When I Grow Up (Pussycat Dolls Song) - Background

Background

Following the commercial success of PCD (2005), lead vocalist Nicole Scherzinger recorded guest vocals with a wide array of male vocalists, including Shaggy, Avant and P. Diddy. The guest spots on the songs furthered Scherzinger's popularity, and she began work on her own solo album. The project, Her Name Is Nicole, was meant to show a more vulnerable side of Scherzinger, rather than the "strong and fearless" woman she was perceived to be in the Pussycat Dolls. Scherzinger expressed that although people recognize her as being the lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls, it didn't fulfill her musical aspirations. When asked what she intended to achieve with her solo career she commented: "Some people only have their glasses half full, but there was never a limit to mine." While the recording process was underway for Her Name Is Nicole, production had also begun on the second Pussycat Dolls album, under the working title Double the Trouble.

"For me it was what I wanted to do. I'm a relentless perfectionist and I realised that a lot of the songs from my record should be Pussycat Dolls songs including 'When I Grow Up'. Next year I want to put out my solo album and I think the two will be able to co-exist nicely together."

—Scherzinger on why she halted production of her solo album.

Over the course of two years (2005–07), Scherzinger recorded almost 100 songs for Her Name Is Nicole, with production handled by the likes of will.i.am, Polow da Don, Timbaland, Akon and The Neptunes. She stated that she enjoyed collaborating with many different artists, and that although she had been writing songs for over ten years, she felt as if she was at a different level while working with such A-list writers and producers. Following the moderate success of Her Name Is Nicole's lead single "Baby Love", the complete lack of success with a string of promotional singles: "Whatever U Like", "Supervillian" and "Puakenikini", and push backs, Scherzinger decided to put the release of the on hold. She then returned her focus back on the Pussycat Dolls, and recording commenced for their second studio album.

"When I Grow Up" was one of several songs that were originally recorded by Scherzinger during the Her Name Is Nicole sessions, the others being "Happily Never After", "Who's Gonna Love You" and "I Hate This Part, that appears on Doll Domination. Scherzinger cited that she felt as if the songs were more suited as a Pussycat Dolls song than her own. "When I Grow Up" was written by Theron and Timothy Thomas, along with Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, who also produced the song. The Yardbirds' drummer Jim McCarty and bassist Paul Samwell-Smith both received co-writing credits for the song, for its sample of "He's Always There" (1966). The song was recorded by Paul Foley, Mike "Handz" Donaldson and Roberto "Tito" Vazquez at 2nd Floor Studios in Orlando and Chalice Studios in Los Angeles, and was mixed by Spike Stent and Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins at Chalice Studios in Los Angeles. "When I Grow Up" made its world premiere online on May 16, 2008, and was issued as a digital download in North America on May 27. It was later serviced to contemporary hit radio in the United States on June 1, 2008. The release of "When I Grow Up" came after the departure of member Carmit Bachar. It was officially confirmed, after months of speculation, on March 4, 2008 that Bahar had left the group to follow "other performance interests". At the time of her departure, she had been the longest member of the group, joining in 1995 when they were a burlesque act.