Baby Don't Lie

Album: single release only (2014)
Charted: 46
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This reggae-tinged pop single finds Gwen Stefani singing about insecurities in a relationship. It was the first new solo material released by the No Doubt singer since 2006's The Sweet Escape.
  • Stefani wrote the song with with Benny Blanco, Tedder and Noel Zancanella. The three hitmakers previously worked together on the Maroon 5 hit tune "Maps."
  • The colorful music video was co-directed by Sophie Muller. The English filmaker has worked with Stefani in numerous videos from her band No Doubt and her solo career.

    The other co-director was Nicky Smith aka Weirdcore, who provides the trippy show visuals for Aphex Twin.
  • Fans of Swedish singer, Ji Nilsson, have been pointing out that this tune sounds like the Scandinavian songstresses' 2014 cut "Heartbreakfree." Nilsson seemed cool about their similarities. "I have not been sitting around waiting to say that a famous artist copied the production of my song," she said. "Blogs started to write about it and people agreed so I listened to 'Baby Don't Lie' and yes, I agree that the production sounds a lot like 'Heartbreakfree.'"
  • This was one of several songs that Stefani recorded with Benny Blanco and Pharrell for her third solo album, but after the release of a few singles she shelved the project. "I didn't feel fulfilled. That record ['Baby Don't Lie'] with Benny was done that way because I had just given birth and had just started on The Voice and felt like I should do something in music, but what was I going to do? There wasn't enough time," she explained to Entertainment Weekly. "So I tried to make a record where I was just kind of involved - which is how a lot of people do it, but it didn't work for me."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Subversive Songs Used To Sell

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Zac Hanson

Zac HansonSongwriter Interviews

Zac tells the story of Hanson's massive hit "MMMbop," and talks about how brotherly bonds effect their music.

Steely Dan

Steely DanFact or Fiction

Did they really trade their guitarist to The Doobie Brothers? Are they named after something naughty? And what's up with the band name?

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin Popoff

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin PopoffSong Writing

A talk with Martin Popoff about his latest book on Rush and how he assessed the thousands of albums he reviewed.

Artis the Spoonman

Artis the SpoonmanSong Writing

Even before Soundgarden wrote a song about him, Artis was the most famous spoon player of all time. So why has he always been broke?

Divided Souls: Musical Alter Egos

Divided Souls: Musical Alter EgosSong Writing

Long before Eminem, Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj created alternate personas, David Bowie, Bono, Joni Mitchell and even Hank Williams took on characters.