Doll Domination

The queens of the burlesque striptease grow their turns

In 1995, when the dancing troop The Pussycat Dolls gave their first performances in Los Angeles, only a few people could believe that the band was going to rise to the international stardom. In the beginning of the twenty-first century, the collective was re-formed as the pop-sextet and recorded their debut disc PCD with the globe-wide hit Don't Cha. After that, The Pussycat Dolls became the constant guests at numerous American shows, the stars of many photo sessions, performed along the celebrities like The Black Eyed Peas and Christina Aguilera. They can also boast of a Grammy nomination. Besides, the pop divas launched their own clothing brand for daring and sex appeal girls. In 2007, one of The Pussycat Dolls singers, Nicole Schersinger, started her solo career. However, the singles from her debut attempt were not the expected success, and the project was temporally delayed. The other members of the collective became the guest vocalists on the discs of several stars - thus, Jessica Sutta soloed on a couple of tracks on the latest album by Paul Van Dyk. However, in March 2008, Carmit Bachar left The Pussycat Dolls, and the band became a quintet. This year, the artists decided to come back to the pop scene and released a new album Doll Domination. In order to create it, they featured such glorious producers as Dr. Dre, Timbaland, Eminem, Scott Storch, Fernando Garibay, Ryan Tedder and others. The charming dancers also diversified their repertoire, consisting mostly of the fast club pop tracks, with slow romantic ballads.

Doll Domination: the broadened repertoire and feminist lyrics

The album starts with the single When I Grow Up, having an excellent club beat. In this song, The Pussycat Dolls dream of becoming worldwide superstars. Taking in consideration their activities, one can say that the girls do not dream in vain. It is followed by Bottle Pop (Feat. Snoop Dogg), featuring Snoop Dogg as the guest star, and the brilliant composition Whatcha Think About That (Feat. Missy Elliott) with the entirely feminist lyrics. The rap part by Missy Elliott became the most winding element of the song. The piercing tune I Hate This Part, devoted to the theme of breakup, shows The Pussycat Dolls in a new image - one can find that they can be sorrowful and sad about the parting with a sweetheart. The low-tempo club track Out Of This Club (Feat. R. Kelly & Polow Da Don) with the memorable beat was decorated by the presence of two celebrities - no doubt, it became one of the strongest moments on Doll Domination. The romantic piano ballad Happily Never After is filled with the ideas of emancipation and draws a picture of a girl, who leaves bolts the relationships that lost the sense. The song was written by the prolific hit author and artist Ne-Yo, he also takes the part of the beloved, who looks his girl leaving him. On the track In Person, the girls demonstrate the eagerness to use power to the opposite sex, if somebody tries to abuse them somehow. The same time, in the playful and energetic R&B-pop tune Whatchamacallit, one can easily feel the touch of Timbaland's talent.

The Pussycat Dolls give way to Nicole Schersinger

There is an important fact about the disc that should be stated at once. On the previous disc, The Pussycat Dolls made a comparatively equal vocal contribution. On the Doll Domination long-play, they unanimously and fully give the rule to Nicole Schersinger. She performs all the leading parts on all the tracks - except for the deluxe edition, where each member of the quintet solos in one song of the five. The other four girls only make the additional vocals in order to create the relaxed and bravely burlesque atmosphere, with which they are popular. It seems like The Pussycat Dolls decided to follow their women solidarity and make something like a jumping-off ground out of the Doll Domination disc in order to help the solo activity by Nicole, as her personal career seems to be not that good she would like to. Nevertheless, such approach neither damaged the disc nor benefited it - The Pussycat Dolls' sound is the same: playful and bravado. As for the lyrics, the girls followed the established tradition of their collective and demonstrated their independence of the men, their concern for the appearance and love for entertainments. Although the tint of sentiment, brought in by the ballads, pleasantly refreshed the themes, explored by The Pussycat Dolls. As for the music, one should praise the work of the more than impressing producer command, which brilliantly hit the target. The small minus is that the disc seems less integral than the debut PCD. Overall, The Pussycat Dolls issued a qualitative and tuneful disc, fitting for both everyday use and a party event.