Top 50 Gwen Stefani Songs

I love Gwen Stefani as a writer, singer, and performer. She is a very special talent and has entertained many of us over the years with her music, videos, and live performances. Her contribution when she fronted ‘No Doubt’ was exceptional, but I equally like many of her songs as a solo artist.

Just choosing the Top 50 Gwen Stefani songs was difficult. I could easily have chosen twice that number. However, I hope you enjoy my selections and enjoy these songs as much as I have and continue to do. So, let’s get straight to it and take a look at the best Gwen Stefani songs. 

Top 50 Gwen Stefani Songs

1

Hollaback Girl

I thought I would start with her best-selling and my favorite Gwen Stefani song, which was released in 2004. It was the third single from her debut album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby., following her departure from ‘No Doubt.’ The album was a big hit and sold over seven million copies globally. 

“Hollaback Girl” was also hugely successful and made it to #1 on the US Billboard charts. Additionally, it sold more than five million copies in America and also went five times platinum. It went to #8 in the UK and earned her a platinum disc. Interestingly, “Hollaback Girl” was also the first ever single to get more than a million digital downloads. 

So, what made it so big?

“Hollaback Girl” was a Hip-Hop song mixed with elements of Pop. It was a new style for Gwen Stefani that split and challenged opinions among fans and critics alike. However, as I have already discussed, it didn’t stop it from being a big commercial success. 

The song is about standing up to bullies, and more specifically, standing up to school bullies. It encourages people to not turn a blind eye, and confront these people. Even when the bullying is directed at other people rather than themselves. 

2

What You Waiting For?

This was her debut single, which was also released in 2004 and also taken off her debut album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby. Although it wasn’t as successful as “Hollaback Girl,” it got to #47 and “only” achieved single platinum status. It charted better in the UK, where it reached #4, although it only got a gold rather than a platinum disc.

The song is an interesting blend of Electronic Music and Pop. It deals with her insecurities about trying to write material after she departed from ‘No Doubt.’ She was then alone and not surrounded by all the creativity of her band members, so naturally felt exposed. But, she need not have worried.

3

Cool

We are still sticking with songs from her debut album. “Cool” was released in 2005 as her fourth single as a solo artist from Love. Angel. Music. Baby. It went to #11 in the US and #14 in the UK. Generally, it charted well around the rest of the world. Although, it failed to earn any gold or platinum discs.

The song is a rather sad commentary on her breakup and relationship with ‘No Doubt’ bass guitarist Tony Kanal. This wasn’t the first song she wrote about him. She had previously penned the enormous hit “Don’t Speak” in 1995. And, it was not to be her last song about Tony Kanal either. “Cool” is a beautiful song and a sign that Stefani still had a way to go to get Kanal out of her head.

4

The Sweet Escape (featuring Akon)

This was released in 2006 from the album of the same name. Surprisingly, it was not the lead single that was “Wind Up,” released earlier in the same year. “The Sweet Escape” became one of Gwen Stefani’s most successful songs. 

It went to #2 in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada. It also made it into the Top 10 in most charts around the world. Additionally, it went four times platinum in the US and double platinum in Australia.

The song is a combination of Hip-Hop and Pop with some Doo-Wop thrown in for good measure. It is about an argument between a man and his wife. The woman acts less than decently, and the song develops as she asks for forgiveness and promises to do better in the future. However, she then tries to push some of the blame back onto her husband to absolve herself of as much responsibility as she can.

5

Luxurious (featuring Slim Slug)

We are back to a release from her debut album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby. “Luxurious” came out in 2004 and was her fifth single. It was her least successful song at that point, and “only” made it to #21 on the US Billboard charts and #44 in the UK.

It’s an interesting departure from most of her songs since it is essentially an R&B track with some added rapping courtesy of Slim Slug. It could well be that the song did not do better because her fans were more used to, and preferred more Pop-orientated numbers. Regardless, it was a great effort and musically stands strong as a good example of what an R&B song is all about.

6

Rich Girl (featuring Eve)

This is the second release from Love. Angel. Music. Baby. and will be the last one of this album on my list of the Top 50 Gwen Stefani songs. It was released in 2004 and is the third best-performing single in terms of overall global chart positions and sales. It went to #7 in the US and #4 in the UK. Also, it received a double-platinum disc in America and a single-platinum disc in Australia.

The song includes heavy use of the main melody from “If I Were a Rich Man,” first released in 1964 and taken from the musical Fiddler on the Roof. The movie dates back over 50 years to 1971. The song is a combination of nicely blended Pop and Reggae. Additionally, are some small segments of rapping from Eve that help provide a modern twist to an interesting mix of genres.

