Hella Good 2810369 225436217 2008-07-13T18:08:56Z 71.53.183.68 /* Background and writing */ {{Infobox Single | Name = Hella Good | Cover = HellaGoodCover.jpg | Artist = [[No Doubt]] | from Album = [[Rock Steady (album)|Rock Steady]] | Released = April 2002 <small>(North America)</small> | Format = [[CD single|CD]] | Recorded = | Genre = [[Post-grunge]]<ref>Hella Good Genre Confirmation.[http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jjfwxql0ld6e]. [[Allmusic]]. Retrived [[July 8]], [[2007]].</ref>, [[electronic rock]] | Length = 4:02 | Label = [[Interscope]] | Writer = [[Gwen Stefani]], [[Tony Kanal]], [[Chad Hugo]], [[Pharrel Williams]] | Producer = [[The Neptunes]], [[Nellee Hooper]], No Doubt | Certification = Gold <small>([[Australian Recording Industry Association|ARIA]])</small> | Last single = "[[Hey Baby (No Doubt song)|Hey Baby]]"<br/>(2001) | This single = "Hella Good"<br/>(2002) | Next single = "[[Underneath It All]]"<br/>(2002) {{Extra album cover | Upper caption = Alternate cover | Type = single | Cover = Hellagoodred.jpg | Lower caption = Australian single }} }} "'''Hella Good'''" is an [[electro music|electro]]/[[rock music|rock]] song written by [[Gwen Stefani]], [[Tony Kanal]], and [[The Neptunes]] for [[No Doubt]]'s fifth studio album ''[[Rock Steady (album)|Rock Steady]]'' (2001). The song draws influence from [[electro music|electro]], [[Rock music|rock]], and [[funk]] music. It received positive reviews from music critics, who made comparisons to the work of a diverse range of artists such as [[Afrika Bambaataa]] and [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]]. "Hella Good" was released as the album's second [[single (music)|single]] in April 2002 (see [[2002 in music]]). It was moderately successful, and [[Roger Sanchez]]'s remix of the song topped the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot Dance Music/Club Play]]. At the [[45th Grammy Awards]], "Hella Good" was nominated for [[Best Dance Recording]], and Sanchez's remix won for [[Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical]]. A [[black-and-white]] [[music video]] was produced, featuring the band [[squatting]] in an abandoned ship. ==Background and writing== No Doubt decided to work with [[hip hop production]] duo The Neptunes as a sort of "cultural collision".<ref>Grant, Kieran. [http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/N/No_Doubt/2002/04/11/748246.html "No doubts at all"]. [[Jam!]]. Retrieved [[September 6]], [[2007]].</ref> Lead singer Gwen Stefani wanted to write a high-spirited and celebratory song about the positive things in her life, so they wrote an optimistic club song. The word ''[[wikt:hella|hella]]'' is a slang term used mostly in the [[San Francisco Bay Area]] & other parts of California to mean very. Having toured in the Bay Area, Stefani borrowed the term to describe her mood.<ref name="video">"Hella Good". ''[[Making the Video]]''. [[MTV]]. [[March 30]], [[2002]].</ref> Stefani wanted to use the word ''dance'' in a chorus, so she decided to end each line of "Hella Good"'s chorus with the phrase "keep on dancing".<ref>Montoya, Paris and Lanham, Tom. "Hella Good". ''[[The Singles 1992-2003]]''. [[November 25]], [[2003]]. [[Interscope Records]].</ref> The song's [[funk]] sound is based on songs such as [[Queen (band)|Queen]]'s 1980 single "[[Another One Bites the Dust]]" and [[The Commodores]]' 1977 single "[[Brick House]]".<ref>Orshoski, Wes. [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1115909 "No Doubt Feels 'Rock Steady'"]. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''. [[November 21]], [[2001]]. [[July 12]], [[2007]].</ref> {{sound sample box align left|}} {{multi-listen start|Audio sample of:}} {{multi-listen item|filename=HellaGood.ogg|title="Hella Good"|description=The song's hook is performed on the bass.|format=[[Ogg]]}} {{multi-listen end}} {{sample box end}} "Hella Good" is a rock song composed in the key of [[G minor]]. It is written in [[common time]] and moves at a moderately fast 120 [[beats per minute]].<ref name="sheet">Sheet music for "Hella Good". [[Hal Leonard Corporation]]. 2001.