Don't Speak

"Don't Speak" is an alternative rock{{cite web|date=February 14, 2020|title=The 50 Greatest Breakup Songs of All Time|url=https://www.theringer.com/music/2020/2/14/21137264/50-greatest-breakup-songs-ever-ranking|access-date=December 14, 2020|website=The Ringer}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.idolator.com/7571295/gwen-stefani-lamb-anniversary-best-songs-feature-no-doubt?view-all&chrome=1|title=In Celebration Of Gwen Stefani: 12 Of The Best Songs From Our Favorite Hollaback Girl|date=November 21, 2014|access-date=December 7, 2021|website=Idolator|last=Gracie|first=Bianca}}{{Dead link|date=November 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/20-alternative-rock-music-videos-turning-20-in-2016-7318926/|title=20 Alternative Rock Music Videos Turning 20 in 2016|date=April 12, 2016|access-date=December 7, 2021|magazine=Billboard|last=Richin|first=Leslie}}{{cite web |last1=Jeffries |first1=David |title=Gwen Stefani Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gwen-stefani-mn0000546214/biography |website=AllMusic |access-date=January 31, 2022}} power ballad{{cite web|title=No Doubt : Singles 1992–2003|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-nme-7253-310626|website=NME|date=September 12, 2005|access-date=April 18, 2022}} written by lead singer Gwen Stefani and her brother Eric Stefani, and produced by Matthew Wilder. It was originally a love song, but Stefani rewrote the lyrics almost completely after her breakup with the band's bass player Tony Kanal. According to her, "It used to be more upbeat, more of a Seventies rock-type thing. [When] Tony and I broke up... it turned into a sad song." The opening chords are reminiscent of the intro to the 1979 pop hit "Breakfast in America" by the British rock band Supertramp.{{cite web|last=Webb|first=Robery|date=August 5, 2010|title=Story of the song: 'Don't Speak', No Doubt, 1996|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/story-of-the-song-dont-speak-no-doubt-1996-2044589.html|access-date=November 26, 2017|work=The Independent}} A live version that exists from April 1994 shows off a bouncy tune that has the same skeleton as the released version, but not the same urgency.{{Cite web |last=Alper |first=Eric |date=February 19, 2022 |title=Here's The Original Version Of No Doubt's "Don't Speak" |url=https://www.thatericalper.com/2022/02/19/heres-the-original-version-of-no-doubts-dont-speak/ |access-date=November 15, 2023 |website=That Eric Alper |language=en-US}} The band performed part of the original song on VH1 Storytellers on August 10, 2000.{{Cite web|title=Flashback Friday: VH1's Storytellers|url=http://beaconstreetonline.net/no-doubt/flashback-friday-vh1-storytellers|access-date=August 11, 2020|website=Beacon Street Online|language=en-US}}

The band's lead guitarist Tom Dumont said about the song's composition:

There's a lot of stories about that song, because that one unfolded over a longer period of time. Originally, Gwen's brother wrote most of that song, and then after we got at it as a band, Gwen changed the lyrics around to fit her life. Musically, we brought it to another level, but near the end we reworded it. There's an earlier version of the song where the verses are totally different, which is a really beautiful version and it's awesome but it's way more jazzy and really different. That song had a long incubation process.

Sheet music for "Don't Speak" shows the key of E {{flat}} major.{{Cite web|last1=Gwen|first1=Stefani|last2=Eric|first2=Stefani|last3=Doubt|first3=No|date=January 4, 2016|title=No Doubt "Don't Speak" Sheet Music in Eb Major|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0041289|access-date=June 30, 2021|website=Musicnotes.com}} A demo version also appeared on a demo CD, which was presented to Interscope Records prior to the release of Tragic Kingdom.[http://www.muchmusic.com/insidemuch/stuff/gwen_and_tony_still_cool.asp] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090625185005/http://www.muchmusic.com/insidemuch/stuff/gwen_and_tony_still_cool.asp|date=June 25, 2009}}

British magazine Music Week rated the song three out of five, writing that "this Californian quartet sound more like Swedish Eurovision hopefuls on this debut UK offering but, if radio bites, it could be a smash."{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1997/Music-Week-1997-02-01.pdf|title=Reviews: Singles|magazine=Music Week|date=February 1, 1997|page=27|accessdate=May 8, 2022}}

