 " The Real Thing " is a song by American singer and songwriter Gwen Stefani from her debut solo studio album , Love . Angel . Music . Baby . ( 2004 ) . It was written by Stefani , Linda Perry , and her then @-@ husband Gavin Rossdale , who is credited as " GMR " . Nellee Hooper produced the song , with Mark " Spike " Stent serving as an additional producer . An Europop and synthpop ballad , " The Real Thing " talks about mutual love between two lovers . 
