Gwen Stefani Debuts Emotional Ballad ‘Used to Love You’ at Solo Show
Gwen Stefani debuted a new track titled “Used to Love You” – the No Doubt singer’s first new song since announcing her divorce from Gavin Rossdale – during her MasterCard Priceless Surprises concert Saturday at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom. The emotional ballad appears to be inspired by Stefani’s break from her husband of 13 years, as Stefani sings on the chorus, “I don’t know why I cry / But I think it’s cause I remember for the first time / Since I hated you / That I used to love you.”
“I just want to share a song that I wrote recently,” Stefani told the crowd before introducing “Used to Love You,” which she touted on Twitter is her next solo single. “This song is really special.” According to Beacon Street, later in the song, Stefani sings, “There were no boundaries / But you just pushed me too far/ I guess nobody taught you / Nobody taught you how to love.” Those lyrics are reminiscent of No Doubt‘s Push and Shove closer “Dreaming the Same Dream,” a 2012 track where Stefani asks “How many times can a promise be broken? Who taught you how to love?”
“Used to Love You,” which People reports was produced by J.R. Rotem, joins Stefani’s other recent solo singles “Baby Don’t Lie” and “Spark the Fire,” as well as the Pharrell collaboration “Shine” and the ballad “Start a War,” which she debuted at another MasterCard event in February. Before announcing her divorce from Rossdale in August, Stefani had collaborated with Pharrell Williams, Charli XCX, Calvin Harris and Benny Blanco on her first solo LP since 2006’s The Sweet Escape; it’s unclear whether work continues on that material or Stefani is starting anew post-breakup.
“I’m shocked people still care,” Stefani told Rolling Stone in December 2014. “Doing another solo record and recording No Doubt music and being on The Voice and having three boys all at one time, that just wasn’t something I could dream up in my mind.”