"Cool" is a song by American singer Gwen Stefani from her debut solo studio album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (2004). Written by Stefani and Dallas Austin, the song was released as the fourth single from the album on July 5, 2005. The song's musical style and production were inspired by synth-pop and new wave arrangements from the 1980s, and its lyrics chronicle a relationship in which two lovers have separated, but remain "cool" with each other as good friends.

"Cool" received generally positive reviews from music critics, being compared to Cyndi Lauper and Madonna songs from the 1980s. The media have drawn parallels between the song's lyrical content and the romantic relationship that Stefani had with Tony Kanal, a fellow band member of No Doubt. "Cool" was moderately successful on the charts around the world, peaking within the top 10 in Australia, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and New Zealand, as well as the top 20 in Denmark, Ireland, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The accompanying music video for "Cool" was directed by Sophie Muller and filmed in Lake Como, Italy. The video features many flashbacks to when Stefani and her former boyfriend were dating. It is implied that whilst Gwen accepts the new relationship her ex-partner is in, she looks back with nostalgia and regret. "Cool" was included on the setlist for Stefani's debut solo tour Harajuku Lovers Tour and its accompanying video album, as well as in the 2006 comedies Last Holiday and Click and the 2010 drama Somewhere.

Background

After listening to No Doubt's 2002 single "Underneath It All", Austin commented that he was trying to write his version of No Doubt's 2000 single "Simple Kind of Life", but he was unable to finish the song. He originally wrote the song for Christina Aguilera and TLC. However, Austin felt reluctant to give the song to TLC after breaking up with group member Chilli and wrote "Damaged" for them instead. He asked Stefani to help with the lyrics. During a studio session together, they finished "Cool" in 15 minutes. Stefani commented, "When he told me about the track and where it came from for him, it just triggered something in me." and is considered somewhat of a follow-up to No Doubt's 1996 single "Don't Speak". The earlier song is about the heartbreak of the couple's seven-year relationship ending, while "Cool" presents an amicable friendship between the pair, and explains that after the years that have passed and everything they have been through, they have reached a place where they are comfortable with each other and that they still remain very good friends. The song is composed in D major. It is written in common time, it moves at a moderate tempo of 112 beats per minute, and it has a vocal range from the low note of F♯<sub>3</sub> to the high note of C♯<sub>5</sub>. while Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic called it a "high school anthem-in-waiting" theme; it also was selected as one of the album's highlights. Richard Smirke from Playlouder commented that the song successfully used the same production formula as fellow album tracks "Serious" and "What You Waiting For?", and described it as a "crisp blend of edgy 21C production and early 80s Madonna-esque pop". Jason Damas, in a review for PopMatters, characterized it as "a slippery slice of keyboard" New Wave song referring to it as a "pitched halfway between The Go-Go's and Cyndi Lauper".

Eric Greenwood from Drawer B called "Cool" "a retrofitted [song] with stale synths and chugging guitars" with "dorkier lyrics than even Cyndi Lauper would dare". Sandy Cohen from the Toronto Star called it "the year's love anthem". John Murphy wrote for musicOMH that "Cool" would remind No Doubt fans of "Don't Speak". Blender editors ranked "Cool" at number 45 on its list of "The 100 Greatest Songs of 2005".

Chart performance

In the United States, "Cool" debuted at number 86 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the issue dated July 16, 2005. The next week it rose to number 64, and it reached its peak position of number 13 on September 3, 2005. It rose to its peak position of number nine the following week, becoming her fifth consecutive top-ten in the country. "It was obvious I was gonna ask her to do it", Stefani stated in an interview with VH1's Box Set. The video follows the song's theme and depicts the relationship that Stefani has with a former boyfriend, who is played by Spanish actor Daniel González. González and his new girlfriend, played by Tony Kanal's then-girlfriend and now-wife, Erin Lokitz, are shown walking up to a villa where Stefani answers the door. which Stefani said was "so beautiful". After its July 8, 2005, debut on MuchMusic's Countdown, it reached number one for the week of October 8, 2005.

