- Hey what's up?
It's Gwen Stefani,
and this is the Wired Auto-complete Interview.
I can't believe people are Googling this,
this is so funny.
What's Gwen Stefani's real name?
Gwen Renee Stefani is my name.
Not Gwendolyn, not Guinevere, not Gwenovich.
Gwen.
And not Gwin, like how Blake says it.
Not Gwen, it's Gwen.
But you can say Gwen if you want. [laughs]
What are Gwen Stefani's children's names?
Kingston James McGregor Rossdale.
Zuma Nesta Rock Rossdale,
and Apollo Bowie Flynn Rossdale.
I know, it's a lot of names,
but I was just so excited to have kids.
I couldn't decide.
What was Gwen Stefani's first song?
The first song I ever personally had any part in writing
was a song called "Different People."
That song ended up on Obama's playlist.
Is that weird?
I mean, how is that even possible?
But it happened, and yeah.
That was one of the first things I ever was part of.
What was Gwen Stefani's first job?
My first job was,
I was a swim instructor lifeguard at a pool.
My second job, 'cause everyone thinks it's my first job,
but it was actually my second job, was at Dairy Queen.
I started there, and my uniform used to fit perfectly,
and then by the time I ended there, it didn't fit anymore.
I literally couldn't even button it up,
so had to quit.
What movie was Gwen Stefani in?
I've been in a few movies, actually.
I was in, was it called "Zoolander?"
Yes, I was in that for like two seconds.
You might see me in that.
I was in The Aviator, Martin Scorsese.
Yes, that happened.
Oh, yes!
And I did a voice in an animated movie.
It was called "Trolls" yes.
[laughs] That was awesome.
Gwen Stefani, "What You Waiting For" meaning.
Well, the story around that song was,
I was was in No Doubt.
We'd never taken any kind of breaks.
We'd always worked, it was like everybody was exhausted.
Adrian had just gotten married, had a baby,
and so we were gonna take a break.
And so, what happens here was,
I was like "I'ma make a dance record!"
Like, I was just super inspired to go and do that.
And I went in the studio to work with some other writers,
and Linda Perry from 4 Non Blondes
was writing a lot of songs at that time,
and so I went in the studio with her,
and I was telling her about how I was so anxious
about writing and insecure and I have writer's block
and all these things, and she said,
"What you waiting for, Gwen Stefani?"
And then I came in the next day and she had this crazy song
and that's how that song was born.
What is Gwen Stefani's phone number?
Please text me, guys.
I feel like I don't have any friends.
8675,
309.
What is Gwen Stefani's style?
It's a hot mess.
And that's what I like about it, okay?
There's no rules, okay?
Whatever makes you feel happy
and whatever makes other people feel uncomfortable,
pretty much what I like to do.
What songs did Gwen Stefani write?
I wrote "Hollaback Girl" with Pharrell.
I wrote "Don't Speak" with Eric Stefani.
I've always been a part
in writing all the songs I've ever done.
I've done a cover of "It's my Life"
by Talk Talk with No Doubt
and that's actually one of my favorite songs
to do live and I did not write that one.
I did this other song called "Baby Don't Lie",
which I did not write on.
It used to be deep, like "Baby Don't Cry",
but I changed it to "Baby Don't Lie"
but that's not really writing.
So yeah, but typically everything else that I've ever sung
for the most part has been something that I co-wrote
with somebody else.
How was Gwen Stefani discovered?
Jimmy Iovine actually, from Interscope Records
was the one that kind of discovered me,
but I have to kinda give credit to Tony Ferguson
who was an English A&R guy that came over from England
that used to work for Stiff Records,
which was a record company in England
that all the ska bands were part of,
and so it was really inspiring that he came over
and he saw us at a showcase,
but then it even goes back further,
'cause this guy Darren Murphy,
who actually set the showcase up,
so I would say that ultimately,
Jimmy Iovine was the one that said, "In six years from now,
"you will be a star."
And I was like, who are you?
And I'm gonna have like 10 kids
by the time six years rolls around,
so I don't know what you're talking about.
