PCD (album)

Background and recording

The Pussycat Dolls were created by choreographer Robin Antin and her roommate Christina Applegate in 1993 after inviting several dancers to explore Antin's idea of classic Las Vegas-style burlesque and give it a more contemporary spin. In 1995, the group began performing every Thursday at Johnny Depp's Los Angeles club, the Viper Room. In 2000, Gwen Stefani was invited to sing and perform with the Dolls and brought along Interscope Geffen A&M chairman Jimmy Iovine and then-president of A&M Records; both took interest into turning it in a singing group. In 2003, Antin struck a joint venture with Interscope Records to develop the Pussycat Dolls into a brand, with Iovine assigning the project to Fair. Fair stated that he wanted to create an album which would "involve music and visuals". He explained that "there's going to be some technological changes as well as creative changes in the way we go about it." The auditions drew about 500 aspiring performers, of which two singers—Nicole Scherzinger and Melody Thornton—were recruited, joining Carmit Bachar, Ashley Roberts, Jessica Sutta and Kimberly Wyatt to form a new recording group. In 2004, they recorded "We Went as Far as We Felt Like Going" for the Shark Tale soundtrack and recorded their debut single, "Sway", which is featured on the soundtrack of Shall We Dance?.

At the suggestion of Doug Morris—then chairman of Universal Music Group, "Don't Cha", which was originally recorded by Tori Alamaze and became a minor success on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, was given to the Pussycat Dolls as the label was trying to reinvent the girl group. While "Don't Cha" became an international success worldwide, an album hadn't been recorded yet. Fair stated, "we scrambled, got into formation" and worked on the album within 30 days at The Record Plant in Hollywood, California. According to Scherzinger, they took the time to put out the best record possible. She further explained that they were very selective with their songs and producers. As one of the executive producers, Fair enlisted a wide range of songwriters and producers for PCD, including CeeLo Green, Rich Harrison, Timbaland, and will.i.am.

Composition

PCD is primarily a dance-pop and R&B album. Some of the songs are other genres such as post-disco. The album's opening track "Don't Cha" featuring Busta Rhymes was written by American songwriter and recording artist CeeLo Green. The group strut around and taunt a hapless man in its chorus: "Don't cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me/ Don't cha wish your girlfriend was a freak like me." The song's is based from the chorus of "Swass" performed by Sir Mix-a-Lot. "Beep" features will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas and is built on an orchestral sample from Electric Light Orchestra's "Evil Woman". The third track, features the final guest of the album, Timbaland. Lyrically the song discusses about "lustful desires" and suggests oral sex. "Stickwitu is soul ballad that celebrate's relationship that lasts. Scherzinger voice reaches at the thin end of her alto-into-soprano register. In "Buttons" the group sings about the desire to be undressed over Middle Eastern synths. "I Don't Need a Man" described as "post-disco anthem" finds the self-objectifying Dolls flipping the script for female empowerment.

The eight track, "How Many Times, How Many Lies" a R&B downtempo song which sees Scherzinger lamenting. "Bite the Dust" uses "dramatic strings" and was compared to the works of Destiny’s Child. The three remaining songs are covers. "Right Now" instrumentation consists of accentuated horns, congas and Latin-infused beats. The following song is mash-up between "Tainted Love" and "Where Did Our Love Go", the same way British duo Soft Cell did in 1981. The song was noted for utilizing the "elements of the synth pop classic." The twelfth and final track, a cover of Nina Simone's "Feeling Good" was described as a "faux-jazz" version of the original song.

Critical reception

Writing for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine provided a favorable review, opining that the great thing about the album are the producers and songwriters who are willing to play with the group's "hyper-sexual image, creating a sleek, sexy sound ideal for both nightclubs and strip joints." However he did went on to criticize the albums's ballad's. Slant Magazine writer Sal Cinquemani felt that if "the Pussycat Dolls really want to make their mark in the giant litter box that is popular music today, they need more of the big band burlesque of 'Right Now' and less of Diane Warren." In his consumer guide for MSN Music, Robert Christgau gave the album a "one-star honorable mention", commenting that the group is "sexier than your average prefab sexpots, but no fabber." Elysa Gardner of USA Today wrote that despite their superficiality and "insipid lyrics" acknowledged that "lead singer Nicole Scherzinger and at least a couple of her fellow Dolls have supple voices."

In a more negative review, Raymond Fiore of Entertainment Weekly commented that "not even B-squad urban cabaret pop from A-list production heavyweights can arouse our interest for a whole 45 minutes." Darryl Sterdan, when reviewing the album for Jam!, described the covers as "embarrassing" and the ballads as "overcooked".

PCD won the award for Best Album — International at the 2006 TMF Awards, where the group was also nominated for Best Pop — International.

