I’m seeing a number of posts about Gwen and her current political leanings. I honestly didn’t recognize Nashville Gwen in her “All Your Fault” video. Her distinctive voice (that I love) assured me it was indeed her.
Perhaps she’s appropriating country conservatism the same way she did Japanese heritage? Another artistic phase is a possibility.
I’m the chick who shows up to punk shows in a floral dress and red lipstick, so I have no room for judging what’s feminist when it comes to appearance— or should I say that as a feminist, I don’t believe appearance determines your stance on gender equity.
What one says and does defines it.
This “Pick Me Girl” term is new but the concept is ancient. I see it everywhere and have admittedly been that girl in the past. It undermines women’s progress in equal rights, opportunity, representation, and body autonomy in pursuit of acceptance and security. But as we know, women who give up their rights for security deserve and will get neither.
Gwen’s 55 and maybe just now comfortable enough with her conservative beliefs to go public, or maybe she’s just a Pick Me Girl. Only she knows.
I’m 56 and am becoming more liberal and outspoken with age as I see men in power trying to destroy our collective American Dream. And there are hundreds of thousands of old ladies like me. Hopefully that balances the scales. ⚖️
Absolutely - I have seen a piece recently about how conservatism has become ‘the new counterculture = cool ’ which is bizarre to process so you may well be correct!
All the same, it’s still disappointing when you realise there are still women who don’t stand shoulder to shoulder with others - especially the ones you thought were ‘cool’ 😓
Dude she’s from Orange County, she graduated HS a year before I did, the HS she went to was known for anti black violence, the football team had a specific day that targeted the beating up of black students.
Orange Country Ca is a solid red county, who helped Reagan take CA TWICE
She was raised by people who more than likely voted for Reagan and the destruction to the school system by Proposition 13.
It’s no surprise she married a country singer, and no surprise she’s a Trumper if you actually knew anything about where she grew up.
I was just having this conversation with my niece and a friend of mine, who are all from the OC and where and when she grew up.
Way back in the day, someone I knew went to HS with her and said she was a horrible person and would never support No Doubt or her. I think that was even before the Lamb album. The person who told me stuff had some stories about her shitty behaviour way back then. I still liked listening to some of the music though. But nothing that Gwen's done or said in the many decades since has surprised me.
Great piece! I grew up on No Doubt as well, and felt like they were punk pop and deeply shallow.
Gwen’s voice was good but uncomfortably similar to Dale Bozzio’s of Missing Persons. Listen to Bozzio sing on their new wave hit, “Walking in L.A.” for a good example.
Young singers mimic their idols, but this always felt like a rip off.
As far as her budding conservatism, you can take the girl out of Orange County but…
Did she cross over or has she always been a piece of shit. I have always suspected the latter. I’m sorry for your loss. It stinks when our heroes stink.
I loved early No Doubt Gwen. But her solo stuff was a big turn off. And she’s just gone further down in my opinion - something about her grated my nerves ever since her solo stuff.
I remember seeing the music video for "Just a Girl" in 1995. I was 11 years old and I would go on to be positively infatuated with Gwen from that point on for the next 20+ years. I felt like she perfectly toed the line between Barbie and punker without ever actually being either and I dug that about her. She came across strong as shit and ultra-confident. I had a crush on her, yes, but I also admired those characteristics and often aspired to be like her because of them.
She changed her image often, so I wasn't surprised when she became a little more "plastic" when she went solo, but the Harajuku thing sent me for a loop. I looked back and saw how she'd gone all-in on the pop thing on the later No Doubt records and was now all-in on Harajuku, then apparently all-in on country collaborations. I'm not hating on anyone for evolving or dipping their toe into different waters -- I love to do the same, myself -- but it made me wonder just how genuine that badass I admired for so long had actually been.
I've since lost interest in Gwen, though I do still love No Doubt, and couldn't really care less about her political or religious viewpoints at this stage of my life. However, I do fully understand where you're coming from with regard to having your hero crumble before your very eyes because they weren't built of the material you'd believed for so long. I recently wrote about my own experience with the exact same thing regarding my childhood hero.
It's wild to me how losing respect for someone you've admired since you were a kid can affect you so greatly as an adult.
Thank you for your considered and thoughtful reply! I completely agree. Of course, it doesn’t infringe on my life but for someone to be revealed as not actually believing in the values they are aligned with (or in my case, her not aligning with values *I* align with because despite thinking that’s what she also stood for) is a strange sort of disappointing.
And thank you for sharing your piece - I really look forward to digging into it this evening!
What a great piece. I have literally recommended No Doubt to my daughter because I always liked Gwen's body positivity and pro-feminine attitude. Based on that (and many other things), my daughter went on to become a total bad-ass. People change and that's the problem with idols, but if you get exposed to a movement through them then that's okay. Stefani may have lost her girl power, but grrl power lives on.
I’ve never felt more vindicated. I hated Gwen Stefani in the 90s. She has always seemed so disingenuous and fabricated. Something about her rubbed me the wrong way from day one.
