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Meet Gwen Stefani's Harajuku Girls
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Gwen Stefani's "Harjuku Girls" is arguably the centerpiece of her delicious "Love Angel Music Baby" album. The song is Stefani's ode to Japanese pop culture (and Harjuku's colorful youth scene in particular) that was the primary source of inspiration for the record and her L.A.M.B. fashion line.
On "Harjuku Girls" (produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis) Stefani croons, "In a pedestrian paradise. Where the catwalk got its claws. A subculture in a kaleidoscope of fashion. Prowl the streets of Harajuku (. . .) Putting on a show , when you dress up in your clothes, wild hair color and cell phones, your accessories are dead on. Harajuku girls you got the wicked style. I like the way that you are. I am your biggest fan."
Look at some everyday images [Flickr] of Harajuku girls.
Tokyo's vibrant Harjuku district has been the hip and happening force behind much of Asia's cutting-edge underground culture. The area used to be the home of the US military right after World War II. In 1964, it housed many of the athletes during Tokyo's Olympic Games.
Inspired by the international influences of the Olympics, Harjuku became the epicenter for everything different in the late '60s. Today, an eccentric cast of hippies, punks, rockabillies, street performers still flock to Takshita Street, Meiji Dori Avenue and Omotesando Dori Avenue to hang out and show off their distinct style.
Check out a live performance "Harjuku Girls" by Stefani [Sessions@AOL] or sample the song online [iTunes].
December 6, 2004 in Music & Lifestyle | Permalink
Comments
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i have mad respect for gwen, she's doing what she loves and is making a living doing it! much love to you gwen and thanks for working so hard! :)
Posted by: peace at Jan 6, 2005 2:43:57 PM
Hey! That's so cool that you got AOL sessions on your website - was it easy? For music lovers everywhere - there are, like, a billion different aol sessions out there of all different artists. Check 'em out!
Posted by: JewyB at Jan 7, 2005 12:45:44 PM
the harajuku girls are hot, but i think Gwen is a little obsessed with them. they are just like some of the people all over the world that like looking different.
Posted by: bleh at Jan 7, 2005 4:27:18 PM
Gwen and her harajuku girls sre beyond music, fashon and just plain fun! They are simpley unbeatable. For all of u that think she is obsessed, just remember she is going along with the theme of her album. She is the only person in the industry that can do anything she wants and make it look cool! For all of you that think her lyrics are horrible.... I think we can say she did better than you could:)!
Posted by: JuicyMoose at Jan 8, 2005 2:48:22 PM
gwen honnie i think you mad the worng decision on the guy or twas it the wormg drugs that mad you pick the worn guy yayayayaaya you will probably just ignore this but if you do then your week and a oussyfart and you will probably think yayayayaya wuteva but i happen to be a REAL HARAJUKU GIRL and you can count your lie onit bitch k goodlaters
Posted by: Hey Heather at Jan 11, 2005 3:56:10 PM
Hey, Gwen, I love the fact that your into all that harajuku stuff but dont go over the top! ur new song Watcha Waitin for?, is my alltime fav! I luv ur album and cant wait for another. P.S.
I think ur fashion sense is great, ur not afraid to express urself, thats great, but dont look sooo pal, lol.
Posted by: Laura at Jan 11, 2005 5:17:32 PM
luv gwen
Posted by: j at Jan 12, 2005 4:02:58 PM
i luv gwen, but am i the only one who thinks thatshe was much better in No Doubt? i really do luv her new solo album but i do think No Doubt sounded better. luv the harajuku girls! they sooo cool, just like gwen! luv always babe!
Posted by: Janine at Jan 12, 2005 4:06:23 PM
No matter wat Gwen does she is still gona be the styliest babe eva! She has gone beyond No Doubt and is going solo, and i say, good 4 her although i think No Doubt was real awesome, i also think Gwen and her harajuku girls r awesome 2 and she should keep trying her hardest 2 be remembered as one of the greatest singers. 2 all those ppl who hate Gwen, well that's ur problem, just lyk all singers, they try! And if u don't lyk it why the hell r u on this site, F*** off! Anyway, i also wanted 2 say that i have Gwens love angel music baby Cd and wat she has created is fantastic! My favs would hav 2 b wat ya waiting 4, rich girl, harajuku girls and serious. And i think that "we've got a long way 2 go" is a lovely song,it's great 2 c that Gwen doesn't care wat race some1 comes from coz it's wats inside that matters.Gwen if u read this, just remember u have fans that luv u!
