Entertainment

New Music From Gwen & Pharrell? Yes, Please.

by Alex Kritselis

It's a great day to be a Gwen Stefani fan: On Monday, after premiering her new single, "Baby Don't Lie," Stefani previewed another new song called "Spark the Fire," and it's a fierce throwback to her Love. Angel. Music. Baby. sound. Rumored to be produced by fellow The Voice coach Pharrell Williams, "Spark the Fire" packs all of the energy, spunk, and personality that "Baby Don't Lie" is sadly missing. Phew! If "Baby Don't Lie" isn't exactly your cup of tea, definitely give "Spark the Fire" a listen. It just might restore your faith in Stefani's upcoming solo project.

I have to say, I was a little let down by "Baby Don't Lie." Not a lot, just a little. I think that it'll do a nice job of reintroducing Stefani to pop radio, but the song is missing something. It just doesn't have the same "X-factor," the same "Gwen-ness" of tracks like "Hollaback Girl," "Wind It Up," or "Cool." Thankfully, "Spark the Fire" has Gwen-ness to spare. On the song's intro, Stefani sings over a piano:

Coming down, oh I had a blast

But you know what they say, the high will never last

But I believe that they all got it wrong

So, sprinkle some more love, right here where it belongs

Ohhh...

Then, the beat drops, and Stefani begins to chant: "Who got the lighter?/Let's spark the fire!" After the chorus, she even does a little rapping. Personally, I'm into it.

True, "Spark the Fire" isn't nearly as radio-friendly as "Baby Don't Lie," but it's certainly more exciting. A blend of the two songs' styles would've been perfect for Stefani's comeback single. Alas, that's not how things went down. Oh well. "Baby Don't Lie" is solid, and I'll definitely sleep better at night knowing that Stefani's new album could potentially have tracks like "Spark the Fire" on it. All in all, today has been a success. Welcome back, Gwen. I've missed you so.

The music video for "Baby Don't Lie" will premiere on Tuesday, Oct. 21.