MUSIC VIDEOS

How For the Briefest Moment No Doubt & Ska Took Over Everything

Trash Theory | October 25, 2024

In 1995, rock radio needed a change after four years of Grunge. And that change came in the form of Ska. Invented in Kingston, Jamaica in the late 1950s, before being repackaged with punk and soul elements as Two Tone in the UK in the late 70s, it was an upbeat dance music characterised by its walking basslines, accented rhythms and blasts of horns. Third wave ska originated in California in the late 80s and Anaheim’s No Doubt were instrumental in breaking it into the mainstream.

Their 1995 third album was a fizzy cocktail of two tone, punk, hair metal, disco and new wave, frontwoman Gwen Stefani combating her heartbreak, stalkers and societal condescension to shape generational anthems and permanent radio ballads. Sobbing and skanking in equal measure, this is the story of how No Doubt and Tragic Kingdom sold Ska to the world.

#nodoubt #gwenstefani #musicdocumentary

Fact-checking by Chad Van Wagner.

00:00 Introduction
01:03 The Early Days of No Doubt
05:33 Recording Album Two & Three
12:17 “Just A Girl” – I’ve Had It Up To Here
17:17 “Don’t Speak” – Hush Hush Darling
24:09 Third Wave Ska & Lasting Influence

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