</ref> The song's beat drew several comparisons to that of [[Michael Jackson]]'s 1983 single "[[Billie Jean]]".<ref><ul><li>Richardson, Sean. [http://www.thebostonphoenix.com/boston/music/other_stories/documents/02056694.htm "Still kicking"]. ''[[The Boston Phoenix]]''. December 2001. Retrieved [[September 30]], [[2007]].<li>Bastow, Clem. [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/staff_top_10/top-ten-drum-beats-you-are-powerless-to-resist.htm "Top Ten Drum Beats You Are Powerless To Resist"]. ''[[Stylus Magazine]]''. [[September 9]], [[2005]]. Retrieved [[September 30]], [[2007]].</ul></ref><ref name="ew">Hiatt, Brian. [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20047186_20047196_640712,00.html "Reasonable Doubt"]. ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''. Retrieved [[September 30]], [[2007]].</ref> Its [[hook (music)|hook]] comes from a simple [[chord progression|progression]] of [[power chord]]s alternating between G and A flat. "Hella Good" follows a [[verse-chorus form]] with a chorus following each of the two verses. Following the [[bridge (music)|bridge]], the chorus is repeated and the song closes with an [[outro]].<ref name="sheet"/> ==Critical reception== "Hella Good" generally received positive reviews from music critics. [[About.com]] ranked the song number one in a list of the top five singles from Stefani's career, with the band as well as solo, reasoning by saying that the song's "bumping contemporary beat pushes along 80's style keyboards making it nearly impossible to keep from moving your body."<ref>Lamb, Bill. [http://top40.about.com/od/gwenstefani/tp/gwennobest.htm "Top 5 Gwen Stefani / No Doubt Singles"]. [[About.com]]. Retrieved [[September 13]], [[2007]].</ref> ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]'' described it as a "blazing start" to ''Rock Steady'' and compared it to the work of [[pop music|pop]] group [[Was (Not Was)]], rapper and producer [[Timbaland]], [[ska punk]] band [[Fishbone]], and [[electro music|electro]] DJ Afrika Bambaataa.<ref>Howe, Rupert. [http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=1117 "No Doubt : ''Rock Steady'' Review"]. ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]''. Retrieved [[September 5]], [[2007]].</ref> The ''[[NME]]'' also compared the song to Bambaataa's music as well as that of [[Britney Spears]] and [[Duran Duran]].<ref>Needham, Alex. [http://www.nme.com/reviews/5966.htm "No Doubt : Rock Steady"]. ''[[NME]]''. Retrieved [[September 5]], [[2007]].</ref> [[PlayLouder]] called the track outstanding and compared [[Nellee Hooper]]'s production to the [[electroclash]] style of [[Chicago house]] DJ [[Felix da Housecat]].<ref>Perry, Dan. [http://old.playlouder.com/review/+449nodoubt/ "No Doubt: Rock Steady (2002) review"]. [[PlayLouder]]. [[January 16]], [[2002]]. Retrieved [[September 6]], [[2007]].</ref> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' characterized the song as a sequel to Madonna's 1985 [[synthpop]] single "[[Into the Groove]]".<ref>Browne, David. [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,187515~4~0~rocksteady,00.html "Rock Steady (Music - No Doubt) | Music Review"]. ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''. [[December 10]], [[2007]]. Retrieved [[September 5]], [[2007]].</ref> It went on to include "Hella Good" in its list of the top five No Doubt songs, in which it described the song as "a [[dance-pop]] delight irresistible enough to make you forget that <nowiki>''hella''</nowiki> is one of history's most irritating slang terms."<ref name="ew"/> ''[[Stylus Magazine]]'' was pleased with the use of [[overdubbing]] in the song's "anthemic rock chorus", but referred to its lyrics as stupid.<ref>Delaney, Colleen. [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/no-doubt/rock-steady.htm "No Doubt - Rock Steady - Review"]. ''[[Stylus Magazine]]''. [[September 1]], [[2003]]. Retrieved [[September 5]], [[2007]].</ref> The song was listed at number twenty-six on the 2002 [[Pazz & Jop]] list, a survey of several hundred music critics conducted by [[Robert Christgau]].