Top 10: Gwen Stefani

No Doubt are releasing their first album in more than a decade, so we decided to list our Top 10 things that we love about Gwen Stefani (because really, let’s admit it, she's at least 99% of the reason why No Doubt rules).

1. Bindis
Bindis are first on the list because no white girl will ever wear it as well as Gwen did in the 90s.

2. Hair
The unofficial postergirl for Manic Panic, Gwen always had the most awesome hair and inspired thousands of teenage girls to piss off their moms via packet dye.

Whether it was pink...

Or blue...

Or peroxide blonde...

It was always the best. Plus, she basically invented this hairstyle:

3. Classic No Doubt
No Doubt formed in the late 80s, but it was their third album Tragic Kingdom released in 1995 that propelled them to fame, also becoming integral in that decade's ska revival. You probably wore the shit out of the CD from listening to it too much on your Discman.

Beneath the sugarcoated surface of 'Just a Girl' was an angry Riot Grrrl screaming at the top of her lungs:

The third single off the album, 'Don't Speak' broke a record by spending 16 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. If you spend more than two hours in any suburban shopping mall at any given moment, you will most probably hear it (at least twice):

Gwen was inspired to write 'Sunday Morning' after she had a fight (through a bathroom door) with then-boyfriend and bandmate Tony Kanal:

4. Second Wave No Doubt
It took No Doubt five years to release their follow-up to Tragic Kingdom, but in 2000 they finally unleashed Return of Saturn upon the universe. Many a bed was jumped on and many a hairbrush sung into because of the first single, 'Ex-Girlfriend':

'Hella Good' marked a musical departure for No Doubt, appearing on 2001's Rock Steady. A collaboration with The Neptunes, it took influence from funk, hip hop and of course PURE ROCK. If I had to listen to one song on repeat for 24 hours, it would probably be this:

5. Solo Gwen Stefani
Gwen released her first solo album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby., in 2004. She again collaborated with Pharrell Williams on 'Hollaback Girl', and the song was a response to a diss from Courtney Love calling Gwen "cheerleader" in an interview with Seventeen. Gwen later spoke to NME saying, "Y'know someone one time called me a cheerleader, negatively, and I've never been a cheerleader. So I was, like, "OK, fuck you. You want me to be a cheerleader? Well, I will be one then. And I'll rule the whole world, just you watch me."

And rule the whole word she did:

'Cool' also appeared on the same album, telling the inspirational story of a couple splitting up but remaining 'cool' with each other. Seriously, Gwen is so wise, she's like Gandhi or something:

6. Gwen Stefani & Eve
Appearing on Eve's album Scorpion, 'Let Me Blow Ya Mind' is one of the best musical collaborations OF ALL TIME. Plus, you've got to love those early millenium special effects:

7. When she thought she was a Harajuku girl
Okay, so she semi-dropped the ball with this one, but when you think about it within a greater context of pop stars ruining their lives (hello Britney shaving her head) we can let it slide. Moral of the story: Gwen, you don't need a troupe of Japanese girls to follow you around to make you relevant.

8. Her adorable children with Gavin Rossdale
Gwen has two sons with her musician husband Gavin Rossdale, Kingston James McGregror (age 5) and Zuma Nesta Rock Rossdale (age 3). They are both at least ten times cooler than you will ever be:

All of the cutes:

9. Fashion
Gwen started her own label L.A.M.B. in 2004, and as far as slashie fashion lines go, it's not that terrible. She also brought the rave faerie look into the mainstream in the 90s, with crochet biknis, hoop earrings and baggy pants being her signature style items.

What an actual goddess:

So she's ditched the carpet pants, doo-rags and midriff tops, but even today Gwen still kills it. Here's a recent photo of her in some Karen Walker sunnies:

10. The future of No Doubt
Duh!!!

Ingrid Kesa