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Swallow My Tears

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"Swallow My Tears"
Single by Gwen Stefani
from the album Bouquet
ReleasedOctober 25, 2024 (2024-10-25)
GenreCountry pop
Length2:53
LabelInterscope
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Scott Hendricks
Gwen Stefani singles chronology
"Somebody Else's"
(2024) 		"Swallow My Tears"
(2024)

"Swallow My Tears" is a song by American singer and songwriter Gwen Stefani from her fifth studio album Bouquet (2024). Interscope Records released the song on October 25, 2024, as the second single from the project. It was produced by Scott Hendricks and written by Stefani, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Nick Long, Madison Love, and Henry Walter.

"Swallow My Tears" is a country pop song accompanied by a full live band and was noted by critics for its country music influence. Its lyrics detail a devastating former relationship and how it has affected someone's current ones.

Background and release

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Gwen Stefani initiated work on her upcoming fifth studio album in 2020, which was originally to be influenced by her roots in reggae and ska music, and had planned singles "Let Me Reintroduce Myself" (2020) and "Slow Clap" (2021).[1] Stefani took a short hiatus from music in 2023 when she married American singer Blake Shelton and rejoined the cast of the American reality competition television series The Voice for its twenty-fourth season.[2] Her 2023 single "True Babe" marked a musical departure from her early 2020s work, where she felt motivated by various global events to "put [...] something out", and was described as alternative sounding.[3] When Stefani's fifth studio album, Bouquet, was announced in 2024, critics predicted it to serve as her venture into country music instead of the formerly announced reggae project.[4][5]

Stefani officially revealed Bouquet through her social media accounts on September 18, 2024.[4][5] The track listing for the album was also unveiled, where "Swallow My Tears" first appeared.[4] It became the third single released prior to Bouquet, following duet "Purple Irises" with husband Shelton and the lead single "Somebody Else's".[6] Interscope Records released the song on October 25, 2024, for download and streaming, with an accompanying audio video appearing on Stefani's YouTube channel the same day.[7][8] It was produced by Scott Hendricks and written by Stefani, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Nick Long, Love, and Henry Walter.[9] Its Spotify release was paired with its two previous singles as additional tracks.[7]

Composition and lyrics

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"Swallow My Tears" is a country pop song.[10] Several critics noted that "Swallow My Tears" was influenced by country music.[11][10] The song was referred to as "guitar-led" by NME's Nick Levine, and like the rest of Bouquet, features a full live band.[12][13] In Stereogum's review by Danielle Chelosky, she said the sound of the song "flirts with [...] country pop", which she contrasted with Stefani's claim that Bouquet was not a country album.[10] Reacting to Stefani explaining that, musically, Bouquet songs were inspired by "childhood car journeys spent listening to classic hits" by musical groups like Chicago, Eagles, and Steely Dan, Levin wrote that "Swallow My Tears" was "designed ofor the open road".[12] According to the Universal Music Publishing Group, "Swallow My Tears" is in common time, with a tempo of 138 beats per minute.[14]

The lyrics reflect on a previous, painful relationship that impact how one views the present, and "sometimes gets taken out on the people we love".[6][15][16] Stefani sings of her insecurities ("I got my guard up when there's no war / Don't know what I'm fighting for") and how she finds herself "running [...] but not from you".[11]

Track listings

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Digital download/streaming
No.TitleLength
1."Swallow My Tears"2:53
Streaming – Spotify EP edition[7]
No.TitleLength
1."Swallow My Tears"2:54
2."Somebody Else's"3:44
3."Purple Irises" (with Blake Shelton)3:40

Release history

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Release dates and formats for "Swallow My Tears"
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Various October 25, 2024
Interscope [7]
Italy November 15, 2024 Radio airplay Universal [17]

References

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  1. ^ Mier, Tomás (July 13, 2022). "Gwen Stefani and Shenseea Join Sean Paul for a Retro Dayger in 'Light My Fire' Video". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 13, 2022. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  2. ^ Chiu, Melody (September 27, 2023). "Gwen Stefani Gets Candid on Rock Stardom, Motherhood and Blake Shelton: 'He's Changed My Life' (Exclusive)". People. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  3. ^ Smith, Carl (June 22, 2023). "Gwen Stefani interview: 'Music is the fire behind everything I've ever done'". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on June 22, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Gregory, Allie (September 18, 2024). "Gwen Stefani Details New Album 'Bouquet'". Exclaim!. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Jones, Abby (September 20, 2024). "Gwen Stefani – 'Somebody Else's'". Stereogum. Archived from the original on September 21, 2024. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Kreps, Daniel (October 25, 2024). "Gwen Stefani Can't Outrun Her Past on New Single 'Swallow My Tears'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d "Swallow My Tears" (Spotify digital single). Gwen Stefani. Interscope Records. October 25, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ "Gwen Stefani – Swallow My Tears". YouTube (US). October 25, 2024. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  9. ^ a b c Chelosky, Danielle (October 26, 2024). "Gwen Stefani Releases New Country-Pop Single, Andrea Bocelli Duet". Stereogum. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Okechukwu, Nmesoma (October 30, 2024). "Gwen Stefani – Swallow My Tears". Euphoria. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Levine, Nick (October 29, 2024). "Gwen Stefani tells us about her new yacht rock-influenced solo album 'Bouquet' and the future of No Doubt". NME. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  12. ^ Sharpe, Josh (October 25, 2024). "Gwen Stefani Releases New Single 'Swallow My Tears'". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  13. ^ "Song Details: Swallow My Tears By Gwen Stefani". Universal Music Publishing Group. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  14. ^ Gotto, Connor (October 25, 2024). "Gwen Stefani confronts the past on new single Swallow My Tears". Retro Pop Magazine. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  15. ^ Jenkins, Tricia 'TJ' (October 25, 2024). "New Music Friday: Jin, Gwen Stefani and more". KSTP-FM. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  16. ^ "Gwen Stefani – Swallow My Tears (Radio Date: 15/11/2024)". Radiodate.it (in Italian). Retrieved November 14, 2024.
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