<ref>[http://robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres02.php "Pazz & Jop 2002: Critics' List"]. ''[[The Village Voice]]''. [[February 18]], [[2003]]. Retrieved [[October 7]], [[2007]].</ref> ==Chart performance== In the [[United States]], "Hella Good" reached number thirteen on the ''[[Billboard]]'' [[Hot 100]]. The song was more successful in mainstream markets, reaching number three on the [[Top 40 Mainstream]] and number nine on the [[Top 40 Tracks]] and in clubs, topping the [[Hot Dance Music/Club Play]] chart. It had success on [[adult contemporary]] stations, peaking at number nine on the [[Adult Top 40]] and later appearing at number three on the Top 40 Adult Recurrents. It had some [[crossover (music)|crossover]] success in [[urban contemporary]] markets and reached number twenty-nine on the [[Rhythmic Top 40]] chart.<ref name="AMG">[http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:dcdsyl23xpzb~T31 "Rock Steady"]. [[Allmusic]]. Retrieved [[January 8]], [[2007]].</ref> [[Interscope Records]] approached house DJ Roger Sanchez to produce a remix of the song,<ref>Thomas, Misty. [http://www.jivemagazine.com/article.php?pid=659 "A Quick Little Chat with Roger Sanchez"]. ''JIVE''. [[October 3]], [[2003]]. Retrieved [[September 30]], [[2007]].</ref> which went on to top the [[Hot Dance Music/Club Play]] chart.<ref name="AMG"/> The song was less successful on the [[Canadian Singles Chart]], where it peaked at number twenty-six for three non-consecutive weeks.<ref name="AMG"/> For the 2003 Grammy Awards, the [[National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences]] introduced new categories for Best Dance Recording and Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical. "Hella Good" was nominated for Best Dance Recording at but lost to [[Dirty Vegas]]' "[[Days Go By]]", and Sanchez's remix won for [[Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical]].<ref>[http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2003/grammys.htm "45th Annual Grammy Awards - 2003"]. [[Rock on the Net]]. Retrieved [[July 21]], [[2007]].</ref> No Doubt performed a medley of "[[Underneath It All]]" and "Hella Good" at the show.<ref>D'angelo, Joe. [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1470107/20030224/story.jhtml "Norah Jones Sweeps Grammys, Boss Wins Three, Avril Shut Out"]. [[MTV News]]. [[February 24]], [[2003]]. Retrieved [[September 30]], [[2007]].</ref> On the [[UK Singles Chart]], "Hella Good" debuted at number twelve but was unable to reach a higher position.<ref name="t40c">[http://top40-charts.com/songs/full.php?sid=3792&sort=chartid "No Doubt Hella Good"]. Top40-Charts.com. Retrieved [[August 15]], [[2007]].</ref> The song peaked at number eight on the [[ARIA Singles Chart]] in June 2002 and remained on the chart for three months.<ref name="australia">[http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=No+Doubt&titel=Hella+Good "No Doubt - Hella Good"]. Australian-Charts.com. Retrieved [[August 15]], [[2007]].</ref> It was listed at number sixty-four on the 2002 end of year chart,<ref>[http://aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-singles-2002.htm "End of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2002"]. [[Australian Recording Industry Association]]. Retrieved [[April 14]], [[2007]].</ref> and it was certified gold by the [[Australian Recording Industry Association]].<ref>[http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-singles-2002.htm "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2002 Singles"]. [[Australian Recording Industry Association]]. Retrieved [[April 14]], [[2007]].</ref> "Hella Good" was successful in South America and reached the top five in [[Argentina]] and [[Chile]].<ref name="t40c"/> In New Zealand, It peaked at #17 and spent 15 weeks in the chart.<ref>[http://charts.org.nz/showitem.asp?key=5204&cat=s "No Doubt - Hella Good"].