When it comes to guilty pleasures, this one easily ranks in the upper echelon of our list.
The fiery ‘Like Me’ by the now-defunct Girlicious is this week’s From The Vault pick.
Armed with the success of her creation The Pussycat Dolls, Robin Antin took to the CW Network in 2008 to showcase the makings of yet another girlband – Girlicious. Following a series of weekly challenges, it was only on the season finale that the group’s lineup was revealed.
Hoping to mimic the success of the Dolls and their blockbuster debut ‘PCD’, the Pop quad seemingly had all it took to help carry the torch that Nicole and co had picked up a few years prior.
Their debut single ‘Like Me’ was helmed by man of the hour Jazze Pha, and although it had the very same assertiveness and confidence as PCD’s debut ‘Don’t Cha’, the same can’t be said about its resonance on the charts.
Only released in North America, the song never penetrated the Hot 100 in the US, but was a huge hit in Canada where it debuted at #4.
As a result the girls premiere album offering was exclusively released in Canada where it went to #2 and spawned a couple more singles.
Keeping it in the family, the video for the tune was directed by Steve Antin and had the group performing on a boxing ring and featured producer Jazze.
A bonafide Canadian smash, it won “Mast Watched Video” at the 2009 Much Music Video Awards.
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When it comes to Girlicious – or any other attempt at a new girl group for that matter – we wish we could give Robin Antin an “A” for effort but unfortunately “effort” is what seems to be lacking.
Indeed, there doesn’t seem to ever be an effort to create something different from the Pussycat Dolls mould. We “get” that she and her team have a template of what they want their ensemble to look and sound like, but they shouldn’t be carbon copies of the originals either.
The fashion, dance moves and musical style that are displayed here are way too similar to what the Dolls were serving during their run, which wasn’t even over back then.
That’s not fair to the public nor the girls.
Anyhow, to the ladies of Girlicious, wherever you may be, we salute you and thank you for this enduring bop.
