Whatcha Think About That

"Whatcha Think About That" is a song recorded by American girl group The Pussycat Dolls from their second studio album, Doll Domination (2008). Produced by Esther Dean, Melissa Elliott, Mickael Furnon, Jamal Jones and Jason Perry. It was released as the third single in the United Kingdom and France and second in the United States. The electropop song has bhangra-style beats with R&B elements. The song received mixed reviews, with critics stating that it was "disappointing after the hyperactive pop brilliance of 'When I Grow Up'."

"Whatcha Think About That"
Single by The Pussycat Dolls featuring Missy Elliott
from the album Doll Domination
ReleasedSeptember 9, 2008 (2008-09-09)
Studio
  • Zac Studio (Atlanta)
  • Boiler Room (Santa Monica)
Genre
Length3:48
LabelInterscope
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
The Pussycat Dolls singles chronology
"When I Grow Up"
(2008)		 "Whatcha Think About That"
(2008)		 "Out of This Club"
(2008)
Missy Elliott singles chronology
"Bad Girl"
(2008)		 "Whatcha Think About That"
(2008)		 "Let's Just Do It"
(2009)
Music video
"Whatcha Think About That" on YouTube

The song didn't manage to get that much attention after their two previous single. In the United States it didn't manage to chart on Hot 100. However, outside of the United States, the song peaked within the top ten of the charts in the United Kingdom and the top twenty of the charts in neighboring Republic of Ireland. The accompanying burlesque-themed music video portrayed the Dolls in different routines including dancing on a rotating platform and on a horizontal bar. They performed the song three times on television including on the seventh season of Dancing with the Stars along with Missy Elliott and on the British daytime television show, This Morning.

Background

Following the commercial success of PCD (2005), lead vocalist Nicole Scherzinger opted to pursue in her solo career, and began to work on her own solo album under the title, Her Name is Nicole. However, due to poor lack of success of her singles, Scherzinger focused back on the Pussycat Dolls, and recording commenced for their second studio album, Doll Domination.[1]

"Whatcha Think About That" was written by Ester Dean, Elliot and Jamal Jones who also produced the song. Mickael Furnon of the French rock group Mickey 3D received co-writing credits for the song, for its sample of "Je M'appelle Jane". Dean also handled the vocal production of the song along with Ron Fair. The Pussycat Dolls and Elliot's vocals were recorded in two separate studios at Zac Studio in Atlanta, Georgia and The Boiler Room Studio in Santa Monica, California by Mike “Angry” Eleoploulos, Tal Herzberg, Tony Terrebonne, Aubry "Big Juice" Delaine and Matt Wheeler with the assistance of Johnathan Merritt and Bryan Morton. The song was mixed by Dave Pensado and Jayson Joshua. Missy Elliot appears of The Goldmind Inc./Atlantic Records.[2] On August 29, 2008 Rap-Up announced that the song would be released as the second single of Doll Domination and also unveiled the cover art. The song was available for digital download and was sent to contemporary hit radio on September 9.[3]

Composition

An album track of three minutes and forty-eight seconds,[4] "Whatcha Think About That" is a midtempo,[5] electropop[5] song with R&B influences.[6] A sample of "Je M'appelle Jane" by Jane Birkin runs throughout the song. The song is built around a distinctive bhangra-ish guitar riff[5] and has a "spunky attitude".[6] The song features resourceful vocals from Scherzinger.[7] Maura of the website Idolator wrote that the song is a reminiscent of Whitney Houston's song "I'm Your Baby Tonight" (1990).[8]

The song features three verses from Missy Elliott,[9] who joins the Dolls for a "boy-baiting session".[5] She uses brash rap and risqué lyrics in lines such as, "You ain't gonna get no more pussy... cat".[10] In her lines, she references Katy Perry and her song "I Kissed a Girl" teasing, "Up in that club it's just me and my girls, play like Katy Perry kissing on girls."[6] Samesame.com.au noted that Elliott's rapping is coherent with the Dolls’ signature style".[11] Lyrically, the song is about a woman getting rid of her no-good-controlling-waste-of-space lover,[5] while Jon Pareles of The New York Times wrote that the song "proposes that her man stay home while she goes club hopping".[12] Nicole Scherzinger said that Missy Elliott "[takes] the Pussycat Dolls to a whole other level."[13]

