Gwen shot to fame with pop-ska band No Doubt, however this song is nothing like the material she released with that band. It may be called pop but in fact it is hip-hop. Firstly because it is produced by The Neptunes (renowned hip-hop producers), and secondly because it uses a rap like chorus. So obviously everything points to the fact of its generical origins.

On to the song, this song will instanly remind those 80's obsessors about "Mickey" by Toni Basil and rightly so! It has the same cheerleader themed video and beats. Gwen seems to be aiming this song at a younger audience urging them to just get up and have fun. You may accuse this song of being commercial pap however Gwen is just having fun with her career.

This is what I consider to be the "breakthrough pop single of the year". "Hollaback Girl" is one of only seven, count 'em, seven songs to go to #1 on the U.S. charts this year.

"Hollaback" set the record for becoming the #1 most downloaded song ever and the first to pass the million mark. Speaking of which - you might be better off doing a digital download of this single then getting this CD single. The so-called "mixes" on here aren't worth the price of the single. The only reason to get this single would be for the "Album Version" or the video.

There ARE some other mixes of "Hollaback Girl" floating around: the Gomi & Escape Mix, and the Jones & Moss Fired Up Mix. These are both official club mixes that were made for the song and are both pretty good. If you can find these on CD anywhere, go for it!

Is "Hollaback" overrated at all - maybe just a bit? Even so: it went to #1, its freakin catchy and it made Gwen a star. And it finally enabled the Neptunes to live up to all that insane hype they've always gotten. Without a doubt, this is one of the hits of the decade.

The lyrics to this song are inestimably poor. Their vulgarity is more tiresome than provocative in this day and age. They are sung with a fake lisp. The song cries out for melodies, which never arrive. There is the hint of a melody in the background chanting, so for that reason alone I'll give it two stars instead of one. But I do not recommened it. Gwen Stefani is capable of better records (like "Cool") that don't try quite so hard to be hip.

I think the thing some people are forgetting about this song is that, first, though it does have that "Hey Mickey" sound, it has a rhythm and beat that is catchy. Secondly, the song appeals to many due to its reflection of teenage pop culture (a la video imagery) of being and looking cool. Third, the song is a commentary of the pop culture on many levels. It serves not only as a literal portrayal of hollering back (i.e. in the way cheerleaders do, hence the pop appeal to teenagers,) but also in a metaphorical sense of what a hollaback girl is (i.e. a doormat.) She challenges the notion of being a hollaback girl, saying that she ain't gonna be one. She gets away with the garb, the language, and everything else, because she relates to what teens say, what they do and how they sometimes feel, all the while looking great doing it all. Can you now see the intrigue and appeal the this pop song creates?

Ofcourse the song Hollaback Girl makes no sense whatsoever. However, its fun and catchy and very GWEN STEFANI.