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).
When I Grow Up
The Pussycat Dolls Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you don't care what they say
See every time you turn around
They screaming your name
Boys call you sexy
And you don't care what they say
See every time you turn around
They screaming your name
Now I've got a confession
When I was young I wanted attention
And I promised myself that I'd do anything
Anything at all for them to notice me
But I ain't complaining
We all wanna be famous
So go ahead and say what you wanna say
You don't know what its like to be nameless
Want them to know what your name is
'Cause see when I was younger I would say
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
Be careful what you wish for
'Cause you just might get it
You just might get it
You just might get it
Be careful what you wish for
'Cause you just might get it
You just might get it
You just might get it
They used to tell me I was silly
Until I popped up on the TV
I always wanted to be a superstar
And knew that singing songs would get me this far
But I ain't complaining
We all wanna be famous
So go ahead and say what you wanna say
You don't know what its like to be nameless
Want them to know what your name is
'Cause see when I was younger I would say
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
Be careful what you wish for
'Cause you just might get it
You just might get it
You just might get it
Be careful what you wish for
'Cause you just might get it
You just might get it
You just might get it
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, oh
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
Be careful what you wish for
'Cause you just might get it
You just might get it
You just might get it
Be careful what you wish for
'Cause you just might get it
You just might get it
You just might get it
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
Be careful what you wish for
'Cause you just might get it
You just might get it
You just might get it
Be careful what you wish for
'Cause you just might get it
You just might get it
You just might get it
The song 'When I Grow Up' by The Pussycat Dolls talks about the desire to be famous and recognized. The lyrics reveal a deep longing in the artist's past to be noticed, and how she was once willing to do anything to get the attention she craved. She acknowledges that everyone wants to be famous, and recognizes that being noticed and known is a part of human nature. The lyrics show a desire for a flashy lifestyle, with nice cars, being in movies, being on TV and magazines and having groupies. However, the song also delivers a message to be careful of what one wishes for because you might just get it.
The song is an anthem for young people seeking fame, and it is empowering and uplifting, instilling confidence and encouraging people to pursue their dreams of being in the spotlight. It also highlights the vanity that comes with fame and encourages the audience to remember that being able to maintain fame and popularity is not always as glamorous as it appears.
Overall, the lyrics of this song are both empowering and cautionary, encouraging people to dream big, but to also be aware of the possible consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
Boys call you sexy
Men find you attractive
And you don't care what they say
You're not concerned with their opinions
See every time you turn around
Whenever you face towards them
They screaming your name
They're shouting your name excitedly
Now I've got a confession
I need to admit something
When I was young I wanted attention
As a child, I craved people's notice
And I promised myself that I'd do anything
I vowed to do absolutely everything possible
Anything at all for them to notice me
Regardless of the cost, just to get attention
But I ain't complaining
I'm not upset about it
We all wanna be famous
Everyone desires to be well-known
So go ahead and say what you wanna say
You're free to express what you think
You don't know what its like to be nameless
You don't realize how difficult it is to be unrecognized
Want them to know what your name is
You just want people to know who you are
'Cause see when I was younger I would say
As a child I dreamt of this
Be careful what you wish for
Be cautious about what you desire
'Cause you just might get it
Because you may actually get it
They used to tell me I was silly
People said I was foolish
Until I popped up on the TV
Until I appeared on television
I always wanted to be a superstar
My highest dream was to be a celebrity
And knew that singing songs would get me this far
I believed that singing is how I would achieve my goal
I see them staring at me
I notice people looking at me
Ooh I'm a trendsetter
I am influential and my style is innovative
Yes this is true 'cause what I do
This is accurate because of my actions
No one can do it better
Nobody can do it superior to me
You can talk about me
You can discuss me
'Cause I'm a hot topic
Because I'm currently popular or controversial
And I know you want it, oh
And I know you desire it
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Rodney Jerkins, Jim McCarty, Paul Samwell-Smith, Theron Makiel Thomas, Timothy Jamahli Thomas
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ParisHilton
Loves it 💖💖💖
@SaintWest.
I love too
@ptitelionne9478
I love you!
@Chelaxim
I love your version of Do you think I'm sexy.
@sodaypalomitas.1152
Ikr
@jeefffffffff
It's the real one?????
@vivi-dy4gm
when Nichole said “when I was young I wanted attention” I felt that..
@andressapiassi
baddie ho kkkkkkkk
@paudi1936
Lmao
@princesskai13
😂