For anyone who doesn't know all about the Dolls, this from wikipedia:
Biography
1993–2003: Dance troupe beginnings
Some 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 high 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 '50s and '60s pop standards and dressed in lingeriepin-up costumes. and/or old-fashioned
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, 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 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."[1] 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 an 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.
2003-present: Music career
In 2003, Nicole Scherzinger, a former member of Popstars winners Eden's Crush, became the group's lead singer. The group's current lineup is Scherzinger; Carmit Bachar (who joined in 1995); Kimberly Wyatt, Ashley Roberts (who joined in 2001); Jessica Sutta (who joined in 2002); and Melody Thornton, (who joined in 2003). 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 Dolls. "Sway" from Shall We Dance?music video. also became their first single and first
In 2005, The Pussycat Dolls released their debut album PCD. It debuted at #5 on the BillboardDon't Cha" (with Busta Rhymes), a cover of the moderate hit Tori Alamaze single, became their first major hit. The follow-up, "Stickwitu", became the group's first U.S. # 1 Billboard Pop Radio hit. It went on to sell well over 3 million digital downloads and CDs worldwide and became their second #1 single in a row in the UK. The third single, "Beep", featured Black Eyed Peas lead rapper will.i.am. They recently released their latest single, "Buttons", featuring Snoop DoggUK singles chart, #3. The group's sixth single from the album is the high-tempo club track "Wait A Minute" and was released in the United States on August 2006; "I Don't Need a Man" will be released in Canada (the video premiered on MuchOnDemand September 14th, 2006), the UK and Ireland, and "Sway" will be released as the 5th single in Continental Europe. The 5th single in Australia and New Zealand is also "I Don't Need A Man". 200, selling about 100,000 copies, and has spawned seven singles. The second single " which followed the success of the previous singles and went straight into the top 3 on the
The Pussycat Dolls are proving to be a recognized female group as MTV Hits (UK) marks them as #1 in Top 10 Female Groups (July 2006) beating #2 Destiny's Child and #7 Spice Girls. Furthermore, securing #1 in VH1's (UK) 'Top 20 Sexiest' #2 in TMF's Ultimate 20 Women in Pop (August 2006) and #6 in TMF's Girls of R&B countdown.
The group won a Billboard Music Award for "Don't Cha" the (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 is unique in that its members are actually salaried employees of the record label and, by design, completely interchangeable. This means that in addition to CD sales, the label also controls merchandise, web sites and all other commercial aspects of the group and their income, excluding song publishing.[2]
In 2006, San Francisco-based company Doppelganger (along with Interscope Records) launched the PCD Music Lounge, an interactive website.
On June 30th's 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 Pussycat Dolls reportedly aim to start recording their Double the Trouble, to be released in late 2007.
On July 12, 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.
Scherzinger is working on a solo album, reportedly also due for release in 2007. She has publicly stated that although she is releasing a solo album, she is not leaving The Pussycat Dolls. Her first single is set for release in February and her album soon after.
On December 7, 2006 the group received a Grammy nomination 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.[3] In 2007, a version of "Right Now" is being used as a theme song for the NBA, the lyrics have been altered.
In April 2007, the Pussycat Dolls will release their final single from PCD, "Hot Stuff (I Want You Back)".
On Wednesday 14th March 2007 the Pussycat Dolls performed at the Manchester Evening News Arena in a concert that was streamed live via *MSN Music.
Touring
In 2006, the Pussycat Dolls performed live shows in North America supporting the Black Eyed Peas. As headliners they toured the UK, Europe 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 ).[4]
In November 2006 to January 2007, the Dolls toured the UK and Ireland with Rihanna as their support act.[5]
In 2007 the Dolls are touring North America as a support act for Christina Aguilera's Back To Basics Tour, along with Danity Kane.
Repertoire
The 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-upDonna Summer's "Hot Stuff" with Siobhan Fahey's "Bitter Pill"; "Right Now" (Mel Torme); and "Don't Cha" (Tori Alamaze). of
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).[6]
Vocalists
The Pussycat Dolls have been accused of being a group where only one member sings (Scherzinger) while the rest are just eye candy. However, Thornton and Bachar contribute backing vocals, and Thornton interjects melismatic vocal runs on numerous tracks. Also, Thornton is lead in "Big Spender" and "Fever" while Bachar, Roberts and Sutta are co-lead for "Santa Baby".
Empowerment messages
Press releases for and interviews with the Dolls 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".
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