Vacation (G.R.L. song)
{{Infobox song
| name = Vacation
| cover = G.R.L.-Vacation.png
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = G.R.L.
| album = The Smurfs 2: Music from and Inspired By
| A-side = Ooh La La
| released = June 18, 2013
| recorded = 2012–13
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{flatlist|
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=38}}
| label = {{flat list|
| writer = {{flat list|
}}
| producer = {{flat list|
}}
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Show Me What You Got
| next_year = 2014
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|KgfO-CvSs1g|"Vacation"}}}}
}}
"Vacation" is the debut single recorded by American-British-Canadian girl group G.R.L. The song was written by Bonnie McKee, Lukasz Gottwald, Max Martin, and Henry Walter with production handled by the latter three. "Vacation" is an upbeat breakup song.
Background and composition
Following the disbandment of The Pussycat Dolls in 2010, Robin Antin suggested that the group would be "revamped" with new members.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/465302/pussycat-dolls-creator-robin-antin-revamped-group-will-be-fierce|title=Pussycat Dolls Creator Robin Antin: Revamped Group Will Be 'Fierce'|last=Benjamin|first=Jeff|date=November 6, 2011|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=September 10, 2013}} After different incarnations of the group Antin along the guidance of manager Larry Rudolph formed the group under a new name, G.R.L. with members: Lauren Bennett, Paula Van Oppen, Natasha Slayton, Simone Battle, and Emmalyn Estrada.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/1569377/grl-new-girl-groups-formation-was-not-something-that-happened|title=G.R.L.: New Girl Group's Formation Was 'Not Something That Happened Overnight'|last=Lipshutz|first=Jason|date=July 9, 2013|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=September 10, 2013}} Bennett was the first cast as a member for group with members being added gradually over the next year and a half. The group was officially unveiled at Chateau Marmont in April.{{cite web|url=http://idolator.com/7453419/new-pussycat-dolls-grl-robin-antin|title=The Pussycat Dolls Get Reborn As GRL & We Will Never Be The Same|last=Lansky|first=Sam|date=April 18, 2013|work=Idolator|publisher=Spin Media|access-date=September 10, 2013}} On June 16, "Vacation" temporarily bundled and available for free as a B-side to Britney Spears' "Ooh La La for the soundtrack of The Smurfs 2. The song was available for digital download on June 18, 2013 and was sent to mainstream radio on September 3, 2013.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/vacation-single/662501145|title=Music - Vacation - Single by G.R.L.|date=July 9, 2013|publisher=iTunes. Apple Inc.|access-date=September 10, 2013}}
Reception
Jason Lipshutz of Billboard magazine described the song "bubbly." While reviewing the Smurfs 2 soundtrack, Sherman Yang of XIN MSN Entertainment positively reviewed the song describing it as "fun and flirty." He also praised the song for having multiple vocalists and wrote "we can't wait to hear what else the girls have to offer in their upcoming debut album."{{cite web|url=http://entertainment.xin.msn.com/en/celebrity/buzz/asia/storyviewer.aspx?cp-documentid=253472484|title=The Smurfs 2: Music from and Inspired by|last=Yang|first=Sherman|date=August 12, 2013|publisher=XIN MSN Entertainment|access-date=September 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413142141/http://entertainment.xin.msn.com/en/celebrity/buzz/asia/storyviewer.aspx?cp-documentid=253472484|archive-date=April 13, 2014|url-status=dead}} Popdust's Jacques Peterson gave it a mixed review calling it "insipid and forgettable" to Spears' "Ooh La La".{{cite web|url=http://popdust.com/2013/06/18/listen-to-vacation-from-robin-antins-new-g-r-l-group/|title=Robin Antin's New G.R.L. Group Releases First Single, "Vacation"|last=Peterson|first=Jacques|date=June 18, 2013|publisher=Popdust|access-date=September 10, 2013}}
In the United States as of July, the song has sold 2,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Upon the release of "Ooh La La, "Vacation" debuted at number 97 on the South Korea Gaon International Chart.
Music video
The music video for "Vacation" was directed by Hannah Lux Davis.{{cite web|url=http://www.videostatic.com/watch-it/2013/09/12/grl-vacation-hannah-lux-davis-dir-0|title=G.R.L. "Vacation" (Hannah Lux Davis, dir.)|last=Gottlieb|first=Steven|date=September 12, 2013|publisher=VideoStatic.com|access-date=September 16, 2013}} Spice Girls member, Mel B appeared at the end of the video.
Credits and personnel
;Personnel
- Songwriting – Lukasz Gottwald, Max Martin, Bonnie McKee, Henry Walter
- Production, instruments and programming – Dr. Luke, Max Martin, Cirkut
- Engineering – Clint Gibbs, Sam Holland, Cory Bice (assistant), Rachael Findlen (assistant)
- Mixing – Serban Ghenea
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Ooh La La, Kemosabe Kids/RCA Records.
Charts
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2013)
!scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| South Korea International (Gaon){{cite web|url=http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/digital_chart/download.php?nationGbn=E¤t_year=¤t_month=06¤t_week=28&chart_Time=week|title=South Korea Gaon International Chart|publisher=Gaon Chart|access-date=September 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005004102/http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/digital_chart/download.php?nationGbn=E¤t_year=¤t_month=06¤t_week=28&chart_Time=week|archive-date=October 5, 2013|url-status=dead}}
| style="text-align:center;"|97 |
Radio and release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" border="1" |
| scope="col"|Country
!scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format !scope="col"|Label |
|---|
| scope="row" rowspan="2"| United States{{cite web|url=http://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases|title=Top 40/M Future Releases|publisher=All Access Music Group|access-date=September 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130814082751/http://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases|archive-date=August 14, 2013}}
| June 18, 2013 | rowspan="2"| {{flat list|*Kemosabe Kids
|
| September 3, 2013 |