Upon its release, "Stickwitu" received mixed reviews from critics, with some complimenting the production and vocal performances, while others criticized its placement on the album. Commercially, "Stickwitu" was a chart success, peaking at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100, as well as becoming the Pussycat Dolls' second consecutive number-one in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, and peaking atop the US Mainstream Top 40, making the Pussycat Dolls the first girl group since Destiny's Child in 2001 to do so. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for mastertone sales of one million units.
Nigel Dick directed the accompanying music video for "Stickwitu", with principal photography taking place in various places around Los Angeles, including the Orpheum Theatre. With the aim to make each member more identifiable, the music video depicts a day of the group's tour life. To further promote the single, the Pussycat Dolls performed the song during several televised appearances, and in their concert tours PCD World Tour (2006–2007) and Doll Domination Tour (2009). The song received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and was regarded as one of the greatest girl group songs of all time by Billboard.
Kalefah Sanneh of The New York Times found the melody to be simple, adding that "the beat keeps dropping out and returning and growing and shrinking, confounding expectations".[3] Chuck Taylor of Billboard noted that "Stickwitu" is reminiscent of the works of fellow girl groups Cover Girls and Sweet Sensation,[8] while Tony Heywood from musicOMH compared the song to the works of the Spice Girls.[9] An ode to monogamous relationships, the Pussycat Dolls croon during the chorus, "Nobody gonna love me better / I'ma stickwitu forever".[3][9][10]
Release
In July 2005, MTV News reported that "Beep", featuring will.i.am, was a "potential second single".[11] However, on September 26, 2005, A&M Records and Interscope Records serviced "Stickwitu" to contemporary hit radio stations as the second single from PCD.[12] Jeff Leeds of The New York Times noted that the release of the single coincided with the label strucking a deal with the toymaker Hasbro to create a line of dolls modeled after the group. The aim of "Stickwitu" was to appeal to a wider and younger demographic, managing to receive airplay on outlets such as Radio Disney.[13] In response to the release of the single, Scherzinger felt it 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'."[14]
An urban remix featuring singer Avant was released in December 2005.[15] The remix has identical credits to the original "Stickwitu", with the addition of Avant as a songwriter and Peter Mokran as a remixer.[16] Scherzinger recorded new vocals with Avant in a similar way Avant sang with Keke Wyatt on "My First Love".[17] The remix was included on the tour edition (2006) of PCD and on Avant's fourth studio album Director (2006).[16][17]
Critical reception
Jim Carroll of the Irish Times wrote that "Stickwitu" is "one of the best pop ballads of recent years".[6] Taylor was surprised of "Stickwitu"'s release following "Don't Cha" and praised for being "beautifully sung, craftily produced and refreshingly gimmick-free". He continued praising the "catchy" chorus noting the "track is unlike anything else on the air".[8] While reviewing PCD, Linda McGee of RTÉ wrote that the song displays "the real intensity of spirit in the music of the [group]."[18] Sanneh felt that the song "might be even better" than 'Don't Cha'.[3] 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 [over the top], and that's actually a good thing".[19] Although musicOMH's John Murphy appreciated the group's vocal performances and harmonies, he noted that "[none of the group members] have a particular strong vocal" and the song "doesn't particularly stick in the mind very much".[7] Spence D. of IGN shared similar thoughts with Murphy writing that although Scherzinger "has a pleasing enough voice" she "never really presents anything that could come close to being called a signature sound". Spence D. also criticized the song's placement on the album.[5]
Similarly, AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine lamented the inclusion of "Stickwitu" on the album, stating: "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."[20] Sal Cinquenmani from Slant Magazine found it difficult to take the album's ballads—"Stickwitu" and "How Many Times, How Many Lies"—seriously when followed by "a song that begs a man to 'loosen up my buttons'".[21] Kat Bein of the Miami New Times wrote that the song was "in the running for most trite lyrics of all time".[22] Nathan Rabin from The A.V. Club described it as a "saccharine, sleepy ballad".[23] Writing for Sputnikmusic, Nick Butler described "Stickwitu" as a "limp, lifeless ode". However he did note that "it's nowhere near as sickly or disgustingly submissive and sexist as something like Destiny's Child's 'Cater 2 U'".[24] Kevin Courtney of the Irish Times gave "Stickwitu" two out of five stars, noting that "they don't want to be one-hit wonders".[25]