Reception

Critical

The Times music reviewer Elan Priya noted that "Whatcha Think About That" is an exception in an album that "lacks any distinct personality" and highlighted Missy Elliot's rap.[14] Alex Fletcher of Digital Spy gave the song three out five stars describing the song as "vibrant" adding "[the song] finds the pop troupe somewhere near the top of their game".[6] Samesame.com.au called the song "sensational".[11] Vicki Lutas from BBC Radio 1 praised Missy Elliott's contribution to the song, complimenting the introduction. "Of course, the song's greatness isn't all down to Missy Elliott alone – the Dolls certainly give it life – but it's safe to say that she does make this song just that little bit more distinctive"[10] Allison Stewart of The Washington Post wondered if it is the least objectionable song the group has ever done and described it as a "nifty tale of sexual role reversal."[15]

However, Nic Oliver in a review of Doll Domination from MusicOMH wrote, identikit urban beats, sleepwalking guest parts from Snoop Dogg and Missy Elliott, and lyrics that might as well have been written by a sophomore student on a weekend bender for all the depth on offer.[16] A critic from entertainment.ie echoed Oliver's comments writing, " [they] lower[ed] themselves to new levels of cheese with their contributions.[17] In earlier review from Digital Spy, Nick Levine wrote that, "[its] slightly disappointing after the hyperactive pop brilliance of 'When I Grow Up'".[5] Spence D. of IGN agreed writing, "the cool electro shock ambiance and unloads a much more straight forward pop angle that's missing some of the futuro risqué elements that made the two prior songs ['When I Grow Up and 'Bottle Pop') so catchy."[18] Slant Magazine music reviewer Sal Cinquemani did not favored the song calling it a "pure filler" despite the presence of Missy Elliott.[9]

Chart performance

In the United States, "Whatcha Think About That" failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, but it peaked at number 8 on the US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles on September 27, 2008 while on the Canadian Hot 100 the song debuted and peaked at number 66.[19]

In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at number thirty-six on the UK Singles Chart on February 1, 2009 ― for the week ending date February 7, 2009 ― replacing "I Hate This Part".[20] On March 1, 2009 ― for the week ending date March 7, 2009 ― the song peaked at number nine.[21] In the Republic of Ireland the song peaked at number twelve on the Irish Singles Chart on February 12, 2009.[22] "Whatcha Think About That" peaked at number thirty-seven, in the European Hot 100.[23]

In October 2018 the song was certified Silver by the BPI for sales exceeding 200,000 units.[24]

Music video

The music video for "Whatcha Think About That" was filmed in September 9–10, 2008 in Los Angeles, with Diane Martel serving as the director. Melody Thornton spoke to Rap-Up about the concept of the video. "It's kinda like a throwback to the original Pussycat Dolls were we started out at Johnny Depp's Viper Room, and the whole burlesque-cabaret feel, and the choreography was very Fosse inspired and very stylized."[25]