Upon release, "Don't Speak" immediately began to receive extensive airplay and it eventually became the most widely played song on American radio in 1996.{{cite web |url=http://www.nodoubt.com/band/Articles/46TheFace.htm |title=No Doubt History Website |work=No Doubt Official Website |publisher=Interscope Records/Universal Music Group |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031121193608/http://www.nodoubt.com/band/Articles/46TheFace.htm |archive-date=November 21, 2003}} It reached number one on Billboard's Hot 100 Airplay chart and maintained that position for 16 non-consecutive weeks, a record at the time.{{cite web |url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/artists-n/nodoubt_main.htm |title=No Doubt |publisher=Rock On The Net |access-date=January 16, 2007}} Despite its copious airplay, "Don't Speak" was not allowed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 since no commercial single was released for it in the United States (a requirement for charting purposes at the time).{{cite web | url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/no-doubt-missed-out-number-one-song/ | title=How No Doubt missed out on their only number one song | date=August 17, 2022 }} Slate magazine music critic Chris Molanphy has stated that if the song had been eligible to chart, it almost certainly would have claimed the number one spot.{{Cite podcast|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/podcasts/hit_parade/2017/09/the_story_of_how_the_recording_industry_made_you_pay_a_premium_for_90s_hit.html|title=The Great War Against the Single Edition|work=Slate|last=Molanphy|first=Chris|date=September 29, 2017|access-date=May 19, 2019}} An import CD did sell in the US, but this format was not allowed to chart either.{{cite magazine|title=Hot 100 Singles Spotlight|last=Sandiford-Waller|first=Theda|magazine=Billboard|volume=109|issue=11|page=117|date=March 15, 1997|quote=However, a CD single import of 'Don't Speak' has found its way stateside. Import sales are not counted toward the Hot 100.}}

On other Billboard charts, "Don't Speak" stayed at number two on Modern Rock Tracks chart for five consecutive weeks.{{cite web |url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=tragic-kingdom-mw0000179531|tab=awards|pure_url=yes}} |title=Tragic Kingdom > Awards > Billboard Singles |work=AllMusic |access-date=August 1, 2007}} The song also proved to be a crossover hit, reaching number one on the Adult Top 40 chart for 15 consecutive weeks as well as numbers six and nine on the Adult Contemporary and Rhythmic Top 40 charts, respectively. It was ultimately placed at number one on the Hot 100 Airplay year-end chart of 1997.{{cite web |url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1997/bbyearend.htm |title=Billboard: 1997 Year-End Chart-Toppers |publisher=Rock On The Net |access-date=January 16, 2007}}

Internationally, "Don't Speak" was also very successful. In February 1997, it peaked at number one in both the United Kingdom and Ireland for three weeks. Elsewhere in Europe, "Don't Speak" reached the top position in Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. Australia was another major music market where the song received widespread airplay, debuting at number one and maintaining the peak position for eight weeks.

The video was directed by Sophie Muller and it is the first of the long-time collaboration between the band and the director. Before the music starts, at the beginning of the music video, there is a scene of Kanal picking a rotten orange from a tree (these scenes are usually cut out when VH1 airs this video). The majority of the video for "Don't Speak" takes place on Stage 2 at Mack Sennett Studios in Silver Lake as the band plays. Other scenes tell the story of how the media mainly focused on Stefani while the band was always in the background.{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1432748/19970117/no_doubt.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010506141209/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1432748/19970117/no_doubt.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 6, 2001 |title=It's No Doubt, Not The Gwen Stefani Experience |publisher=MTV News |date=January 17, 1997 |access-date=December 24, 2006}} The second half of the video features snippets of live footage filmed during the band's performance with Dog Eat Dog and Goldfinger at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City on August 21, 1996. The video also features clips of Dumont playing together with Foo Fighters guitarist Pat Smear. The video ends with Kanal replacing the orange in the tree, which is actually footage of Kanal in reverse pulling the orange off.

Tensions in the band had been running high and they reportedly were on the verge of breaking up the day before they were scheduled to film the video. They decided to go ahead and film it as a form of "therapy".

The video won the award for Best Group Video and was nominated for Video of the Year at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards. It has one billion views on YouTube as of May 2023, and 700 million of the views come from 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 alone. The video, now remastered in 4K, was uploaded on October 7, 2009.

There is an alternate version of the video showing just the live performance part. Both versions of the video are included on the DVD release The Videos 1992–2003 (2004).

Australian, Japanese, and UK CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Don't Speak|others=No Doubt|year=1997|type=Australian & UK CD single liner notes|publisher=Interscope Records, Trauma Records, MCA Records|id=IND 95515}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Don't Speak|others=No Doubt|year=1997|type=Japanese CD single liner notes|publisher=Interscope Records, Trauma Records, MCA Records|id=MVCP-13008}}

1. "Don't Speak" – 4:23
2. "Don't Speak" (alternate version) – 4:23 (*)
3. "Hey You" (acoustic version) – 3:27 (*)
4. "Greener Pastures" (from The Beacon Street Collection album) – 5:05

European CD single; UK 7-inch and cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Don't Speak|others=No Doubt|year=1997|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=Interscope Records, Trauma Records, MCA Records|id=IND 97505}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Don't Speak|others=No Doubt|year=1997|type=UK 7-inch single sleeve|publisher=Interscope Records, Trauma Records, MCA Records|id=INSP 95515}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Don't Speak|others=No Doubt|year=1997|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=Interscope Records, Trauma Records, MCA Records|id=INC 95515}}

1. "Don't Speak" – 4:23
2. "Greener Pastures" (from The Beacon Street Collection album) – 5:05

(*) Recorded at York Street Studios, Auckland, New Zealand, in September 1996.

