Doll Domination

Doll Domination is the second and final studio album by American girl group the Pussycat Dolls, released on September 19, 2008, by Interscope Records. The album's release was preceded by the departure of the group's longest-standing member Carmit Bachar. Development began in February 2008 where the group worked with previous collaborators Sean Garrett, Polow da Don and Timbaland and new ones such as Darkchild, J-Roc and Chase N. Cashe. Polow da Don, R. Kelly and Snoop Dogg also make guest performances on the album. Several songs on Doll Domination were originally recorded for the lead singer Nicole Scherzinger's debut solo album, Her Name is Nicole, which was shelved after the under-performance of its preceding singles.
The album consists of a mixture of pop and R&B songs that also blend elements of dance, electropop with lyrics that tackle fame, sexuality and relationships. All of the lead and background vocals were sung by Scherzinger with support from Melody Thornton, whilst the remaining group members are only credited for background vocals. Upon release, Doll Domination received mixed reviews from music critics. The album debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 becoming the group's highest-charting album. It experienced similar peaks in international territories, debuting at number three in Canada and number four in Australia and on the United Kingdom albums chart. Doll Domination was later reissued in multiple versions throughout 2009. The album was supported with a world tour titled Doll Domination Tour in 2009.
The album was preceded by the release of the US Billboard Hot 100 top-ten single "When I Grow Up" and the UK top-ten hit "Whatcha Think About That" (featuring Missy Elliott). Other successful singles were "I Hate This Part", "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)", and "Hush Hush; Hush Hush", all of which reached the top ten in numerous countries worldwide. Although "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)" became a number-one hit in Australia, Ireland, Finland, among other countries, the single caused tension within the group as Scherzinger was billed as a featured artist. Despite their commercial success, unhappiness of Scherzinger's spotlight and prominence within the group grew leading to a public outburst by Thornton during the tour. In early 2010, the group disbanded to pursue solo projects, before reforming in 2019 with the promise of new music. In 2019, the R. Kelly collaboration "Out of This Club" was removed from digital retailers and streaming services, following the airing of the Surviving R. Kelly documentary and subsequent abuse allegations against the singer.
The Pussycat Dolls debut album PCD (2005) was a commercial success, selling seven million copies worldwide, and includes their breakthrough single "Don't Cha". The album's success established the group as viable act in the music industry, earning them a reputation among the century's few breakout successes. This helped the groups' brand and their label Interscope Records to expand into various business avenues which include lines of makeup, perfumes, and television. The Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll premiered in March 2007 with the aim to add a seventh member to the group. Asia Nitollano was relieved to be the winner but quit shortly after the finale to pursue a solo career.
Meanwhile, lead singer Nicole Scherzinger was preparing to launch her solo career via the release of her debut album, Her Name is Nicole. It was tentatively set for June 2007. The album was met with multiple delays due to poor commercial reception of its singles. Several other members ventured into works outside the group. Ashley Roberts made her film debut in Make It Happen (2008), Jessica Sutta collaborated with Dave Audé ("Make It Last") and Paul van Dyk ("White Lies"), and Melody Thornton was featured on Jibbs' single "Go Too Far". In March 2008, Carmit Bachar announced via the group's website that she had left the group intending to pursue a solo career. At the time of her departure, she had been the longest member of the group, joining in 1995 when they were a burlesque act. On March 10, they performed for the first time without Bachar for the Operation MySpace concert which honored US troops stationed in Kuwait.
