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Doll Domination is the second studio album by American girl group the Pussycat Dolls, released on September 19, 2008 by Interscope Records. Following the success of their debut studio album, PCD (2005), Nicole Scherzinger attempted to launch her solo career with Her Name is Nicole; however after four unsuccessful singles and a number of push-backs, Scherzinger decided to focus on the group's second album. The album's release was preceded by 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 Ne-Yo. Additionally four songs recorded for Her Name is Nicole were given by Scherzinger as she felt that the songs were better suited for the group. Doll Domination follows the same formula as PCD featuring up-tempo and pop genres, ranging from R&B and dance-pop to electro music.

Doll Domination generally received mixed to negative reviews from music critics, who criticized it's anonymity, longevity and material that doesn't live up to it's predecessor while noting the minor input the other four members had. It debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 becoming the group's highest charting album; however the album is considered a commercial disappointment. It experienced similar peaks on the charts, debuting at number three in Canada and number four in Australia and the United Kingdom

Seven singles were released from the album which included the international hits "When I Grow Up", "I Hate This Part" and "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)"—which credited Scherzinger as featured artist—charted in the top twenty of the Billboard Hot 100. Additionally the former two alongside "Bottle Pop" and "Hush Hush; Hush Hush" topped the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart. The Pussycat Dolls have performed songs from the album on different occasions, including the 2008 American Music Awards, as well as in other events and on television. To further support the album, the group embarked on their second headlining concert tour, entitled the Doll Domination Tour.

Background
The Pussycat Dolls previous album PCD (2005) was a commercial success selling up to 2.9 million records in the United States. The album featured three top ten hits including the international breakthrough single "Don't Cha". The success brought the group a wide array of spin-offs which included a CW reality series, The Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll. Executively produced by the Pussycat Dolls founder Robin Antin, her brother Steven Antin, record executive Jimmy Iovine, and television producers McG and Ken Mok, the goal of the show was add a seventh member to the group who would join them in recording their second studio album and future tour endeavors. Its finale on April 24 revealed Asia Nitollano to be the winner of the competition. Following her win, she joined the group in a performance of their debut single "Don't Cha". However, several months later, it was revealed that Nitollano had actually quit the group shortly after the finale aired to pursue a solo career.

In March 2007, Scherzinger announced that her debut studio album would be titled Her Name is Nicole and was initially scheduled for a release in late summer. After two years of projected release dates and four singles—"Whatever U Like", Baby Love", "Supervillain", and "Puakenikeni"—failed to make any significant impact on the Billboard charts, Scherzinger decided not to release any further singles from the album and at her request, Her Name Is Nicole was shelved and shifted back focus back on the Doll's second album. Entertainment Weekly noted the delays of Her Name Name is Nicole could "hamper the group’s momentum." On March 3, 2008 Carmit Bachar announced via the group's website 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. Several days later, they performed for the first time as a five-piece for the Operation MySpace concert which honored US troops stationed in Kuwait.

Development
Prior recording began, Entertainment Weekly reported that their label would rework some of Scherzinger’s discarded solo tracks for the group's next album, with Scherzinger commencing work on PCDs follow up in February 2008. Doll Domination includes four songs that were originally recorded for Her Name is Nicole: "Who's Gonna Love You", which was first previewed on Scherzinger's website a year prior, "Happily Never After," and future singles "When I Grow Up" and "I Hate This Part." Scherzinger cited that she felt as if the songs were more suited as a Pussycat Dolls song than her own. "Happily Never After" was originally written by American R&B singer-songwriter Ne-Yo for pop singer Britney Spears to record for her fifth studio album Blackout (2007). However, after Spears' public meltdown, Ne-Yo lost contact with her management, and allowed Scherzinger to record "Happily Never After" as she purchased them first. 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."

In March 2008, in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Ron Fair stated that the group had recorded 5 songs for the album and would be working with past collaborators such as Timbaland, CeeLo Green and Sean Garrett. Green produced a song titled "Love Gun" which was described to have a "60s/70s vibe" with Tina Turner/Aretha Franklin-like vocals. The song wasn't included in the final track listing and was later included on his own studio album, The Lady Killer (2010) featuring Lauren Bennett. Several days later, Scherzinger acknowledged that Timbaland is going to be the executive producer of Doll Domination. She stated that "he had his own visions of what he wanted for the group."

