Wet (Nicole Scherzinger song)

"Wet" was recorded in 2010 at Roc the Mic Studios in New York City, Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles and The Bunker Studios in Paris.[1] Scherzinger's vocals were recorded by Eriksen and Miles Walker at Roc the Mic Studios and Westlake Recording Studios and by Vee at The Bunker Studios.[1] "Wet" was mixed by Vee at The Bunker Studios and by Phil Tan at The Ninja Beat Club in Atlanta, Georgia.[1] Additional and assistant engineering was carried out by Damien Lewis.[1] All instrumentation was completed by Eriksen, Hermansen and Vee.[1] "Wet" was not given a traditional release. In the UK, it was given an impact date of August 28, 2011; sometimes record labels will choose a date for a song to impact as a single and for promotion but not give the song a separate listing from the album in digital download stores.[2] Just less than a month later, it was serviced to radio in Australia on September 26, 2011.[3]

"Wet" is an uptempo track, containing a thumping disco beat, a throbbing bass, and electronic beats.[4][5][6][7] The song was written by Ester Dean and Traci Hale, and co-written and produced by Norwegian duo StarGate and Sandy Vee. Scherzinger is said to confesses that her body is "aching for a man's touch", stating "This beat is filthy dirty/ I feel it all over me".[5] Described as a "dance-ready club banger" by Idolator, the song chronicles "many sexy ways" Scherzinger gets wet; sweating, a shower, a swim, and drowning.[8] Scherzinger continues the whole "drenched" theme within the songs' chorus: "Well Imma take my clothes off/Take a leap and surf through the crowd/Dripping down my neck/Soaking wet, sink or swim or you drown/Let's get a little wet."[9][10] In the song, Scherzinger sings "I feel like whatever I do tonight would be the talk of the town."[11]

"Wet" garnered generally positive reviews from critics. Awarding the song with three out of five stars, Robert Copsey of Digital Spy gave the song a mixed review, stating that although Scherzinger purrs with conviction, the song sounds ultimately similar to Rihanna's "Only Girl (In The World)".[5] While reviewing the album, the same website reviewed "Wet" as a highlight of the album, and named it a possible future single.[12] Idolator stated that Scherzinger is "positively dripping with sex appeal in her ode to getting doused", later adding that the Stargate-produced "dance jam is the musical equivalent of a run through the sprinkler".[8] Idolator finished its review by stating that after an addition of a well-known rapper, the song could hit the domestic Top 40.[8] While reviewing the album, Becky Bain of Idolator stated that "Wet" along with "Club Banger Nation" would strike a chord with clubgoers.[13] David Griffiths of 4Music named "Wet" an essential addition to anybody's party playlist.[7] In another interview by Griffiths, he named "Wet" a "cracking pop tune", stating that the "hits keep coming" for Scherzinger.[4] Describing the song as a "surefire smash" for Scherzinger, Pip Ellwood of Entertainment-Focus complimented the song as the best track on the album, stating that its beat is better than that of lead single "Poison" due to the fact that it is "impossible not to move to."[6]

"Wet" debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 189. On the week of August 20, 2011, it went to its peak of number 21.[14] "Wet" debuted on the Irish Singles Chart at number forty-eight on the week ending August 11, 2011.[15] The following week, August 18, 2011, "Wet" climbed to number ten on the Irish Singles Chart.[16] The song also peaked at number thirteen on the Scottish Singles Chart.[17]

The music video for "Wet" was shot in a single day to accommodate her schedule as a judge on the X Factor.[18] It was shot on a Los Angeles car park – it was the only suitable location due to its proximity to the X Factor studios.[4] The video was directed by Justin Francis. On August 2, 2011, Scherzinger released behind the scenes photos of the song's music video with Scherzinger wearing a two-piece attire and clutching a net around her body as she stands behind a wall of water.[19] The video makes use of product placement of Carrera's "Champion".[20] The music video premiered through MSN Music UK on August 3, 2011.[18]

Synopsis

As Scherzinger performs athletic and acrobatic choreography, she interlaces what is believed to be an old Navajo rain dance used to call upon the gods to end a drought.[10]

The video begins with Scherzinger hiding out from the police, evading capture, and disguising herself with some aviator shades and a studded hoodie. As she is being surveyed by security camera, Scherzinger begins to dance athletically and acrobatically. Jenna Hally Rubenstein of MTV Buzzworthy believed that part of Scherzinger's dance contained old Navajo rain dance moves.[10] Scherzinger then alternates outfits, as scenes of Scherzinger singing behind a windowpane while it’s raining are interlaced into the clip. Scherzinger, accompanied by a group of female dancers, than enter an indoor swimming pool where men are seen spraying graffiti into the wall. Scherzinger and her backup dancers than begin to dance in the emptied concrete pool, as the men begin to soak Scherzinger with hoses. As the police enter the building, Scherzinger is warned by a man acting as a lookout. Scherzinger and all her companions escape, only to leave the police discovering a spray-painted message of "Wet".

Scherzinger performed the song for the first time in Stratford, London at Westfield Stratford City on September 13, 2011, included in a set of multiple songs off of Killer Love. The song was also performed in 2012 on her first solo tour, the Killer Love Tour.[25]

Recording

• Recorded at Roc the Mic Studios, New York; Westlake Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California; The Bunker Studios, Paris.
• Mixed at The Bunker Studios, Paris; Ninja Club Studios, Atlanta, Georgia.

Personnel

• Songwriting – Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Sandy Wilhelm, Ester Dean, Traci Hale
• Production – Stargate, Sandy Vee
• Mixing – Sandy Vee, Phil Tan
• Additional engineering – Damien Lewis
• Instruments – Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Sandy Vee
• Background vocals – Ester Dean

Credits adapted from Killer Love booklet liner notes.[1]

• Nicole Scherzinger discography
• List of songs recorded by Nicole Scherzinger