"React" is a song recorded by American girl group the Pussycat Dolls and was released by Access Records on February 7, 2020. It is the group's first song in over a decade, the last being 2009's "Hush Hush; Hush Hush", and is their first independent release since partnering with First Access Entertainment. "React" sees the return of Carmit Bachar who left the group before the release of their last album, Doll Domination (2008), although it does not feature Melody Thornton, who opted out of the reunion citing the desire to continue with her own solo music career. It was written by group member Nicole Scherzinger, along with Georgia Buchanan, Johan Gustafsson, William Simister, and Hannah Wilson. It was produced by Gustafson, Will Simms, and Swedish producer Ivares.

A pulsating electropop and synth-pop song, "React" is about a stagnant and turbulent relationship with lyrics that speak of wanting a more powerful reaction and excitement from one's lover. The group debuted "React" during a medley performance of their previous singles on The X Factor: Celebrity on November 30, 2019, and shortly after confirmed a concert tour for 2020 which was then pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The song was subsequently performed on Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway and G-A-Y as part of National Student Pride as well as being performed at other TV appearances in the UK and Australia. The X Factor performance generated in excess of 400 complaints with British broadcast regulator Ofcom regarding a perceived raunchy nature of the performance. The group subsequently answered complaints by noting that they were entertainers and their intention was to always be fierce, whilst empowering women to own their bodies.

"React" received praise for its uptempo production, drawing comparisons to the group's 2006 singles "Beep" and "Wait a Minute". An official music video was released on February 7, 2020, and features pyrotechnics and water, as well as a dance routine involving chairs, inspired by the 1983 film Flashdance. Critics called the release a successful return to music, further praising the video's synchronized choreography and backdrop of fire and water. Commercially, the song reached number two in Scotland, number nine in Hungary and Serbia, number ten in Israel, the top twenty on a number of international digital charts, as well as number 29 in the UK; becoming the group's eleventh top-forty single in the UK. Scherzinger noted that "React" could be followed by further new music from the group depending its success and their (then upcoming) concert tour. A remix of "React" produced by Cash Cash and an acoustic music video were also released in promotion of the song. Just over a year after the song's release, "React" was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), denoting 200,000 units shipped in the UK. In 2022, the group would cancel their tour due to COVID-19 and call time on their reunion citing contract disputes between Scherzinger and Antin.

Background

Following the re-release of Doll Domination (2008) and the group's single 2009 "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)", tensions in the group rose due to Scherzinger being billed as a featured artist on the release. This would go on to lead to a public outburst by member Melody Thornton during the group's Doll Domination Tour. The group would then announce a hiatus, with group founder Robin Antin acknowledging that new members would be joining Scherzinger. By February 2010, Jessica Sutta, Ashley Roberts, Kimberly Wyatt and Thornton had announced their departures from the group, with Wyatt later acknowledging that "the group has fully disbanded." There was an attempt for new members to join Scherzinger in 2010, but by the end of 2010 Scherzinger too had left the group to pursue her solo career. Through 2017 and 2018, it was widely reported that the group were considering reforming.

In October 2017, social media sites were set up for the group, further fueling speculation of a reunion and tour. It would be almost 2 years before any further news emerged, when in September 2019, Entertainment Tonight reported that Scherzinger had joined members of the band for new studio sessions. UK The X Factor judge Louis Walsh confirmed that the Pussycat Dolls would be performing on the finale of The X Factor: Celebrity on November 30, 2019. The band then confirmed their reunion on British radio station Heart, confirming that Bachar, Roberts, Scherzinger, Sutta and Wyatt had been recording new music and have announced nine tour dates around the UK in 2020. During the interview Scherzinger remarked that it had been around 10 years since the group's last tour and that the time felt right, "it's been a long time coming, but this feels like the perfect time to remind the world what it means to be a Pussycat Doll." The group also confirmed that if the reception to "React" was positive there would be more music to come. The Tour was then pushed back into 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is the first time that new music from the group includes Carmit Bachar since her departure in early 2008, prior to the release of the group's last album Doll Domination (2008). According to group founder Antin, Thornton would not be taking part due to her feeling like the time was not right. The group stated that they are leaving the door open for Thornton and she would be welcome back if she decided to join them later down the line.

Music and lyrics

"React" is a pulsating electropop and synth-pop song, with a dance beat, written by group lead singer Nicole Scherzinger, as well as Georgia Buchanan, Johan Gustafsson, William Simister and Hannah Wilson. Gustafsson is part of Swedish record production outfit Trinity Music who have previously worked with Pussycat Doll member Sutta. Buchanan, also known as Call Me Loop, noted that "React" was the first song she wrote for another artist. Gustafson, Will Simms and Swedish producer Ivares are responsible for producing the song, which is set to a production of 120 beats per minute.

