Buttons (song)

"Buttons" is a song written by Sean Garrett, Jamal Jones, Jason Perry, and Nicole Scherzinger for the Pussycat Dolls' debut album PCD (2005). Released as the album's fourth single, the song became one of their biggest hits. It is their fourth top-three single on the UK Singles Chart and their second top-three single on the Billboard Hot 100.

The Pussycat Dolls collaborated with Snoop Dogg on this release. The song was altered slightly from the album version, adding in two rap verses. For the final release of the single, the version featuring Snoop Dogg is described as the main mix.

Lyrics and music

Like "Don't Cha" and "Beep", the song has a strong sexual undertone; a lady teases her intended male subject to help her take her clothes off (hence the main chorus line "I'm telling you to loosen up my buttons"). However, she accuses him of being intimidated, leading her to believe he's "all talk and no show". She claims that she's "heard what he's sayin' what he was going to do to her, but she's seen nothing". However, where most listeners would assume that the protagonist has finally become disinterested, the song ends with the impression that she's still teasing the man to unbutton her clothes.

The lyrics were slightly altered after the final release in the rap verse performed by Snoop Dogg. The lyric "Yeah, I thought I saw a puddycat" (catchphrase of the Looney Tunes character Tweety) was changed to "Yeah, I thought I saw a pussycat". This version was not used due to copy right issues with Warner. The song is later credited as the "Main Mix - Final Edit" (a similar lyric was also used in the Ying Yang Twins' song "Badd" and Akon's song "Smack That").

The B-side is "Flirt" written by Nicole Scherzinger, Kara DioGuardi, and Greg Wells.

Music video

The video was shot in March 20 2006 by production company DNA and was directed by Francis Lawrence. It features the Pussycat Dolls with rapper Snoop Dogg. In a sepia-toned setting, The Dolls, dressed in suggestive black outfits, progress through the video performing a striptease that leads to several dance segments. Scherzinger, in one dance sequence in the second verse, uses a chair as a prop. On the chorus, four additional chairs appear in the scene, and four of the members of the group appear, and the dance continues; Thornton, who is separated from the girls in this sequence, is seen doing her melismatic runs on the chorus.

The video is influenced by both the Pussycat Dolls's old-school burlesque traditions and the Middle-Eastern influence of the musical composition, incorporating props and imagery such as the trademark Pussycat Dolls's method of the silhouetting of bodies in their stage shows, jazz dance moves, and a curtain made from jewelry worn by belly dancers. A different version of the video is shown with smoke coming from some of the dolls during some sequences, and finally the floor bursting into digitally-added fire in the last sequences. As with "Beep", a new piece of music, using the same riff but with a different, faster drum beat was added in, so the dolls could perform a faster dance routine. This piece of music replaces the bridge in the video.

The video reached number five in MTV UK Hits' "Top 100 Songs of 2006". It received an award at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards in the category of Best Dance Video, and was voted best video of 2006 in Vh1's Top 40 Videos of 2006, beating "Hips Don't Lie" by Shakira and "Far Away" by Nickelback. It was also The Hits' choice as the "Sexiest Video" for 2006. The video scored #4 on MuchMusic's 50 Sexiest Videos.

Formats and track listings

CD single 1 (A&M Records)

1. "Buttons" [Main Mix - Final Edit] 3:52
2. "Flirt" 2:57 CD single 2 (A&M Records)
3. "Buttons" [Main Mix - Final Edit] 3:52
4. "Buttons" (album version) 3:46
5. "Flirt" 2:57
6. "Buttons" (video)CD single (Polydor)
7. "Buttons [Main Mix - Final Edit]"
8. "Don't Cha" (live version)

Chart performance

"Buttons" was released to radio in late April/early May in the United States and debuted at number seventy-one on the US Billboard Hot 100, and steadily climbed up the chart during the months of May, June and July. "Buttons" eventually reached its peak at number-three in September after an increase in digital sales. "Buttons" was also successful on the Billboard Pop 100 peaking at number-two and also topped the Billboard Pop 100 Airplay at the end of August. This made "Buttons" the group's second number-one on the Pop 100 Airplay chart, following "Stickwitu" in January 2006. The Pussycat Dolls were one of only three artists to have had two different songs top the Pop 100 Airplay in 2006 with the others being Beyoncé with "Check on It" and "Irreplaceable" and Justin Timberlake with "SexyBack" and "My Love".

In the United Kingdom "Buttons" debuted at number-eleven on the UK Singles Chart, based solely on download sales one week prior to its physical release. After a physical release, it ascended to its peak at number-three, becoming the Dolls' fourth consecutive UK top three hit. "Buttons" was also a top 5 success in Ireland where it has managed a peak of number-four. "Buttons" is also the Dolls' fourth consecutive Irish top 5 hit following the success of its three pedecessors.

"Buttons" was also a major hit in Oceania. In Australia, "Buttons" reached number-two for two consecutive weeks and is certified Platinum by ARIA for sales in excess of 70,000. It spent a total of 22 weeks on the chart, tying it with "Don't Cha" as the group's longest running single on the chart and was ranked as the 17th highest selling single there for 2006. It was one of four songs by the Pussycat Dolls to have made this chart, with the others being its predecessors "Stickwitu" and "Beep", and its successor "I Don't Need A Man". In New Zealand, "Buttons" debuted at number thirty-eight on the New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart, and reached its peak position at number-one in its third week, becoming the Dolls' fourth consecutive number-one single to date. "Buttons" spent a total of 22 weeks on the chart, and was ranked as the year's 8th highest seller.

"Buttons" was also a moderate success in Europe, and eventually peaked at number-seven on the European Hot 100. In Austria, "Buttons" became the Dolls' first Austrian number-one single, topping the chart for three consecutive weeks, and remains the group's most successful single there to date. "Buttons" has reached the top five in Germany and Belgium, the top ten in the Netherlands, and the top 40 in Sweden. It also have great success in Portugal where became very popular, reaching number1. It peaked at number five on the United World Chart, and gained 4,233,000 points ending as the year's 13th most successful song.

Charts

Chart (2006)	Peak position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart	2
Austria Singles Chart	1
Belgian Singles Chart	4
Canadian BDS Airplay Chart	13
Dutch Singles Chart	6
European Billboard Hot 100 Singles	7
French Singles Chart	12
Finnish Singles Chart	11
German Singles Chart	4
Irish Singles Chart	4
Italian FIMI Singles Chart	18
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart	1
Portuguese Singles Chart	1
Swiss Singles Chart	3
UK Singles Chart	3
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	3
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Airplay	5
U.S. Billboard Pop 100	2
U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Songs	3
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play	1

Official versions

1. "Buttons (Main Mix - Final Edit) 3:52
2. "Buttons (Jason Nevins Remix) 4:05
3. "Buttons (Joe Bermudez Unbuttoned Club Mix) 7:25
4. "Buttons (Dave Audé Button Fly Club Mix) 7:40
5. "Buttons (Dave Audé Button Fly Mixshow) 6:11
6. "Buttons (Dave Audé Button Fly Edit) 3:52
7. "Buttons (Ander Standing Tribal Mix) 8:30
8. "Buttons (Ander Standing Tribal Radio Mix) 3:47
9. "Buttons (Scott Storch Remix) 3:52
10. "Buttons (Sexy Mama Club Mix) 9:08
11. "Buttons (Sexy Mama Radio Edit) 3:36
12. "Buttons (Edson Pride Club Mix) 9:18
13. "Buttons (Enry Hard Buttons Tribal Mix) 8:59

Procession and Succession

References