[her] ears." The song was serviced to US contemporary hit radio on May 8, 2007 as the album's third single. A CD single, containing the album version, two remixes and its music video, was released elsewhere on June 22, 2007. Composition "4 in the Morning" was written by Stefani and Kanal, who was also responsible for its production, while Mark "Spike" Stent provided additional production. Described as a 1980s-inspired mid-tempo synthpop ballad, the track's instrumentation includes a "light" keyboard, which "runs tie the song together from intro through break", a guitar, synthetic strings and a slick sheen. "4 in the Morning" has a mid-tempo beat, which according to some critics is "perfect for a slow dance". Stefani's vocals throughout the song's chorus presents a "fast-talking" approach. Lyrically, "4 in the Morning" talks about transparency in a romantic relationship, with the protagonist pleading for a lover to make up his mind. Bill Lamb of About.com added that the song also deals with a relationship on the edge, which can be seen in the lines: "I'm lying here in the dark, I'm watching you sleep, it hurts a lot." In the chorus, she sings: "I give you everything that I am/I'm handing over everything that I've got/'cause I wanna have a really true love." Critical reception "4 in the Morning" received generally positive reviews from music critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic called it "coolly sensual", noting that "those celebrations of cool synths and stylish pop hooks that work the best for Stefani." Billboard editor Chuck Taylor called it "a melodic retro ballad that could have come from 1983's Flashdance soundtrack", praising the track for "pay[ing] homage to a time when hooks were more meaningful than aligning with hostage-taking producers." Gary Graff of the same publication wrote that "Stefani's Madonna reverence remains intact" on the song, with J. Freedom du Lac from The Washington Post agreeing, noting a "Madonnaism" on the track. Amanda Murray of Sputnikmusic also thought that the song "recalls a 'Crazy for You'-era Madonna", also noting that it is "pure Stefani—and understandably, [it's] far superior to any of her attempts at mimicking other artists." Norman Mayers of Prefix magazine wrote that the song "soar[s] thanks to Stefani's girlish vocals and brilliant hook that reference iconic moments from Madonna and Tears for Fears." Bianca Gracie of Idolator called it "a breezy yet emotive '80s-ballad that highlights her tender vocals." Alex