Editing Don't Speak (section)

==Background and composition==
"Don't Speak" is an [[alternative rock]]<ref>{{cite web|date=February 14, 2020|title=The 50 Greatest Breakup Songs of All Time|url=https://www.theringer.com/music/2020/2/14/21137264/50-greatest-breakup-songs-ever-ranking|access-date=December 14, 2020|website=[[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.idolator.com/7571295/gwen-stefani-lamb-anniversary-best-songs-feature-no-doubt?view-all&chrome=1|title=In Celebration Of Gwen Stefani: 12 Of The Best Songs From Our Favorite Hollaback Girl|date=November 21, 2014|access-date=December 7, 2021|website=Idolator|last=Gracie|first=Bianca}}{{Dead link|date=November 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/20-alternative-rock-music-videos-turning-20-in-2016-7318926/|title=20 Alternative Rock Music Videos Turning 20 in 2016|date=April 12, 2016|access-date=December 7, 2021|magazine=Billboard|last=Richin|first=Leslie}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Jeffries |first1=David |title=Gwen Stefani Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gwen-stefani-mn0000546214/biography |website=AllMusic |access-date=January 31, 2022}}</ref> [[Sentimental ballad#Power ballads|power ballad]]<ref>{{cite web|title=No Doubt : Singles 1992–2003|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-nme-7253-310626|website=NME|date=September 12, 2005|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref> written by lead singer Gwen Stefani and her brother Eric Stefani, and produced by [[Matthew Wilder]]. It was originally a love song, but Stefani rewrote the lyrics almost completely after her breakup with the band's bass player Tony Kanal. According to her, "It used to be more upbeat, more of a Seventies rock-type thing. [When] Tony and I broke up... it turned into a sad song." The opening chords are reminiscent of the intro to the 1979 pop hit "[[Breakfast in America (song)|Breakfast in America]]" by the British rock band [[Supertramp]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Webb|first=Robery|date=August 5, 2010|title=Story of the song: 'Don't Speak', No Doubt, 1996|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/story-of-the-song-dont-speak-no-doubt-1996-2044589.html|access-date=November 26, 2017|work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref> A live version that exists from April 1994 shows off a bouncy tune that has the same skeleton as the released version, but not the same urgency.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alper |first=Eric |date=February 19, 2022 |title=Here's The Original Version Of No Doubt's "Don't Speak" |url=https://www.thatericalper.com/2022/02/19/heres-the-original-version-of-no-doubts-dont-speak/ |access-date=November 15, 2023 |website=That Eric Alper |language=en-US}}</ref> The band performed part of the original song on ''[[VH1 Storytellers]]'' on August 10, 2000.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Flashback Friday: VH1's Storytellers|url=http://beaconstreetonline.net/no-doubt/flashback-friday-vh1-storytellers|access-date=August 11, 2020|website=Beacon Street Online|language=en-US}}</ref>

The band's lead guitarist [[Tom Dumont]] said about the song's composition: <blockquote> There's a lot of stories about that song, because that one unfolded over a longer period of time. Originally, Gwen's brother wrote most of that song, and then after we got at it as a band, Gwen changed the lyrics around to fit her life. Musically, we brought it to another level, but near the end we reworded it. There's an earlier version of the song where the verses are totally different, which is a really beautiful version and it's awesome but it's way more jazzy and really different. That song had a long incubation process.<ref name='complex' /></blockquote>

Sheet music for "Don't Speak" shows the [[Key (music)|key]] of [[E-flat major|E {{flat}} major]].<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Gwen|first1=Stefani|last2=Eric|first2=Stefani|last3=Doubt|first3=No|date=January 4, 2016|title=No Doubt "Don't Speak" Sheet Music in Eb Major|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0041289|access-date=June 30, 2021|website=Musicnotes.com}}</ref> A demo version also appeared on a demo CD, which was presented to Interscope Records prior to the release of ''Tragic Kingdom''.<ref>[http://www.muchmusic.com/insidemuch/stuff/gwen_and_tony_still_cool.asp] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090625185005/http://www.muchmusic.com/insidemuch/stuff/gwen_and_tony_still_cool.asp|date=June 25, 2009}}</ref>