Ex-Girlfriend (song)

"Ex-Girlfriend" is a song by American ska band No Doubt from their fourth studio album Return of Saturn (2000). The song was released as the album's lead single in early 2000 and was moderately successful, reaching the top 40 in most countries it charted in, including peaking within the top 10 in Australia, Iceland, and Spain. A review from Billboard magazine called Stefani's vocal performance on the song "fantastic".[2]

This article is about the No Doubt single. For the Bush album track, see Sixteen Stone. For the Mariah Carey album track, see Rainbow (Mariah Carey album).
"Ex-Girlfriend"
Single by No Doubt
from the album Return of Saturn
B-side
  • "Leftovers"
  • "Big Distraction"
  • "Full Circle"
ReleasedMarch 13, 2000 (2000-03-13)[1]
Length3:31
LabelInterscope
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Glen Ballard
No Doubt singles chronology
"New"
(1999)		 "Ex-Girlfriend"
(2000)		 "Simple Kind of Life"
(2000)
Audio sample
  • file
  • help
Music video
"Ex-Girlfriend" on YouTube

Background and writing

Lead singer Gwen Stefani originally composed the song as a dirge about her relationship with Gavin Rossdale, the lead singer of British rock band Bush, whom she married in 2002. After listening to it, the band increased the tempo because the album already included several ballads.[3] The line "you say you're gonna burn before you mellow" is a reference to the lyrics in the Bush song "Dead Meat": "I'm doing you in tomorrow/I'll burn before I mellow".

"Ex-Girlfriend" is a song composed in the key of E minor. It is written in common time and moves at a fast tempo of 168 beats per minute. Stefani's vocal range in the song covers nearly an octave and a half, from G3 to C5.[4] The song features Stefani rapping many of the lyrics rather than singing, and the instrumentals take influence from flamenco (as demonstrated by its guitar riffs), new wave and hip hop.[3]

Chart performance

"Ex-Girlfriend" failed to enter the US Billboard Hot 100 chart but reached number 11 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100.[5] It did manage to find popularity on US alternative rock stations, allowing it to peak at number two on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, becoming No Doubt's highest-charting single on that listing alongside their breakthrough hit single, "Don't Speak".[6] Abroad, the single experienced more success, reaching number six in Iceland and number nine in Australia and Spain, as well as the top 20 in Finland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, and Switzerland.[7][1][8] In Australia, the song was certified Gold and came in at number 80 on the country's year-end chart for 2000.[9][10] In the United Kingdom, the song became No Doubt's fifth top-40 hit, debuting and peaking at number 23 on the UK Singles Chart and spending three weeks in the top 100.[11] In Ireland, the song reached number 40 and spent two weeks in the top 50.[12]

Music video
Stefani and Kanal falling in the music video.

The song's music video, which the video itself indicated was "presented" by Hype Williams, was partially based on the controversial anime Kite.[13] In the video, Stefani cross-dresses to enter a men's bathroom and, upon being discovered, assaults Tony Kanal (who plays her ex-boyfriend) and several other men. When Kanal regains consciousness, he grabs Stefani and jumps out the window, and the two plummet to the ground. The storyline is cut with scenes of the band playing on a stage. No Doubt's guitarist Tom Dumont initially played the part of a police officer but was cut from the final version of the "Ex-Girlfriend" video. He enacts the role in MTV's Making the Video.

Track listings

Charts and certifications

References
  1. "Australian-charts.com – No Doubt – Ex-Girlfriend". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  2. Taylor, Chuck, ed. (February 5, 2000). "Reviews & Previews – Singles" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 112 no. 6. p. 42. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  3. Montoya, Paris and Lanham, Tom. "Ex-Girlfriend". The Singles 1992-2003 (liner notes). Interscope Records. November 25, 2003.
  4. Sheet music for "Ex-Girlfriend". Hal Leonard Corporation. 2000.
  5. "No Doubt Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  6. "No Doubt Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  7. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 20 (18.–25.5 2000)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). May 19, 2000. p. 12. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  8. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 16, 2000" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  9. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2000 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  10. "2000 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  11. "No Doubt: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  12. "Irish-charts.com – Discography No Doubt". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  13. Hay, Carla (March 11, 2000). "No Doubt Returns with 'Saturn'" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 112 no. 11. p. 18. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  14. "Ex-Girlfriend" – UK CD single (CD sleeve). No Doubt. Interscope Records. 2000. 497 298-2.CS1 maint: others (link)
  15. "Ex-Girlfriend" – UK cassette single (Cassette sleeve). No Doubt. Interscope Records. 2000. 497 298-4.CS1 maint: others (link)
  16. "Ultratop.be – No Doubt – Ex-Girlfriend" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  17. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17 no. 15. April 8, 2000. p. 15. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  18. "No Doubt: Ex-Girlfriend" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  19. "Offiziellecharts.de – No Doubt – Ex-Girlfriend". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  20. "Italiancharts.com – No Doubt – Ex-Girlfriend". Top Digital Download. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  21. "Dutchcharts.nl – No Doubt – Ex-Girlfriend" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  22. "Charts.nz – No Doubt – Ex-Girlfriend". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  23. "Notowanie nr952". LP3 (in Polish). April 28, 2000. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  24. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  25. "Spanishcharts.com – No Doubt – Ex-Girlfriend" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  26. "Swedishcharts.com – No Doubt – Ex-Girlfriend". Singles Top 100. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  27. "Swisscharts.com – No Doubt – Ex-Girlfriend". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  28. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 100". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 5, 2001. p. 10. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
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