Song Review: The Pussycat Dolls Make Triumphant Comeback with "React" Single Release

   It had been teased FOR YEARS!

   Since their breakout hit "Don't Cha" in 2005, The Pussycat Dolls dominated pop radio airwaves with a sense of style, confidence, sex appeal, and perhaps, a few dominating personalities and questionable "featured" billings.

   After a string of chart successes including "Stickwitu", "Buttons", "When I Grow Up" and "I Hate This Part", the girl group unexpectedly called it quits and officially disbanded in 2009. Their final single release, a revamped, Gloria Gaynor-sampling "Hush Hush; Hush Hush" off sophomore album Doll Domination, was a bittersweet farewell.

   However, 2020 will forever be remembered as the year that PCD reunited and returned with a vengeance. After a show-stopping live performance on The X Factor UK stage, the women finally share new single "React", an electropop/R&B hybrid that highlights a strong return to form. Nicole Scherzinger, Carmit Bachar, Ashley Roberts, Jessica Sutta and Kimberly Wyatt now have a solid re-launching pad to dominate an entirely new decade.

   "React" sheds unfortunate light on a troubled relationship, however, it may be the PCD members who are steering it toward an end. Instead of lamenting, the women develop an intoxicating sense of control, fearlessness and indifference. Though is it the proper response to an overly nice partner who only wants to please and love?

   Good guys clearly frustrate the members. And while they acknowledge bashing something healthy and supportive, they allow their aggressive instincts to get the better of them. Sometimes they just want to fight and argue. "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," they sing on the chorus.

   A decade following their initial disbandment, it is unfortunate to only hear Scherzinger's vocals on the final version of "React". Penning the track herself, alongside a handful of others, could explain the reasoning. While Scherzinger's vocals are nothing to criticize, they are sultry and controlled, it would be nice to hear the rest of the group on future releases. Let's not have a repeat of dark history.

   With a twist on the traditional break up effort, a desire from the women to have a bit more spice in their relationship, all supported by an uptempo dance beat, "React" comes off as an innovative, natural progression of the PCD catalog. It sounds as if the group hadn't disbanded at all. What hiatus? It's pop with attitude. That's exactly what we were expecting.

   And let's not forget about the accompanying, elemental music video. Words won't do it justice. Just watch below.