When I Grow Up

Album: Doll Domination (2008)
Charted: 3 9
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song about the desire for fame was produced by Rodney Jerkins ("If You Had My Love" by Jennifer Lopez, "The Boy Is Mine" by Brandy & Monica, "Deja Vu" by Beyoncé). It was the lead single from the second Pussycat Dolls album, Doll Domination, which ended up being their last. The album was released in 2008 and on the subsequent tour fissures formed as lead singer Nicole Scherzinger continued to be the focal point in performances and media appearances. They broke up in 2010, and a reunion attempt in 2019 didn't get very far.
  • Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger explained this song to MTV: "All of us started with a dream. I know when I was young, and I would sign people's notebooks, I wrote, 'Remember me when I'm famous,' and I don't know of a little kid who hasn't aspired to be someone. The lyrics go, 'When I grow up, I wanna be famous, I wanna be a star, I wanna be in movies,' but there's a twist at the end, because it says, 'Be careful what you wish for, because you might just get it.'"
  • Britney Spears, herself a high profile casualty of fame, shot a cameo for the song's video, but it was dropped from the final edit. It would have been the second time that the "Toxic" hitmaker had performed with the Dolls as Spears had previously joined them on stage during a private performance at her older brother Bryan's birthday party in 2004.

    Joseph Kahn, who was also the mastermind behind many of Spears' own videos ("Toxic," "Stronger," "Womanizer," "Perfume") directed this. He would also take the reins for the Pussycat Dolls' "I Hate This Part."
  • Rodney Jerkins wrote this with the songwriting brothers Theron and Timothy Thomas, who go by the name of Rock City. The song samples the main riff of The Yardbirds 1966 track "He's Always There," which was originally on their Roger the Engineer album. Because of the sample, that song's writers - Jim McCarty and Paul Samwell-Smith - also receive writing credits on "When I Grow Up." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France

Comments: 2

  • Neelam from Ba, Fijipussycat dolls rock... they are amazing.This song relates a very good message...and an inspiration to us all....keep rocking.
  • Jessica from St.louis, MoDO they say boobies??
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Randy Houser

Randy HouserSongwriter Interviews

The "How Country Feels" singer talks Skynyrd and songwriting.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Subversive Songs Used To Sell

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Krishna Das

Krishna DasSongwriter Interviews

The top chant artist in the Western world, Krishna Das talks about how these Hindu mantras compare to Christian worship songs.

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?Song Writing

A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.