Stefani’s latest shout out is a yodel

HERE’S Gwen Stefani, giving her regards to Broadway again in the sincerest way: by swiping its songs. This time it’s “The Lonely Goatherd,” a sprightly tune from “The Sound of Music,” which Stefani uses to sweeten her new rap-style single, “Wind it Up.”

Stefani, whose latest album, “The Sweet Escape,” is due Dec. 5, sings a snippet of the Julie Andrews number, including yodels, and replicates some of its orchestration as well. Stefani often has spoken of her love for the film version of “The Sound of Music,” and the folks at the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, which administers the songs of composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II, were happy to give her clearance to use “Lonely Goatherd,” says spokesman Bert Fink: “Clearly, she has an appreciation for the Great American Songbook.”

Stefani has been down the Great White Way before in search of hooks: “Rich Girl,” from her 2004 solo debut, “Love.Angel.Music.Baby.,” borrowed the refrain of “If I Were a Rich Man,” from “Fiddler on the Roof.” Somehow, she didn’t think to mimic Zero Mostel.

-- Mike Boehm