New Music: G.R.L. – “Vacation”

The Pussycat Dolls are finally back!  Well, sort of.  Pussycat Doll founder (and all-around monster-face) Robin Antin has put together another girl group called…G.R.L.!  G.R.L. is made up of Lauren Bennett (of “Party Rock Anthem” fame), Simone Battle, Paula Van Oppen, Natasha Slayton, and Emmalyn Estrada.  They were going to be the new Pussycat Dolls, but then I guess there were rumors of a possible reunion of the original Pussycat Dolls, so they changed their name to G.R.L.  Or something like that.  The point is, they’ve released a new song called “Vacation” for The Smurfs 2 soundtrack and it’s definitely worth your time.

Created by pop masterminds Dr. Luke, Max Martin, Cirkut, and Bonnie McKee, “Vacation” is a delightful slice of upbeat dance pop that’s just perfect for a kids movie.  The only problem I have with the track is its lack of a bridge.  It feels kind of lazy to let some laughter and a refrain of the pre-chorus serve as your middle-eight, especially for people as experienced as Max Martin and Dr. Luke, but I guess it IS just for The Smurfs 2 movie…

“Vacation” comes as a free B-side to Britney Spears’s new Smurfs 2 soundtrack single “Ooh La La” on iTunes.  I don’t know, I might have to check for these girls if they keep releasing cute little songs like this!  Although I imagine their first official single will be a little more sexually-charged in the grand tradition of Pussycat Doll classics like “Buttons.”  But to be honest, I’d rather they model themselves after one of Robin Antin’s other failed girl groups, The Paradiso Girls.  Take a listen to “Patron Tequila” if you don’t believe me.  Timeless.