To minimize expenses, Interscope Records planned to rework several songs from Her Name Is Nicole before the album's cancellation. It was reported that the label invested $1.5 million on the album with Scherzinger recording about 300 songs. In 2010, Scherzinger claimed it was her request to not release the album, as she felt that many of the songs, were better suited to the Dolls album. After PCD (2005) was completed, Scherzinger began working on her solo album a wide range of artists like, Akon, Ne-Yo, Timbaland, Kanye West, will.i.Am and Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody. She sought to establish herself as a versatile artist, separate from her identity as the group's lead singer, showcasing facets of her personality that had not been fully explored. "Happily Never After" and "Who's Gonna Love You" where included in the final tracklist of the album. The latter was written by Scherzinger, Polow da Don, and, Kara DioGuardi. It was first previewed in Scherzinger's website in February 2008. The former was one of the two songs Ne-Yo gave to Scherzinger after being originally written for Britney Spears. During an interview with The Guardian Ne-Yo recounted his experience writing songs for Spears and explained there were multiple scheduled sessions where she was supposed to provide input on the tracks, but she never attended. Ne-Yo continued working on the songs until Spears' widely publicized head-shaving incident where her team stopped responding. During this period, he met Scherzinger. After news broke that Scherzinger recorded the song, Spears' management wondered why he gave away the song, to which Ne-Yo replied, "It may've been written with Britney in mind, but it's not hers."
Another song written with Spears in mind was "When I Grow Up". It was rejected by her record label Jive Records at the time of the creation of Spears' fifth studio album Blackout (2007). The Rock City songwriters re-wrote the lyrics with Scherzinger in mind. The song would be eventually be released as the lead single of Doll Domination. Another future single, "I Hate This Part" was conceived during a writing session for British singer Leona Lewis by Wayne Hector, Lucas Secon, Jonas Jeberg, and Mich Hansen. It was sent to Scherzinger, after Ron Fair requested it for the Pussycat Dolls. During the recording process, Scherzinger was vocally inspired by rock singers Sting and Steve Perry.
In February 2008, the group's founder Robin Antin confirmed that Scherzinger was back in the studio working on the group's second album. The following month, Fair confirmed the group had recorded five songs for the album and would be working with past collaborators such as, Sean Garrett, CeeLo Green, and Timbaland. Scherzinger acknowledged that Timbaland was an executive producer of the album, stating that "he had his own visions of what he wanted for the group." Timbaland and his associates contributed to four songs in the album: "Magic", "Halo", "In Person", and "Whatchamacallit", though the album omits Timbaland's credit as an executive prodcuer. Garret, who previously produced "Buttons", wrote and produced "Bottle Pop" with Fernando Garibay. Garibay was then contacted by Jimmy Iovine to work with Lady Gaga, who was an upcoming songriter at that time to write songs for the group. Gaga was signed to Akon's KonLive Distribution, who was also contracted to write for the group. Experiencing writer's block, he contacted producer RedOne and together they created "Just Dance". They presented it to Iovine who briefly suggested that the song be given to the group, but Akon felt the song belonged to Gaga. Green produced "Love Gun" for the album, however it wasn't included in the final track listing. Scherzinger described the song as having 60s and 70s influences while the vocals were compared to Tina Turner and Aretha Franklin. The song was later included in his own studio album, The Lady Killer (2010) with vocals featuring Lauren Bennett. Thornton released her version that same year.
Doll Domination is a dance-pop album, with dance, electronic, and R&B elements. Critics noted that it follows the same formula as their debut album; self-assuring themes, sultry lyrics and thumping dance beats. Thornton describes describes the album as vocally diverse, that blends R&B, hip-hop, slow jams, alternative, and soft rock. It aims to showcase group's vocal abilities while evolving musically with more mature themes, like in "I Hate This Part".