Formats and track listings

  • European 2-track CD single; Digital single
  1. "Cool" (Album Version) – 3:09
  2. "Cool" (Photek Remix) – 5:49
  • Australian and European CD maxi-single
  1. "Cool" (Album Version) – 3:09
  2. "Cool" (Photek Remix) – 5:49
  3. "Hollaback Girl" (Dancehollaback Remix by Tony Kanal featuring Elan) – 6:53
  4. "Cool" (Video) – 4:06
  • US 12-inch vinyl

:A1. "Cool" (Richard X Remix) – 6:37

:A2. "Cool" (Richard X Dub Mix) – 7:10

:B1. "Cool" (Photek DJ Mix) – 6:34

:B2. "Cool" (Photek Remix) – 5:49

Personnel

Personnel are adapted from the liner notes of Love. Angel. Music. Baby.

  • Gwen Stefani – lead vocals, songwriting
  • Dallas Austin – drums, keyboards, production, songwriting
  • Greg Collins – recording
  • Brian "Big Bass" Gardner – mastering
  • Caesar Guevara – assistant engineering
  • Rob Haggett – second assistant engineer
  • Doug Harms – assistant engineering
  • Nellee Hooper – additional production
  • Tony Kanal – synthesizer
  • Jason Lader – programming
  • Kevin Mills – assistant engineering
  • Tony Reyes – bass guitar, Line 6 guitar
  • Paul Sheehy – assistant engineering
  • Rick Sheppard – MIDI, recording, sound design
  • Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing
  • David Treahearn – assistant engineering

Charts

Weekly charts

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Weekly chart performance for "Cool"

! scope="col"| Chart (2005–2006)

! scope="col"| Peak<br />position

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Canada CHR/Pop Top 30 (Radio & Records)

| 5

|-

! scope="row"| Canada Hot AC Top 30 (Radio & Records)

| 1

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)

| 10

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Greece (IFPI)

| 24

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Romania (Romanian Top 100)

| 9

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)

| 9

|}

Year-end charts

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ 2005 year-end chart performance for "Cool"

! scope="col"| Chart (2005)

! scope="col"| Position

|-

! scope="row"| CIS Airplay (TopHit)

| 30

|-

! scope="row"| Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)

| 68

|-

! scope="row"| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)

| 73

|-

! scope="row"| Romania (Romanian Top 100)

| 80

|-

! scope="row"| Russia Airplay (TopHit)

| 22

|-

! scope="row"| UK Singles (OCC)

| 124

|-

! scope="row"| US Billboard Hot 100

| 76

|-

! scope="row"| US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)

| 22

|-

! scope="row"| US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)

| 49

|-

! scope="row"| US Pop 100 (Billboard)

| 57

|}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ 2006 year-end chart performance for "Cool"

! scope="col"| Chart (2006)

! scope="col"| Position

|-

! scope="row"| CIS Airplay (TopHit)

| 198

|-

! scope="row"| Russia Airplay (TopHit)

| 188

|}

Decade-end charts

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Decade-end chart performance for "Cool"

! scope="col"| Chart (2000–2009)

! scope="col"| Position

|-

! scope="row"| Russia Airplay (TopHit)

| 185

|}

Certifications

Release history

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ Release dates and formats for "Cool"

! scope="col"| Region

! scope="col"| Date

! scope="col"| Format(s)

! scope="col"| Label

! scope="col"|

|-

! scope="row"| United States

| July 5, 2005

| Contemporary hit radio

| rowspan="6"| Interscope

| align="center"|

|-

! scope="row"| Australia

| rowspan="3"| August 29, 2005

| CD single

| align="center"|

|-

! scope="row"| France

| rowspan="2"| CD maxi-single

| align="center"|

|-

! scope="row"| United Kingdom

| align="center"|

|-

! scope="row"| United States

| September 13, 2005

| 12-inch single

| align="center"|

|-

! scope="row"| Germany

| September 19, 2005

|

| align="center"|

|}

References