Doll Domination is the second studio album from United States American girl group Pussycat Dolls, released from September 19, 2008 by A&M Records. The album debuted at number four on the US album chart, selling 79,000 copies in its first week.^[2] Despite spawning the hit singles "When I Grow Up", "Bottle Pop", "Whatcha Think About That" and "I Hate This Part" the album underperformed selling considerably less than their previous album, PCD. The album has sold about 5 million copies worldwide.

Throughout 2009 the album was reissued in several different forms including an EP (The Mini Collection), a mini-album (Doll Domination 2.0), a compilation (Doll Domination 3.0) and a full bonus track edition (Doll Domination + 2009 bonus tracks). The new editions spawned two further singles including the worldwide number one "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)" – the English interpretation of the soundtrack single from the box office smash Slumdog Millionaire as well as the Eurodance smash "Hush Hush; Hush Hush".

Doll Domination was the first album released following the departure of group member Carmit Bachar, and was the last album released with the remaining group members from the original lineup, Ashley Roberts, Jessica Sutta, Melody Thornton, Kimberly Wyatt, and Nicole Scherzinger.

Recording and production[link]

MTV initially reported that the album would be called "To Those Who Wait" but later The Dolls would go on to say in an interview that the album would now be named Doll Domination after receiving many requests from fans. From mid 2006 production began with Rodney Jerkins, Sean Garrett and Timbaland with The Clutch. Other producers came on board as the project progressed. Initially the process was slow as lead singer Nicole Scherzinger was supposed to release her own solo project Her Name Is Nicole whilst production was ongoing. However the album did not materialize after Scherzinger had four failed US singles (despite "Baby Love" being successful in Europe). Consequently "When I Grow Up", "Who's Gonna Love You" and "Happily Never After" which were originally songs from the solo project became songs for Doll Domination.^[3] Lead Doll Nicole Scherzinger spoke about the release on reality show Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search For the Next Doll where she name-dropped and performed a fourth song titled "Just Say Yes", recorded for her own solo album. After being scrapped the song was placed on the early tracklistings for the Dolls album by MTV, Amazon and HMV but never made the actual release.

Musical content[link]

Executive-produced by Jimmy Iovine, Ron Fair and D.J. Mormile, "Doll Domination" boasted input from big-name US producers-of-the-day like Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins (the international Top Three lead off single "When I Grow Up"), Timbaland and Polow Da Don, and saw the group largely ditching the show-tune cover-versions that on their debut album reflected the band's burlesque-dance-troupe beginnings, to deliver an album of contemporary urban pop via cuts like the melodic R. Kelly duet "Out Of This Club" and the sassy "Elevator".^[4] The album saw Scherzinger become involved in the vocal production of many of the songs as well as designing the concept. Like the previous album she is the only member of the group to have writing credits on the album having contributed to "Bottle Pop", "Hush Hush", "Who's Gonna Love You" and "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)". She is also responsible for lead vocals on all of the songs. Melody Thornton provides additional backing vocals and ad-libs to many of the songs, although on "Elevator", "Love the Way You Love Me" and "Painted Windows" she can be found sharing the lead vocals with Scherzinger. Additionally on "Takin' Over the World" she sings secondary vocals. The new songs from the 2009 recording sessions did see more of the group become involved vocally. Jessica Sutta makes her debut on "Top of the World" singing co-lead vocals with Thornton and Scherzinger. "Painted Windows" is the first song to feature all of the group singing back vocals but Thornton's ad-libs/additional vocals are limited to a two-line bridge near the end of the song.

The 2009 recording sessions spawned the tracks "Takin' Over the World (We Love to Entertain You)", "Hush Hush; Hush Hush", "Top of the World", "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny), "Painted Windows" and "Bad Girl" all of which except for the last are featured in some form on the re-release of the album although it does vary by territory. "Bad Girl" was instead released as part of the Confessions of a Shopaholic soundtrack, whilst "Top of the World" was made the theme tune to MTV's new reality series The City.^[5]

Development and release[link]

All in all the lack of sales over the 2008 and 2009 triggered several re-releases meaning that the album now exists in around eight different versions. Initially the album debuted in the US at number 4 (one spot higher than their debut album) after first week sales of around 79,000 however the album failed to have much chart longevity and struggled to stay in the top 25 in the run up to the end of the year. In its second week, the album dropped to number 17, and in its third week, it sat at number 30.^[6] It spent an astonishingly short seven weeks in the top 100, compared with their debut album which spent almost a year there, By 2009 it had dropped out. In other territories its performance was similar although. However in the week of January 10, 2009, it re-entered the top 100 at number one hundred.

