Don't Speak
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| "Don't Speak" | ||
|---|---|---|
| Missing image Dont_speak_cover.jpg Single cover | ||
| Single by No Doubt | ||
| Featured on Tragic Kingdom | ||
| UK Release | 1996 | |
| US Release | 1996 | |
| Single Format | Compact Disc | |
| Recorded | to add | |
| Genre | Ska Punk | |
| Song Length | 4:23 | |
| Record label | Interscope | |
| Producer | Matthew Wilder | |
| Chart positions | 1 (US) 1 (UK) | |
| No Doubt single chronology | ||
| "Spiderwebs" 1995 | "Don't Speak" 1996 | "Excuse Me Mr" 1996 |
"Don't Speak" is a popular ballad and love song by California ska band No Doubt. Appearing on their breakthrough album Tragic Kingdom, the song is about Gwen Stefani's breakup with her bandmate, bassist Tony Kanal. The song helped propel No Doubt to superstardom, and it ignited the mid-nineties ska revival.
| Contents |
Background and Breakup
In early 1994, No Doubt began to record their second album, Tragic Kingdom. The road was not straight. Gwen's brother Eric left the band to join The Simpsons' production crew as an animator. After being in a relationship for seven years, Gwen and Tony broke up. This event provided the spark that resulted in the writing of "Don't Speak".
Writing and Evolution
The lyricists are Eric and Gwen Stefani. As the song originally was, it was a sugary love song. After the events described above, "Don't Speak" metamorphosed into a song about heartbreak.
The Video
"Don't Speak"'s music video takes place in a darkish building. Gwen wears a blue dress, and there are scenes telling the story of the band's (fake) breakup. The video also depicts three pathetic men, played by bandmates Tony, Adrian, and Tom Dumont, pitting against a singer, played by Gwen. The very beginning of the video has a scene of a man picking a rotten, maggoty apple from a tree. It ends with that same man replacing the apple in the tree.
What's the Song About?
"Don't Speak" is about the end of Gwen and Tony's relationship. It is not the only song about their breakup; "Sunday Morning" and "Spiderwebs", (both on Tragic Kingdom) are as well.
Release
Upon release, the song immediately began to receive extensive airplay. Indeed, it became the most widely played song on American Radio in 1996 1 (http://www.nodoubt.com/band/Articles/46TheFace.htm). Despite this, the single did not appear on the Billboard Hot 100. It reached eleven on the KROQ Top 106.7 Countdown of 1996.
The CD single had an alternative version of "Don't Speak", an acoustic version of "Hey You", and "Greener Pastures" as B-Sides. A live version appears a B-Side on the "Sunday Morning" single.
The song's chart performance is summarized by this table.
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Adult Top 40 | 1 |
| 1996 | Modern Rock Tracks | 2 |
| 1996 | Rhythmic Top 40 | 9 |
| 1996 | Rhythmic Top 40 | 31 |
| 1996 | Top 40 Mainstream | 1 |
| 1997 | Adult Contemporary | 6 |
| 1997 | Adult Top 40 | 1 |
| 1997 | Modern Rock Tracks | 3 |
| 1997 | Top 40 Adult Recurrents | 1 |
| 1997 | Top 40 Adult Recurrents | 8 |
| 1997 | Top 40 Mainstream | 1 |
| 1998 | Top 40 Adult Recurrents | 1 |
Appears On
Don't Speak is featured on these No Doubt albums:
- Tragic Kingdom as track 10
- The Singles 1992-2003 as track 13
- Twice on Boom Box:
- As track 13 on disc one (same as The Singles)
- Track 13 on disc 4 (a live DVD)
- Excuse Me Mister (a very rare No Doubt bootleg) as track 9
According to Allmusic Guide (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:qif2z5fbeh6k), "Don't Speak" also appears on the following albums:
- Festivalbar '97
- Pure Hits '97
- The Nominees CD for the 1998 Grammy Awards
- Love Vol. 4
Cover Versions
There are no notable cover versions of "Don't Speak". However, dance-pop group Clueless released a dance version of "Don't Speak" as their debut single. The Countdown Singers have also covered the tune, as has Canadian band Deja Vu.
References
- Allmusic Guide (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:qif2z5fbeh6k) Accessed March 9 2005
- Official No Doubt Website (http://www.nodoubt.com/band/index.html) Accessed March 9 2005
- Article on Official Website (http://www.nodoubt.com/band/Articles/46TheFace.htm) Accessed March 9 2005
External links
- Lyrics (http://www.nodoubt.com/lyrics/DontSpk.html)
- No Doubt Official Site (http://www.nodoubt.com/)