User:Carbrera/Long Way to Go
Song / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Long Way to Go" is a song by American singer-songwriter Gwen Stefani with André 3000, taken from Stefani's debut solo studio album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (2004) where it serves as the closing track to the album. It was released on November 12, 2004, along with the rest of Love. Angel. Music. Baby. by Interscope Records. Although the song was scrapped from André 3000's critically acclaimed fifth studio album, The Love Below, Stefani and André 3000 ended up reworking it and putting it on her album instead.
"Long Way to Go" was written by Stefani and 3000, while 3000 solely produced the track. The song prominently features a sample from Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, but cannot be heard in the song until the closing outro. Also, King is not credited for contributed lyrics to the song. Musically the song is influenced by electronic music and alternative hip hop, with partial influence from both dance music and soul music.
After its release, "Long Way to Go" received scrutiny for its sample of "I Have a Dream". The song also was received negatively for its outdated metaphors on interracial relationships. However, the track did receive positive attention for being a "standout" on Love. Angel. Music. Baby. and also for the inclusion of its electronic production, particularly the closing of the track.
Stefani performed the track during her 2005 Harajuku Lovers Tour during the middle section of the show. The performance was accompanied by the Harajuku Girls, a dance troupe that appeared in several of Stefani's videos during her solo career.