Synopsis

The video starts with Missy Elliott singing her lines, and then switches to each of the Dolls singing a line of the song: Kimberly Wyatt, flexing her leg, then on a swing, Jessica Sutta popping gum; Thornton brushing her hair and Roberts puffing powder in her chest. The video centers on two plots: one shows the Dolls dressing for, and then actually performing, one of their famous Lounge Shows, clad in the exotic burlesque outfits for which they are known. After their introduction on the swing, the video cuts to scenes from the other storyline, where Scherzinger leaves behind her controlling partner, and goes out to have fun. She is shown turning a large key into a neon door, and steps out into the town, where she is joined by the other Dolls, and they walk the runway while singing the song's chorus. Returning to the other plot, the five girls are shown in lingerie in their dressing room, and the camera switches to Scherzinger as she sings the verse, and the other Dolls as they dress and apply make up. The remainder of the video focuses on the PCD burlesque show. The girls are shown on a rotating platform, then on a horizontal bar dancing and singing seductively in their vintage corsets and burlesque outfits. The scene changes, showing Elliott performing her rap, while the Dolls, dressed in seductive military outfits, perform a sexy army dance, accentuated by salutes and military steps. At the climax, the Dolls appear dressed in modern burlesque outfits, dancing intricately on a stage and Thornton singing the ad-libs. The video ends with Elliott performing her last lines, surrounded by the girls. This is also crosscut with scenes showing the silhouette of the Dolls as they continue to dance. Finally, the girls are again shown on swings, with Scherzinger singing the song's last lines.

Reception

A reviewer from Rap-Up wrote that "The Pussycat Dolls turn up the heat in their smolderin’ burlesque-inspired clip."[26] MTV News compared the music video of "Whatcha Think About That" to Danity Kane's "Bad Girls", concluding: "We like the Dolls' video better, but prefer the vocal stylings of [Danity Kane] for the simple reason that their song sounds less like a lesson in robotics and more like actual singing."[27]

Live performances

The Pussycat Dolls first performed "Whatcha Think About That" on October 28, 2008 on Dancing with the Stars.[28] Rap-Up commented about their performance. "The girls sounded a mess here. On the bright side, it looks like Missy lost some weight."[28] The song was also performed throughout their second headlining tour, Doll Domination Tour.[29]

Track listing

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Doll Domination.[37]

Recording
  • Recorded at Zac Studio (Atlanta, Georgia); The Boiler Room (Santa Monica, California)
Personnel
  • Ester Dean – songwriter, vocal production
  • Aubry "Big Juice" Delaine – recording
  • Mike "Angry" Eleopoulos – recording
  • Missy Elliott – songwriter, background vocals
  • Eric Florence – tuba
  • Ron Fair – vocal production, string arrangement and conduct
  • Mickaël Furnon – songwriter
  • Tal Herzberg – recording, Pro Tools
  • Jamal Jones – songwriter, producer
  • Jaycen Joshua – mixing
  • Johnathan Merritt – assistant recording
  • Bryan Morton – assistant recording
  • Dave Pensado – mixing
  • Jason Perry – keyboards
  • Lissy Rosemond – banjo
  • Tony Terrebonne – recording
  • Matt Wheeler – recording
  • Andrew Wuepper – mixing

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[44] Silver 200,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Radio add and release history
Region Date Format Label
United States September 9, 2008 Top 40,[45] digital download[30] Interscope
Canada Digital download[31]
United Kingdom October 21, 2008[32] EP Polydor
February 23, 2009[46] CD single
gollark: ... you mean the Planck time or something?
gollark: Actually, picolightyears sounds better as light picoyears.
gollark: Or maybe just light nanoseconds or something.
gollark: Picolightyears.
gollark: No, ridiculous.

