4 in the Morning

Background and writing

Stefani began working with No Doubt bassist Tony Kanal for her second solo album just after finishing the Harajuku Lovers Tour in late-2005, referring to him as her "comfort zone". They two wrote "4 in the Morning" based on a tape of melodies left from working on Stefani's debut album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (2004). In a webisode for the recording process of the album, Stefani admitted that she was inspired on ballads such as Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly with His Song" and Billy Idol's "Eyes Without a Face", because she wanted a "nice ballad" on the record. It was one of the last songs recorded for the album, and during a Q&A she as one of her favorite songs on the new album, because it "brings pleasure to [her] ears." The song was serviced to US mainstream radio on May 8, 2007 as the album's third single. Its CD single, containing the album version, two remixes and its music video, was released elsewhere from June 22, 2007.

"4 in the Morning" was written by Stefani and Kanal, who was also responsible for its production, while Mark "Spike" Stent provided additional production. Described as a "1980s-inspired" midtempo synthpop ballad, the track's instrumentation includes a "light" keyboard, which "runs tie the song together from intro through break", a guitar, synthetic strings and a slick sheen. "4 in the Morning" has a midtempo beat, which according to some critics is "perfect for a slow dance". Stefani's vocals throughout the song's chorus presents a "fast-talking" approach. Lyrically, "4 in the Morning" talks about transparency in a romantic relationship, with the protagonist pleading for a lover to make up his mind. Bill Lamb of About.com added that the song also deals with a relationship on the edge, which can be seen in the lines: "I'm lying here in the dark, I'm watching you sleep, it hurts a lot." In the chorus, she sings: "I give you everything that I am/I'm handing over everything that I've got/'cause I wanna have a really true love."

Critical reception

"4 in the Morning" was generally well received by contemporary pop music critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic called it "coolly sensual", noting that "those celebrations of cool synths and stylish pop hooks that work the best for Stefani." Billboard editor Chuck Taylor called it "a melodic retro ballad that could have come from 1983's Flashdance soundtrack", praising the track for "pay[ing] homage to a time when hooks were more meaningful than aligning with hostage-taking producers." Gary Graff of the same publication wrote that "Stefani's Madonna reverence remains intact" on the song, with Washington Post 's J. Freedom du Lac agreeing, noting a "Madonnaism" on the track. Amanda Murray of Sputnikmusic also thought that the song "recalls a 'Crazy for You'-era Madonna," also noting that it is "pure Stefani - and understandably, [it's] far superior to any of her attempts at mimicking other artists." Norman Mayers of Prefix Magazine wrote that the song "soar[s] thanks to Stefani's girlish vocals and brilliant hook that reference iconic moments from Madonna and Tears for Fears." Bianca Gracie of Idolator called it "a breezy yet emotive ’80s-ballad that highlights her tender vocals." Alex Miller from NME described the song as "an expertly conceived tear-jerker", stating that "[i]t feels like the kind of song a teenage Stefani, miming along to Talk Talk, would have dreamt of singing one day."

Bill Lamb from About.com cited "4 in the Morning" as the best song from The Sweet Escape, calling it "beautifully performed and produced" and noting that Stefani "allows her signature vocals to sensually float and glide through the lyrical content." In a similar mode, a write for CBBC enjoyed that the song is "a melancholy and reflective ballad about relationships, which is a breath of fresh air for Gwen," praising its "catchy melody and woeful lyrics." Nick Levine of Digital Spy compared it to Robert Palmer's "Addicted To Love", writing that "it confirms what is rapidly becoming a universal truth: Gwen Stefani is far more likeable when she channels her new wave roots than when she tries to mould herself into a ghetto fabulous urban hipshaker." Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine praised Kanal's production for making the song "less forced and much less self-conscious." Quentin B. Huff of PopMatters referred to it as one of the "few real compositions" from the album. John Murphy of musicOMH agreed, writing that "she sounds great" on "the lovelorn ballad." Pitchfork Media's Mark Pytlik, however, disapproved of the song, commenting that it destroyed "the mallpop cred that Stefani accrued with L.A.M.B.'s impeccable 'Cool'." Spence D. of IGN was also critical with the song, calling it "the most generic, mainstream, and blas¿-blah pop song on the entire album."

Commercial performance

In the United States, "4 in the Morning" debuted at number 76 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for the week of June 9, 2007, before peaking at number 54 on the issue dated August 4, becoming Stefani's lowest-peaking solo single on the chart at the time and her first to miss the top 50. It was somewhat more successful in the mainstream market, reaching number 30 on the Pop 100 chart and the top 20 of the Mainstream Top 40 and Pop 100 Airplay charts. The song was successful at the clubs and reached number two on the Hot Dance Club Play. The single fared better on the Canadian Hot 100, where it peaked at number 17, but was more successful outside of North America. In Australia, the song debuted and peaked at number nine on the ARIA Singles Chart, meanwhile it debuted at number 36 and three weeks later it peaked at number five on the New Zealand Singles Chart. It became the album's third top-ten single in both countries.

In the United Kingdom, the song peaked at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart and remained on the chart for 10 weeks. It fared better in the rest of Europe, reaching the top five in Romania, the top-ten in Finland, and the top 20 in Austria, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, and Switzerland. In France, the song managed to reach number 21, which was her first solo single to miss the top 20 since "Cool", which peaked 11 places lower.

Music video

The music video was directed by Sophie Muller and features a tearful and distraught Stefani, lying in bed as she begins to sing to the camera. In a white inside-out L.A.M.B. T-shirt, she wanders around her apartment lost and questioning her lover, who is in fact absent from the video. The lyrics describe an argument, which she has with an off-screen lover throughout the video. After lying around her apartment and crying during a bath, she leaves her house at night and travels in a car, as she sits tearfully in the back. The video ends with Stefani rolling on the bed.

"4 in the Morning" was given a "First Look" on MTV's Total Request Live on April 27, 2007 and peaked at number seven on May 9. On MuchMusic's Countdown, it became Stefani's second least successful charting video (next to "Early Winter", which peaked at number 23) since 2005's "Luxurious", peaking at number seven for two consecutive weeks after a slow ascent.

1. "4 in the Morning" (Album Version) – 4:51
2. "4 in the Morning" (Thin White Duke Edit) – 4:55

1. "4 in the Morning" (Album Version) – 4:51
2. "4 in the Morning" (Thin White Duke Edit) – 4:55
3. "4 in the Morning" (Oscar the Punk Remix) – 5:41
4. "4 in the Morning" (video) – 4:24

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Sweet Escape