T-Shirt Song: Settling Down In Style

when you reach for that t shirt settle down song

Settle Down is a popular song title, with several artists having released tracks with the same name. The most notable versions are by No Doubt, Kimbra, The 1975, and Bobby Bare. No Doubt's Settle Down is a reggae-influenced dance song with rock and pop elements, written by Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal, and Tom Dumont. Kimbra's Settle Down is the first single from her debut album Vows and features lyrics about commitment and starting a family. The 1975's Settle Down is a tale of a secretive love affair, while Bobby Bare's song by the same name ponders the idea of settling down and finding love.

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The song's message and inspiration

"Settle Down" is a song with the same title but different lyrics and artists. Here is a description of the message and inspiration of the song for each of its artists.

The 1975

The song "Settle Down" by The 1975 is about a secretive love affair. Matty Healy, a member of the band, said that he wanted to create a story about the extension of a dream and explore love in a video that is as "fantastical, consuming and limitless as the love we all chase and desire." The music video for the song was inspired by Healy's reoccurring dream when he was younger and the narrative was loosely based on the setting of the areas where his parents grew up.

No Doubt

"Settle Down" by No Doubt is a song about confidence and feeling good, adjusting oneself to unfamiliar circumstances. The song's lyrics were written by Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal, and Tom Dumont, and it combines various styles such as reggae, ska, dancehall, Latin, and Caribbean-tinged beats with American pop and rock music. Stefani's lyrics find her navigating unfamiliar circumstances but declaring that she will be fine, showcasing her confidence and positive mental attitude.

Bobby Bare

Bobby Bare's "When Am I Ever Gonna Settle Down" is a song about a young man's journey and experiences, from walking the streets of small Texas towns to seeing the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls. The song explores the idea of settling down and finding love, with the narrator questioning when he will find the woman who will make him want to settle down.

Kimbra

Kimbra's "Settle Down" is about a desire to settle down and start a family. The lyrics express a wish to find companionship, raise a child, and make vows. The song also touches on the challenges of love, such as infidelity and the fear of losing the one you love.

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The music video

The 1975

No Doubt

Kimbra

Bobby Bare

These music videos showcase diverse interpretations of the theme "settle down," ranging from love affairs to personal journeys and the desire for a stable life.

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The song's composition and lyrics

"Settle Down" is a song by multiple artists, including No Doubt, The 1975, Kimbra, and Bobby Bare. Here is a description of the composition and lyrics of each version:

No Doubt's "Settle Down"

"Settle Down" by No Doubt is a combination of various musical styles, including reggae, ska, dancehall, Latin, and Caribbean beats, merged with American pop and rock music. The song lasts for 6 minutes and 1 second, while the radio edit is shortened to 3 minutes and 36 seconds. The intro features a Middle Eastern theme that transitions into ambient crowd noise before launching into a trademark electronic reggae wall of sound.

Lyrically, the song is about adjusting to unfamiliar circumstances and exuding confidence and positivity. The chorus includes the lines: "But you can see it in my eyes, you can read on my lips / I'm trying to get a hold on this / And I really mean it this time." The song's positive mental attitude aligns with the typical reggae genre.

The 1975's "Settle Down"

The self-titled track by The 1975 tells a tale of a secretive love affair. The lyrics depict a small town and a fixation on a girl, with references to her soft sound and hair falling over her place. The pre-chorus showcases the internal conflict of the narrator, who stays "another hour or two" despite feeling like they're "losing their turn."

The chorus emphasizes the need for the other person to "settle down," indicating a desire for stability or secrecy in the relationship: "For crying out loud, settle down / You know I can't be found with you / We get back to my house / Your hands, my mouth / Now I just stop myself around you."

Kimbra's "Settle Down"

Kimbra's "Settle Down" is the first single from her debut album, "Vows." The song has an upbeat introduction with repetitive "boom" sounds, followed by a hook and verse structure. The lyrics express a desire to settle down and start a family: "I wanna settle down / I wanna settle down / Won't you settle down with me? / Settle down / I wanna raise a child / I wanna raise a child / Won't you raise a child with me?" The song also mentions naming the child "Nebraska Jones."