References
  1. Maura (September 22, 2008). "'Her Name Is Nicole' Exists, Sort Of". Idolator. Buzz Media. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  2. Doll Domination (poster). The Pussycat Dolls. Interscope Records. 2009.CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. "New Music: Pussycat Dolls f/ Missy Elliott – 'Whatcha Think About That'". Rap-Up. August 29, 2008. Retrieved September 30, 2013.
  4. "Whatcha Think About That: The Pussycat Dolls: MP3 Downloads". Retrieved 2011-08-28.
  5. Levine, Nick (2008-08-29). "Another new Pussycat Dolls single". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  6. Fletcher, Alex (February 10, 2009). "Pussycat Dolls: 'Whatcha Think About That'". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  7. Richardson, Jordan (September 21, 2008). "Music Review: Pussycat Dolls – Doll Domination". Blogcritics. Technorati, Inc. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
  8. Maura (October 7, 2008). "Missy Elliott Makes Me Sad". Idolator. (Buzzmedia). Retrieved August 28, 2011.
  9. Cinquemani, Sal (September 22, 2008). "Pussycat Dolls: Doll Domination". Slant Magazine. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
  10. Lutas, Vicki (February 19, 2009). "BBC – Chart Blog: Pussycat Dolls – 'Whatcha Think About That'". BBC Music. BBC. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
  11. Staff Reporter (October 28, 2008). "CD – Pussycat Dolls – Doll Domination". Samesame.com.au. Sound Alliance. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  12. Pareles, Jon (September 21, 2008). "Critics' Choice – New Releases From the Pussycat Dolls, DJ Khaled, Kings of Leon and Volcano!". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
  13. Vena, Jocelyn (2008-10-16). "Pussycat Dolls Say Missy Elliott Takes Their New Single 'To A Whole Other Level'". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2010-12-03.
  14. "Pussycat Dolls: Doll Domination". The Times. September 13, 2008. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  15. "Pussycat Dolls: Doll Domination". The Washington Post. September 2, 2008. Archived from the original on September 3, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  16. Oliver, Nick. "Pussycat Dolls – Doll Domination | album reviews". MusicOMH. Retrieved 2010-06-25.
  17. "Pussycat Dolls - Doll Domination".
  18. "Pussycat Dolls - Doll Domination Review". 2008-09-23.
  19. "Chart Search: The Pussycat Dolls". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
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  23. "Whatcha Think About That – The Pussycat Dolls – Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
  24. "BPI Awards". BPI.
  25. "Rap-Up TV – Pussycat Doll Melody Thornton". Rap-Up. Devin Lazerine. 2008-09-25. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
  26. "Video: Pussycat Dolls f/ Missy Elliott – 'Whatcha Think About That'". Rap-Up. Devin Lazerine. 2008-09-25. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
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  28. "Video: T.I. on 'Tyra,' Brandy on 'TRL,' PCD & Missy on 'DWTS". Rap-Up.com (Rap-Up). 2008-10-29. Retrieved 2011-09-02.
  29. "Review of the week: Pussycat Dolls". Irish Independent. February 6, 2009. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  30. "Whatcha Think About That (Remixes) feat. Missy Elliott – Single by The Pussycat Dolls". iTunes. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2010-05-14.
  31. "Whatcha Think About That (Remixes) feat. Missy Elliott – Single by The Pussycat Dolls". iTunes. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2010-05-14.
  32. "Whatcha Think About That – EP by The Pussycat Dolls – Download Whatcha Think About That". iTunes. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2010-05-14.
  33. "The Pussycat Dolls — Whatcha think About That (UK 3 Mobile Exclusive)". Spotify. 2009. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
  34. "The Pussycat Dolls — Whatcha think About That (UK Orange Exclusive)". Spotify. 2009. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
  35. "The Pussycat Dolls — Whatcha think About That (UK T-Mobile Exclusive)". Spotify. 2009. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
  36. "The Pussycat Dolls — Whatcha think About That (UK T-Mobile Exclusive)". Spotify. 2009. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
  37. Doll Domination (Media notes). The Pussycat Dolls. Interscope Records. |access-date= requires |url= (help)CS1 maint: others (link)
  38. "The Pussycat Dolls Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  39. "Chart Track: Week 7, 2009". Irish Singles Chart.
  40. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200911 into search.
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  42. "The Pussycat Dolls Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  43. "Year End Charts 2009" (PDF). Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  44. "British single certifications – The Pussycat Dolls – Whatcha Think About That". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Whatcha Think About That in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  45. "R&R :: Going For Adds :: CHR/Top 40". Radio & Records. 2010-09-09. Archived from the original on 2012-03-16. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
  46. "Pussycat Dolls – Whatcha Think About That (Single) – CD". 2009-02-23. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
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