Gwen Stefani
Album: Love, Angel, Music, Baby
Song: Rich Girl
Reviewed by: Krystal Burns
Note: We focus on reviewing songs, and therefore cannot comment on the appropriateness of the album in its entirety. Please use your best judgment whenever purchasing or listening to music.
The Band
Probably know better for her outrageous style than her music, the Orange County native Gwen Stefani has recently released her first debut album. The former No Doubt front girl decided she’d had enough of singing, song-writing, and guiding a band with little credit. At thirty-five Gwen’s career seems to be taking off. In addition to the new album, she also debuted as an actress in “The Aviator” where she appeared with Leonardo Decaprio.
The Music
The glitzy, and ultimately weird, album Love, Angel, Music, Baby, also referred to as LAMB, was released November 23, 2004. There is no real coherent theme beyond that which revolves around money, sex, and romance. About LAMB Gwen said, “I wanted to make a very good feeling, classic upbeat dance record, that when you first heard it, it would be your guilty pleasure.” There are multiple guests including, Linda Perry, Andre 3000, Dr. Dre, and The Neptunes. Several songs including “Hollaback Girl” contain strong language, and others such as “Bubble Pop Electric” and “Crash” are very sexual. On the upside, “Long Way to Go” is call to racial unity.
The Song
First released as pre-album single July 12th, “Rich Girl” featuring Eve is essentially a remix of the “Fiddler on the Roof” musical classic “If I Were a Rich Man.” It’s a funky, catchy pop song, produced by Dr. Dre.
The song is as materialistic as Madonna’s “Material Girl” only at least Madonna was blunt about it. Most of the song is a tribute to all that money and wealth can bring. “No man could test me, impress me, my cash flow would never ever end. . . I'd buy everything. Clean out Vivienne Westwood. In my Galliano gown. No, wouldn't just have one hood. A Hollywood mansion if I could. Please book me first class to my fancy house in London town.”
The second verse makes reference to Gwen’s backup girls, to whom another song on LAMB is dedicated for being her inspiration. “I’d get me four Harajuku girls to. Inspire me and they’d come to my rescue. I'd dress them wicked, I’d give them names. Love, Angel, Music, Baby. Hurry up and come and save me.”
In each verse the shopping spree is followed by a disclaimer to a lover. “All the riches baby, won’t mean anything. All the riches baby, won't bring what your love can bring. All the riches baby, won’t mean anything. Don't need no other baby. Your lovin' is better than gold and I know.” So just in case we were thinking Gwen and company are too focused on money, we are assured that she still has her priorities straight.
I mean, surely the best of both worlds is to have money and someone to love on you, right? And that’s were the song ends up with Gwen and Eve ranting about their success and all the love they’re getting because of it. “Yes ma’am, we got the style that's wicked. I hope you can all keep up. We climbed all the way from the bottom to the top. Now we ain’t gettin’ nothing but love.”
Sure, it would be nice not to ever have to think or stress about money. Whether you have to worry about bills yourself, or you listen to your parents discussing finances—you can’t get away from money. How nice would it be to able to buy whatever you want without even thinking about it?
But God has a completely different perspective of money. Rather than giving us security and happiness, it tends to draw us away from God if we are not careful. In Matthew 19 a young rich man asks Jesus, “What good thing must I do to get eternal life?” And Jesus tells him that to be perfect he must sell off all his possessions and give to the poor, then follow come and follow him. But the rich man went away sad. He loved his things so much that, while he wanted to follow Christ, he could not sacrifice them for eternal life. He put his trust and security in his wealth. Then Jesus said, “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (verse 24). This is not to say that no rich person can ever be a Christian, but it does point out that you cannot love both money and God. Putting your trust and fulfillment in life in wealth, leaves little room for God.
One of the benefits to not having a lot of money is that it helps us rely on God for the things we need. I’ve heard so many amazing stories from people who had almost nothing until God provided for them in a truly miraculous way. God knows what we need, and He knows what we want. Everything we have is a gift from him. Let’s remember to focus on how blessed we are to have what we do have and not what we think we lack. Remember that Paul said the secret to being content in any situation is to find our strength in Christ (Phil. 4:11-13)
So What Do You Think?
1. How would you describe Gwen Stefani’s sound?
2. If you like the album, what’s your favorite song?
3. What’s your impression of the Harajuku girls?
4. Are there certain times you find yourself wishing you had more money?
5. What can you do to avoid falling in the trap of materialism?