And then six years on the dot,
"Don't Speak" was number one around the world.
So what's up, Jimmy?
How to Gwen Stefani ponytail?
How to do one?
It's actually really complicated.
That would be something
that you would have to ask my hairdresser.
I can do it, I actually did one for myself the other day.
I think the special thing about my ponytails,
'cause there's lots of different versions,
it's just something that I've always done,
and I think that people kind of recognize it
from maybe the "Just a Girl" music video,
which by the way, I did my own hair and makeup
and styling and everything.
You know, for me it's all about just being on stage
and feeling comfortable and being able to perform,
so that's where the ponytail was born.
How is Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton doing?
How are we doing? [laughs]
We're doing good.
We're so lucky.
And I love Blake Shelton.
How long was Gwen Stefani on "The Voice?"
I'm on it still, guys!
I get to be back!
Fourth time on, season 17.
Does Gwen Stefani have a twin sister?
What?
No, I don't.
I have a sister, though.
I actually wrote a song called "Sister" about my sister.
Nobody's heard that song.
It's a really good song.
My sister's name is Jill Stefani, 'kay?
She's a teacher, she's really smart.
She went to UCLA and Berkeley, so whatever.
Does Gwen Stefani play any instruments?
Okay, this is the deal.
So many regrets about this.
I took flute lessons when I was in eighth grade
and I really had a hard time learning the flute,
so I went on to get into marching band,
and I pretended to play the piccolo for a while,
and I really wanted to play, really desperately,
but for some reason,
I could never really get my head wrapped around it.
Then I never really played any instruments
until I kinda learned how to play guitar,
enough to write a song,
and I wrote a song called "Simple Kind of Life"
on the guitar.
It's the only song I've ever written completely on my own
and then I got long nails.
I really wish I played an instrument.
If you are thinking about playing an instrument,
don't give up.
And you know what, Gwen Stefani?
It's not too late,
you could actually learn to play the guitar.
Does Gwen Stefani have tattoos?
Absolutely not, no.
No, not for me.
Does Gwen Stefani speak Spanish?
[speaking in foreign language]
That's it, that's all I know.
Give me a kiss.
But, again, one of those things that I regret in my life,
is not learning another language,
but I really did have a hard time learning English.
Does Gwen Stefani have a Grammy?
Yes, I do.
I have three Grammys.
And I had them for a long time,
and I had them just in the closet at the house,
and just like about a year ago, I took all of my awards out
and I put them in my office,
and it was just one of those things where I was like,
why are these in here?
I should just be inspired by these
and it's fun 'cause then the kids come by and they're like,
mommy, what is this?
Why did you have this?
And it's pretty exciting to be actually recognized
for something and given an award and I'm grateful.
Is Gwen Stefani really American?
Armenian? [laughs]
Oh, sorry.
I'm reading upside-down.
I hate answering this question,
because I feel like it lets so many people down.
I'm an American Italian.
Irish.
I'm not Armenian.
And I do not know at what point that that rumor got started,
but I did live in Los Feliz, which is right by Glendale,
which is a huge Armenian Neighborhood in Los Angeles,
and people would come up to me crying and hugging me,
just because they thought I was Armenian.
I think it must be something about the eyes, the dark eyes
Anyways, I love your culture and hi.
Is Gwen Stefani Madonna's cousin?
I wish.
No.
This is how that rumor got started.
So my aunt Donna DiPaola, she married a Ciccone,
which is not really, he's not.
Uncle Sam was not related to Madonna,
but just happens to have the same name, so yes.
Madonna's Italian, I'm Italian, so what's up?
Is Gwen Stefani related to Lady Gaga?
No, but just in the airport the other day,
someone was going,
♪ Ra ra ah ah ah ♪
They thought I was Lady Gaga.
Is Gwen Stefani Pink?
What? [laughs]
That is so funny.
I'm not Pink.
But I love Pink.
Is Gwen Stefani alive?
[laughs] Thank God, yes I am.
I'm so grateful to be alive
and thank you for all your Googles.
It's always nice to be thought about, so thank you so much.