Stickwitu


"Stickwitu" is a song by American girl group the Pussycat Dolls, taken from their debut studio album PCD. Interscope Records sent it to contemporary hit radio on September 26, 2005, as the album's second single. It was written by Franne Golde, Kasia Livingston and Robert Palmer and produced by Ron Fair and Tal Herzberg. The track is a ballad with soul influences, that celebrates relationships that last.
"Stickwitu" received critical acclaim, with music critics generally complimenting its composition and the group members' vocal performances, but criticizing its placement on the album. The song was nominated for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards while its remix featuring Avant received a nomination for Best R&B/Soul Single, Group, Band or Duo at the 2007 Soul Train Music Awards. "Stickwitu" was commercially successful, peaking at number five on the Billboard Hot 100, the top three in Australia, Ireland the Netherlands and achieved the top position in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
A music video for the song was directed by Nigel Dick and shot at in various places of Los Angeles including the Orpheum Theatre. It depicts the Pussycat Dolls performing the song on a rehearsal stage while preparing for a tour. To further promote "Stickwitu", the group performed the song during several televised appearances, and in two of their concert tours, their most recent, at the Doll Domination Tour.

Recording and composition

"Stickwitu" was written by Franne Golde, Kasia Livingston and Robert Palmer while the production was handled by PCD executive producer Ron Fair with additional production from Tal Herzberg who also engineered the song with the assistance of Mike Hogue. The Pussycat Dolls recorded their vocals at The Record Plant by Mike "Angry" Eleopoulos. Fair also arranged and conducted the strings played by the PCD orchestra, which were recorded by Allen Sides. The original drum programming was done by Palmer. The song was finally mixed by Peter Mokran.
"Stickwitu" is written in the key of A major with its tempo swinging around 72 beats per minute, and is accompanied by bass, harmonica, organ, piano, and the Rhodes piano handled by Fair, Herzberg and Cori Jacobs. It's a pop song, with soul influences. Chuck Taylor of Billboard magazine noted that "Stickwitu" is reminiscent to the works of fellow girl groups Cover Girls and Sweet Sensation. The group's vocals span from F♯3 – E5 in the song, which in common time, follows a simple chord progression of D - A/C♯ – Bm7 – A7 – Bm7 and A/C♯. Although the melody is simple, according to The New York Times's Kalefah Sanneh, "the beat keeps dropping out and returning and growing and shrinking, confounding expectations". During the song's chorus, the Pussycat Dolls croon, "Nobody gonna love me better / I must stickwitu forever". An ode to monogamous relationships, "it revolves around a breathy promise ideal for the text-messaging age", as described by Sanneh.

Critical reception

Chuck Taylor from Billboard magazine was surprised of the song and praised it for being "beautifully sung, craftily produced and refreshingly gimmick-free." He went on to praise the "catchy" chorus and noted that the "track is unlike anything else on the air." Kalefah Sanneh of The New York Times wrote that "Stickwitu" "might be even better" than 'Don't Cha'". Paul Scott of Stylus Magazine agreed with Sanneh adding that it's "pretty enough but just sort of mills around without getting up the courage to go , and that's actually a good thing." John Murphy of musicOMH wrote that although "it's nicely sung, it doesn't particularly stick in the mind very much." He continued the "Dolls' voices do well at harmonies" but noted that "none have a particular strong vocal." Spence D. shared the same sentiment with Murphy adding that Scherzinger "never really presents anything that could come close to being called a signature sound."
Kevin Courtney of the Irish Times gave "Stickwitu" two out of five stars noting that "they don’t want to be one-hit wonders." Stephen Thomas Erlewine was not 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. Sal Cinquenmani from Slant Magazine found the song difficult to take seriously. He said "the album's ballads, though sufficiently un-icky, are still difficult to take seriously when followed by a song that begs a man to 'loosen up my buttons'." Kat Bein of the Miami New Times wrote that it's "in the running for most trite lyrics of all time." Nathan Rabin from The A.V. Club described the song as a "saccharine, sleepy ballad." Writing for Sputnikmusic Nick Butler described "Stickwitu" as a "limp, lifeless ode." However he did noted that "it's nowhere near as sickly or disgustingly submissive and sexist as something like Destiny's Child's 'Cater 2 U'."
Billboard ranked "Stickwitu" at number 68 on their "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time". Taylor Weaterby from the magazine said that, "PCD created one of the most heartfelt ballads in modern girl group history with 'Stickwitu' that the group wasn’t just about the sex appeal." "Stickwitu" received a nomination in the category for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards, while the remix featuring Avant was nominated for Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band or Duo at the 21st Annual Soul Train Awards. In May 2007, the song was listed as one of the recipients of Broadcast Music, Inc. Pop Awards.