In September and October 2008 the standard edition of the album was released worldwide featuring the 16-song track listing. International markets received two of the four bonus tracks. In the US and Europe a deluxe edition was released as the same time featuring 5 bonus songs (each one sung by a different member of the group). Then nearer in December 2008 the collectors edition was released in Australia and the US featuring all of the songs from the deluxe addition but adding two extra bonus tracks. UK fans were able to buy the deluxe edition only whilst the group were on the UK leg of the tour at selected arenas.

In April 2009 Billboard magazine stated that The Dolls had only sold around 400,000 copies. Subsequently Scherzinger confirmed that the current album would be re-released with new songs. In the interview she said: "it's a new life, a new push for Doll Domination. In this industry these days, that's what we're trying to do, always put new music out there and get people to pay attention. So this is a way for people to get new songs of ours and for people who haven't picked up the album so far to get another spin of our music."^[7]

Mainland Europe received the 2009 edition featuring all of the original songs plus 3–4 new songs/remixes. The 2009 edition was released with the same cover art in many European countries: April 14 in France and April 24, 2009 in Germany^[8] and the Netherlands. At the end of April, Doll Domination 2.0 was released in Australia, a compilation album featuring 6 of the original songs and 4 new ones. On April 27, 2009 an EP titled Doll Domination: The Mini Collection was released in the UK featuring their four singles plus two new songs and two weeks later the UK received its own deluxe edition of the album which was identical to the international deluxe edition except that it included a new remix of Scherzinger's solo song "Baby Love" previously not released as a bonus track in the UK. On August 10, it was announced that Doll Domination 3.0 would be released in the UK following the success of the five singles which all reached top 20 positions on the UK Singles Chart, making it one of the group's most successful markets. The 3.0 edition was also released to most of mainstream Europe.

Singles[link]

The album's lead single "When I Grow Up" was released on May 27, 2008.^[9] The song was sent to US mainstream and rhythmic radio on June 1, 2008.^[10] The song has peaked at number nine on Billboard Hot 100,^[11] number two on the Australia Singles Chart, and number three on the UK Singles Chart and Canadian Hot 100.^[12] The video accompanying the song won the Dolls a Video Music Award for Best Dancing in a Video at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards.^[13] "Whatcha Think About That" (featuring Missy Elliott) was the album's second single in the United States, Canada, and United Kingdom. The song got mixed reviews from critics. Some critics said it was disappointing after the hyperactive pop brilliance of "When I Grow Up".^[14] It failed to match the success of the previous single in North America. However the song managed to peak at number nine in United Kingdom. "I Hate This Part" was released as the third single in United States, Canada, and United Kingdom and second elsewhere. The song received positive feedback by critics praising the melodramatic sound.^[15] The song became one in Romania and has reached the top ten in countries such as Australia, Belgium, France and Canada and the top twenty in other countries.^[16] It peaked at number eleven in the United States.^[11]

"Bottle Pop" was released as a third single only in Germany and Oceania. The single version does not feature Snoop Dogg but instead a small rap intro by Scherzinger. It reached top 20 in Australia and New Zealand.^[17] In the United States it became a huge club hit, peaking at number one on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play, and becoming the fifth song by the group to do so.^[18] The fourth single was "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)". It is the English recording of "Jai Ho" from the film Slumdog Millionaire. It features A. R. Rahman. The single has peaked at number fifteen on the Billboard Hot 100.^[19] The single achieved greater success than their previous singles reaching number one in Finland, Ireland, and Australia.^[20] The music video for the song recreates the last scene from the movie Slumdog Millionaire. "Hush Hush; Hush Hush" is the final single from the album. The original ballad version serves as the single's b-side whist Dave Audé has also produced a dance remix for the single. The song met controversy when the cover-art of the single was listed as "Pussycat Dolls featuring Nicole Scherzinger".^[21] The song peaked at number seventy-three and forty-one on the United States and Canada respectively.^[22] Internationally the single reached number two in Turkey, ten in Australia, and top-twenty in most European countries.^[22] Additionally the song went on to become the group's sixth consecutive number one on the Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart in the US.^[23]

Reception[link]

Chart performance[link]

In the United States, Doll Domination debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 with sales of 79,000 on the issue dated October 11, 2008. It was a spot higher than its predecessor PCD but with a lower first-week sales tally (99,000 copies).^[2] It spend thirty two weeks on the chart. As of April 2009 Doll Domination sold 400,000 copies in the United States.^[7] In Canada, the album peaked number-three, and has been certified platinum by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) for shipment of 80,000 copies.^[24] Worldwide, the album sold 5,000,000 copies.^[25]

