Gwen Stefani debuts video for ‘Misery’: avant garde or awful?

On Tuesday, Gwen Stefani released the third video from her album This is What the Truth Feels Like for the song “Misery.” Not surprisingly, the song is about her relationship with current beau Blake Shelton. It seems Gwen went all out on the budget for this video as her past 2 singles, “Used to Love You” and “Make Me Like You” didn’t make much of an impact on the charts.

Gwen used her Instagram to post some teasers before the video’s release showing some of her many looks. I guess when Gwen is in misery missing Blake, she likes to wear a lot of sheer clothing.

A photo posted by Gwen Stefani (@gwenstefani) on

The song itself is fine. The video is okay, although I much prefer the fun vibe of her “Make Me Like You” video – even though it’s just as eye-rollingly gushy about Blake. It’s basically Gwen in a warehouse, making goo-goo eyes at the camera-as-Blake, some background dancers, a horse and lots of haute couture fashions. I do like some of the looks, especially her “pretty in pink” look and the gorgeous black and white striped poufy skirt she rocks around the 2:10 mark. Love the skirt, the bra looking top (which probably is a bra), not so much.

#misery Gx

A photo posted by Gwen Stefani (@gwenstefani) on

Some of the looks I’m not so fond of include her Frida Kahlo-esque look (sans unibrow), and that crazy severe spiky crown. I also think Gwen should permanently retire her nude look – that sheer floral dress and makeup reminiscent of her recent appearance on the Billboard Music Awards did her no favors. I am on the fence about what I can only assume is her take on a kimono, topped with a bobbed brunette wig. All I could think about when I saw that was the Madonna runway challenge on this past season of RuPaul’s Drag Race where half of the queens modeled Madge’s “Nothing Really Matters” kimono. Thorgy Thor wore it better. Just saying. At least she dumped her Harajuku-inspired dancers from her earlier solo days. I’ll take a lone kimono over them any day.

I know Gwen looks fabulous, but does the woman have anything not sheer in her wardrobe? You’re a fashion designer, so why not mix it up a little bit? That said, if I had the body, I probably would wear that pink dress. I do like her makeup a lot in those scenes as well. As much as I’m over hearing about Gwake, I hope this single does better for Gwen. I used to love her more, but if I get a brief respite from the misery of constantly seeing these two everywhere, she’ll make me like her once again.

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misery_nude

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35 Responses to “Gwen Stefani debuts video for ‘Misery’: avant garde or awful?”

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  1. Flahoola says:

    She needs to leave her face alone…

    • Tate says:

      Yes.

    • Eleonor says:

      yep.

    • missmerry says:

      I was just going to ask has her top lip always been so ‘pillowy’ on the sides?

      they look so faux…not terrible (especially in comparison to what some people do to their faces), but the way she sings with them in the close-up shots make them look so faux.)

  2. NewWester says:

    Some of Gwen’s different looks in this video remind me of Madonna’s different looks over the years in her music videos.

  3. Hegimal says:

    CB your headline is a wee bit dyslexic – grade instead of garde.

    You’re welcome 😉

  4. cleveland girl says:

    Her face is morphing into Jlo’s face

  5. Kate says:

    Videos where she sings to the camera are not her friend anymore. Her face moves so oddly it looks like she’s had a few strokes and her lips are so botched it’s painful to watch them flap about.

    How much denial do you have to be in to get bad work done then keep going back for more? She’s permanently destroyed her face in under 2 years, it’s insane.

  6. Snazzy says:

    I’ve really had enough of her, to the point where I don’t even bother listening to her new music. She needs to go away for a while

  7. escondista says:

    She was my hero in middle school.
    Now I just see her as an overgrown teenage girl who needs male attention, is afraid of her age, and has low self-esteem. 13 year old me thought you were awesome. 32 year old me feels so sorry for you, Gwen.

    • Kittahlove83 says:

      Same age & I feel the same… I guess she never got over her insecuritis even after she hooked Gavin

  8. Lucky says:

    Own your age,famous people!