7

Used to Love You

This was released as the first single from the album, This Is What the Truth Feel Likes. It came out in 2015, and despite its quality, it failed to impress in the charts. Only reaching #52 in the US and #157 in the UK.

It’s a highly emotional and powerful song about her previous breakup with her ex-husband. To show your vulnerability and expose yourself in this way is extremely difficult. It makes it all the more painful to hear. I have the greatest respect for that and her ability to write and share this experience. It is a touching ballad, and I think one of the greatest Gwen Stefani songs ever. 

8

Wind It Up

“Wind it Up” was released in 2006 as the first single from the phenomenal album, The Sweet Escape. It went to #3 on the US Billboard charts and #6 in the UK. Additionally, it earned Stefani a platinum disc in America and a good disc in Australia.

It is a Dance and Hip-Hop-influenced song that includes sampling from the song “The Lonely Goatherd,” which was taken from the wonderful movie, The Sound of Music. The movie was released in 1965 and was, incidentally, the first movie I ever saw.

“Wind It Up” has no deep meaning and is just something to get you up on the dance floor and have a good time. Since it was co-written by Pharrell Williams, a past master at this kind of thing, it frankly doesn’t come as much of a surprise.

9

Make Me Like You

“Make Me Like You” was released in 2016 from the album, This Is What the Truth Feel Likes. It went to #54 in the US and #140 in the UK. Additionally, it earned Gwen Stefani a gold disc in America. Except for “Nobody But You,” released in 2018, it was the last time that Gwen Stefani made it onto the US Billboard charts.

This is another touching song about the emotional fallout following a failed relationship. In this instance, it was to do with her split with Blake Shelton. However, despite the obvious pain that she must have been going through, she wrote the song in the form of a love song.

It is a positive song about her ex and is a good example of what a class act she is. Rather than choosing to pour scorn and criticize her past partner, she has the decency to treat her previous romantic partner with respect. Please take note, everyone.

10

4 In the Morning

I have come to the end of the list of Gwen Stefani’s best songs, but that does not mean this is my least favorite song. It was released in 2007 as the third single from the album, The Sweet Escape. It went to #52 in the US, #9 in Australia, and #22 in the UK. Plus, it earned a gold disc in America and a platinum disc in Australia.

I mentioned earlier that Gwen Stefani had written more than a couple of songs about Tony Kanal. Well, this is the third. And it very much carries on in the same vein as “Cool” and “Don’t Speak.” It is another ballad that also sounds very much like a lot of her songs recorded with ‘No Doubt.’

I find it sad that she was still singing about her ex in this way after such a long time. Her feelings for Kanal were obviously deep. A horrible position for her to be in. And one that must have made it tough for her to form other relationships and successfully bond.

11

Don’t Speak (Acoustic Version)

12

Misery

13

Send Me a Picture

14

Me Without You

15

Loveable

16

Wonderful Life

17

Spark the Fire

18

Long Way to Go (featuring André 3000)

19

Flirty

20

Full Circle

21

Underneath It All (featuring Lady Saw)

22

The Real Thing

23

Let Me Reintroduce Myself

24

My Heart Is Open (with Maroon 5)

25

Now That You Got It

26

Running

27

Sad for Me

28

Settle Down

29

Six Feet Under

30

Candyland

31

Crash

32

Don’t Speak (acoustic)

33

Hellagood

34

Home Now

35

Magic’s in the Makeup

36

Platinum Blonde Life

37

The Climb

38

Fluorescent

39

Harajuku Girls

40

Baby Don’t Lie

41

My Heart is Open (featuring Adam Levine)

42

You’re My Favorite

43

Start a War

44

End It on This

45

Getting Warmer

46

Wind Up

47

Danger Zone

48

Hey Baby (featuring Bounty Killer)

49

Just a Girl

50

Simple Kind of Life

Need More Music from Amazing Female Artists?

If so, check out our thoughts on the Best Tina Turner Songs of All Time, the Best Nicki Minaj Songs of All Time, the Best Jenni Rivera Songs of All Time, the Best Elle King Songs of All Time, and the Best Stevie Nicks Songs of All Time for more incredible song selections.

Top 50 Gwen Stefani Songs – Final Thoughts

I have enjoyed looking at all of these songs again. It has been a pleasure and has reminded me of what great music Gwen Stefani wrote. And what a fantastic voice she has. I am happy she is still recording and performing, and I hope she will continue to do so.

Did you agree with my choices for Gwen Stefani’s Top 50 songs? Would you have included different songs, and if so, which ones? Additionally, do you have any interesting stories about her and her music? Let me know in the comments.

Until next time, happy listening.