Slappie 9 #1 July 6, 2005 A probing analysis of Gwen Stefani’s ‘Hollaback Girl’ by GREG STACY Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” is one of the most baffling pieces of music of the modern age. It’s got something to do with cheerleaders—that much is clear, judging from the chanting and the marching band that’s honking and tooting in the background. Beyond that, good luck deciphering the song’s ambiguities. We were so vexed by the mystery that is “Hollaback Girl” that we have devoted countless hours to its study. Our conclusions are below. The first thing you should know, though, is that Gwen is not singing “I ain’t no Harlem fat girl”—at least, we don’t think she is. Uh huh, this my shit Gwen is introducing us to her shit. All the girls stomp your feet like this This talk of shit and stomping has nothing to do with actually stepping on feces. But what does it mean? From a reading of the later text, we can conclude that the song takes place in the world of high school athletics, and that Gwen is apparently leading the girls in a calisthenics exercise. The “shit,” we surmise, is what she calls the exercises she’s teaching the other girls. A few times I’ve been around that track So it’s not just gonna happen like that Here, Gwen exhorts the girls to try harder as they jog around the track, reminding them that physical fitness is “not just gonna happen,” but must be worked at. Cause I ain’t no hollaback girl I ain’t no hollaback girl These lines are the most confusing, but their meaning will become clearer later. Oooh, this my shit, this my shit Gwen repeats this four more times. She wants to make sure that we are well acquainted with her shit. I heard that you were talking shit And you didn’t think that I would hear it Gwen has been the victim of some slanderous high school gossip, and she doesn’t appreciate it. Gwen is 35 years old sliding into MILF status at this point, but we’ll grant her some poetic license. People hear you talking like that, getting everybody fired up So I’m ready to attack, gonna lead the pack Gwen is going to round up a “posse” of her girlfriends and retaliate against the person who’s been talking “smack” about her. Gonna get a touchdown, gonna take you out Gwen is going to beat up the person who wronged her, after she completes the cheerleading routine that will inspire the football team to score a touchdown. Gwen has interesting priorities. That’s right, put your pom-poms down, getting everybody fired up It seems the entire cheerleading squad is going to beat up the person who spoke ill of Gwen; they have put down their pom-poms, and they are now “fired up” to exact swift and terrible vengeance on Gwen’s behalf. A few times I’ve been around that track So it’s not just gonna happen like that Cause I ain’t no hollaback girl I ain’t no hollaback girl Gwen is apparently the captain of the cheerleader squad; she is the girl who “hollas” the chants, not one of the girls who simply “hollas” them back. Given that the squad is preparing to beat somebody up on Gwen’s behalf, she’s picked a strange time to remind them that she is their leader and they are her sheep-like followers. Gwen obviously rules her squad with an iron fist. Oooh, this my shit, this my shit [repeated four times] Again with the shit. So that’s right dude, meet me at the bleachers No principals, no student-teachers Both of us want to be the winner, but there can only be one So I’m gonna fight, gonna give it my all We learn that it was a “dude” who gossiped about Gwen. She challenges him to a fight at the bleachers. If he imagines it will be a fair, one-on-one fight, he is sadly mistaken. Gwen and her aforementioned “pack” will pounce on him like rabid wolves. Gonna make you fall, gonna sock it to you That’s right, I’m the last one standing, another one bites the dust Gwen’s pack of furious cheerleaders leaves the boy a quivering, bloody heap behind the bleachers for the groundskeeper to discover the next day. A few times I’ve been around that track So it’s not just gonna happen like that Cause I ain’t no hollaback girl I ain’t no hollaback girl Having completed their ghastly work, Gwen’s squad members return to the field and resume their cheerleading activities, as Gwen reminds them once more that she is the boss and they are all her bitches. Oooh, this my shit, this my shit [repeated four times] By calling her exercise routines “shit,” Gwen is showing us that for all her bravado, the character in this song secretly suffers from profound self-esteem issues. She is a complex antiheroine for an age of changing gender attitudes and expectations. Let me hear you say, this shit is bananas B-A-N-A-N-A-S Here, Gwen steps away from this bloody spectacle for a moment to comment on the madness and ugliness of what we’ve just witnessed, and, by extension, the petty rivalries of high school in general. This shit is bananas, Gwen tells us, and we can only agree. And lest we miss the point, she spells it out. And repeats it another three times. A few times I’ve been around that track So it’s not just gonna happen like that Cause I ain’t no hollaback girl I ain’t no hollaback girl Back on the field, Gwen is still bullying the squad to carry out her routines. But now we see her in a new light, as the sad, lost creature she truly is. Oooh, this my shit, this my shit [repeated four times] As the song fades out, Gwen is left only with her “shit,” the mindless exercises that bring her no comfort from the raging emptiness within. As much as she “hollas,” no one hears her cries for help. Shamelessly stolen from here "Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeyRamone 0 #4 July 6, 2005 You have way too much time on your hands. