4 in the Morning

"4 in the Morning" is a synthpop song written by Gwen Stefani and Tony Kanal for Stefani's second solo album The Sweet Escape (2006). The song is a 1980s-inspired ballad that Stefani began writing while pregnant and finished with No Doubt bandmate Tony Kanal. It generally received positive reviews from music critics.

The song was released as the album's third single in 2007 (see 2007 in music). It was commercially unsuccessful in the United States but fared somewhat better worldwide. Stefani has stated that "4 in the Morning" is her favorite song from The Sweet Escape. Gwen Stefani Q&A Retrieved March 28, 2007

Background and writing

Stefani began working with No Doubt bassist and former boyfriend Tony Kanal just after finishing the Harajuku Lovers Tour in 2005, referring to him as her "comfort zone". The two wrote "4 in the Morning" based on a tape of melodies left from working on Stefani's previous album Love. Angel. Music. Baby (2004). It is based on ballads such as Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly with His Song" and Billy Idol's " Eyes Without a Face". "Four In The Morning - In Studio". Interscope Records. November 3, 2006. Retrieved July 7, 2007.

Critical reception

"4 in the Morning" was generally well-received by contemporary pop music critics. It is to be featured on Now thats what I call music 26. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of All Music Guide called it "coolly sensual", Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Sweet Escape > Review". All Music Guide. Retrieved February 26, 2007. and PopMatters referred to it as one of the "few real compositions" from the album.Huff, Quentin B. "Gwen Stefani: The Sweet Escape". PopMatters. December 14, 2006. Retrieved February 26, 2007. NME called the song "an expertly conceived tear-jerker", stating that "it feels like the kind of song a teenage Stefani, miming along to Talk Talk, would have dreamt of singing one day."Miller, Alex. "Gwen Stefani: The Sweet Escape. NME. Retrieved February 26, 2007. Pitchfork Media, however, disapproved of the song, stating that it destroyed "the mallpop cred that Stefani accrued with L.A.M.B.'s impeccable ' Cool'."Pytlik, Mark. "Gwen Stefani: The Sweet Escape: Pitchfork Record Review". Pitchfork Media. December 7, 2006. Retrieved February 26, 2007. Chuck Taylor compared the song to the soundtrack to the 1983 film Flashdance and commented that "we truly respect Stefani in the 'Morning.'"Taylor, Chuck. "Producer: Tony Kanal". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2007. Bill Lamb from About.com called the song "the best song from…The Sweet Escape."Lamb, Bill. "Gwen Stefani - 4 in the Morning". About.com. Retrieved May 29, 2007.

Chart performance

Stefani performing "4 in the Morning".

"4 in the Morning" was commercially unsuccessful in the United States. It peaked at number fifty-four on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Stefani's lowest charting American single to date. "Gwen Stefani > Charts & Awards > Billboard Charts". All Music Guide. Retrieved September 5, 2007. It was somewhat more successful in the mainstream market, reaching number thirty on the Pop 100 and the top twenty of the Top 40 Mainstream and Pop 100 Airplay charts. "The Sweet Escape > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". All Music Guide. Retrieved July 7, 2007. It had the most success in clubs and reached number two on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play "Hot Dance Club Play - 4 In The Morning". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2007. behind Nelly Furtado's "All Good Things (Come to an End)". "Hot Dance Club Play - All Good Things (Come To An End)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2007. The single was more successful on the Canadian Hot 100, where it peaked at number seventeen. "Gwen Stefani - 4 In The Morning - Music Charts". αCharts.us. Retrieved September 3, 2007.

The song was more successful outside of North America. It peaked at number twenty-two on the UK Singles Chart and remained on the chart for eight weeks. It fared somewhat better across Europe, reaching the top fifteen in Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Norway, the top twenty in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland ant the top five in Romania. The song debuted at number nine on the ARIA Singles Chart but was unable to reach a higher position, and it peaked at number five on the New Zealand Singles Chart. The song had the highest points increase for the week of July 14 on the United World Chart and jumped from number 25 to 14. > It has peaked at number nine.

Music video

In the video, Stefani has an argument with an off-screen lover.

The music video was directed by Sophie Muller and features a tearful and distraught Stefani, lying in bed as she begins to sing to the camera. In a white inside out L.A.M.B. T-shirt, she wanders around her apartment lost and questioning her lover, who is in fact absent from the video. The lyrics describe an argument, which she has with an off-screen lover throughout the video.Vineyard, Jennifer and Warburton, Richard. "Gwen Stefani Lets Her Lover Have It In New Clip". MTV News. March 12, 2007. Retrieved May 5, 2007. After lying around her apartment and crying during a bath, she leaves her house and travels in a car, as she sits tearfully in the back.

"4 in the Morning" was given a "First Look" on MTV's Total Request Live on April 27 and has peaked at number seven. On MuchMusic's Countdown, it became Stefani's least-successful charting video since "Luxurious" (2005), peaking at number seven for two consecutive weeks after a slow ascent.Countdown. MuchMusic programming. Original airdate: July 27 2007. Retrieved August 4 2007.

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "4 in the Morning".

German CD maxi single

1. "4 in the Morning" (album version)
2. "4 in the Morning" (Thin White Duke edit)
3. "4 in the Morning" (Oskar the Punk remix)
4. "4 in the Morning" (music video)

Europe Promo CD single[http

//www.mattscdsingles.com/acatalog/gwenstefanicdsingles.html]

1. "4 in the Morning" (radio edit) - 4:09

Charts

References

2

External links

• Gwen Stefani's official site
  • "4 in the Morning" lyrics
  • The Sweet Escape audio
• "4 in the Morning"

Category: 2006 songs Category: 2007 singles Category: Ballads Category: Gwen Stefani songs Category: Music videos directed by Sophie Muller Category: New wave songs

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