Posted by: cassie at Jan 13, 2005 11:59:38 PM
Being for the simple fact that I am a REAL Harajuku Girl, I really like Gwen's hole take on the whole thing. Gwen is so colorful and already the way she has been dressing for years has little hints of harajuku street fashion here and there. And for those who don't know: Harajuku girls (and guys) are not really "gothic"the darker seemingly goth style is known as Gothic Lolita. Another style is also Babydoll Lolita. A lot of the sample pictures are pics of people cosplaying as different japanese rock band members. The teens of harajuku really only come out on sundays, and I, as well as other harajuku girls, spend lots of time on our outfits. The best thing to do is just stand around and show off what your wearing and let LOTS of tourists take pics of you. I'm guessing Gwen really liked what she saw. The CD is kickass and her harajuku girls do have wicked style.
Posted by: Kai Toi at Jan 14, 2005 9:44:06 PM
I love Gwen Stefani. Gwen and her Harajuku girls awesome style. I wish I had everything in Gwen,s closet. Harajuku style is so unique and that's what I love about it. But the clothes are so hard to find in the U.S.
Posted by: Paige Reynolds at Jan 16, 2005 6:22:08 PM
i think gwen is a little obsessed, but thats ok. we all have our little obsessions...like marilyn monroe or chocolate. i like that her obsession is style and the people who have it. that rocks! luv to gwen and her harajuku girls!
Posted by: pixi at Jan 17, 2005 5:02:40 PM
Gwen, you rock my world so hard, i hear your album on my cd player everyday! i think that's the best album i've ever bought in a long2 time! Harajuku girls are like the absolute bomb! Love the style, love the music! Love the attitude! Gwen is so the new Madonna! you rock solid!
Posted by: Hishie at Jan 19, 2005 8:00:13 AM
i love harajuku girls!! me and 3 of my guy friends all made a harajuku club and we picked harajuku names(love, angle, music, baby) and called eachother by those names it was so fun! i was love but i secretly wanted to be angle! j/p well i'm out!
/~*christian*~\
Posted by: at Jan 22, 2005 3:17:17 PM
i love harajuku girls!! me and 3 of my guy friends all made a harajuku club and we picked harajuku names(love, angle, music, baby) and called eachother by those names it was so fun! i was love but i secretly wanted to be angle! j/p well i'm out!
/~*christian*~\
Posted by: christian at Jan 22, 2005 3:18:31 PM
OMG harajuku girls are hott but ugly and Gwen Stefani's tits are sooooooooo small misqueeto bits r bigger than her tits.But yeah christians right that club was fun(yes i was in it but only for a short time i had to be baby!)
Posted by: Michael at Jan 22, 2005 3:28:12 PM
lol im funny and i love the Holla Back Girl song(the one where she says shit 37 times)
Posted by: Michael at Jan 22, 2005 3:31:49 PM
omg michael her tits are kinda small LOL
Posted by: christian at Jan 22, 2005 3:33:28 PM
It's one of Gwen Stefanis japanese whores! lol
Posted by: Michael at Jan 22, 2005 3:35:02 PM
Does anyone know if those justus boyz r gay causew they look like it to me all naked in that pic up there lol gross
Posted by: Michael at Jan 22, 2005 3:36:44 PM
to: Rachel C.
huroko girl does not exist but a harajuku girl does! they are one of gwen stefanis whores!!!
Posted by: christian at Jan 22, 2005 3:37:57 PM
Gwen stefani rox my sox!! i luved since iwas lil!! she has always been my role modle and her new cd rox!! i luv danger zone! its great she is like promoting japanese fashion ( which iv always luved!) im so moving to japan to do anime!
Posted by: amanda at Jan 23, 2005 8:02:17 PM
I love the retro 80's spin on Gwen's new CD, it is defintiely a new, hip sound she's got going on, and what are you waiting for is a GREAT song...however I do agree, as a Gwen fan, that the CD as a whole is a huge advertisement and marketing plan to Harajuku girls who have an abundance of disposable income, AND a larger population base of fans than the U.S.A. Smart thinking on her behalf, but it seems a bit shallow if she's claiming that she does music because she's passionate about it....when 90% of your song lyrics on the new CD are advertisements and marketing...there's more than just passion at work. ;)
Posted by: bryan at Jan 24, 2005 12:09:45 PM
i think gwen stefani sux, needs to get her head checked for keeping two girls around her all the time, and has no idea what INGENIUITY is..... first she steals the harajuju stuff....then she goes and rips off fiddler on the roof!!!
Posted by: shanzeh at Jan 31, 2005 4:56:35 PM
I love u gwen and omg i love your new album i love your idea of it!! u are my idol i would die if i was able to meet u.
Posted by: Tannor at Feb 1, 2005 10:06:36 PM
