2000's Guilt #21: Gwen Stefani “Hollaback Girl” (2005)

Placed #9 on our 2005 Guilty Pleasure Singles...

Listening to "Saw Red" by Sublime (featuring Gwen) has to make one long for the days when this chick knew how to rock. ... "Hollaback Girl" [is] one of the most baffling Neptunes tracks [from] their recent minimalism period that began with the infectious "Drop It Like It's Hot," and was suggested prior with "Can't Stop Won't Stop." ... [She's not] Kelis. Her voice lacks R&B-flavored soul, and when the Neptunes end up backing her with THIS kind of beat, she ends up sounding like... well, a rich, white cheerleader...

I was hoping "this shit is vaginas" would become a big catchphrase this year, but my longing was all for naught. - TMK, 1/12/06