</ref> The song was feathured in the opening sequence of the 2005 film "[[The Longest Yard (2005 film)|The Longest Yard]]". ==Music video== [[Image:Hellagood.png|thumb|left|A waterjet scene from the music video.]] The song's music video was directed by [[Mark Romanek]]. Not following any plot, the video depicts the band as a group of [[punk rock]]ers [[squatting]] in an abandoned ship. During the course of the video, the band members perform the song, using [[bodyboards]] to float electronic equipment, and they and their friends explore and dance throughout the ship. There are also sequences of people riding on [[personal water craft]]s, Stefani performing on a coiled rope, people playing ''[[Jet Set Radio Future]]'', and Stefani broadcasting on a [[pirate radio]] station.<ref name="video"/> Romanek came up with the video's concept it and e-mailed it to the band. He based it off of a black-and-white Italian ''[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]]'' fashion shoot from the mid 1990s which featured models on waverunners. The video was then filmed over three days in March 2002 in [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]], [[California]]. The scenes inside the ship were filmed from man-made sets at South Bay Studios.<ref name="video"/> The music video was moderately successful. Following a premiere on an episode of [[MTV]]'s ''[[Making the Video]]'', it reached number four on the network's video countdown ''[[Total Request Live]]''.<ref>[http://www.atrl.net/trlarchive/?s=recap&y=2002&m=04 "The TRL Archive - Recap - April 2002"]. ATRL. Retrieved [[September 5]], [[2007]].</ref> The video debuted on [[MuchMusic]]'s ''[[Countdown (MuchMusic TV series)|Countdown]]'' in April 2002 and peaked at number six, spending over four months on the program.<ref>[http://www.muchmusic.com/tv/countdown/ "MuchMusic Countdown"]. [[MuchMusic]]. Retrieved [[September 5]], [[2007]].</ref>. ==Track listing== # "Hella Good" (album version) – 4:02 # "[[Hey Baby (No Doubt song)|Hey Baby]]" - "Stank Remix" featuring [[Outkast]] and [[Killer Mike]] (dirty version) – 4:06 # "Hey Baby" - "Kelly G's Bumpin' Baby Club Mix" – 8:14 # "Hella Good" video – 4:02 ==Trivia== There is a [[Mashup (music)|mash-up]] version with [[Eminem]] titled "It's Hella Good Without Me". ==Charts== {|class="wikitable" !align="left"|Chart (2002) !align="center"|Peak<br/>position |- |align="left"|Australian Singles Chart<ref name="australia"/> |align="center"|8 |- |align="left"|Austrian Singles Chart<ref>[http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?key=5204&cat=s "No Doubt - Hella Good"]. AustrianCharts.at. Retrieved [[April 14]], [[2007]].</ref> |align="center"|44 |- |align="left"|Canadian Singles Chart<ref name="AMG"/> |align="center"|26 |- |align="left"|New Zealand Singles Chart<ref>[http://charts.org.nz/showitem.asp?key=5204&cat=s "No Doubt - Hella Good"]. Charts.org.nz. Retrieved [[April 14]], [[2007]].</ref> |align="center"|17 |- |align="left"|Swiss Singles Chart<ref>[http://swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?key=5204&cat=s "No Doubt - Hella Good"]. SwissCharts.com. Retrieved [[April 14]], [[2007]].</ref> |align="center"|78 |- |align="left"|U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref name="AMG"/> |align="center"|13 |- |align="left"|U.S. ''Billboard'' Adult Top 40<ref name="AMG"/> |align="center"|9 |- |align="left"|U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot Dance Music/Club Play<ref name="AMG"/> |align="center"|1 |- |align="left"|U.S. ''Billboard'' Rhythmic Top 40<ref name="AMG"/> |align="center"|29 |- |align="left"|U.S. ''Billboard'' Top 40 Adult Recurrents<ref name="AMG"/> |align="center"|3 |- |align="left"|U.S. ''Billboard'' Top 40 Mainstream<ref name="AMG"/> |align="center"|3 |- |align="left"|U.S. ''Billboard'' Top 40 Tracks<ref name="AMG"/> |align="center"|9 |- |align="left"|United World Chart <ref>[http://www.mediatraffic.de/week26-2002.htm]. United World Chart. Retrieved [[March 30]], [[2008]].</ref> |align="center"|7 |} ==References== {{reflist|2}} ==External links== * [http://www.nodoubt.com/ No Doubt's official site] * {{Youtube|RiCMFd2XXT0|"Hella Good" music video}} {{No Doubt}} [[Category:2000s pop songs]] [[Category:2001 songs]] [[Category:2002 singles]] [[Category:Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one singles]] [[Category:Music videos directed by Mark Romanek]] [[Category:No Doubt songs]] [[Category:Rock songs]] [[es:Hella Good]] [[it:Hella Good]]