"Buttons" is the fifth track and fourth single by American girl group The Pussycat Dolls from their debut studio album PCD.
The song was remixed with additional vocals from American rapper Snoop Dogg and was released on April 11, 2006 as the album's fourth single. "Buttons" contains elements of Middle Eastern music, while the song's lyrics speaks of a woman's desire to be undressed.
Background
"Buttons" was written by Sean Garrett, Jamal Jones, Jason Perry and Nicole Scherzinger and produced by the former two alongside Ron Fair, Tal Herzberg and Young Smoke. Garrett wrote the song in a short amount of time, with Nicole Scherzinger in mind saying, "[she] is very sexy so the concept of loosening up her buttons,—every guy would want that and women wouldn't have a problem with guys loosening up their buttons."[1]
On December 19, 2005, the Pussycat Dolls performed at the 2005 Radio Music Awards a "racy rendition" of "Santa Baby" where Snoop Dogg joined them dressed up as Santa Claus.[2] Following their performance, Interscope Records asked Snoop Dogg to be part of "Buttons" adding two verses. In February 2006 at the Grammy Style Studio event, Scherzinger announced that Snoop Dogg would be a guest in the remix exclaiming, "It's the D-O-double-G, baby!"[3]
Composition
"Buttons" lasts three minutes and fifty-two seconds. It was written in the key of D minor with a time signature in common time, with a moderate groove of 102 beats per minute. The group's vocal range spans from the low note of G3 to the high note of A4, with Scherzinger adopting breathy vocals. The group takes a submissive stance towards Snoop Dogg who "seems to be as the object of affection for the girls, who ask him to 'loosen up [our] buttons' and to not 'leave [us] asking for more'." A writer for Complex magazine wrote that "it's lyrics right into the burlesque strip tease performances that PCD actually originated from". A writer for Vibe magazine noted that the song's production is reminiscent to earlier works by Timbaland.
Critical reception
Vibe magazine listed it as the 28th best song of the year, describing it as song that "oozes sexuality."[4] Rolling Stone ranked "Buttons" at number 91 on their "100 Best Songs of the Year" list for its "snaky synths, hot chorus, [and] Snoop cameo". In 2008, at the BMI Pop Awards "Buttons" was recognized as one of the "Award Winning Songs"[5] and at the 24th ASCAP Pop Music Awards, it was recognized as one of the "Most Performed Songs" of 2005-06. On the occasion of Snoop Dogg's 40th birthday, Erika Ramirez of Billboard included "Buttons" at number 4 on the list of "Snoop Dogg's Top 10 Billboard Hits".
Commercial performance
In the United States "Buttons" entered the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 at number seven, and began to steadily climb up the chart. It eventually reached a peak of three on September 16, 2006 being blocked by London Bridge by Fergie and Sexyback by Justin Timberlake. "Buttons" spent a total of 11 weeks inside the top ten of the Hot 100 and 30 weeks on the chart in total and peaked at #1 on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart.
According to Nielsen Soundscan, by January 24, 2010, the Pussycat Dolls became the first female group in digital history to have three singles— along with "Don't Cha" and "When I Grow Up"—surpass 2 million digital downloads.
"Buttons" also reached top 5 in countries like Australia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Scotland, New Zealand and more.
Music video
The music video for "Buttons" was directed by Francis Lawrence over a period of three days.
The video begins with Snoop Dogg performing his rap while lead singer Nicole Scherzinger dances around him seductively. As the first chorus begins the group, dressed in suggestive black outfits, walking towards a tunnel where they later perform a striptease. As the second chorus begins, they are seen performing upon a horizontal bar. Towards the end of the chorus Scherzinger separates herself from the group and performs against a backdrop of curtains made from jewelry then proceeds to dance around a chair. Before the chorus begins four additional chairs and the group performs a dance routine. When Snoop Dogg's verse begins, The Pussycat Dolls are shown walking towards him. During the breakdown, the girls dance while smoke is filled and halfway through the video, the floor turns on fire. The video ends with the girls walking away.
Live performances
On December 31, 2004, The Pussycat Dolls performed an early demo version of "Buttons" on New Year's Eve with Carson Daly.[6]
On June 30, 2006, the Pussycat Dolls appeared on Good Morning America as part of its Summer Concert Series performing "Don't Cha", "Buttons" and "Stickwitu".
On September 8, 2006 they performed "Buttons" at the Fashion Rocks where they were joined by rapper Jibbs. At the 2006 American Music Awards they performed "Buttons" wearing "sparkly sequined mini dresses." These two performances became notable due to Nicole and Melody having tension onstage as well as Melody belting her part at the end.