Scherzinger was working with Simms on new music and said that when she first heard "React" she was "excited to jump on it" because it was "really melodic, fresh, and current and new-sounding." "React" is themed around a turbulent relationship, where the lyrics "play with an overly nice man's emotions in the hopes of eliciting a more... powerful reaction". Lyrics include the phrases "Every time I leave, you pull me closer, I hang up the phone, you call me back. / Why don't you mess me 'round like you're supposed to? You're turning me cruel 'cause I'm just wanting you to react."

Artwork The artwork for "React" was first unveiled on the group's official Instagram account on January 27, 2020. It features the group facing the camera dressed all in black. Scherzinger's outfit included "long latex sleeves and was paired with loose-fitted pants". Roberts and Sutta were featured slightly side on with their arms on Scherzinger's shoulders. "Roberts' outfit was legless and sleeveless on opposite sides and also displayed her toned torso. Sutta rocked a leotard with cut-out tights on the side." Meanwhile, to the far left, Wyatt wore a "low-cut leotard with huge shoulder pads and fishnet tights underneath" while Bachar appears on the far right with "strapless corset bodysuit and skintight pants." An alternate version of the cover featuring a black background and white text was used for the Cash Cash remix of the song.

Release

In mid January 2020, an early unfinished version of the song leaked online featuring Scherzinger's vocals. The Official Charts Company's Robert Copsey commented that the release strategy was very reminiscent of the 2000–2009 decade as the song was not available to download or stream after the group's debut performance of the song and a rough demo of the song was leaked online. Copsey said "all are pretty much unheard of in 2020, but the nostalgia of it all somehow made it feel right." On January 27, 2020, it was confirmed that "React" would be released on February 7, 2020, and it was made available to pre-order for digital download and pre-save on streaming outlets. The release was confirmed on the group's Instagram account and included the cover art for the single too. The Official Charts Company confirmed the song was being released by Access Records, making it their first independent release and first release in over a decade. Scherzinger told Rap-Up that being "able to release our music independently at this moment in time feels incredibly empowering".

The group offered 20 fans the opportunity to learn the choreography for "React" at YouTube Space London, from choreographer Todrick Hall and get the opportunity to meet the group. Upon release of the song, the group celebrated the release with an exclusive photoshoot lensed by British fashion photographer Rankin, along with a featured spread in Hunger Magazine. Mushroom Records handled the release in Australia, which included the song being sent to radio stations for airplay. Scherzinger also released a TikTok video of her washing her hands to "React" on March 16, 2020, the feature covered by the Official Charts Company was part of a drive by celebrities to increase awareness of hygiene as part of tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 3, 2020, the Cash Cash remix of "React" was released to digital outlets, and an exclusive acoustic performance was released by Hunger Magazine and Vero. On April 10, the group released a virtual breakdown video of the choreography for "React". Filmed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the video features members of the group taking it in turns to teach parts of the group choreography. Each of the girls filmed their part individually. According to Brazilian website POPline, the group had recorded a remix in partnership with Brabo Music and featuring Pabllo Vittar for their appearance at São Paulo's LGBTIQA+ parade in 2020. The parade and group's performance was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Live performances

"React" was debuted as part of a live medley performance on The X Factor: Celebrity finale on November 30, 2019, where the group the song alongside previous singles including "Buttons", "When I Grow Up" and "Don't Cha". The performance featured fireworks and waterfalls from the ceiling. BuzzFeeds Matt Stopera said calling the performance "iconic was an understatement". These same elements would later be recreated during the song's official music video. The performance was also praised by Rose Dommu from Out who said the group "ate their performance" and noted that the performance was inspired by the film Flashdance (1983). E! also called the performance "epic", with Alyssa Morin saying that the group "made everyone's hearts flutter". Alongside the praise, 400 people complained to British media regulator Ofcom due to the "raunchy" nature of the performance and the group's decision to wear sheer PVC outfits on a family programme.

On February 22, 2020, the group performed "React" for the second time on British Television as part of a medley on series sixteen of Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, along with "Buttons", "Beep" and "Don't Cha". The performance took the form of a comedy skit and was used to poke fun the controversy caused by their previous performance of "React". As part of the performance, a TV test card flashed up on screen from ITV reading "we're sorry for the disruption... we're working hard to fix the issue and will return to normal family-friendly, not at all sexy, uncontroversial programming soon." The test card was revealed to be a backdrop which the group jumped through. Later the same night, The Dolls performed "React" and their previous singles as part of their headlining set at G-A-Y for National Student Pride.