“The Sweet Escape” was released as the second single from Stefani’s album of the same name. The song features guest vocals from Akon, which marks the first collaboration between the two.

Lyrically, the song deals with an apology between two people in a relationship after a fight, and how they dream of a “fantasy life” between them, where everything is perfect.

The song was a massive hit in the US, peaking at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was her second single to reach the top two on the chart as a solo artist, her first being “Hollaback Girl”, which peaked at #1.