The song has been performed at several television shows, festivals, and on their tours.
In two known live performances at different dates of the Doll Domination Tour, Melody leads the song in Nicole's absence. During the show in Belgrade, Serbia, Nicole is missing entirely throughout the song, leaving the the remaining members to perform without her. During the show in Jakarta, Indonesia, Jessica is absent due to her injury, and Nicole shows up after the first verse.[7]
Lyrics
Nicole:
I'm telling you to loosen up my buttons, babe (Uh-huh!)
But you keep fronting, uh
Sayin' what you gon' do to me (Uh-huh!)
But I ain't seen nothing
I'm telling you to loosen up my buttons, babe (Uh-huh!)
But you keep fronting, uh
Sayin' what you gon' do to me (Uh-huh!)
But I ain't seen nothing
Typical and hardly the type I fall for
I like when the physical
Don't leave me asking for more
I'm a sexy mama (Mama)
Who knows just how to get what I wanna (Wanna)
What I wanna do is spring this on ya (On ya)
Back up all of the things that I told ya (Told ya, told ya, told ya)
You been sayin' all the right things all night long
But I can't seem to get you over here to help take this off
Baby, can't you see (See)
How these clothes are fitting on me (Me)
And the heat coming from this beat? (Beat)
I'm about to blow, I don't think you know
I'm telling you to loosen up my buttons, babe (Uh-huh!)
But you keep fronting, uh
Sayin' what you gon' do to me (Uh-huh!)
But I ain't seen nothing
I'm telling you to loosen up my buttons, babe (Uh-huh!)
But you keep fronting, uh
Sayin' what you gon' do to me (Uh-huh!)
But I ain't seen nothing
You say you're a big boy, but I can't agree
'Cause the love you said you had ain't been put on me
I wonder (Wonder) if I'm just too much for you
Wonder (Wonder) if my kiss don't make you just
Wonder (Wonder), what I got next for you
What you wanna do? (Do)
Take the chance to recognize that this could be yours
I can see just like most guys that your game don't please
Baby, can't you see (See)
How these clothes are fitting on me (Me)
And the heat coming from this beat? (Beat)
I'm about to blow, I don't think you know
I'm telling you to loosen up my buttons, babe (Uh-huh!) (Melody: Oh whoa)
But you keep fronting, uh
Sayin' what you gon' do to me (Uh-huh!) (Melody: Oh, oh, oh, oh)
But I ain't seen nothing
I'm telling you to loosen up my buttons, babe (Uh-huh!)
But you keep fronting, uh
Sayin' what you gon' do to me (Uh-huh!)
But I ain't seen nothing
Nicole (Carmit):
Loosen up my buttons, babe
(Loosen up my buttons, babe)
Baby, won't you loosen up my buttons, babe?
(Loosen up my buttons, babe)
Come on baby, loosen up my buttons, babe
(Loosen up my buttons, babe)
Baby, won't you loosen up my buttons, babe?
(Loosen up my buttons, babe)
Nicole:
I'm telling you to loosen up my buttons, babe (Uh-huh!)
But you keep fronting, uh
Sayin' what you gon' do to me (Uh-huh!)
But I ain't seen nothing
I'm telling you to loosen up my buttons, babe (Uh-huh!)
But you keep fronting, uh
Sayin' what you gon' do to me (Uh-huh!)
But I ain't seen nothing (Melody: Oh, oh, oh)
I'm telling you to (and Melody: loosen up my buttons, babe) (Uh-huh!)
But you keep fronting, uh (Melody: Oh...)
Sayin' what you gon' do to me (Uh-huh!)
But I ain't seen nothing
I'm telling you to loosen up my buttons, babe (Uh-huh!) (Melody: Oh)
But you keep fronting, uh
Sayin' what you gon' do to me (Uh-huh!)
But I ain't seen nothing
[Verse 1: Snoop Dogg]
What it do, baby boo?
Yeah, lil' mama, you lookin' good
I see you wanna play wit a player from the hood
Come holla at me, you got it like that
Big Snoop Dogg with the lead Pussycat
I show you how it go down, yeah, I wanna throw down
Me and you one-on-one, treat it like a showdown
You look at me and I look at you
I'm reachin' for your shirt, whatchu want me to do?
[Chorus: The Pussycat Dolls]
I'm telling you to loosen up my buttons, babe (Uh-huh!)
But you keep fronting, uh
Sayin' what you gon' do to me (Uh-huh!)
But I ain't seen nothing
I'm telling you to loosen up my buttons, babe (Uh-huh!)
