RollingStone.com

Have you heard about the reality show Rolling Stone is hosting? Well, you can also play along online. http://www.rollingstone.com/imfromrollingstone They have a weekly contest with the last episode's assignment, open to others who want to give it a shot.

This week, the contestants are to devise 10 questions they'd ask any living band or artist. I had to go with Ms. Gwen Stefani, former singer of No Doubt.

1.Let's begin by talking about some of your lyrics over the years.

1995’s Tragic Kingdom has a song entitled “Different People.” The first verse explains:

“Things can be broken down / In this world of ours. / You don’t have to be a famous person / Just to make your mark."

Your 2004 solo debut, Love.Angel.Music.Baby has a song entitled “Hollaback Girl.” The breakdown exclaims:

“Let me hear you say this shit is bananas. / B-A-N-A-N-A-S. / This shit is bananas.”

How do you explain your blatant lyrical regression?

2.I consider No Doubt’s music part of the Alternative scene, although many would disagree and consider it Ska. What do you regard it as, and why?

3.Tell us about the move from the offbeat [Ska/Alternative] scene to center stage of the Pop world. Why such a drastic shift?

4.Songwriting in mind, with your solo career, you need not compromise your artistic inclination with other musicians. However, you don’t have Tom’s, or Tony’s, or Adrian’s brilliant minds to complement your own. Which method of songwriting is more complicated: solo or group? Which is more rewarding?

5.How do your former band mates react to your move into Pop-stardom?

6.When you were younger, you were a soul searcher. Now you present yourself as centered and pleased with your life. Between these two, which brings more artistic inspiration?

7.Have you really only ever wanted a “Simple Kind of Life?”

8.Hypothetical: Kingston (Stefani's son) grows up and wants to be a musician. He is God-awful. How do you handle this?

9.If you were to have lunch with any one person, living or dead, who would it be and what would you talk about?

10."If [you] had a chance to go back now, would [you] redeem [your] moral vows, or would [you] repeat for [your] own laughter?" ("Sometimes" from No Doubt)


I don't expect to win... there were over 500 entries last week... but it's a hell of a lot of fun to play! Check it out!