When she and her pretend good ol boy husband publicly supported the racist vomit of Jason Alden I thought everyone understood she was a maggot and a racist
I liked a few no doubt songs, but I didn’t really care for her. I was more a classic rock fan. I like the music of the early -mid 90’s, before the boy bands n pop girlies began to invade. I’m not into rap. I’ll take heavy metal over that. It’s funny how growing up, we r often so naive. It seemed like a good thing at the time. Then, we mature. Sometimes. Sometimes, we mature. lol. I look at many folks who I thought ranged from incredible people to decent at least. As I grow older, I find out that was a sham. And now, I’d rather admire trains.
Great piece! I loved No Doubt as a young adult - kind of a balm for the grunge era, and I too wanted to believe that Gwen was the person she appeared to be.
I started to lose it at the Harajuku Girl era, desperately wishing she would just acknowledge that she was wrong. (Let’s not forget a whole bunch of pop was cultural appropriation central at the time).
Then she married Blake Shelton and I thought, huh?
So yeah, she did a great job of presenting herself in an inauthentic way. Always pushed back on anyone asking about feminism in her songs, THAT SHE WROTE. It was so weird.
At this point, she’s lost me. I don’t get it, and I don’t think there’s anything to be upset about. Moving on.
So, you liked someone for a long time and finding out their personal preferences are not what you demand, you berate and banish them? I don’t think like you. It’s a shame.
Where did I say that? I’m not calling for her to be cancelled - I’m just saying I’m not that into her craic anymore. There’s a difference. I think I’ve been quite gentle here compared to other pieces 😂
I’m seeing a number of posts about Gwen and her current political leanings. I honestly didn’t recognize Nashville Gwen in her “All Your Fault” video. Her distinctive voice (that I love) assured me it was indeed her.
Perhaps she’s appropriating country conservatism the same way she did Japanese heritage? Another artistic phase is a possibility.
I’m the chick who shows up to punk shows in a floral dress and red lipstick, so I have no room for judging what’s feminist when it comes to appearance— or should I say that as a feminist, I don’t believe appearance determines your stance on gender equity.
What one says and does defines it.
This “Pick Me Girl” term is new but the concept is ancient. I see it everywhere and have admittedly been that girl in the past. It undermines women’s progress in equal rights, opportunity, representation, and body autonomy in pursuit of acceptance and security. But as we know, women who give up their rights for security deserve and will get neither.
Gwen’s 55 and maybe just now comfortable enough with her conservative beliefs to go public, or maybe she’s just a Pick Me Girl. Only she knows.
I’m 56 and am becoming more liberal and outspoken with age as I see men in power trying to destroy our collective American Dream. And there are hundreds of thousands of old ladies like me. Hopefully that balances the scales. ⚖️
Thx for the thoughtful read.
🚺🎶🤘🏻💜
Thank you for reading and commenting!
Absolutely - I have seen a piece recently about how conservatism has become ‘the new counterculture = cool ’ which is bizarre to process so you may well be correct!
All the same, it’s still disappointing when you realise there are still women who don’t stand shoulder to shoulder with others - especially the ones you thought were ‘cool’ 😓
Very much so. 😔
Dude she’s from Orange County, she graduated HS a year before I did, the HS she went to was known for anti black violence, the football team had a specific day that targeted the beating up of black students.
Orange Country Ca is a solid red county, who helped Reagan take CA TWICE
She was raised by people who more than likely voted for Reagan and the destruction to the school system by Proposition 13.
It’s no surprise she married a country singer, and no surprise she’s a Trumper if you actually knew anything about where she grew up.
I was just having this conversation with my niece and a friend of mine, who are all from the OC and where and when she grew up.
I live in the U.K. though so this is probably like when some of you guys over there found out Morrissey was a pro-Thatcherite 😂
WTAF???! How did I not know this? 😩
Thank you for explaining. Good insight to her past. Personally I never liked her. Give me L7 any day.
L7 rocks! Jennifer Lynch is a Substacker!!
Learning the type of info is exactly why I’m here!
Some days I play Shitlist so loud my neighbours complain. (I’m 57)
I did not know that. I will look her up. Thank you!
Way back in the day, someone I knew went to HS with her and said she was a horrible person and would never support No Doubt or her. I think that was even before the Lamb album. The person who told me stuff had some stories about her shitty behaviour way back then. I still liked listening to some of the music though. But nothing that Gwen's done or said in the many decades since has surprised me.
Very interesting background. And you’re right, how we are raised makes a huge impact. Thx for adding insight!
Pretty much. ☺️
Great piece! I grew up on No Doubt as well, and felt like they were punk pop and deeply shallow.
Gwen’s voice was good but uncomfortably similar to Dale Bozzio’s of Missing Persons. Listen to Bozzio sing on their new wave hit, “Walking in L.A.” for a good example.
Young singers mimic their idols, but this always felt like a rip off.
