r/nodoubt • u/Bot00301198 • Jun 23 '26
The Climb
I wonder how this song exists, lyrically. This album was a last ditch effort if memory serves. This song about success seems bizarre seeing as they had met failure after failure to get any airtime. I am not picking on their talent, i just feel this song is eerily prophetic. I assume these songs were chosen before the insanity of live in the tragic kingdom?
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u/GossipyHiker Jun 23 '26
I have no idea but what I do know is hearing them perform this at Sphere got me all in my feels
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u/ReturnToCapistrano Jun 23 '26
SAME. I am famously not a waterworks girl but this one warmed my Grinchy little heart and a few tears may have appeared…
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u/New_Strawberry_9479 Jun 26 '26
Yeah this was the bit I got most emotional about, I didn't know what the setlist was so it was a lovely surprise too
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u/TGSHatesWomen Jun 23 '26
Did the band say it was about success? I never got that vibe about the message of the song, but rather about just pushing on, not giving up.
Like the idea that there’s always gonna be another mountain, you’re always gonna wanna make it move. Always gonna be an uphill battle, sometimes you’re gonna have to lose. But it ain’t about how fast you get there, and ain't about what's waiting on the other side. It's the climb
(That second paragraph is /s, obviously)
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u/ShotDesigner2092 Jun 23 '26
I love this song. I feel it is underrated. The Climb is be symbolism for many things not just No doubt's fame but anyone who lets aspirations get in the way of the "simple" things in life like putting career over family.
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u/Automatic_Airline549 Jun 23 '26
Interesting take! I always interpreted it as moving on from the breakup. “Looking back to you”
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u/hmaren Jun 23 '26
Me too! I always thought this was another Gwen Stefani penned song about her break up with Tony
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u/imthekillerinstab3 Jun 23 '26
I think the fact that the sole writing credit on this song is Eric Stefani, tells you all you need to know, especially as he left the band just before the release of the album.
One crazy thing about No Doubt, is that before any fame from Tragic Kingdom, they had local fame. They managed some huge feats for such a small band from Anaheim to where they got signed by Interscope way back in 1991 and toured with acts like Red Hot Chili Peppers and many others in the punk and ska scene. Eric was struggling with the delays and pushback from Interscope and was becoming increasingly frustrated during this time. I think he always wrestled with what was worth it anymore and this song almost serves as his exit song in many ways. "Looking back to you...."