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

Who Did It First?

Who Did It First?Music Quiz

Do you know who recorded the original versions of these ten hit songs?

Danny Kortchmar

Danny KortchmarSongwriter Interviews

Danny played guitar on Sweet Baby James, Tapestry, and Running On Empty. He also co-wrote many hit songs, including "Dirty Laundry," "Sunset Grill" and "Tender Is The Night."

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up Musicians

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up MusiciansSong Writing

Eddie (played by Johnny Depp in the video) found fame fleeting, but Chuck Berry's made-up musician fared better.

Emmylou Harris

Emmylou HarrisSongwriter Interviews

She thinks of herself as a "song interpreter," but back in the '80s another country star convinced Emmylou to take a crack at songwriting.

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"They're Playing My Song

The Nails lead singer Marc Campbell talks about those 44 women he sings about over a stock Casio keyboard track. He's married to one of them now - you might be surprised which.

Gary Louris of The Jayhawks

Gary Louris of The JayhawksSongwriter Interviews

The Jayhawks' song "Big Star" has special meaning to Gary, who explains how longevity and inspiration have trumped adulation.