Critical reception[link]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
Digital Spy	[26]
Entertainment Weekly	C+ link
Los Angeles Times	[27]
MusicOMH	[28]
Rolling Stone	link
Slant	link
The New York Times	(positive)[29]
The Times	[30]
Yahoo! Music UK	link

The album has received mostly positive to mix reviews from critics. It earned a collective score of 65 out of 100 on Metacritic.^[31] August Brown of the Los Angeles Times, states that the album does not live up to its 2005 predecessor, and gave the album one and a half stars out of four.^[27] Likewise, Nic Oliver of MusicOMH gives the album four star out of 10, stating that, besides the tracks "Out of This Club" with R. Kelly and "Love the Way You Love Me", "This is an album that reels off one clunker after another...this is an album heading straight for the bargain bins."^[28] Elan Priya said that "Doll Domination lacks any distinct personality. The exceptions include 'I Hate This Part', a break-up number on which Nicole Scherzinger is allowed to emote fully, and 'Whatcha Think About That?', which contains a cheeky rap from Missy Elliott."^[30]

The Boston Globe summarised the album as "Great trashy, hook-laden songs that make your lips smack never need to be apologized for, just enjoyed. The Pussycats' debut from 2005 was that kind of disc, and though this follow-up tries darn hard to follow that formula, it comes up just short. Still, it's often filled with giddy, brilliantly produced goofy pleasures with nothing on its mind beyond love and pleasure. Oh, sure, there are a couple of ballads about heartache and regret, but lead singer Nicole Scherzinger sounds more like she's pining for a good facial than a guy. Especially as the disc wanders to its fatiguing 21st track. We know the Dolls want staying power, but c'mon..."^[32]

Digital Spy said that "Doll Domination is an over-long, patchy album that lacks any kind of lyrical cohesion. This isn't to say that individual tracks don't hit the spot. Nothing here matches the hyperactive brilliance of 'When I Grow Up', but future single 'I Hate This Part' is wonderfully melodramatic and each of the four Timbaland productions is bang on the money. Overall 3/5 stars."^[15] The New York Times said "were they, strictly speaking, human? That's what their new album, Doll Domination sets out to establish. Between dance tracks concocted by big-time producers like Rodney Jerkins, Timbaland, Sean Garrett and Polow Da Don, the Pussycat Dolls flaunt a newly prominent accessory: a breakable heart. In the 16 songs on this fully packed album, each striving to be a single, the Dolls still flirt and strut most of the time. But now, every so often, they ache. Ms. Scherzinger's small, flexible voice thrives in the programmed, computer-tuned R&B tracks. No less crafty or calculated than their bump-and-grind numbers, the farewell songs are a move toward expanding the franchise. Now the Pussycat Dolls are stocking a little empathy along with the attitude."^[29]

However Digital Spy later said that of The Mini Collection that: "'Painted Windows' is an impressive new Rodney Jerkins production, stomping and scuzzy in equal measure, while 'Hush Hush; Hush Hush' is a faintly ridiculous house remix of a Doll Domination album cut. It now comes complete with a whopping great lift from 'I Will Survive', but somehow it works. First impressions notwithstanding, in an age where music fans can download what they fancy on a track-by-track basis, the 'Mini Collection' actually starts to make sense. For £3.99 on iTunes, or just under a fiver in the shops, you get a fat-free serving of Pussycat hits without the padding that bogged down the original Doll Domination. Overall 4/5 stars."^[26]

Promotion[link]

On May 20, 2008, the Pussycat Dolls performed their new single "When I Grow Up" for the first time live on Jimmy Kimmel Live!^[33] again at the MTV Movie Awards on June 1,^[34] and a third time on So You Think You Can Dance on June 12.^[35] The song was released on May 27, 2008.^[9] They hosted the 2008 Maxim Hot 100 on VH1.^[33] They hit the position number seventeen.^[36] They also performed five songs at a Wal-Mart Soundcheck showcase: "I Hate This Part", "Takin' Over the World" and "When I Grow Up" from Doll Domination, and "Buttons" and "Don't Cha" from PCD.^[37] On October 14, 2008 the group performed at the Sydney Opera House as part of a series of concerts promoting Xbox 360 and its new game Lips.^[38] On 15 October 2008, the Dolls appeared on Australian TV show Sunrise and performed "When I Grow Up" and their latest single "I Hate This Part". In December 2008, The Dolls performed a medley of some of their most successful singles on the Royal Variety Show for her majesty Queen Elizabeth in the UK, the performance consisted of "Don't Cha", "I Hate This Part" and "When I Grow Up". To further promote the album the Dolls kicked off their second headline tour on January 18, 2009. The Doll Domination Tour visited venues across Europe and Oceania with Lady Gaga as the main opening act.^[39] Ne-Yo also featured as a support act on the European-leg of their tour at selected venues. The Dolls then toured North America, performing as the opening act for Britney Spears' The Circus Starring Britney Spears tour. This constituted the North American Leg of the Doll Domination Tour.^[40]

