When I see the Pussycat Dolls, I don’t think to myself: “Hallelujah.” (I credit this to not being a man.) While their garter get-ups and bend-y ballet-like acrobatics just make me cringe with discomfort (see: jealousy), they do tend to make the opposite sex do stupid things — like drool and salute and, ironically, leave certain employed wordsmiths, meaning those paid to use language, speechless.

Or… they make lyricists, like A.R. Rahman, sign-off on the butchering (“remixing” in musical terms) of an Academy Award-winning track. Two days ago, the Indian film composer, record producer and musician won Best Original Song for ”Jai Ho” – the end credits crescendo of eight-time Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire. And now, he’s going to be known as the guy who let the ‘Cats commercialize, I mean re-record in English, a perfectly fine as-is tune. With all the heavy breathing and sexy-time lyrics (“I’ll make you hot / get what you got / make you wanna say ’Jai Ho’”), it kind of depreciates the value of a ”victory” (or “hallelujah”) - as the title is translated to mean. Those things are few and far between, people. But whatever, sell, sell, sell. Let’s just look at them for now.

Now that that’s over, let’s take note that the track is promoted as being performed by “A.R. Rahman and the Pussycat Dolls featuring Nicole Scherzinger.” When did she become an entirely separate entity? I wonder how Tawny and Tabby and the rest of the kaboodle feel about this.

Hear the ladies version here.

- Danielle Cheesman