But you keep fronting, uh
Sayin' what you gon' do to me (Uh-huh!)
But I ain't seen nothing
[Verse 2: The Pussycat Dolls]
Typical and hardly the type I fall for
I like when the physical
Don't leave me asking for more
I'm a sexy mama (Mama)
Who knows just how to get what I wanna (Wanna)
What I wanna do is spring this on ya (On ya)
Back up all of the things that I told ya (Told ya, told ya, told ya)
You been sayin' all the right things all night long
But I can't seem to get you over here to help take this off
[Pre-Chorus: The Pussycat Dolls]
Baby, can't you see (See)
How these clothes are fitting on me (Me)
And the heat coming from this beat? (Beat)
I'm about to blow, I don't think you know
[Chorus: The Pussycat Dolls]
I'm telling you to loosen up my buttons, babe (Uh-huh!)
But you keep fronting, uh
Sayin' what you gon' do to me (Uh-huh!)
But I ain't seen nothing
I'm telling you to loosen up my buttons, babe (Uh-huh!)
But you keep fronting, uh
Sayin' what you gon' do to me (Uh-huh!)
But I ain't seen nothing
[Verse 3: The Pussycat Dolls]
You say you're a big boy, but I can't agree
'Cause the love you said you had ain't been put on me
I wonder (Wonder) if I'm just too much for you
Wonder (Wonder) if my kiss don't make you just
Wonder (Wonder), what I got next for you
What you wanna do? (Do)
Take the chance to recognize that this could be yours
I can see just like most guys that your game don't please
[Pre-Chorus: The Pussycat Dolls]
Baby, can't you see (See)
How these clothes are fitting on me (Me)
And the heat coming from this beat? (Beat)
I'm about to blow, I don't think you know
[Chorus: The Pussycat Dolls, Melody Thornton]
I'm telling you to loosen up my buttons, babe (Uh-huh!) (Oh whoa)
But you keep fronting, uh
Sayin' what you gon' do to me (Uh-huh!) (Oh, oh, oh, oh)
But I ain't seen nothing
I'm telling you to loosen up my buttons, babe (Uh-huh!)
But you keep fronting, uh
Sayin' what you gon' do to me (Uh-huh!)
But I ain't seen nothing
[Verse 4: Snoop Dogg]
Now you can get what you want, but I need what I need
Now let me tell you what's crackalackin' 'fore I proceed
I'mma show you where to put it at
PCD on me, yeah, I thought I saw a pussycat
Now roll with the big dog, all six of y'all on me
Now tell me how it feel, babydoll
Ashley, Nicole, Carmit, Jessica, Kimberley, Melody, you tellin' me?
[Bridge: The Pussycat Dolls, Carmit Bachar]
Loosen up my buttons, babe
Loosen up my buttons, babe
Baby, won't you loosen up my buttons, babe?
Loosen up my buttons, babe
Come on baby, loosen up my buttons, babe
Loosen up my buttons, babe
Baby, won't you loosen up my buttons, babe?
Loosen up my buttons, babe
[Chorus: The Pussycat Dolls, Melody Thornton]
I'm telling you to loosen up my buttons, babe (Uh-huh!)
But you keep fronting, uh
Sayin' what you gon' do to me (Uh-huh!)
But I ain't seen nothing
I'm telling you to loosen up my buttons, babe (Uh-huh!)
But you keep fronting, uh
Sayin' what you gon' do to me (Uh-huh!)
But I ain't seen nothing (Oh, oh, oh)
I'm telling you to loosen up my buttons, babe (Uh-huh!)
But you keep fronting, uh (Oh...)
Sayin' what you gon' do to me (Uh-huh!)
But I ain't seen nothing
I'm telling you to loosen up my buttons, babe (Uh-huh!) (Oh)
But you keep fronting, uh
Sayin' what you gon' do to me (Uh-huh!)
But I ain't seen nothing
Videos
Live performances
References
- ↑ "Sean Garrett Tells All: The Stories Behind His Classic Records". - Complex
- ↑ "Snoop Dogg Pushing The Pussycat Dolls' 'Buttons'". - MTV News
- ↑ "Snoop Dogg Pushing The Pussycat Dolls' 'Buttons'". - MTV News
- ↑ "60 Songs of '06". - Vibe
- ↑ "2008 BMI Pop Awards - Award Winning Songs". - Broadcast Music, Inc.
- ↑ "The Pussycat Dolls - Buttons (Live @ Carson Daly New Years)" - YouTube.
- ↑ See video gallery.