Stickwitu

"Stickwitu"
Single by The Pussycat Dolls
from the album PCD
Released	October 26, 2005 (2005-10-26)
Format	CD single digital download
Genre	Pop R&B
Length	3:27 (album version) 3:17 (Avant mix)
Label	A&M
Writer(s)	Franne Golde Kasia Livingston Robert Palmer
Producer(s)	Ron Fair Tal Herzberg
The Pussycat Dolls chronology
"Don't Cha" (2005) "Stickwitu" (2005) "Beep" (2006)

"Stickwitu" is a song recorded by American girl group The Pussycat Dolls from their debut studio album, PCD (2005). The song was co-written by Franne Golde, Kasia Livingston and Robert Palmer while the production was handled Ron Fair and co-produced by Tal Herzberg.

The song gained worldwide success, reaching top five in the United States and in Belgium, like their previous single it debuted at number one in New Zealand and in the United Kingdom and reached top three in Australia, Ireland and the Netherlands. The song gave the Dolls a Grammy nomination at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards for the Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals but lost to The Black Eyed Peas "My Humps". The song has been performed several times on television including the remix with Avant.

Composition

	"Stickwitu"
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"Stickwitu" is a down-tempo pop-R&B^[1] song written by Franne Golde, Kasia Livingston and Robert Palmer written in the key of D major with a time signature in common time and a tempo of 72 beats per minute. The Melody, produced by Ron Fair and co-produced by Taz Halberg, is designed to be played "slowly". "Stickwitu" uses a simple chord progression of A(9)/C♯ – Bm⁷ – A⁷ – Bm⁷ and A/C♯, with a vocal range of F♯³ – E⁵.^[2] The official R&B remix also features writing credits from Nicole Scherzinger.^[3]

Critical reception

"Stickwitu" received mixed reviews from critics. Bill Lamb from About.com awarded the song 4.5 out of five stars, praising the song's production, Scherzinger's lead vocals and the celebratory lyrics. Aside from pointing out that song could "work well at homecoming dances and wedding receptions", Lamb said "'Stickwitu' goes a long way toward establishing the Pussycat Dolls as more than a one-hit wonder. While it is not the most distinctive pop song around, it is a sweet, solid love song for when times are good." He did however note that the song lacked a catchy hook like its predecessor "Don't Cha".^[1]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine was less impressed with the song, saying that "PCD seems like it will be that rare thing: a mainstream club/dance album devoted to nothing but dance songs. Then, reality comes crashing in with the fourth song, 'Stickwitu', the inevitable romantic slow jam whose sappiness undercuts the joyous carnal celebration of the first three songs.^[4] Sal Cinquenmani from Slant Magazine found the song difficult to take seriously. He said "the album's ballads ("Stickwitu" and "How Many Times, How Many Lies"), though sufficiently un-icky, are still difficult to take seriously when followed by a song that begs a man to 'loosen up my buttons'."^[5]

Music video

The video was directed by Nigel Dick^[6] The video was shot over two days in different places in Los Angeles including Orpheum Theatre.^[7]

In an interview at MTV News Dick talked about directing the music video, he said the main theme of the video was:

He continued saying:

The music video begins with the group at a hotel being awoken by someone knocking on the door. The Pussycat Dolls begin to pack their belongings, then walk to their tour bus, stopping to sign autographs for fans on the way. The video continues to show footage of the girls on the bus, in dance rehearsals and practicing the song "Stickwitu". The video ends with group coming out of a back entrance of a building posing for some pictures. Throughout the video, the Pussycat Dolls are seen talking on Nokia mobile phones, presumably to their partners.

Chart performance

"Stickwitu" entered the US Billboard Hot 100 at number eighty-five and ascended to number sixty-seven in its second week. By its fourth week, "Stickwitu" had already become the group's second top 40 single and by its ninth week had peaked at number five where it spent three non-consecutive weeks. "Stickwitu" also peaked at number-one for two weeks on the Pop 100 Airplay, and number-two on the Billboard Pop 100 charts respectively. "Stickwitu" also charted on the Billboard Hot R&B/hip-hop songs, and has peaked at number sixty-three.

In the United Kingdom, "Stickwitu" debuted and peaked at number-one on the UK Singles Chart for two consecutive weeks, becoming the group's second consecutive number one single in Britain. "Stickwitu" spent 6 weeks within the top ten, and remained on the chart for a total of 17 weeks.^[8] In Canada, "Stickwitu" peaked at number fifteen on the Canadian BDS airplay chart and at number-nine on the Canadian Singles Chart, and is to date the group's second top ten single, and also their second most successful song on this chart.

"Stickwitu" was also a major success in Oceania. In Australia, "Stickwitu" debuted at number-three on the Australian ARIA Singles Charts and eventually peaked at number-two for two consecutive weeks, and was certified Platinum by ARIA for sales in excess of 70,000.^[9] "Stickwitu" appeared on the ARIA Year-End Singles Chart the following year and was ranked at number twenty-nine. It was one of four releases by the group to have made this chart, with the others being its successors; "Beep", "Buttons" and "I Don't Need A Man". In New Zealand, "Stickwitu" peaked at number one for two non-consecutive weeks on the New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart, one week more than its predecessor, "Don't Cha" had spent at number one, and becoming the group's second consecutive number one hit. "Stickwitu" was ranked at number-fifteen on the Year-End RIANZ Singles Chart for 2006.^[10]

"Stickwitu" was also a success in Europe. "Stickwitu" was most successful in the Netherlands where it peaked at number-two for two consecutive weeks, becoming the group's second consecutive single to peak at number-two.^[11] "Stickwitu" was also successful elsewhere in Europe reaching the top ten in Switzerland, Belgium, Norway and Italy. It also peaked within the top twenty in Germany, Austria and France, as well as the top 40 in Sweden. "Stickwitu" peaked at number-four on the European Hot 100 following its success across Europe.

Track listings

• iTunes – EP

1. "Santa Baby" (Non-LP Version)
2. "Stickwitu" (LP version/album version)
3. "Stickwitu" (R&B Remix) [featuring Avant]

• Stickwitu (International Version) – Single

1. "Stickwitu"
2. "Stickwitu" (R&B remix) [featuring Avant]

• UK./International CD maxi single

1. "Stickwitu"
2. "Santa Baby"
3. "Stickwitu" (R&B remix) [featuring Avant]
4. "Stickwitu" (video)

Credits and personnel

Mixing

• Mixed at Larabee Studios, Burbank, California.

Personnel

Charts

See also

• List of number-one singles from the 2000s (UK)
• List of number-one singles from the 2000s (New Zealand)
• List of Mainstream Top 40 number-one hits of 2006 (U.S.)

Radio and release history

References