Commercial performance

On September 21, PCD debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 99,000 copies. In its 45th week on the chart the album rebounded back to the top ten, selling 43,000 copies. The album had spent 99 weeks on the chart by May 2008 the album has sold nearly three million copies in the United States, and was eventually certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

In the United Kingdom the album debuted at number eight on the UK Albums Chart dated September 24, 2005. The album registered the second highest entry, selling 23,900 copies in its first week. The release of the album's fourth single "Buttons" helped the album increase sales for six consecutive weeks, setting a new peak of seven. As of May 5, 2009 PCD 1,246,769 copies in the United Kingdom and was certified quadruple platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in July 2013.

In Australia, the album debuted at number 16 on the ARIA Top 100 Albums chart dated October 3, 2005. On the issue dated July 31, 2006, the album reached a new peak at number eight after leaping eight places. In New Zealand, PCD debuted at number twenty-three on September 19. Following three consecutive number one singles—"Don't Cha", "Stickwitu", "Beep"— the album reached the top spot for two non-consecutive weeks. The Pussycat Dolls became the first girl group in over six years to top the albums chart. The last act to achieve that feat was Bardot with their debut self-titled album.

Singles

"Don't Cha was released as the lead single from PCD on April 19, 2005. The song was met with positive reviews who praised the high dose of energy and the song's chorus. The track peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming the highest-peaking single in the country. The song was as also successful in other international markets, peaking number one Australia, Belgium (Flanders), Germany, Ireland, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The accompanying music video was released directed by Paul Hunter and sees the group in various activities including drag racing in a jeeps and jumping on a trampoline. "Stickwitu" was serviced to contemporary hit radio stations on September 26 as the second single. Critics lauded the song's production, but criticized the placement on the album. The track peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100, and achieved similar success internationally peaking number one in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. An accompanying music video was released on October 13, and depicts a day in the life of the group. An urban remix featuring Avant was released on December 20. The album's third single, "Beep" featuring will.i.am was sent to contemporary hit radio and rhythmic stations on February 6, 2006. It peaked at number thirteen on the Billboard Hot 100. It additionally peaked within the top-ten of several international singles charts, and reached number one in Belgium (Flanders) and New Zealand.

For the release of the fourth single, "Buttons" was remixed to feature new verses from Snoop Dogg. It was released on April 11. The song became a commercial success, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the group's fourth consecutive number-one on the New Zealand Singles Chart. According to Nielsen Soundscan, as of January 2010, the song has sold over 2 million digital downloads, making the Pussycat Dolls the first all-female group in digital history to have three singles—along with "Don't Cha" and "When I Grow Up"—pass the two million mark in digital sales. "I Don't Need a Man" was released as the fifth single on September 25, 2006 in the United Kingdom. On the UK Singles Chart the song peaked at number 7, giving the group their fifth consecutive top-ten single; elsewhere it reached the top-ten in Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand. "Wait a Minute" was released as the final single; it was serviced to contemporary hit radio stations on October 16, 2006. The single was moderately successful on the Hot 100, peaking at number 28. Elsewhere, it reached the top-twenty of Australia, Belgium (Flanders), and the Netherlands.

Promotion

The Pussycat Dolls were the last performers of KIIS-FM's Wango Tango music festival which was held in Los Angeles, on May 14, 2005. Prior the performance Scherzinger said, "We are so psyched [to play tonight]. We can't wait. It's going to be amazing." While closing their set with "Don't Cha", MTV's Brandee J. Tecson commented, "Like a lot of the day's performers, the Dolls were newcomers to the Wango stage, but ended the night like veterans." On August 14, 2005 The Pussycat Dolls performed "Don't Cha" at the 2005 Teen Choice Awards. On December 2005 the group performed for the annual KIIS-FM Jingle Ball wearing "festive candy-cane-striped belly shirts and red-and-green capri pants." The set list included "Don't Cha", 'Stickwitu" and "Wait a Minute".

In January 27, 2006 The Pussycat Dolls performed "Sway" and "Don't Cha" on Dancing with the Stars during the results show. On March 23, they began 34-date tour with The Black Eyed Peas' as the main opening act for their Honda Civic Tour till May. On June 30, the group performed "Don't Cha", "Buttons" and "Stickwitu" on Good Morning America as part of its Summer Concert Series. On September 8, they performed "Buttons" at the annual charity fundraiser event Fashion Rocks. They were dressed in "[skimpy] outfits" while rapper Jibbs accompanied them. In November 21, they performed "Buttons" at the 2006 American Music Awards. In December 2006, the group was selected by the National Basketball Association (NBA) and American Broadcasting Company (ABC) to use an adaptation of "Right Now" as the opening number for the ABC's coverage of the NBA. The song was used from Christmas through the end of the season and was previewed going into and out of commercial breaks during telecasts. To further promote the album the Pussycat Dolls toured along with Danity Kane on Christina Aguilera's Back to Basics Tour (2007) in North America from February to May. On July 7, the Pussycat Dolls together with other artists performed at the Live Earth Concerts, which were held to raise awareness of global warming. They performed "Don't Cha", "Stickwitu", and "Buttons".

Track listing

Notes

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of PCD.

Managerial

Technical