Chart performance

In the United States, "Stickwitu" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 85 on the issue dated October 22, 2005. On the issue dated November 26, 2005, it leaped from 18 to nine entering the top ten. On its eleventh week, the song peaked at number five. The song became the Pussycat Dolls' first number one on the Mainstream Top 40, making the group the first girl group to peak atop since Destiny's Child in 2001. On the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, the remix featuring Avant charted, debuting at number 73 with 3.6 million audience impressions ; it ultimately peaked at number 63. In May 2007, the song received a BDS Certified Spin Award for receiving 300,000 radio spins in the United States.
On the UK Singles Chart, "Stickwitu" debuted at number one with sales of 43,989 copies on the week of December 10, 2005, becoming the Pussycat Dolls second consecutive number one song in the region after "Don't Cha" debuted atop 12 weeks ago. In its second week, the song remained at number one, with 28.8% sales decrease selling 31,311 copies. In Canada, "Stickwitu" peaked at number 15 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 official ARIA Singles Chart and reached number two for two consecutive weeks. The Australian Recording Industry Association certified it Platinum for shipment of 70,000 copies. 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 15 on the Year-End RIANZ Singles Chart for 2006.
"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. "Stickwitu" was also successful elsewhere in Europe reaching the top ten in Switzerland, Belgium, Norway and Italy. It also peaked within the top 20 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.

Release

In July 2005 MTV News reported that "Beep" featuring will.i.am was a "potential second single". However, that was later changed as group member Nicole Scherzinger felt that the release of "Stickwitu" as the second single, was a strong move for them, as opposed to coming out with "Beep" noting "occasionally we get the skeptical people, but we go, 'Give us a chance'." "Stickwitu" was sent to contemporary hit radio in the United States on September 26, 2005. An urban remix featuring R&B singer Avant was released on December 2005. The remix was later featured on Avant's fourth studio album, Director.

Music video

The song's music video, directed by Nigel Dick, premiered on MTV.com on October 13, 2005. According to MTV, the clip was filmed in different places across Los Angeles including the Orpheum Theatre over the course of two days. The Pussycat Dolls enlisted Dick to direct the video as they wanted to maintain their momentum garnered from their debut single, "Don't Cha". Dick admitted that he felt pressure to deliver. "This video establishes the way they want to be seen from now on. But that's the way it's always been for me. I've been very lucky in my career to do videos for people that are very crucial in artist's careers." The group felt "Stickwitu" would help each girl be more identifiable by showing different sides of their personalities. Scherzinger elaborated that "this video shows much more vulnerability. Part of it is the strength to do what we do ; the other is to show that we have our vulnerabilities in life with trying to hold up relationships while we're on the road. We wanted to make sure that each of us was identifiable in this video, that you got to know each girl a little bit more, and get to see what we're like on and off tour."
MTV's James Montgomery said that the video manages to be "high-fashion and low-brow, glamorous and, um, gritty at the same time" where according to Scherzinger it's "a day in the life of the Pussycat Dolls on the road." The director added that the music video is "a photographic the life of the Pussycat Dolls: traveling around, getting ready for gigs, being on the tour bus, doing a photo session, waking up in a motel, talking to the boyfriend on the phone, sound-checking. It's informal but beautiful. It's not rock and roll; it's the urban-pop world."

Live performances

On December 2005, the group performed for the annual KIIS-FM Jingle Ball wearing "festive candy-cane-striped belly shirts and red-and-green capri pants." The set list included "Don't Cha", "Stickwitu" and "Wait a Minute". On June 30, 2006 the group performed "Don't Cha", "Buttons" and "Stickwitu" on Good Morning America as part of its Summer Concert Series. On July 7, 2007 the Pussycat Dolls together with other artists performed at the Live Earth Concerts, which were held to raise awareness of global warming. They performed "Don't Cha", "Stickwitu", and "Buttons".
"Stickwitu" was included on the group's first live album Live from London. The Pussycat Dolls also performed "Stickwitu" throughout their second tour, Doll Domination Tour. Alex Macpherson of The Guardian praised Scherzinger's "inventive and versatile" vocals which are "gently crooning the sweet ballad." Scherzinger has performed "Stickwitu" as part of a Pussycat Dolls medley throughout Scherzinger's first solo tour solo tour in support of her debut studio album, Killer Love.
On February 22, 2020, they performed "Stickwitu" as part of their performance at G-A-Y.

Formats and track listings

  1. "Stickwitu" – 3:28
  2. "Santa Baby" – 3:01
  3. "Stickwitu" – 3:18
  4. "Stickwitu"
  1. "Stickwitu" – 3:28
  2. "Stickwitu" – 3:18
  1. "Stickwitu" – 3:28
  2. "Santa Baby" – 3:01
  3. "Stickwitu" – 3:18

    Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of PCD.
Mixing
Personnel

Weekly charts

Chart Peak
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Australia Urban 1
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Europe 2
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Greece 19
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Year-end charts

Chart Position
UK Singles 28

Chart Position
Australia 29
Australia Urban 8
Austria 61
Belgium 62
CIS 83
Germany 55
Hungary 50
Netherlands 50
Netherlands 56
New Zealand 16
Switzerland 39
UK Singles 132
US Billboard Hot 10040
US Digital Song Sales 51
US Rhythmic 40

Certifications

Release history

CountryDateFormatLabelRef.
United StatesSeptember 26, 2005Contemporary hit radio
United KingdomOctober 28, 2005Contemporary hit radioPolydor
GermanyNovember 25, 2005CD singleUniversal Music
CanadaDecember 20, 2005Digital download – Avant MixUniversal Music
United StatesDecember 20, 2005Digital download – Avant Mix
United StatesJanuary 9, 2006Urban contemporary radio