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{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Austria|title=Don't Speak|artist=No Doubt|award=Gold|relyear=1996|certyear=1997|access-date=August 23, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|artist=No Doubt|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1996|certyear=1997|access-date=September 28, 2011}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Denmark|title=Don't Speak|artist=No Doubt|award=Gold|relyear=1996|certyear=2023|id=12991|access-date=October 8, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=France|title=Don't Speak|artist=No Doubt|award=Gold|certyear=1997|access-date=September 28, 2011}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Germany|title=Don't Speak|artist=No Doubt|award=Platinum|relyear=1996|certyear=1997|access-date=September 28, 2011}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Italy|title=Don't Speak|artist=No Doubt|award=Gold|relyear=1996|certyear=2018|id=5787|access-date=August 13, 2018}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=New Zealand|title=Don't Speak|artist=No Doubt|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1996|certyear=2024|source=radioscope|access-date=February 6, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Netherlands|title=Don't Speak|artist=No Doubt|award=Gold|relyear=1996|certyear=1997|access-date=August 23, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Norway|title=Don't Speak|artist=No Doubt|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1996|certyear=1997|nosales=true|access-date=August 23, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|artist=No Doubt|type=single|award=Gold|relmonth=4|relyear=1996|certyear=1997|access-date=September 28, 2011}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Switzerland|title=Don't Speak|artist=No Doubt|award=Platinum|relyear=1996|certyear=1997|access-date=September 28, 2011}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United Kingdom|title=Don't Speak|artist=No Doubt|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=1996|certyear=2025|id=1901-1690-1|access-date=May 23, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=No Doubt|title=Don't Speak|award=Platinum|number=3|type=single|relyear=2005|certyear=2023|access-date=July 7, 2023|refname="RIAA"}}

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• Niamh Perry covered the song during her time on I'd Do Anything in 2008.
• In 2012, it was covered by various members of the Glee cast for the episode "The Break Up" before subsequently being released as a single.{{YouTube|SnQyD-1rfe8|title=The Scientist (Studio Version/Edit) — Glee 10 Anos}}
• Leela James covered the song on her album A Change Is Gonna Come.
• In 2013, Jiordan Tolli performed the song on the fifth season of The X Factor Australia during week six. Her performance gained positive feedback from the judges.
• Carly Rae Jepsen released a cover of the song recorded live at Electric Lady Studios in New York City as one of her Spotify Singles.
• New Years Day released a cover of the song as a part of their 2018 EP Diary of a Creep.
• In October 2020, Stefani performed a "countrified version" of the song as part of a skit on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon where Fallon portrayed the character Buck Pinto promoting a fictitious album Gwen's Gone Country.{{cite news|url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/watch-gwen-stefani-put-a-country-twist-on-these-no-doubt-hits/|title=Watch Gwen Stefani put a country twist on these No Doubt Hits|last=Carter|first=Emily|date=October 21, 2020|work=Kerrang!|access-date=October 23, 2013}}
• In September 2021, Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox released "a ‘60s orchestral pop style remake" of "Don't Speak" featuring Haley Reinhart on vocals. As of July 2024, it has 8 million views on YouTube.
• In 2022, Japanese rock band Coldrain released a cover of "Don't Speak" on their seventh studio album Nonnegative.{{Cite web|url=https://wallofsoundau.com/2022/07/05/coldrain-nonnegative-album-review/|title=coldrain – Nonnegative (Album Review)|publisher=Wall of Sound|last=Valentine|first=Simon|date=July 5, 2022|access-date=July 6, 2022}}
• Indoor percussion ensemble Rhythm X performed an arrangement of “Don’t Speak” as part of their 2023 bronze medal show The Unspoken.

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• [{{Allmusic|class=song|id=dont-speak-mt0005107804|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic]. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110716060243/http://www.nodoubt.com/band/ Official No Doubt Website]. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
• {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050501154111/http://www.nodoubt.com/band/Articles/46TheFace.htm |date=May 1, 2005 |title=Article on Official Website}}.
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070211192326/http://www.nodoubt.com/lyrics/DontSpk.asp Swiss Charts]. Retrieved October 28, 2010.

• {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070211192326/http://www.nodoubt.com/lyrics/DontSpk.asp |date=February 11, 2007 |title=Lyrics and guitar tablature}}.

{{No Doubt singles}}

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