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The Pussycat Dolls are an American music, dance and burlesque ensemble founded by choreographer Robin Antin in 1995. It began as a dance troupe based in Los Angeles, was "re-cast" as a music group in 2003, and expanded in 2005 with a parallel troupe at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The group released their first single in 2004, and have gone on to international commercial success.
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Sources claim that Robin Antin began exploring the idea of a modern burlesque troupe in 1993 with her friend Linh Le and Christina Applegate (both friends since middle school); the troupe's first performance was in 1995. During this period they performed with numerous guest vocalists (see list below), with a repertoire of 1950s and 1960s pop standards and dressed in lingerie or old-fashioned pin-up costumes.
They secured a Thursday night residency at Los Angeles nightclub "The Viper Room", where they stayed from 1995 to 2001. In June 1999 Playboy ran a Pussycat Dolls pictorial, featuring at least contemporary members Kasey Campbell, Kiva Dawson, Antonietta Macri, Erica Breckels, Katie Bergold, Erica Gudis and Lindsley Allen. In 2002 they moved to The Roxy. The group became internationally popular and was featured in magazines, television specials for MTV and VH1, ad campaigns, and movies. Some of the Pussycat Dolls appeared in the 2003 film Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle dancing to "The Pink Panther Theme".
Carmen Electra was the group's lead performer for many of their shows. She said: "I was part of the Dolls for two years and did every show with them... but financially, I couldn't become part of their new music project... It was a financial sacrifice I couldn't make." She did, however, make a cameo appearance in the music video for "Don't Cha".
With the involvement of music producers Jimmy Iovine and Ron Fair, the Pussycat Dolls were re-cast, transformed into a Pop / R&B recording group, and signed up as employees of Iovine's label Interscope Records.
In 2003, Electra formed another burlesque troupe called The Bombshell Babies, which included ex-Dolls Staci Flood and Nadine Ellis.
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In 2003, Nicole Scherzinger, a former member of Popstars winners Eden's Crush, became the group's lead singer. The group's lineup from 2003-2006 was Scherzinger; Carmit Bachar (who joined in 1995); Kimberly Wyatt, Ashley Roberts (who joined in 2001); Jessica Sutta (who joined in 2002); Melody Thornton, (who joined in 2003). Asia Nitollano joined in 2007 when she won Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll. By the time the recording group were launched, their stage costumes were developed to bear various branding and "PCD" logos, which preceded the sales of a branded clothing range and other merchandise (via websites and at performances).
They opened the MTV Asia Awards 2004. In September and October 2004, the soundtrack CDs for the films Shark Tale and Shall We Dance? were released, each containing one track by the Pussycat Dolls. "Sway" from Shall We Dance? became the group's first single and first music video.
The Pussycat Dolls released their debut album, PCD, in 2005. It debuted at number five on the Billboard 200, selling about 100,000 copies, and spawned seven singles. The first single from PCD, "Don't Cha" (with rapper Busta Rhymes), a cover of the Tori Alamaze single, became the group's first hit.[citation needed] The follow-up, "Stickwitu", became the group's first U.S. number one Billboard Pop Radio hit, selling over three million digital downloads and CDs worldwide[citation needed] and becoming their second number-one single in the U.K. The third single, "Beep" (with rapper will.i.am. A subsequent single, "Buttons" (with rapper Snoop Dogg) reached number three[citation needed] on the UK singles chart; the next single "I Don't Need a Man" wasn't as successful. The group's sixth single from the album was "Wait A Minute", released in the U.S. in August 2006.
The group won a Billboard Music Award for "Don't Cha" (Ralphi Rosario mix) as Hot Dance Music/Club Play Single of the Year. The song was also nominated for Top-Selling Single of the Year and Top-Selling Dance Single of the Year.
At the SXSW music conference in 2006, Interscope lawyer Darryl Franklin said, during a panel discussion, that the contract with the group specifies that its members are salaried employees of the record label and, by design, interchangeable. The label also controls merchandise, websites and all other commercial aspects of the group and its income, excluding song publishing.
In 2006, San Francisco-based company Doppelganger (along with Interscope Records) launched the PCD Music Lounge, an interactive website.
On the June 30 VSpot Top 20 Countdown, host Matt Pinfield announced that Scherzinger has written twelve new songs for the follow-up album to 2005's PCD. The second album will be released in late 2007, and entitled Double the Trouble. It will feature collaborations with Lil' Kim and Christina Aguilera, as confirmed in an interview early April 2007.[citation needed]
On July 12, 2006 the single "Don't Cha" was certified gold and platinum.
In late 2006, the Pussycat Dolls were also featured in a commercial for Cingular Wireless along with Ludacris and KoRn
During 2005 and 2006, Scherzinger prepared her debut solo album, "Her Name Is Nicole...", due for release in October 2007. Her first single, "Whatever U Like", is set for a release in July 2007.
The group received a Grammy nomination on December 7, 2006, in the Best Pop Performance By a Duo or Group category for their hit ballad "Stickwitu". Later that month, the group was selected to perform for the introduction for ABC's coverage of the NBA. In 2007, a version of "Right Now" is being used as a theme song for the NBA, the lyrics have been altered.
On March 14, 2007, the Pussycat Dolls performed at the Manchester Evening News Arena in a concert that was streamed live via MSN Music.
In 2007, Interscope announced that they are looking for a "summer hit" from the group; and to mark the premiere of the "Next Doll" Asia Nitollano, they are going to release a cover version of "Lady Marmalade".
In 2006, the Pussycat Dolls performed live shows in North America supporting the Black Eyed Peas. As headliners they toured the UK, Europe, Philippines and Malaysia.