  9. Jayna says:

    I think it’s nice to make a few music videos for your fans who love your album, even though at a certain point your music will not get played on radio. It costs her money to do this, but it is purely for the fans who want some music videos from the singers they follow and support when they put out new music.

    I liked the music video, because I liked looking at all the fashion she wears in it. Misery is one of my favorite bops off the album.

    • Tig says:

      i think if we haven’t been bombarded with media coverage of her relationship with Blake, this would be a fun video. There is no mention of Blake in the video, the song has been out since February, yet people still try to make it all about Blake.

  10. Coffeepot says:

    Ok. I’ll admit I’ve considered lip injections for a while. Really. However seeing Gwen’s upper lip in the top photo with the nude lipstick, I’m leaning towards no. The injections are quite obvious in that pic.

    • Josefina says:

      Botox and all the likely procedures are fine and look when done in the right ammounts. Small ammounts.

      Some celebs get the feeling since they can get away with a little, they can get away with a lot. I’m willing to bet a solid 95% of the actresses above 35 (heck, maybe 30) have done this. Some just don’t know when to stop. The ones who do, however, look perfectly normal.

  11. Samtha says:

    I thought that was Jennifer Garner in one of the Alias costumes in the header pic!

  12. Moirrey says:

    “I used to love her more, but if I get a brief respite from the misery of constantly seeing these two everywhere, she’ll make me like her once again.”

    I see what you did there… well done. Take a bow!

    *claps* 😉

  13. neocleo says:

    She looks like Madeline Kahn in that dark wig. It’s uncanny.

  14. Josefina says:

    She’s just not as cool as she used to be. And I don’t mean her No Doubt days only. I’m a huge fan of her early solo career – she was one of the few pop stars who was totally pop while still fresh and original. What You Waiting For? is still one of my favorite music videos of all time, and an infinite times more creative and cool take on Alice than Tim Burton’s movie.

    It’s not that I feel she’s copying anyone now, but her videos are just not as cool as they used to be. It’s just Gwen and a lot of wardrobe changes.

  15. Heather H says:

    I guess I am in the minority because I really enjoyed it. Loved seeing the fashion for fashion’s sake. While I agree Gwen is messing too much with her face she is still so beautiful in my opinion. I am her age and I can only imagine how hard it is in that industry to be in your mid to late 40’s.

  16. Aysla says:

    The Frida Kahlo-esque look was my favorite. Those dancers (particularly their dance movements) seem so familiar…. like the guys from Beyoncé’s Run the World music video. Who are they? I really enjoyed the fashion and their dancing.

  17. Apsutter says:

    OMG!!! Can we PLEASE talk about the Madonna runway in Drag Race?!?! I was so excited bc she has had so many awesome look and FIVE freaking kimonos paraded down the runway!!!! That’s not even in her top 20 of best looks!! It was just soooooo lazy!! This season was underwhelming

  18. Bobo says:

    Most of the comments here are ageist… goes to show exactly why women carve their naturally beautiful faces up.

  19. kanyekardashian says:

    I, for one, am going to have myself a nice case of Schadenfreude when these two goofballs finally break up after their rebound relationship. Celebs who shove their relationships in the public’s face never last.

  20. iheartgossip says:

    This poor woman and her mid life crisis. Will it ever end? Nothing was wrong with you before all this game playing, Gwen.

  21. Amanda G says:

    I love the song and her, but the video is nothing new. She has plenty of “look pretty in front of the camera while wearing couture” videos. You’d think she’d take this career comeback seriously and try to do something more edgy or creative. She’s too vain. I miss No Doubt…she was much better with them.

  22. DesertReal says:

    Its strange.
    Her extreme sepia close-up looks very Demi Lovato, her kimono knockoff look mimics Madonnas Nothing Really Matters video circa 1999, and the rest is just…not good. Chica needs to find a stronger since of identity/self, because right now it seems as if shes struggling to find her footing, and her stride.
    Or maybe she just impulsively put out a product too soon after her breakup, before it was ready.