Doll Domination opens with "When I Grow Up", an uptempo electropop song, built around "bouncy synth lines" and a "thudding" bassline and alongside heavy usage of sirens, handclaps and pitch-shifted vocals. Scherzinger adopts similar vocal stylings on the song to Spears. Described as the album's ideological centerpiece, it celebrates fame, luxury, and youth-driven materialism and acts as a manifesto of celebrity culture. Thornton highlights the lyrics "Be careful what you wish for; 'Cause you just might get it," which serves as a warning regarding succes in the entertainment industry. Electronica track "Bottle Pop" features rapper Snoop Dogg. It uses sexual innuendo with Scherzinger adopting "breathy vocals". In "Whatcha Think About That", the Pussycat Dolls adopt a spunky attitude as they assert independence against a controlling boyfriend, reversing gender roles. With three verses of brash, risqué rap, they are joined by rapper Missy Elliott who references Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl" (2008). It is a mid tempo electropop and R&B song which is built around a distinctive bhangra-ish guitar riff. In "I Hate This Part" the group adopts a more polished pop style, moving away from their typical sexual image and opting for a more reflective and melancholic "sad, lonely girl" approach. With lyrics about a dooming relationship, the song sees Scherzinger in a conversation before a breakup. With elements of dance and R&B music, the song's production features a mournful piano, faux strings and syncopated rhythms. In "Takin' Over the World" sees the return of the Dolls signature sound: processed vocal harmonies layered over electro beats. It uses an Australian didgeridoo as they aim for "a global-pop sound". "Out of This Club" is a mid tempo R&B song with a lush beat and simple piano melodies. With lyrics about settling down after a wild party life, Scherzinger "coos and flirts" with featured artist R. Kelly. "Who's Gonna Love You" features a lively dance beat with 80s influences, reminiscent of Janet Jackson's music.
"Happily Never After" is an acoustic ballad, well suited for Scherzinger's vocal range. Using a straightforward melody, she narates a story of a woman who leaves a harmful relationship. Though she starts off uncertain, she ultimately finds a sense of relief. "Magic" features unconventional Middle Eastern rhythms and talking duck samples. It was described as a "dark, dissonant club banger". "Halo" is a grand, synth-driven track with a rich orchestration, featuring prominent beats and a polished synth sound. "In Person" is a lively, jazzy track with a distinctive two-step rhythm. Emulating Tina Turner, Scherzinger threatens to "hurt" and "kick" a deadbeat partner. "Elevator" is "spacey-R&B track" with a lot of catchy hooks. Thornton can be heard singing part of the bridge. "Hush Hush" is pop ballad described to having "down tempo forlornness". Scherzinger's vocals were described as powerful, with her exaggerated pronunciation adding to the dramatic delivery. The song portrays the Pussycat Dolls as strong, independent women who don't depend on men for help. "Love the Way You Love Me" has smooth, polished pop sound with a playful, otherworldly quality. The song "Whatchamacalit" combines J-Pop influences with a style reminiscent of Tim Burton and Danny Elfman. Scherzinger playfully challenges her competitors about her fashion choices and her partner's qualities. The song stands out as the only one where she directly engages with other women. The standard edition of Doll Domination closes with "I'm Done", a soft and gentle ballad.
"Lights, Camera, Action" features New Kids on the Block, with an alternate solo version is featured on their The Block (2008) album. It has a soft, airy quality, where the groups sing about doing a homemade porn recording. In "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps" the group draws from their burlesque influences when it came to re-recording the classic standard. The album additionally features J. R. Rotem's remix of Scherzinger's "Baby Love". The original version is a folk-tinged R&B ballad where she uses a southern twang whilst singing romantical lyrics. On the European double-disc deluxe version of the album, each member was credited to a solo track. The first new track on the second disc is Sutta's "If I Was a Man". It's a dance track that explores the idea of switching roles with a man, imagining how it would feel to treat him the same way he treats her. "Space" sang by Thornton follows, was distinguished for her melismatic vocal runs. Wyatt's cover of Jane Child’s "Don't Wanna Fall in Love" stays true to the original, replicating the backing track closely. The second CD rounds up with Roberts' "Played" and Scherzinger's "Until U Love U".
Four new songs were introduced in the 2009 reissues of the album including, "Top of the World". "Hush Hush; Hush Hush", a house music remix of the song "Hush Hush". It incorporates elements of Gloria Gaynor's 1978 disco song "I Will Survive". "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)" is a pop interpretation of the original Hindi song "Jai Ho" that was included on the soundtrack to the film Slumdog Millionaire (2008). Musically, song preserves the original's electronic dance beats, Japanese taiko drums, and Hindi melodies with vocals of a rough English translation of the Hindi lyrics, sung by Scherzinger. "Painted Windows" was described as having a stomping and distorted sound.
