The Sweet Escape by Gwen Stefani

Album: The Sweet Escape (2007)

Charted: 2 2

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In this song, a couple make up after a nasty fight, dreaming of an idyllic life together.
Stefani wrote this with Akon, who sings on it with her. Jimmy Iovine from Stefani's label Interscope Records set up the collaboration. Once they got together, the song fell in place quickly.
The Joseph Kahn-directed music video plays up the "escape" angle, as Stefani and the Harajuku Girls are seen in jail, eventually breaking out with the help of Akon. Stefani previously worked with Kahn when she appeared in Moby's "South Side" video. >>
Suggestion credit:
Donovan Berry - El Dorado, AR, for above 2
This song got a huge boost after Stefani and Akon performed it on the TV show American Idol. >>
Suggestion credit:
Kye - Tullahoma, TN

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Comments: 7

Dave from Cardiff, WalesJosef, I always thought it was the other way round - she's trapped herself in her own world cos she threw away the chance to be with a potential lover ("I know I've been a real bad girl") and thought she'd done the right thing even though it hurt the other party involved ("I didn't mean for you to get hurt") - now things have changed she wished made the move but the ("refrigerator") door is now shut because he was forced to move on, they lost contact, and she has been left with nothing; in bitterness she blames the guy she hurt ("It's your fault you didn't shut the refrigerator"). She wishes that he would come back and they could try again, because for all she says it's the other guy's fault, she knows deep down that it was her that treated the other guy badly ("I must apologize for acting, stinking, treating you this way, 'cos I've been acting like sour milk that fell on the floor"). Then again, I have to admit that that very situation was happening with me at the time this song came out (although the girl in question I don't see anymore and haven't done for several years, so I don't know if she regretted it afterwards) so perhaps that's why I took it to mean that at the time?
Dave from Cardiff, WalesThanks John - incidentally, now you don't hear it on the radio very much anymore, it's a real treat hearing the song again! Love it!
John from Eugene, OrDitto's to Dave; were gonna miss ya Sally.
Dave from Cardiff, WalesWell written, well produced, well performed... At the time in 2007 it was probably the most "perfect" song since "Hey Ya!" by Outkast. Pity it got so overplayed...
Josef from Corpus Christi, TxUmmm...is is a fact that it's about a fight between two lovers? To me it sounds like a song about a girl who drags around a guy friend and telling him if it was a perfect world they would be together, and since it's not then he'll have to dream on. He didn't make "The Move" on her early enough in the relationship to become more exclusive (your fault for not shutting the refrigerator door). Just an interpretation since I am in that situation right now :(
Elmer from Honolulu, Hii'd like this song long ago, but now, i hate it!!
Sally from South Orange, NjIf I hear this song one more time, I will shoot myself.

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