On August 8, 2006, after a Dolls concert in Kuala Lumpur, their concert promoter, Absolute Entertainment, was charged with flouting Malaysian decency laws. The Malay Mail quoted Culture Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Mohamad Arif Abdul Rahman as saying: "I believe the way the Pussycat Dolls behaved onstage amounted to gross indecency". The charge was settled by paying a fine of RM5000 (US$1358).
From November 2006 to January 2007, the Pussycat Dolls toured the U.K. and Ireland alongside Rihanna.
In 2007, the Pussycat Dolls are touring North America as a support act for Christina Aguilera's Back to Basics Tour, along with Danity Kane.
On July 7, 2007, the Pussycat Dolls performed at the UK leg of Live Earth at Wembley Stadium, London.
The Pussycat Dolls' repertoire includes contemporary R&B, pop, and cover versions. The original songs are mostly written by professional songwriters and/or producers; Scherzinger is the only group member to have co-written any tracks. The covers often fit within the traditions of burlesque, cabaret, and drag shows; featuring musical vamps and flirtatious choreography.
Their recorded cover versions include: "We Went as Far as We Felt like Going" (Labelle), "Sway" (Dean Martin), "Santa Baby" (Eartha Kitt), "Feelin' Good" (Nina Simone), "Tainted Love" (Gloria Jones/Soft Cell), "Where Did Our Love Go" (The Supremes/Soft Cell), a mash-up of Donna Summer's "Hot Stuff" with Siobhan Fahey's "Bitter Pill", "Right Now" (Mel Tormé), and "Don't Cha" (Tori Alamaze).
Their live cover versions have included: "It's Oh So Quiet" (Betty Hutton/Björk), "Big Spender" (Chita Rivera/Shirley Bassey), "Fever" (Peggy Lee), "The Pink Panther Theme" (Henry Mancini), "These Boots Are Made For Walking" (Nancy Sinatra), and "Whole Lotta Love" (Led Zeppelin).
Press releases for and interviews with the Pussycat Dolls or Robin Antin have often included statements about the group representing or modeling "empowerment" of women and girls. This empowerment includes (but is not restricted to) encouraging women to be openly expressive of sexual desire, and to "take control" in their relationships. In this, and other aspects, they take a similar approach to the Spice Girls and their promotion of "Girl Power".
In parallel to the Pussycat Dolls as a recording R&B act, in April 2005 a resident live show commenced at the "Pussycat Dolls Lounge" adjacent to Pure Nightclub in Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip. This show contains eight "cast members" who continue the burlesque-style show which began in Los Angeles in 1995. In 2006 the cast included vocalist Jamie Preston. The venue is operated by Pure Management Group, Robin Antin has some involvement, but it is unclear whether Interscope also have a financial interest. The Pussycat Dolls recording group have made occasional appearances. "Special guests" have included: Eva Longoria (April 2005); Nicolette Sheridan (Feb 2006); Pamela Anderson (April 2006); and Denise Richards (June 2006).
In February 2007, Caesars Palace opened the Pussycat Dolls Casino located across from the Pussycat Dolls Lounge. It features "Dolls-style" decor and attire for the gaming staff, waitresses and dancers.
Coincidentally, they appeared twice on the hit TV series Las Vegas. The first appearance was with Vanessa Marcil (Sam) performing with them. The second was when they first became international popstars with "Don't Cha" and performed the song on the show.
On 11 December 2006, The Daily Mirror reported that Jimmy Iovine, with help from will.i.am, will be creating a "UK version" of the Pussycat Dolls. Contrary to early reports, Alesha Dixon will not be one of the performers in the new group.
In April 2006 The New York Times reported that Interscope executives are working to produce their own reality TV series overseen by the producers of America's Next Top Model and McG, the director of Charlie's Angels and Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle. The show, entitled Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll will search for a new member for the troupe.[10] The new member will sing on the next album and will tour with the group. The show premiered on The CW, on March 6, 2007. It premiered in Australia and the U.K. on April 1. The Season finale announced the winner of the show, and the 7th member of the group to be Asia Nitollano.
In 2006, Interscope engaged the Californian company BandMerch to distribute a range of merchandise, including clothing and other items, linked through the group's official website.
In a merchandising agreement with Interscope in 2006, toy manufacturer Hasbro had plans for a line of dolls modelled after the Pussycat Dolls, and reportedly aimed at six to nine-year-olds. The groups "Dads and Daughters" and the "Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood" successfully lobbied the company to scrap the plan because they felt that the Pussycat Dolls would have been inappropriate for children, due to the overtly sexual nature of the Pussycat Dolls' songs, videos and live shows.
In 2006, Interscope also negotiated a deal with Estée Lauder for a Pussycat Dolls line of cosmetics under the Stila brand.[11]
In 2007, the Pussycat Dolls have their own shoe collection retailing in Van Haren stores in the Netherlands.
In September 2006, it was reported that the Pussycat Dolls had re-recorded "Don't Cha" in Simlish for inclusion in the computer game The Sims 2 Pets.[12]
In November 2006, it was reported that the Pussycat Dolls appear in character form in the computer game Asphalt 2: Urban GT.
Main article: The Pussycat Dolls discography
Year
Title
Chart positions
Album
U.S.
UK
CAN
AUS
NZ
GER
NL
EU
LT
"Don't Cha" (featuring Busta Rhymes)
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
PCD
"Stickwitu"
5
1
9
2
1
11
2
4
1
"Beep" (featuring Will.i.am)
13
2
48
3
1
5
2
1
4
"Buttons" (featuring Snoop Dogg)
3
3
14
2
1
4
6
1
2
"I Don't Need a Man"
93
7
11
6
7
20
4
14
6
"Wait a Minute" (featuring Timbaland)
28
138
24
16
24
27
7
10
3
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Main article: List of The Pussycat Dolls awards