As far as her budding conservatism, you can take the girl out of Orange County but…
Wow I just looked it up and that is UNCANNY 🤯🤯🤯
Missing Persons! My favorite song of theirs was “Mental Hopscotch”.
Right?!
Such a cool band!
I wish I still had my poster!
Did she cross over or has she always been a piece of shit. I have always suspected the latter. I’m sorry for your loss. It stinks when our heroes stink.
Yeah, I've never been a fan of hers, although back then, I probably couldn't have articulated why, she just felt so fake.
She is a disappointment not only with her music but political choices. I was her biggest fan 20 years ago. 😔
I loved early No Doubt Gwen. But her solo stuff was a big turn off. And she’s just gone further down in my opinion - something about her grated my nerves ever since her solo stuff.
I remember seeing the music video for "Just a Girl" in 1995. I was 11 years old and I would go on to be positively infatuated with Gwen from that point on for the next 20+ years. I felt like she perfectly toed the line between Barbie and punker without ever actually being either and I dug that about her. She came across strong as shit and ultra-confident. I had a crush on her, yes, but I also admired those characteristics and often aspired to be like her because of them.
She changed her image often, so I wasn't surprised when she became a little more "plastic" when she went solo, but the Harajuku thing sent me for a loop. I looked back and saw how she'd gone all-in on the pop thing on the later No Doubt records and was now all-in on Harajuku, then apparently all-in on country collaborations. I'm not hating on anyone for evolving or dipping their toe into different waters -- I love to do the same, myself -- but it made me wonder just how genuine that badass I admired for so long had actually been.
I've since lost interest in Gwen, though I do still love No Doubt, and couldn't really care less about her political or religious viewpoints at this stage of my life. However, I do fully understand where you're coming from with regard to having your hero crumble before your very eyes because they weren't built of the material you'd believed for so long. I recently wrote about my own experience with the exact same thing regarding my childhood hero.
It's wild to me how losing respect for someone you've admired since you were a kid can affect you so greatly as an adult.
https://justintfirefly.substack.com/p/sometimes-heroes-lose-themselves
Thank you for your considered and thoughtful reply! I completely agree. Of course, it doesn’t infringe on my life but for someone to be revealed as not actually believing in the values they are aligned with (or in my case, her not aligning with values *I* align with because despite thinking that’s what she also stood for) is a strange sort of disappointing.
And thank you for sharing your piece - I really look forward to digging into it this evening!
How are you surprised? The left went from "fuck you, I won't do what you what you tell me!" To "fuck you, do what they tell you!" Real quick.
I can not call myself a Republican, but I can definitely say until things change I will NEVER vote for a democrat or a democrat policy again.
What a great piece. I have literally recommended No Doubt to my daughter because I always liked Gwen's body positivity and pro-feminine attitude. Based on that (and many other things), my daughter went on to become a total bad-ass. People change and that's the problem with idols, but if you get exposed to a movement through them then that's okay. Stefani may have lost her girl power, but grrl power lives on.
That’s a very cool take on it!
Matt Bernstein discusses this on his podcast A Bit Fruity. She’s always been on the fascist trajectory.
I’ve never felt more vindicated. I hated Gwen Stefani in the 90s. She has always seemed so disingenuous and fabricated. Something about her rubbed me the wrong way from day one.
When she and her pretend good ol boy husband publicly supported the racist vomit of Jason Alden I thought everyone understood she was a maggot and a racist
Great article. A tragic kingdom, indeed.
I liked a few no doubt songs, but I didn’t really care for her. I was more a classic rock fan. I like the music of the early -mid 90’s, before the boy bands n pop girlies began to invade. I’m not into rap. I’ll take heavy metal over that. It’s funny how growing up, we r often so naive. It seemed like a good thing at the time. Then, we mature. Sometimes. Sometimes, we mature. lol. I look at many folks who I thought ranged from incredible people to decent at least. As I grow older, I find out that was a sham. And now, I’d rather admire trains.
Great piece! I loved No Doubt as a young adult - kind of a balm for the grunge era, and I too wanted to believe that Gwen was the person she appeared to be.
I started to lose it at the Harajuku Girl era, desperately wishing she would just acknowledge that she was wrong. (Let’s not forget a whole bunch of pop was cultural appropriation central at the time).
Then she married Blake Shelton and I thought, huh?
So yeah, she did a great job of presenting herself in an inauthentic way. Always pushed back on anyone asking about feminism in her songs, THAT SHE WROTE. It was so weird.
At this point, she’s lost me. I don’t get it, and I don’t think there’s anything to be upset about. Moving on.
I still like No Doubt tho’.
She should have been cancelled when she used literal Asian women as pets for LAMB all the while appropriating Harajuku style for personal gain
So, you liked someone for a long time and finding out their personal preferences are not what you demand, you berate and banish them? I don’t think like you. It’s a shame.
Where did I say that? I’m not calling for her to be cancelled - I’m just saying I’m not that into her craic anymore. There’s a difference. I think I’ve been quite gentle here compared to other pieces 😂