airplay chart.[27][32] In Japan, "Somebody Else's" appeared on Billboard Japan's Hot Overseas chart at number nine.[33] It had its first televised live performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on October 1.[34] "Swallow My Tears" was released as the album's next single on October 25.[35]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic60/100[36]
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash8/10[37]
MusicOMH[38]
Rolling Stone[39]
Slant Magazine[40]
The Times[41]

Bouquet received generally mixed reviews from contemporary music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 60, based on four reviews.[36] Brendan Sharp of Clash described the album as a "country-inspired vibe", in which the singer "shows a real vulnerability in her soul-baring lyrics", founding that "there is a distinct sense of emotional depth at the heart of Bouquet, which feels as though it finds Gwen Stefani at the peak of her songwriting craft".[37]

In a less positive review, Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine found that the lyrics showed a "regressive Stefani's views" about women, because "it's difficult to reconcile the woman who made her breakthrough with No Doubt's neo-feminist anthem "Just a Girl"" and found the songs arrangements "middle-of-the-road".[40]

Track listing

[edit]

All music is composed by Scott Hendricks

Bouquet track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Somebody Else's"
3:44
2."Bouquet"
3:25
3."Pretty"
  • Stefani
  • Long
  • Love
  • Walter
3:13
4."Empty Vase"
  • Stefani
  • Long
  • Love
  • Walter
2:58
5."Marigolds"
2:42
6."Late to Bloom"
  • Stefani
  • Landon
  • Long
  • Love
  • Walter
3:26
7."Swallow My Tears"
  • Stefani
  • Hindlin
  • Long
  • Love
  • Walter
2:54
8."Reminders"
3:18
9."All Your Fault"Diane Warren3:45
10."Purple Irises" (with Blake Shelton)
  • Stefani
  • Halldin
  • Hazell
  • Rubio
3:40
Total length:33:05

Personnel

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Musicians

  • Gwen Stefani – vocals
  • Sam Bergeson – electric guitar, programming, synthesizer (all tracks); slide guitar (tracks 1–3, 7–10), background vocals (1, 2, 10), keyboards (2, 3, 7, 9), vocals (4–6, 8, 9), percussion (9)
  • Jessi Alexander – background vocals
  • Perry Coleman – background vocals
  • Tony Lucido – bass
  • Fred Eltringham – drums
  • Todd Lombardo – electric guitar (tracks 1, 10), acoustic guitar (2–9)
  • Tom Bukovac – electric guitar
  • Gordon Mote – Rhodes (tracks 1, 7, 10), piano (2–9), synthesizer (2–5, 7), organ (5, 6, 8, 9)
  • Jerry McPherson – electric guitar (track 2)

Technical

  • Scott Hendricks – production, additional engineering
  • Andrew Mendelson – mastering
  • Jeff Juliano – mixing
  • Zack Zinck – engineering
  • Zachary Acosta – additional engineering
  • Terry Watson – additional engineering (tracks 1–5, 7)
  • Sam Bergeson – additional engineering (tracks 1–4, 7–10)
  • Brendon Hapgood – additional engineering (tracks 1, 5, 6, 8, 10)
  • Samuel Hayes – additional engineering (tracks 2–9)
  • Adam Battershell – mastering assistance
  • Andrew Darby – mastering assistance
  • Joey Salit – mastering assistance
  • Luke Armentrout – mastering assistance
  • Taylor Chadwick – mastering assistance
  • Nate Juliano – mixing assistance
  • Shannon Finnegan – production coordination