In June 2008, the album's title was revealed on the group's official website. According to Thornton, The title for the album originated during a promotional tour for PCD in London. One of their makeup artists made a remark, describing their busy schedule as "Doll Domination." The group liked the idea and shared it with their label, which also supported the concept. The album's artwork was unveiled through group's official website in August 2008. Photographed by Matthew Rolston, it depicts each member straddled on her own motorcycle bedecked with the initial of their first name. Names of various cities where listed on the road. Scherzinger wears a turquoise bra while three of the members leather jackets over their tight-fitting bustiers. Maura Johnston of Idolator saw the cover as a step for the four members besides Scherzinger "to finally break through and maybe, someday, have personalities of their own."
Doll Domination was first released in Germany on September 19, 2008. In their native country, the album was released on September 23, 2008. Six months after the original, Interscope Records released Doll Domination 2.0 in Australia on April 24, 2009. Doll Domination 2.0 features ten songs, including the remix of "Hush Hush; Hush Hush" and several newly recorded songs. Nick Bond of MTV Australia commented although "confusing [...] releasing a succinct package of the better songs from 'Doll Domination' is actually the smartest move they've made for a while." He ended the review by writing, "while it's looking increasingly unlikely that the group will survive to a third album, this mini-greatest hits makes for a fitting send-off."
On August 3, 2009, Doll Domination 3.0 was released in the UK using the original cover art. It includes all of the songs from the Standard Edition as well as songs from the Mini Collection. It does not include any of the solo songs from the original deluxe edition, nor "Lights, Camera, Action" (featuring New Kids on the Block) or "Top of the World".
The album's lead single "When I Grow Up" was released on May 27, 2008, and serviced to contemporary hit radio stations on June 1, 2008. The single was received favorably by contemporary music critics, many of whom highlighted it as a stand-out track from Doll Domination. The song peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the group's highest-charting single since "Buttons" (2006). The accompanying music video was nominated in five categories at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, and went on to win Best Dance Video.
"Whatcha Think About That", which features guest vocals by American recording artist Missy Elliott, was released and serviced to contemporary hit radio stations on September 9, 2008, as the second single. The song failed to enter the Billboard Hot 100, however it did manage to peak at number nine on the UK Singles Chart. The burlesque-inspired video was directed by Diane Martel and was released in October 6.
"Out of This Club", a collaboration between R. Kelly and Polow da Don, was sent to urban contemporary stations on October 12, 2008, as the third single in the United States. The song debuted and peaked at number 24 on the Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles, a component chart that represents the 25 songs that failed to make an impact on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
"I Hate This Part" was released on October 14, 2008, as the second international single and impacted contemporary hit radio stations on October 20, 2008, as the third single in the United States. The song received positive feedback from music critics, who commended the song's production and Scherzinger's vocals. The song peaked at number eleven on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and topped the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart. It additionally peaked within the top-ten of several international singles charts including in Australia and New Zealand. The accompanying music video was released on October 11, and was filmed in Los Angeles featuring a desert-themed concept.
On February 23, 2009, a remix of "Bottle Pop" was released in New Zealand replacing Snoop Dogg with Devolo. The version featuring Snoop Dogg was released on March 6 as the fourth single in Australia and some European countries. In Oceania, the song achieved a moderate success peaking within the top-twenty in Australia and New Zealand. In the United States, the song topped the Hot Dance Club Play chart.
Following A. R. Rahman's win at the 2009 Academy Awards for Best Original Song and Best Original Score for "Jai Ho" and the soundtrack of Slumdog Millionaire, the English pop version entitled "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)" was released the day after. Nicole Scherzinger was credited as a featured artist, creating tension within the group. The track peaked at number fifteen on the Billboard Hot 100, after charging eighty-five places to make the largest weekly leap from number 100. Internationally, it achieved greater success across Europe and Oceania, reaching the top of the charts in 17 countries including Australia, Finland and Ireland. The accompanying music video recreated the last scene from the movie Slumdog Millionaire.
