The Cheetah Girls 2 (soundtrack)

Background and release

Following the success of The Cheetah Girls first soundtrack selling over 2 million copies in the United States. On August 15, 2006, The Cheetah Girls 2 soundtrack was released just ten days before the film premiered. On October 10, 2006, a karaoke version of the album was released titled "Disney's Karaoke Series: Cheetah Girls 2".

On November 7, 2006, a 2-disc special edition of the album was released on November 7, 2006, featuring all original songs from the soundtrack, the new single "Route 66" which was used to promote the film "Cars", a remix of "Strut", Live at Disneyland DVD of the concert special that aired on Disney Channel, and an exclusive interview with The Cheetah Girls.

Critical reception

Heather Phares from Allmusic reviewed the album giving it a 3.5 star rating stating "Two years after the original Cheetah Girls movie, Galleria, Chanel, Aquanette, and Dorinda return with The Cheetah Girls 2, a sequel and a full-length soundtrack. The film's subtitle is "When in Spain," and exotic flourishes such as Spanish guitar and sweeping pianos color many of the album's tracks. While the entirely en español songs feel a little forced, hints of this sound give songs like "Strut" and "Amigas Cheetahs" the feeling of being the great-great-granddaughters of Madonna's "La Isla Bonita" or the Spice Girls' "Spice Up Your Life." As expected, Raven-Symoné dominates the Cheetah Girls, both in character as Cheetah Girl Galleria and as herself."

Singles

"The Party's Just Begun" was released as the first single from the album on July 11, 2006 in the United States and January 8, 2007 in the United Kingdom. The song debuted at number ninety-four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on September 9, 2006. In it's second week the song peaked at eighty-five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on September 16, 2006. In the United Kingdom the song debuted at number fifty-three on the UK Singles Chart on January 2007.

"Strut" was released as the second single on August 8, 2006 in the United States. The song debuted at number sixty on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on September 9, 2006. In it's second week the song reached it's peak charting at number fifty-three on September 16, 2006.

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 87,000 copies on September 2, 2006, becoming the highest-peaking album for the group and their first album to reach the U.S. top ten. The album remained at number five in it's second week selling a further 81,000 copies. The album also peaked at number one on the Billboard Top Soundtracks Albums chart and the Top Kids Albums chart.

In the United Kingdom the album debuted at number fifty-nine on the UK Albums Chart on January 7, 2007. In it's second week the album fell to number sixty-eight. In it's third week the album rose two places to number sixty-five. In it's fourth week the album fell to number eighty before leaving the Top 100 spending a total of four weeks on the chart. In Scotland the album debuted at number fifty-seven and in Ireland the album debuted at fifty-five. It was certified platinum by the RIAA on November 14, 2006, having sold 1.4 million copies in the United States.