Release history

[edit]
Bouquet release history
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Various November 15, 2024
Interscope [42]
[43]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Carley, Brennan (December 7, 2020). "Gwen Stefani on her new single, returning to her reggae and ska roots, and the legacy of Tragic Kingdom". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  2. ^ Cragg, Michael (January 5, 2021). "Allow Gwen Stefani to Reintroduce Herself". Vogue. Archived from the original on January 5, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  3. ^ Freeman, Jon (July 24, 2024). "Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani Release New Collaboration 'Happy Anywhere': the celebrity couple follow country hit "Nobody But You" with upbeat song of contentment". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  4. ^ Nolfi, Joey (December 4, 2020). "Gwen Stefani announces pop return on new single 'Let Me Reintroduce Myself'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  5. ^ Martin, Annie (December 7, 2020). "Gwen Stefani returns with 'Let Me Reintroduce Myself' single". UPI. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  6. ^ Mier, Tomás (December 7, 2020). "Gwen Stefani 'Reintroduces' Herself with New Single as She Makes It Clear It's 'Not a Comeback'". People. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  7. ^ Kreps, Daniel (December 7, 2020). "Gwen Stefani Returns to Ska Roots on New Song 'Let Me Reintroduce Myself'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  8. ^ Nolfi, Joey (March 11, 2021). "Gwen Stefani's new 'Slow Clap' song snaps back to sassy Rock Steady vibes". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 11, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  9. ^ Daly, Rhian (March 12, 2021). "Gwen Stefani returns with sun-kissed 'Slow Clap'". NME. Archived from the original on March 12, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  10. ^ a b DeSantis, Rachel (September 18, 2024). "Gwen Stefani Announces Her Fifth Album Bouquet Will Be 'In Full Bloom' in November". People. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  11. ^ Gregory, Allie (September 18, 2024). "Gwen Stefani Details New Album 'Bouquet'". Exclaim!. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  12. ^ Kreps, Daniel (September 20, 2024). "Gwen Stefani Talks New Song 'Somebody Else's,' Gardening, and the Journey to Her 'Bouquet'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  13. ^ LeDonne, Rob (November 15, 2024). "Gwen Stefani Is Ready for What's Next". Vogue. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  14. ^ Simpson, Dave (November 14, 2024). "Gwen Stefani: 'Don't Speak changed everything – it's the heartbeat of who I am'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  15. ^ Levine, Nick (October 29, 2024). "Gwen Stefani tells us about her new yacht rock-influenced solo album 'Bouquet' and the future of No Doubt". NME. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  16. ^ a b Jones, Abby (September 20, 2024). "Gwen Stefani – 'Somebody Else's'". Stereogum. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  17. ^ a b c d Kickham, Dylan (September 18, 2024). "Everything We Know About Gwen Stefani's New Album". Nylon. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  18. ^ a b Keates, Emma (September 20, 2024). "Gwen Stefani insists she hasn't gone country, despite new country-adjacent single". The A.V. Club. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  19. ^ a b Aniftos, Rania (September 18, 2024). "Gwen Stefani Announces Fifth Studio Album 'Bouquet'". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  20. ^ Aniftos, Rania (February 9, 2024). "Gwen Stefani & Blake Shelton Team Up for 'Purple Irises' Duet: Stream It Now". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 19, 2024. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  21. ^ Rodrigo, Darlene (February 16, 2024). "Gwen Stefani Shares the Sweet Love Story Behind 'Purple Irises'". KOST. Archived from the original on August 19, 2024. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  22. ^ a b Feeney, Nolan (April 9, 2024). "Gwen Stefani & Blake Shelton Unpack the Lyrics of 'Purple Irises'". Nylon. Archived from the original on August 19, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  23. ^ Mier, Tomás (February 9, 2024). "Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton Pick 'Purple Irises' on Sweet New Single". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 31, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  24. ^ Schillaci, Sophie (February 9, 2024). "Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton Sing They 'Never Knew a Love Like This' in Sweet New Duet, 'Purple Irises'". Entertainment Tonight. Archived from the original on July 31, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  25. ^ Aniftos, Rania (February 9, 2024). "Gwen Stefani & Blake Shelton Team Up for 'Purple Irises' Duet: Stream It Now". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 19, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  26. ^ "Gwen Stefani Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  27. ^ a b "Gwen Stefani Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  28. ^ "Gwen Stefani Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 17, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  29. ^ "Gwen Stefani Chart History (Hot Canadian Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  30. ^ "Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton – Purple Irises (Lyric Video)". YouTube (US). February 14, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  31. ^ "Gwen Stefani – Somebody Else's". YouTube (US). September 20, 2024. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  32. ^ "Gwen Stefani – Somebody Else's (Radio Date: 27-09-2024)". Earone (in Italian). Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  33. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of October 2, 2024". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  34. ^ Vito, Jo (September 20, 2024). "Gwen Stefani Releases New Solo Single 'Somebody Else's': Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  35. ^ Kreps, Daniel (October 25, 2024). "Gwen Stefani Can't Outrun Her Past on New Single 'Swallow My Tears'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  36. ^ a b Sharp, Brendan (November 15, 2024). "Gwen Stefani - Bouquet: Reviews". Clash. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  37. ^ Murphy, John (November 15, 2024). "Gwen Stefani – Bouquet". MusicOMH. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  38. ^ Johnston, Maura (November 15, 2024). "Gwen Stefani Gives Herself Her Flowers on 'Bouquet'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  39. ^ a b Cinquemani, Sal (November 15, 2024). "Gwen Stefani Bouquet Review: A Pop Icon's Edge Gets Sanded Over". Slant Magazine. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  40. ^ Hodgkinson, Will (November 15, 2024). "Gwen Stefani's Bouquet review – a cynical seventies pastiche". The Times. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  41. ^ "Holiday". shopus.gwenstefani.com. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
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