gwen & fergie: fraternal twins

when fergie’s album, the dutchess, was released, i had conversations with people who would say “there’s no way that london bridge song would’ve been popular if gwen stefani had a new project out.” many argue that gwen is the more original of the two. well, not really. gwen’s just a little better at hiding the source of her inspiration.

both women started out with groups or bands. gwen had several hits with no doubt. fergie, however, didn’t have worldwide success during her curvier-bodied, blonder days as stacy ferguson with her first group, wild orchid. two other girls were in the group with her, but all three were pretty forgettable. the hot-girl-in-the-band formula definitely worked in her favor after she joined the black eyed peas. she became the pop centerpiece for a hip-hop group that started off as a trio who specialized in quirky, original lyrics and b-boy madness.

black eyed peas’ will.i.am probably reached an agreement with fergie: you help us go pop, i help you go solo. that was not the case for gwen. she had apprehension about her solo aspirations, which is clearly spelled out in “what you waiting for?” from her love.angel.music.baby debut.

their beginnings may be vastly different, but their current singles borrow heavily from ‘80s girl rap groups. "fergalicious" is really just an updated and less interesting version of jj fad’s "supersonic." the same can be said for gwen’s "wind it up" and l’trimm’s "cars that go boom" she even uses part of that lyric. everyone’s so preoccupied with her “sound of music” vibe for the video and song, they’re missing the real sample.

for gwen, the borrowing is a continuation of all the 80’s lusciousness on love.angel.music.baby. for fergie, it’s a safe way for her to experiment with rapping in a way that doesn’t imply she’s trying to infringe on a genre in which her vocal origins are not rooted. “fergalicious” is quite a nasty song, actually, most of which is about how her image gives guys erections. but that raunchy braggadocio is camouflaged under the same sing-songyness jj fad used to talk about nosey people.

gwen’s done similar borrowing before. the call-and-response feel of “hollaback girl” reminds me of “double dutch bus.” is it any coincidence that megawatt producer, pharrell williams is behind both “hollaback girl” and “wind it up?” he and will.i.am do a good job of bringing pop sensibilities to the songs they write for women. they’ve definitely done their research on women’s contributions to 80’s pop music. proof positive: pharrell knows every word to mc lyte’s “paper thin.” he was singing along with her from the audience during a hip-hop tribute at the 2004 bet awards.