When I Grow Up

"When I Grow Up" is a song recorded by American girl group The Pussycat Dolls from their second studio album, Doll Domination (2008). It was released by Interscope Records on May 27, 2008, as the lead single from the album. "When I Grow Up" was their first single following the departure of the group's longest-standing member Carmit Bachar. It was first recorded for Nicole Scherzinger's planned solo project, Her Name Is Nicole, but after its cancellation and Scherzinger's return to the group, she felt that the song was better suited for the group. It was written by Theron Thomas, Timothy Thomas and Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, who also produced the song. It is an uptempo electropop song with elements of the 1966 song, "He's Always There" by British rock band The Yardbirds. "When I Grow Up" speaks about the desire to be famous, and was described as being "autobiographical" by Scherzinger. The single was received favorably by contemporary music critics, many of whom highlighted it as a stand-out track from Doll Domination. It peaked at number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming the group's highest charting single since "Buttons" (2006). The song has sold over two million digital copies in the United States, making the Pussycat Dolls the first female group in digital history to have three singles pass the two million mark in digital sales. The song reached the top-five in countries such as Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, and the top-ten in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. The song's accompanying music video premiered on June 13, 2008. Directed by Joseph Khan, it portrays the Pussycat Dolls in a traffic jam on Hollywood Boulevard. It was complimented for its dance breakdown, and was nominated in five categories at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, and went on to win Best Dance Video. The Pussycat Dolls performed the song on television shows including Jimmy Kimmel Live! and So You Think You Can Dance, as well several award shows, and throughout their Doll Domination Tour (2009).

[Intro] Boys call you sexy (What's up, sexy?) And you don't care what they say (Ha, ha) See, every time you turn around, they screaming your name Just call you sexy (What's up, sexy?) And you don't care what they say (Yeah) See, every time you turn around, they screaming your name (Darkchild) [Verse 1] Now I've got a confession (Ha, ha, ha, ha) When I was young I wanted attention (Ha, ha, ha, ha) And I promised myself that I'd do anything (Ha, ha, ha, ha) Anything at all for them to notice me (Ha, ha, ha, ha) [Pre-Chorus] But I ain't complaining (Oh) We all wanna be famous (Oh) So, go ahead and say what you wanna say (Oh) You know what it's like to be nameless (Oh) Want them to know what your name is (Oh) 'Cause see, when I was younger, I would say [Chorus] When I grow up, I wanna be famous I wanna be a star, I wanna be in movies When I grow up, I wanna see the world Drive nice cars, I wanna have groupies When I grow up, be on TV People know me, be on magazines When I grow up, fresh and clean Number one chick when I step out on the scene [Refrain] But be careful what you wish for 'Cause you just might get it (Hey) You just might get it (Hey) You just might get it (Hey) But be careful what you wish for 'Cause you just might get it (Hey) You just might get it (Hey) You just might get it (Hey) Get it? [Verse 2] They used to tell me I was silly (Ha, ha, ha, ha) 'Til I popped up on the TV (La, la, la, la) I always wanted to be a superstar (Superstar) (Ha, ha, ha, ha) Who knew that singing songs would get me this far? (La, la, la, la) [Pre-Chorus] But I ain't complaining (Oh) We all wanna be famous (Oh) So, go ahead and say what you wanna say (Oh) You know what it's like to be nameless (Oh) Want them to know what your name is (Oh) 'Cause see, when I was younger, I would say [Chorus] When I grow up, I wanna be famous I wanna be a star, I wanna be in movies When I grow up, I wanna see the world Drive nice cars, I wanna have groupies When I grow up, be on TV People know me, be on magazines When I grow up, fresh and clean Number one chick when I step out on the scene [Refrain] But be careful what you wish for 'Cause you just might get it (Hey) You just might get it (Hey) You just might get it (Hey) But be careful what you wish for 'Cause you just might get it (Hey) You just might get it (Hey) You just might get it (Hey) Get it? [Bridge] I see them staring at me Ooh, I'm a trendsetter Yes, this is true 'cause what I do No one can do it better You can talk about me 'Cause I'm a hot topic I see you watching me, watching me And I know you want it [Chorus] When I grow up, I wanna be famous I wanna be a star, I wanna be in movies When I grow up, I wanna see the world Drive nice cars, I wanna have groupies When I grow up, be on TV People know me, be on magazines When I grow up, fresh and clean Number one chick when I step out on the scene [Refrain] But be careful what you wish for 'Cause you just might get it (Hey) You just might get it (Hey) You just might get it (Hey) But be careful what you wish for 'Cause you just might get it (Hey) You just might get it (Hey) You just might get it (Hey) Get it? [Chorus] When I grow up, I wanna be famous I wanna be a star, I wanna be in movies When I grow up, I wanna see the world Drive nice cars, I wanna have groupies When I grow up, be on TV People know me, be on magazines When I grow up, fresh and clean Number one chick when I step out on the scene [Refrain] But be careful what you wish for 'Cause you just might get it (Hey) You just might get it (Hey) You just might get it (Hey) But be careful what you wish for 'Cause you just might get it (Hey) You just might get it (Hey) You just might get it (Hey) Get it? (Darkchild)