| "React" | ||||
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| Single by The Pussycat Dolls | ||||
| Released | February 7, 2020 | |||
| Recorded | 2019 | |||
| Studio | ||||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:24 | |||
| Label | Access | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| The Pussycat Dolls singles chronology | ||||
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| Official Music Video | ||||
| React on YouTube | ||||
| Cash Cash Remix Music Video | ||||
| React (Cash Cash Remix) on YouTube | ||||
| Acoustic Music Video | ||||
| React (Acoustic) [presented by Vero] on YouTube | ||||
"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 synthpop 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 movie 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.