In 2017, "Stickwitu" was ranked at number 68 on Billboard's "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks", with Taylor Weaterby writing that the Pussycat Dolls "created one of the most heartfelt ballads in modern girl group history". Weaterby added, "the song is likely still making couples everywhere sway along and fall deeper in love" for years to come.[30]
Commercial performance
In the United States, "Stickwitu" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 85 on the issue dated October 22, 2005.[31] On the issue dated November 26, 2005, it leaped from number 18 to number nine, entering the top ten.[32] In its 11th week, the song peaked at number five.[33] The song became the Pussycat Dolls' first number-one on the Mainstream Top 40, making the group the first girl group to peak atop the chart since Destiny's Child in 2001.[34] On the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, the remix featuring Avant debuted at number 73, with 3.6 million audience impressions (up by 37%);[35] it ultimately peaked at number 63.[36] "Stickwitu" was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on July 11, 2007, for mastertone sales of one million units.[37]
Across Europe, "Stickwitu" performed strongly,[38] debuting at number two on the European Hot 100 Singles and attaining the same position in Ireland,[38] the Netherlands,[39] and Scotland,[40] as well as number three in Norway,[41] number five in Belgium (Flanders),[42] number six in Italy and Switzerland,[43][44] number seven in France,[45] and number eight in the Czech Republic.[46] In New Zealand, "Stickwitu" peaked at number one for two non-consecutive weeks,[47] and was certified gold by Recorded Music NZ (RMNZ).[48]
On the UK Singles Chart, "Stickwitu" debuted at number one on December 10, 2005, with first-week sales of 43,989 copies, becoming the Pussycat Dolls' second consecutive number-one song in the United Kingdom, after "Don't Cha" debuted atop 12 weeks before.[49] In its second week, the song remained at number one, with a 28.8% sales decrease, selling 31,311 copies.[50] It was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for sales of 600,000 units in the UK.[51] The Official Charts Company (OCC) ranks "Stickwitu" as the Pussycat Dolls' fourth most successful song on the UK Singles Chart,[52] and the 74th best-selling song by a girl group.[53]
Music video
The Pussycat Dolls in the music video in a photo session representing a part of their tour life.
The song's music video, directed by Nigel Dick, premiered on MTV.com on October 13, 2005.[54] According to MTV, the clip was filmed in different places across Los Angeles including the Orpheum Theatre over the course of two days.[55] The Pussycat Dolls enlisted Dick to direct the video as they wanted to maintain their momentum garnered from their debut single, "Don't Cha".[54] 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."[55] 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 [showing] the strength to do what we do [as performers]; 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."[54]
MTV's James Montgomery said that the video manages to be "high-fashion and low-brow, glamorous and, um, gritty at the same time",[55] where, according to Scherzinger, it's "a day in the life of the Pussycat Dolls on the road."[54] The director added that the music video is "a photographic [rendition of] 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."[55]
Live performances
On December 7, 2005, the Pussycat Dolls performed at the annual KIIS-FM Jingle Ball at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California with some members wearing "festive candy-cane-striped belly shirts and red-and-green capri pants." The set list included "Stickwitu", "Don't Cha", and "Wait a Minute".[56] On March 4, 2006, the Pussycat Dolls and Avant performed "Stickwitu" at the 20th Soul Train Music Awards.[57] On June 30, 2006, the group performed "Don't Cha", "Buttons" and "Stickwitu" on Good Morning America as part of its Summer Concert Series.[58] 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".[59]
In 2012, Scherzinger performed "Stickwitu" as part of a Pussycat Dolls medley throughout her first solo tour in support of her debut studio album, Killer Love (2011).[66]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
^ ab"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 14. týden 2006 in the date selector. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