The album was recorded at the 2nd Floor Studios in Orlando, Chalice Studios in Los Angeles, Record Plant in Hollywood, Irvine Spot in Irvine, Zac Studio, The Carrington House in Atlanta, The Boiler Room in Santa Monica, Cutfather Studios in Copenhagen, The Chocolate Factory in Chicago, Recording Studios in East Orange and The Hit Factory in Miami.

. Hilary Lewis from the Business Insider viewed this moved as economical. However he couldn’t get in touch with the singer or her management following her public meltdown.

Composition
Doll Domination comprises sixteen tracks on the standard edition and twenty-one on the deluxe edition—five of which are songs credited to each individual member. In terms of musical composition, critics noted that it follows the same formula as their debut album; self-assuring themes, sultry lyrics and thumping dance beats.

The album opens up with "When I Grow Up" an uptempo R&B and electropop song which is centered around the desire to be famous when one grows up. Nic Oliver from musicOMH opined that the track "sets the template for the rest of the album." "Bottle Pop" which features Snoop Dogg consists of "breathy vocals, funky electronica and sexual innuendo." Whatcha Think About That" is a mid tempo electropop and R&B song which is built around a distinctive bhangra-ish guitar riff. The song features three verses from American female rapper Missy Elliott who joins the group "for a boy-baiting session." The fourth track "I Hate This Part" is an emotive ballad speaking about the conversation before a breakup. "Takin' Over the World" "goes for these [girls] idea of global-pop" over "cool electro grooves." The sixth track, "Out of This Club" which features American rapper R. Kelly and producer Polow da Don is "a slow jam" consisting of "rudimentary piano melodies" and uses "plush beat against a romantic chorus."  "Who's Gonna Love You" is Doll Domination's tenth track. It has been noted to have Janet Jackson influences, as well as "shimmering 80s gloss." In "Happily Never After" Scherzinger narrates the story of a woman who walks out on a dead-end relationship. "Magic" uses Middle Eastern rhythms. "In Person" evokes the works of Tina Turner. "Halo" was described as an "over-the-top, synthetically orchestrated epic." "Hush Hush" is an "empowering ballad" that rests on a "sparse production," where Scherzinger laments over a dead relationship.

On "Whatchamacallit" Scherzinger "sasses competitors wanting to know about her fashion sources and her man's abilities."

Critical response
Doll Domination received mixed to negative reviews from music critics. 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. 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 that "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." 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."

On his list of the five worst albums of 2008, Chris Willman from Entertainment Weekly placed Doll Domination fifth, criticizing the songs "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.

Singles
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 Billboard Hot 100, becoming the group's highest charting single since "Buttons" (2006). "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. "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 in October 14, 2008 as the second international single and impacted contemporary hit radio stations on October 20, 2008 as the fourth 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.

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. On February 23, a remix of was released in New Zealand replacing Snoop Dogg with Devolo. "Bottle Pop" 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.

A remix of "Hush Hush" re-titled "Hush Hush; Hush Hush" was released as Doll Domination's as the seventh and final single from the album on May 12, 2009. Its single release received widespread media attention; as with "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)", Scherzinger was initially billed as a featured artist causing further dissatisfaction within the group and a public outburst by Melody Thornton.

Track listing

 * Notes
 * undefined signifies a co-producer
 * undefined signifies a vocal producer
 * undefined signifies an additional producer


 * Samples
 * "When I Grow Up" samples "He's Always There" as written by Jim McCarty and Paul Samwell-Smith performed by The Yardbirds.
 * "Whatcha Think About That" samples "Je M'appelle Jane" as written by Mickael Furnon performed by Jane Birkin.
 * "Hush Hush; Hush Hush" samples "I Will Survive" as written by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris and quotation of the original string arrangement by David Blumberg performed by Gloria Gaynor.

Certifications