No Doubt's Settle Down video premieres

It's trucking brilliant! A-ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha haaaaaaaaaaa. (passes out).

Genuinely, though, this song is a massive grower, like Percy Thrower. The extended six-minute mix used in the video doesn't even outstay its welcome. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

No Doubt - Settle Down

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Settle Down, it's the new No Doubt single

"Get in line and settle down". What is this - a creche?

What we want from a new No Doubt single is a barnstorming call-to-arms, not Listen With Mother.

Luckily, on Settle Down, Gwen Stefani isn't really sending us all to the naughty step, she’s attempting to silence her critics and "the haterzzzzz". She's rough and tough, she explains, and nothing is going to hold her down. Well, thank goodness for that.

Musically, the band are in familiar ska-but-not-really territory. Stefani's pop sensibilities are front and centre, with three or four sub-choruses vying for dominance over the metallic snap of Adrian Young's syncopated drums.

The main thing is that, after a gap of about 10 years, this could have been terrible – but actually, No Doubt have pulled it out of the bag. "It" being a good song, rather than a rabbit, or a potato. Listen to the Ryan Seacrest exclusive below (or, failing that, on his website).



One final point, RE: The lyric, "I’m hella positive for real". Gwen Stefani is 42.

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A peek into No Doubt's recording studio

GWEN STEFANI: Hey, No Doubt guys, I'm so contractually obliged happy to see you all again.

NO DOUBT GUYS: Er, hi Gwen.

GWEN: So have you written any new songs in the last six years?

NDG: Not as such, no…

GWEN: Excellent, because I have this great idea. We could do a cover of Stand And Deliver!

NDG: Adam Ant's Stand And Deliver??

GWEN: Yes, it's my all-new favourite song. Have you seen the costumes in the video? We can totally dress up as highwaymen!

NDG: Oh God. Not this again.

GWEN: What's your beef? You were happy when I asked you to dress up as Japanese prostitutes.

NDG: That was your solo record, Gwen. Those were dancers. They weren't even men.

GWEN: But they were toally awesome and cute. Can't you guys do it for me? Pleasy-weasy-lemon-squeezy?

NDG: Well, I suppose we could do with the money…

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