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rebecca 0 #5 July 6, 2005 Insightful. Thought-provoking. Verging on genius even... But enough about me, let's talk about Gwen and her shit... you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel loquacious?' -- well do you, punk? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpchikk 0 #6 July 6, 2005 Put your pom poms down Slappie... and quit getting everybody fired up... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slappie 9 #7 July 6, 2005 QuotePut your pom poms down Slappie... and quit getting everybody fired up... Hey I didn't write it! I shamelessly stole it... "Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildblue 7 #8 July 6, 2005 FINALLY! An answer to my question.it's like incest - you're substituting convenience for quality Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpchikk 0 #9 July 6, 2005 Quote Hey I didn't write it! I shamelessly stole it... I ain't no hollaback girl.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dixieskydiver 0 #10 July 6, 2005 We have karaoke at the bar I work at by the beach and the other day this little 8 or 9 year old girl came up and did this song acapella. She of course bleeped "shit" but she is definitely the next AI. Dixie HISPA #56 Facil Rodriguez "Scientific research has shown that 60% of the time, it works every time." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slappie 9 #11 July 6, 2005 QuoteFINALLY! An answer to my question. Ya know WB I dunno if it answers your question. But it was a fun read. "Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #12 July 6, 2005 Gwen is 35 years old sliding into MILF status at this point... *** That's just great.... Another 'cotton panties' fantasy down the tubes! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cornholio 0 #13 July 6, 2005 I have that CD in my truck for one reason... the bass tracks just sound so crisp and clear on my system and 12" woofer rocking out. I never really paid attention to the words, I just like the beat. But alas, when I pull up to traffic lights, I gotta turn that shit down... people look at me a bit strange. Although I don't get that look when I'm pumping slayer or old-school metallica. Butthead: Whoa! Burritos for breakfast! Beavis: Yeah! Yeah! Cool! bellyflier on the dz.com hybrid record jump Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrig 1 #14 July 6, 2005 QuoteInsightful. Thought-provoking. Verging on genius even... But enough about me, let's talk about Gwen and her shit... ____________________________________ The beauty of it is, we can understand you!Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rebecca 0 #15 July 6, 2005 QuoteQuoteInsightful. Thought-provoking. Verging on genius even... But enough about me, let's talk about Gwen and her shit... ____________________________________ The beauty of it is, we can understand you!Chuck That is because I speak mortal fluently. you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel loquacious?' -- well do you, punk? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
masterrig 1 #16 July 6, 2005 I savvy that! Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2fat2fly 0 #17 July 6, 2005 I can't believe that this thread has gone so long without anyone making a "probing Gwen Stefani" comment.I am not the man. But the man knows my name...and he's worried Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tigra 0 #18 July 6, 2005 Me neither! Glad someone finally got to it! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slappie 9 #19 July 6, 2005 Do you really want to probe Gwen Stephani? I'm sure I could come up with much better candidates needing my probe. "Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mcneill79 0 #20 July 6, 2005 QuoteI have that CD in my truck for one reason... the bass tracks just sound so crisp and clear on my system and 12" woofer rocking out. I never really paid attention to the words, I just like the beat. But alas, when I pull up to traffic lights, I gotta turn that shit down... people look at me a bit strange. Although I don't get that look when I'm pumping slayer or old-school metallica. Sounds like a scene from Office Space Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpchikk 0 #21 July 6, 2005 QuoteSounds like a scene from Office Space Hmmm... wonder if his name is Michael Bolton... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #22 July 6, 2005 The term "Hollaback Girl" has two meanings. The first is semi-correctly identified as a cheerleader that repeats the hollers of a main cheerleader. The second meaning is of a skank ho that, no matter how you treat her, will always be available for a booty call in the middle of the night. If you just read the lyrics with the two meanings in mind, it ALL makes perfect sense.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ashtanga 0 #23 July 6, 2005 QuoteDo you really want to probe Gwen Stephani? I'm sure I could come up with much better candidates needing my probe. In reference to the other thread on here about the Beastie Boys... I'd probe her like this I'd probe her like that I'd probe her with a whiffle ball bat... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tigra 0 #24 July 6, 2005 Not me! I was just waiting for someone to make the comment! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
