Gwen Stefani, Let Me Reintroduce Myself | Track Review

Gwen Stefani successfully reintroduces herself on her comeback, ska-infused pop single, “Let Me Reintroduce Myself.”

Once upon a time, Gwen Stefani was a dominant force in pop music.  Her best, most renowned moments were with No Doubt, which had numerous hits.  Even so, beyond the beloved ska band, Stefani carved out a respectable solo career, specifically with her 2004 album, Love Angel Music Baby.  She’d go on to release two more studio albums – The Sweet Escape (2006) and This is What the Truth Feels Like (2016) – as well as a Christmas album, You Make it Feel Like Christmas.  With the arrival of a deluxe edition of that 2017 holiday affair, it seems as if Stefani were laying the groundwork for a comeback.  That’s exactly what goes down on her new single, “Let Me Reintroduce Myself.”

“Let me re-, let me reintroduce myself / ‘Cause you forgot, no, I’m not records on yourself,” Gwen Stefani sings on the chorus, continuing, “I’m still the original-riginal old me.” The reintroduction definitely hearkens back to the past for Gwen.  How so? While it’s still clearly ‘pop’ music, she returns to the ska sound that made No Doubt so popular back in the day.  Honestly, if you think back to her solo albums prior to this single, the ska element wasn’t nearly as pronounced as her work with the band.  Here, she embraces, with the help of producer Luke Niccoli who gives her an exuberant, energetic backdrop to work with.  In addition to writing with Niccoli, Stefani also writes with Ross Golan, crafting that compelling reintroduction.  On the second verse, she says of this return, “See in color like new crayons / I feel good, I feel great, I feel alright, alright, oh.” Okay Gwen – I see you! 

Final Thoughts  

All in all, Gwen Stefani does successfully reintroduce herself on “Let Me Reintroduce Myself.”  How much weight will the reintroduction with her forthcoming fifth solo album carry? Only time will tell.  She’s no longer in her twenties – she’s 51 if you can believe it.  That said, “Age ain’t nothin’ but a number,” Gwen looks nowhere near her age, and on this single, she’s respectable and enjoyable by all means.

Gwen Stefani • “Let Me Reintroduce Myself” • Interscope • 12.7.20

[: Interscope]