Bobby Bare's "When Am I Ever Gonna Settle Down"

Bobby Bare's version, titled "When Am I Ever Gonna Settle Down," takes on a reflective tone. The lyrics narrate the story of a well-travelled man who has been "around" and seen many places, from small Texas towns to the Grand Canyon, yet he questions when he will find a woman to settle down with. The refrain emphasizes the central theme: "But when am I ever gonna settle down?"

Each version of "Settle Down" offers a unique take on the theme of settling down, showcasing the versatility of this concept in the world of music.

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Critical reception

I found several songs with the lyrics "settle down" in them. None of the sources mention reaching for a T-shirt. Please clarify which song you are referring to. Here is the critical reception for each of the songs I found:

"Settle Down" by The 1975

"Settle Down" is the third single from The 1975's self-titled debut album. The song tells the tale of a secretive love affair. In an interview, Matty Healy shared that the song was inspired by a recurring dream he had when he was younger. He also mentioned that the song explores the potency of same-sex relationships and is about "the pursuit of excellence as opposed to be labelled 'cool.'"

"Settle Down" by No Doubt

"Settle Down" is the first single from American rock band No Doubt's sixth studio album, "Push and Shove" (2012). Written by Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal, and Tom Dumont, the song combines various styles, including reggae, ska, dancehall, Latin, and Caribbean beats, with American pop and rock music. The song received positive reviews, with critics praising the band for returning to form and for the familiar sound of No Doubt present in the song. It was called a "party-ready reggae blast" by Rolling Stone and drew comparisons to their previous songs, such as "Hey Baby" and Santigold's work.

"Settle Down" by Ricky Montgomery

"Settle Down" is an original song by American singer-songwriter Ricky Montgomery, released in 2022 alongside his sophomore EP, "It's 2016 Somewhere." The song tells a story about Montgomery's complicated long-distance relationship with an ex-girlfriend who was unsure about moving across the country to live with him. It emphasizes the difficulties of committing to a relationship when one is unsure about expanding beyond their comfort zone.

"Settle Down" by Kimbra

"Settle Down" is the first single from Kimbra's debut album, "Vows." The song's lyrics express a desire to settle down and start a family, with lines about raising a child together and making vows. However, there is also a sense of uncertainty and the need to bring the other person "down on just one knee for now."

"T-Shirt" by Thomas Rhett

"T-Shirt" is a song by American country music singer Thomas Rhett, released in 2016 as the third single from his second studio album, "Tangled Up" (2015). The song received a positive review from Taste of Country, praising Rhett's ability to sing about young love and capture a honeymooner's excitement. It peaked at number one on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and charted in both the US and Canada.

"Settle Down" by Latto

"Settle Down" is a song by Latto, featured as track 4 on "Sugar Honey Iced Tea." The lyrics allude to infidelity and the speaker's confidence and power in the relationship. The song also mentions the speaker's success and wealth, with lines about "big deposits" and "exotic" and "erotic" experiences.

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Live performances

The first live performance of "Settle Down" by No Doubt was at the Teen Choice Awards in July 2012. The band wore studded grey jeans, black boots, and jackets for the performance. They performed the song twice more that month, on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and Good Morning America's Summer Concert Series, again wearing studded grey jeans, black boots, and jackets.

In 2013, The 1975 performed "Settle Down" live at the iTunes Festival. They also performed the song live from Gorilla in Manchester, UK, in February 2023.

Frequently asked questions

I couldn't find a song with the exact title "When You Reach for That T-Shirt Settle Down". However, there are songs with "settle down" in the title by artists such as Kimbra, The 1975, No Doubt, and Bobby Bare. Would you like to know more about one of these songs?

The song "Settle Down" was written by Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal, and Tom Dumont. It was produced by Spike Stent and released in 2012 by the American rock band No Doubt.

The song "Settle Down" by No Doubt is about confidence and feeling good, adjusting to unfamiliar circumstances. It combines various styles, including reggae, ska, Latin, and Caribbean beats with American pop and rock music.

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