Wet (Nicole Scherzinger song)

Background and composition

"Wet" was recorded in 2010 at Roc the Mic Studios in New York City, Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles and The Bunker Studios in Paris. Scherzinger's vocals were recorded by Eriksen and Miles Walker at Roc the Mic Studios and Westlake Recording Studios and by Vee at The Bunker Studios. "Wet" was mixed by Vee at The Bunker Studios and by Phil Tan at The Ninja Beat Club in Atlanta, Georgia. Additional and assistant engineering was carried out by Damien Lewis. All instrumentation was completed by Eriksen, Hermansen and Vee. "Wet" was not given a traditional release. In the UK, it was given an impact date of August 28, 2011; sometimes record labels will choose a date for a song to impact as a single and for promotion but not give the song a separate listing from the album in digital download stores. Just less than a month later, it was serviced to radio in Australia on September 26, 2011.

"Wet" is an uptempo track, containing a thumping disco beat, a throbbing bass, and electronic beats. The song was written by Ester Dean and Traci Hale, and co-written and produced by Norwegian duo StarGate and Sandy Vee. Scherzinger is said to confesses that her body is "aching for a man's touch", stating "This beat is filthy dirty/ I feel it all over me". Described as a "dance-ready club banger" by Idolator, the song chronicles "many sexy ways" Scherzinger gets wet; sweating, a shower, a swim, and drowning. Scherzinger continues the whole "drenched" theme within the songs' chorus: "Well Imma take my clothes off/Take a leap and surf through the crowd/Dripping down my neck/Soaking wet, sink or swim or you drown/Let's get a little wet." In the song, Scherzinger sings about running around naked, stating "I feel like whatever I do tonight would be the talk of the town."

Critical reception

"Wet" garnered generally positive reviews from critics. Awarding the song with three out of five stars, Robert Copsey of Digital Spy gave the song a mixed review, stating that although Scherzinger purrs with conviction, the song sounds ultimately similar to Rihanna's "Only Girl (In The World)". While reviewing the album, the same website reviewed "Wet" as a highlight of the album, and named it a possible future single. Idolator stated that Scherzinger is "positively dripping with sex appeal in her ode to getting doused", later adding that the Stargate-produced "dance jam is the musical equivalent of a run through the sprinkler". Idolator finished its review by stating that after an addition of a well-known rapper, the song could hit the domestic Top 40. While reviewing the album, Becky Bain of Idolator stated that "Wet" along with "Club Banger Nation" would strike a chord with clubgoers. David Griffiths of 4Music named "Wet" an essential addition to anybody's party playlist. In another interview by Griffiths, he named "Wet" a "cracking pop tune", stating that the "hits keep coming" for Scherzinger. Kim Dawson of Daily Star complimented the song as a "saucy tune". Describing the song as a "surefire smash" for Scherzinger, Pip Ellwood of Entertainment-Focus complimented the song as the best track on the album, stating that its beat is better than that of lead single "Poison" due to the fact that it is "impossible not to move to."

Chart performance

"Wet" debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 189. On the week of August 20, 2011, it went to its peak of number 21. "Wet" debuted on the Irish Singles Chart at number forty-eight on the week ending August 11, 2011. The following week, August 18, 2011, "Wet" climbed to number ten on the Irish Singles Chart. The song also peaked at number thirteen on the Scottish Singles Chart.

Music video

The music video for "Wet" was shot in a single day to accommodate her schedule as a judge on the X Factor. It was shot on a Los Angeles car park – it was the only suitable location due to its proximity to the X Factor studios. The video was directed by Justin Francis. On August 2, 2011, Scherzinger released behind the scenes photos of the songs music video with Scherzinger wearing a two-piece attire and clutching a net around her body as she stands behind a wall of water. The video makes use of product placement of Carrera's "Champion". The music video premiered through MSN Music UK on August 3, 2011.

Synopsis

The video begins with Scherzinger hiding out from police, evading capture and disguising herself with some aviator shades and a studded hoodie. As she is being surveyed by security camera, Scherzinger begins to dance athletically and acrobatically. Jenna Hally Rubenstein of MTV Buzzworthy believed that part of Scherzinger's dance contained old Navajo rain dance moves. Scherzinger than alternates outfits to a black leather - corset top, high-waisted shorts and thigh-high boots, as scenes of Scherzinger singing behind a window pane while it’s raining are interlaced into the clip. Scherzinger, accompanied by a group of female dancers, than enter an indoor swimming pool were men are seen spraying graffiti into the wall. Scherzinger and her back-up dancers than begin to dance in the emptied concrete pool, as the men begin to soak Scherzinger with hoses. As the police enter the building, Scherzinger is warned by a man acting as a lookout. Scherzinger and all her companions escape, only to leave the police discovering a spray-painted message of "Wet".

Critical reception

Critics generally favored the songs accompanying music video, in particular Scherzinger's intricate choreography. On the day the video premiered, a reviewer from Rap-Up wrote "It’s getting hot in here," referencing Scherzinger's "smokin’ body" and "steamy visuals". Staff of Idolator spoke favorably of Scherzinger's choreography, stating that it "would make the other Pussycat Dolls blush". Amy Sciarretto of PopCrush gave the video a positive review stating that she was impressed of Scherzinger's athletic and acrobatic methods of dancing. She continued, "she doesn’t even have to try and be sexy; she just is". Jenna Hally Rubenstein of MTV Buzzworthy appreciated Scherzinger's writhing around on the floor in "somewhat compromising positions" and added that Scherzinger is wet for about 50 percent of the video, so "we're guessing guys across the country aren't going to be writing complaint letters anytime soon." Sophie Forbes of Daily Mail positively stated "Clutching a net round her body, she looked sensational in her taupe two piece as she stared wistfully off into the distance." David Griffiths of 4Music positively reviewed the song's music video stating it "featur[ed] some jaw-droppingly good dancing, a hair flick or two and some serious thrusting, it gets a big thumbs up from us." "Wet" ranked at number 70 on MTV's most watched music videos of 2011.

Live performances

Scherzinger performed the song for the first time in Stratford, London at Westfield Stratford City on September 13, 2011. The performance was included in a set of multiple songs off of Killer Love, and was sung in order to celebrate the shopping centre's opening. Scherzinger began her performance with a fringed leather coat in red and black, the colours of the Westfield logo, a cutaway black bodycon dress and purple platform heels which she whipped off to reveal an even racier outfit underneath. She than wore a black leather number covered in tassels and chains. Scherzinger's performance was accompanied onstage by several dancers, whom were wearing shiny metallic trousers, as she performed in front of thousands of fans. The song was also performed in 2012 on her first solo tour, the Killer Love Tour.

1. "Wet" – 3:37

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Killer Love booklet liner notes.