*While promoting her current tour in support of new album “This Is What the Truth Feels Like,” Gwen Stefani visited Howard Stern Wednesday and recalled her experience recording the two songs with Prince in 1999.
One session was for the No Doubt song “Waiting Room,” which ended up on the group’s 2001 album “Rock Steady.” Stefani went to Paisley Park after Prince had reached out to her requesting that they work together. He had re-written the song and, as Stefani recalls, was on “a whole ‘nother planet, level” of talent.
Stefani said she spent eight hours in the booth as Prince sang her harmonies to repeat into the microphone. Stefani remembers being scared during the whole experience.
“I’m not even that good of a singer,” she told Stern who begged to differ. “I’m saying technically, as a singer, I have my style, but it’s not like I have a big range. I can sing in tune and I can hear notes, but he’s just like a genius.”
Before “Waiting Room,” Stefani appeared on Prince’s song “So Far, So Pleased,” which was released in 1999 on his album “Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic” and led to Prince circling back for the “Waiting Room” session.
During their time together, Stefani said Prince weighed in on her industry contemporaries, believing Jennifer Lopez, whose single “Waiting for Tonight” was all over radio, was her biggest competition.
“I’ve never told Jennifer that, hopefully she’ll hear,” Stefani added. “It was interesting. He just was up on everything.”
Below, Stefani’s talking about Prince on Howard Stern, followed by “Waiting Room” and “So Far, So Pleased.”