Track listing[link]

Notes

• "When I Grow Up" contains elements of "He's Always There" written by Jim McCarty and Paul Samwell-Smith
• "Whatcha Think About That" samples "Je M'appelle Jane" performed by Jane Birkin, written by Mickael Furnon
• * signifies a co-producer

Reissues[link]

[edit] Doll Domination 2.0

[edit] The Mini Collection EP

Doll Domination: The Mini Collection is the first extended play (EP) by American girl group the Pussycat Dolls. It was released digitally in most European countries on April 24, 2009. It is a collection of songs featuring the group's first three singles from Doll Domination, as well as the new recordings, "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)" and "Hush Hush; Hush Hush" and "Painted Windows", that were previously released on Doll Domination 2.0.

[edit] Doll Domination 3.0

On August 10, 2009, Doll Domination 3.0 was released in the UK using the original cover art. It includes all of the songs from the Standard Edition as well as songs from the "Mini Collection".^[47] It does not include any of the solo songs from the original deluxe edition.

Personnel[link]

Charts[link]

• Chart positions are the highest for whichever release
• Sales of all editions are combined

Release history[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Doll Domination at Metacritic

Angela Mao (born 20 September 1950), birth name Mao Fujing (simplified Chinese: 茅复静; traditional Chinese: 茅復靜; pinyin: Máo Fùjìng), is a Taiwanese actress best known for appearing in many martial arts films in the 1970s. She is sometimes credited as Mao Ying or Angela Mao Ying. She is nicknamed "Lady Whirlwind" and "Lady Kung Fu" by her fans.

Mao trained in hapkido, wushu, taekwondo, and other forms of martial arts during her film career to prepare for her roles. She was paid US$100 for her short role as the sister of Bruce Lee's character in the film Enter the Dragon.

Mao married Kelly Lui in 1974 and gave birth to a baby in 1976. She retired from films in 1992 to devote herself to her family.

Filmography[link]

• The Angry River (1970) - Lan Feng
• Thunderbolt (1970)
• The Invincible Eight (1971)
• Deadly China Doll (1972) - Hei Lu
• Hapkido (1972) - Yu Ying
• Lady Whirlwind (1972) - Miss Tien
• Enter the Dragon (1973) - Su Lin
• Back Alley Princess (1973) - Ying
• Sting of the Dragon Masters (1973) - Wan Ling-ching
• The Two Great Cavaliers (1973)
• The Fate of Lee Khan (1973)
• Naughty! Naughty! (1974)
• The Shrine of Ultimate Bliss (1974) - Angela Li Shou-Hua
• The Invincible Kung Fu Trio (1974)
• The Tournament (1974)

• The Himalayan (1975)
• Return of the Chinese Boxer (1975)
• International Assassins (1976) - Queen of Cambodia
• Lady Karate (1976)
• Duel with the Devils (1977) - Chu
• Invincible (1976)
• The Eternal Conflict (1976) - Fei Fei
• Duels in the Desert (1977)
• Broken Oath (1977) - Lotus Lin
• The Damned (1978)
• Iron Maiden (1978) - Chin Lun
• Scorching Sun, Fierce Wind, Wild Fire (1978)
• Return of the Tiger (1979)
• Snake Deadly Act (1979) - Brothel Madam
• Flying Masters of Kung Fu (1979)
• Moonlight Sword and Jade Lion (1981)
• The Stunning Gambling (1982)
• Ninja, the Violent Sorcerer (1982) - Anna (uncredited)
• Book and Sword Chronicles (TV series) (1984) - Luo Bing
• Eastern Condors (1987) (extra)
• Devil Dynamite (1987)
• Ghost Bride (1992)

References[link]

• Angela Mao on HKMDB
• The Films on Video of Angela Mao
• Hong Kong Information of Angela Mao
• Angela Mao at the Internet Movie Database
• Filmography
• magazine article

This Chinese biographical article related to martial artists is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e