It’s no secret that “What You Waiting For?” singer Gwen Stefani has a fascination with Japanese culture — especially considering she named her brand “Harajuku Lovers.” But, we didn’t know her longstanding interest dates back to her childhood!
In March 2016, the No Doubt frontwoman made a short trip to Tokyo, Japan to put on a concert, and had a blast posting photos in the process.
Gwen Stefani shows off her blonde-and-black hair as she arrives at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on March 16, 2016 (Credit: Kento Nara / Future Image / WENN)
Gwen was photographed arriving at Haneda Airport, which serves the nearby cities of Yokohama and Tokyo, for her departing flight back to Los Angeles.
12 years earlier, she released “What You Waiting For?” a song from her debut solo studio album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby.
“I went in the studio with her and was telling her about how I was so anxious about writing and insecure and I have writer’s block and all these things,” said Stefani about writing the song with Linda Perry from the band 4 Non Blondes.
The song “What You Waiting For?” was written by Gwen Stefani and Linda Perry and released on October 4, 2004 (Credit: Avalon / WENN)
“And she said, ‘What you waiting for, Gwen Stefani?’ I came in the next day and she had this crazy song and that’s how that song was born.”
The song was released as the album’s lead single on October 4, 2004, one day after her 35th birthday. Born on October 3, 1969, in Fullerton, California, she turned 35 on October 3, 2004.
Gwen Stefani on the set for the video of her first solo single What You Waiting For? in 2004 (Credit: WENN)
“I had the chorus but I didn’t have the verse yet,” Perry told Rolling Stone about writing the song. “She walked in the next day and I said, Well, I came up with this.’ I played it and she just lit on fire. She’s like, “What the f***, dude?’”
“We took turns coming up with ideas for the verses. She wanted to do something where there was a bunch of different characters, so I set up six microphones and labeled them, and at every line I told her which microphone to go to. Different microphones give you different sounds and they make you be a different character. We did the whole song like that. It was really fun. Jimmy Iovine showed up later and said, ‘Well, there’s our first single.'”
Positively received by critics, What You Waiting For? was commercially successful and reached the top 10 in several countries.
For her airport appearance, she rocked a sweater by Moschino, a jacket by Noir Kei Ninomiya, a scarf by Donni Charm, and a funky pair of wedge sneakers from the limited edition Reebok x Melody Ehsani collection.
Gwen Stefani wears a Noir Kei Ninomiya jacket overtop of a Moschino sweater (Credit: Kento Nara / Future Image / WENN)
Gwen made sure to update her Snapchat throughout her entire trip, and even posted kimono pictures on her Instagram.
Gwen Stefani wears a pair of limited-edition Reebok x Melody Ehsani wedge sneakers (Credit: Kento Nara / Future Image / WENN)
The most adorable part? The then 46-year-old Trolls actress had a baby picture of her in a kimono on hand, which she posted side-by-side with her recent one.
Gwen Stefani spends some time on her phone at the Tokyo airport (Credit: Kento Nara / Future Image / WENN)
Now we know where her style inspiration comes from, as well.
Gwen Stefani wears a kimono as a child and as an adult (Credit: Gwen Stefani’s Instagram)
Gwen Stefani’s ultra eccentric limited edition wedge sneakers from the Reebok x Melody Ehsani collection are no longer available online.
Reebok x Melody Ehsani Blacktop Pump Wedge, $224.99
