Simple Kind of Life / Full Circle / Beauty Contest [Single]

No Doubt | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 13, 2000)
• Original Release Date: June 13, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Single
• Label: Interscope Records
• ASIN: B00004TWU9
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #588,178 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

NO DOUBT Simple Kind Of Life (Deleted 2000 US 3-track CD single also includes Full Circle and Beauty Contest picture sleeve)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Anything but Simple..., July 23, 2000

By 

Steve (Grand Prairie, Texas USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Simple Kind of Life / Full Circle / Beauty Contest (Audio CD)

No Doubt is good to its fans. This is the third straight single released from their recent album and like the others, it not only contains the single song in question (in this instance "A Simple Kind of Life") but two new songs not featured on the "Return of Saturn" album. These two songs, "Full Circle" and "Beauty Contest", are no mere throwaways but good, catchy tracks that deserve to be heard.

Let's start thought by briefly reviewing "A Simple Kind of Life". Evoking the power ballads of their biggest hit, "Don't Speak", "Life" is unabashedly upfront and senimental without overdoisng in sugar or wallowing in bitterness. Its a song surprisngly frank with lead singer Gwen Stefani confessing to thoughts of marriage and family and yet at the same time shying away from those institutions, as if to avoid the comprimise of giving up the single life. The luyrics are heavy with emotion and feeling and yet, the music doesn't get weighed down by them. Its a song that will make you think and tap your toe at the same time.

Deviating from the seriousness of "Life", "Full Circle" is no less worthy. In fact, its even better than "Life" and should have been included on the "Saturn" album. What makes it so good? Although it isn't really about anything, "Circle" has an infectous energy to it. Its up tempo beats obviously derives from the early 80's new wave sound, so much so that it sounds like a genuine pop/punk song from 1983. "Circle" is not intended to make you think or feel deep emotions; it just wants you to have a good time and succeeds every time you hear it.

"Beauty Contest" is a classic example of a B-side song. Its not good enough for the "Saturn" album but its still good enough to listen to once in awhile. Its slower paced and more morose than the other two song, which causes its enjoyment factor to dim somewhat but No Doubt proves that even on their lesser tracks, they still can hold your interest.

To sum it up, the single to "A Simple Kind of Life" is worth buying. It sports three memorable songs, all diverse enough to validate whatever price the store slaps on this single. For No Doubt fans, I do not ned to tell you to buy this cd since its likely you already have. For those who are not No Doubt fans, or just plain skeptical, I would advise you to buy this single if you like music that matches the high quality of its lyrics with that of its sound. "Life", and No Doubt themselves, are truly a cut above the rest of the pop wasteland.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is what a single should be!, June 25, 2000

By 

Nick (WA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Simple Kind of Life / Full Circle / Beauty Contest (Audio CD)

First of all, I love No Doubt. I always have. And, if you're a fan of the band, then you cannot live without this single. It's really awesome that they put two unreleased songs on it for us fans. Here are the tracks: 1.SIMPLE KIND OF LIFE: There's nothing new or different on this song from the album version. Still, a great song, one of the better off of Return of Saturn. 2.FULL CIRCLE: This song is more like the songs on Tragic Kingdom, more heavy, ska-rock stuff. Personally, I think that this song is much better than lots of the songs on Saturn. It's simply amazing. 3. BEAUTY CONTEST: This one has a slower, classic No Doubt beat. It fits more with most of the songs on Saturn. It's very good though.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Amazing, December 18, 2000

By 

Thomas Magnum (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Simple Kind of Life / Full Circle / Beauty Contest (Audio CD)

"Simple Kind Of Life" is the best song that was released in 2000. No Doubt primed the release of Return To Saturn with the release of the buzzsaw rock of "Ex-Girlfriend". After the album was released, they followed that up with this perfect piece of music. Combining a plaintive vocal by Gwen Stefani with a lush sound (the guitars seem like they're actually crying), the song perfectly conveys the emotions of someone turning thirty who feels that maybe their life hasn't turned out exactly like they thought it would. Reflective, stirring, stunning, a simply great song.