"Hush Hush; Hush Hush" was solicited to contemporary hit radio stations on May 26, 2009, as the final single of Doll Domination. The song peaked at number seventy-three and forty-one on the United States and Canada respectively. Internationally, the single reached number two in Turkey, ten in Australia, and the top twenty in most European countries. Additionally, the song went on to become the group's sixth consecutive number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart.
The Pussycat Dolls first performed "When I Grow Up" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on May 20, 2008, on June 1 at the 2008 MTV Movie Awards and on June 12 on So You Think You Can Dance. The album was additionally promoted through an episode of the documentary series E! True Hollywood Story, which premiered through E! on May 23 and hosted VH1's special Maxim Hot 100 on May 27. In August 2008, the Pussycat Dolls traveled to Asia to open the 2008 MTV Asia Awards in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, performing "Buttons" and "When I Grow Up" on August 2 and appeared on the second day of the Singfest music festival in Singapore on August 4. On August 29, they performed "When I Grow Up" on Today and several days later performed at the annual charity fundraiser event Fashion Rocks. The group then performed five songs at a Walmart Soundcheck showcase: "I Hate This Part", "Takin' Over the World" and "When I Grow Up" from Doll Domination, and "Buttons" and "Don't Cha" from PCD. Towards the end of September 2008 they traveled to the United Kingdom and performed "When I Grow Up" at the Vodafone Awards, GMTV, This Morning and the Sound and One Night Only and appeared on the covers of The Big Issue and QX.
On October 14, the group traveled to Australia to perform at the Sydney Opera House as part of a series of concerts promoting Xbox 360 and the video game Lips; the following day they performed a two-song set on Sunrise. On October 28, the group performed "Whatcha Think About That" along with Missy Elliott on Dancing with the Stars. On November 21, they performed a medley of "I Hate This Part" and "When I Grow Up" at the 2008 American Music Awards. The performance included stripper poles, and the girls donned all-rubber outfits. On December 12, the group performed "I Hate This Part" on The Hills Finale Live from NYC. The group went on to perform on January 7 on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, on January 18 they performed along with "When I Grow Up" on the 2009 NRJ Music Awards in Cannes, France. "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)" was performed through March and April 2009 on various television appearances: Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (March 10), MuchOnDemand (March 18), on the 2009 Kids' Choice Awards with a medley of "When I Grow Up" (March 28), and on The Ellen DeGeneres Show (April 20). Furthermore, the group performed the song in and episode of One Life to Live. In the episode, the students of Llanview High win a radio contest, bringing the group to perform at their prom. Scheringer cameos in a scene.
At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 51, which indicates "mixed or average reviews", based on 12 reviews. Writing for Billboard, Mariel Concepcion provided a favorable review, opining that the album has all "the elements (self-assuring themes, sultry lyrics and lots of skin-tight latex) to mimic the victory of [PCD]." Steve Jones of USA Today agreed with Concepcion, but added they are "more interested in pushing their brand than pushing boundaries". Writing for Slant Magazine, Sal Cinquemani found that "it was smart to spotlight the, talents of the other pussycats" following the cancellation of Her Name is Nicole. Writing for The Washington Post, Allison Stewart noted that Scherzinger has "more of a central role" and viewed Doll Domination as "a consolation prize" after the multiple delays on her solo album. Jon Pareles of The New York Times noted that the ballads "are a move toward expanding the franchise" seeking "a little empathy along with the attitude". In a more mixed review, Rolling Stone's Christian Hoard singled out several songs but concluded that the record "sounds like the Dolls just threw everything they had against the charts to see if anything would stick."
Elan Priya of The Times wrote that the album "lacks any distinct personality". August Brown from the Los Angeles Times noted that the tracks don't come "within [the] sniffing distance of 'Don't Cha,' [...] Instead, they act out as a "a series of signifiers to other, more interesting, moments in recent pop culture.". Likewise, Ken Capobianco of The Boston Globe stated that the album does not live up to their debut album PCD. Margeaux Watson of Entertainment Weekly graded the album a C− criticizing Doll Domination's longevity "especially for a group that brazenly emphasizes style over substance." Glenn Gamboa of Newsday wrote, "as far as music is concerned, they are not the dominators, they are the dominated," adding that "they sound like they are at the mercy of their songwriters and producers, making for huge swings in quality. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic found it ironic that a group coming from a burlesque revue sings songs about "empowerment, heartbreak, love, fame and wealth, but never about sex." He ended his review writing, "it's a lot better to hear pinups sing a song of striptease than a song of love." Nic Oliver from MusicOMH was also more negative of the record, opining that it is an "album heading straight for the bargain bins" under the file "dispiriting". Katie Toms of The Guardian criticised the album for being "aimed at five-year-old girls".
On his list of the five worst albums of 2008, Chris Willman from Entertainment Weekly placed Doll Domination fifth, criticizing the song's "double entendres" aimed at their "target audience of 15-year-olds". IGN ranked Doll Domination third on their list of the ten worst albums, commenting that it the "record stands out because it is so exceptionally retched." It was voted as the third worst album in the 2008 Popjustice Readers' Poll.
Doll Domination is considered a commercial disappointment. In the United States, it debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 chart selling 79,000 copies in the week ending September 29, according to Nielsen Music. Though it marked their highest peak on the chart, it sold 20,000 copies less than its predecessor in its first week. In the following week, the album dropped to number fourteen. By April 2009, it sold less than 400,000 copies in the US. In Canada, the album debuted and peaked at number three with sales of 12,000. It was certified platinum by the Music Canada for shipments exceeding 80,000 copies. In Australia, the album debuted at number four on the ARIA Albums Chart in October 2008. Following the release of 2.0., it was merged with the original chart entry, re-entering the chart as a single release and reaching a peak position of eight. It received a platinum certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for shipping over 70,000 copies. In New Zealand it debuted at number eight and spent eight weeks in the chart. In 2021, It received a platinum certification from the Recorded Music NZ (RMNZ) for selling 15,000 album-equivalent units.
In the United Kingdom, the album debuted at number four on the UK Albums Chart dated September 28, 2008, selling 31,823 units and eclipsing the number eight debut (23,800 sales) and number seven peak of their debut album PCD. On November 28, 2008, the album was certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). As of May 2009, Doll Domination has sold a total of 205,881 copies in the UK—less than a sixth as many as the PCD, which has sold 1,246,769 copies. In France, Doll Domination debuted at number sixteen on the French Albums Chart on September 29, 2008, staying at that spot for two weeks. It has been certified Gold by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
During the summer of 2008, Ashley Roberts first mentioned the group's intentions to tour in 2009. In October the group announced the first set of dates in the United Kingdom with American R&B singer-songwriter Ne-Yo as an opening act in select UK dates. The following month more European dates were announced along with dates in Oceania for which American recording artist Lady Gaga was announced as the main opening act in both legs. The first leg of Doll Domination Tour began at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre in Aberdeen, Scotland on January 18, 2009, and concluded on February 25 at the Belgrade Arena in Belgrade, Serbia. Before continuing in Oceania, the group opened for Britney Spears' Circus Tour in North America from March 3 to May 3. The tour resumed on May 16 at the Vector Arena in Auckland, New Zealand and concluded on July 31 at the Beirut International Exhibition & Leisure Center in Beirut, Lebanon. Jessica Sutta suffered a back injury during the first Sydney show, leaving the group performing as a foursome throughout the following shows. Twenty-three shows were submitted to Billboard's boxscore grossing $14.3 million, with 231,711 fans attending the performances. During the tour, the group's dissatisfaction over Scherzinger's prominence led to a public outburst by Melody Thornton. While opening for The Circus Starring Britney Spears (2009) in Glendale, Arizona, Melody Thornton addressed the crowd during their break saying, "[...] let me give a shout-out to my family. Thank you for supporting me, even if I'm not featured" referring to the billing of the song, and encouraging the audience to follow their dreams and to "never let anyone stomp on them, ever." Less than a year later, the group formerly disbanded following an initial hiatus.
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Doll Domination.