Notorious (The Saturdays song)

"Notorious" received mostly positive reviews from critics. Many blogs were praising the song. PopJustice said the song was "big" and that it was "quite amazing". It's a bit Black Eyed Peas-esque, feels a tiny bit like Kelis and Rihanna, and has a strong, propulsive energy that builds throughout the tune".[10] Digital Spy stated; "I'm a big boss, I'm a gangster, On the dance floor" Mollie King announces on the squeaky, Auto-Tuned intro, before dropping a high-wired, club-pumping beat the Black Eyed Peas would cock a snook at. "I'm a bad girl, I'm notorious" insists Rochelle Wiseman, while a storm of synths, strings and techno beeps brews behind them. The result isn't quite as instant as the lyrics would suggest, but there's no doubting they talk a good game. Giving the song a four out of five stars.[11] Music Entertainment said, "The Saturdays are back and they are bringing a tougher, edgier sound."[12] Radio presenter Aled Jones took to Twitter and tweeted, "Just heard the new songs from The Saturdays and Black Eyed Peas :) didn't expect The Saturdays song to sound like it did!"[13]

Yahoo! Music stated The Saturdays are pulling out all the big guns - talk of being "a bad girl", short skirts, nice hair, rave breakdown - but is it enough? The five-piece will truly be notorious if they don't take the crown when their rivals have been on the canvas for so long.[14] Heat World said the band turn "transform" into sexy secretaries into sexy clubbers and they're nearly giving Britney [Spears] a run for her money.[9]

"Notorious" was released without any promotion; it was released exclusive for digital downloads and the single found itself charting on the Irish Singles Charts, where it debuted at number nineteen becoming the band's eighth top 20 single in Ireland.[15] On 29 May 2011; "Notorious" entered the UK top 10 on the UK Singles Charts at number eight becoming the band's ninth top 10 hit their with only ten singles (to-date) released.[16] The single spent but one week within the top 10, falling 13 places to number 21 on its second week; the biggest faller in the top 40 for the chart week ending 6 June. The single also charted on the Scottish Singles Chart where it charted at number-eight as well.[17] The single also made an appearance on the UK Download Chart; which also charted at number-eight. The single appeared on South Korean music chart 'Gaon' charting at 164, despite the single not being released in Asia.

The girls confirmed they shot the video in April 2011 in Los Angeles; where the band's previous music video for "Higher" was filmed.[18] The Saturdays confirmed that their music video for "Notorious" will be released on their website on 19 May at 8.30am.[19] Before the release of the music video, the band released 20 seconds clips of each members part in the music video. The music video was directed by "Syndrome". The music video was officially released on 19 May 2011.[20] According to the band, they took the music video outline from TV series, Ugly Betty.[21]

The music video begins with the Dutch city hall called 'the Ice palace'. It is situated in the centre of The Hague. The rest is a set, not the interior of the Ice palace. The scene changes to an elevator, where the band are standing inside of it with the "Notorious" playing in the background, before the actual intro to the song begins. It then changes shots to the band standing in a lift wearing smart, secretary-type clothing, in a theme of red, white and black. Rochelle then presses the button 5 to take them to the 5th floor. As the elevator doors close the music starts; and Mollie starts singing the intro (the first of any Saturdays' singles to possess one) while the other members of the band behind her begin to brush themselves down before they go into the office. The scene is shot in a stop-motion retrospect. They then move into a large, white office, which is suggested to be their place of employment. The office is furnished in decadent colors, perhaps based on the offices of Mode Magazine, as the band, themselves, cited Ugly Betty as a reference for the video treatment. There, they sit at desks and immediately begin work, with the members revealing their boredom with the remedial work of stamping pieces of coloured paper with the words 'Notorious' and 'The Saturdays'. It appears Vanessa and Rochelle are the telephone carers - they sing their verses into the receivers - while Una remains fixed to a laptop for the duration. Rochelle begins the opening verse, followed by Vanessa, whose shots are stuttered to fit the beat. They then leave their desks and get back into the elevator then in time for the bridge/chorus. Rochelle presses the button 15 to take them to the 15th floor. Whilst going up in the elevator the band begin to primp, letting hair come down and clothes come off, and get changed into designer wear and proceed to apply Barry M' lip-gloss and mascara. At the beginning of the second verse, the elevator opens and Una proceeds with her verse, while shots reveal that the girls have arrived at a crowded nightclub. Following a dramatic strut, the girls join the dance floor, and usher on the second bridge. The camera zooms in on the DJ spinning a vinyl record of "Notorious". The club features break dancers and champagne, as well as LED lights, white chaises and modern art spreads. The video shows the five girls dancing at the front of their fellow club-goers, with an emphasis on each girl for the second bridge and chorus, and Frankie Sandford during her middle-eight. Through the ending of the song, where the chorus is in a continuous pitch-medley and joined - the first time - by the beat, the band dances in a hectic fashion, and the screen is often split into different angles, creating a sense of energy. The focus is switched, primarily, to Mollie King as the beat drops again once more, as she brings the chorus to a close with a reiteration of her opening intro. The screen then closes with the word Notorious on screen - the first of any of the band's videos to do this.

The Saturdays go for a sexy secretary look as they knuckle down to a day's work at the office. But they're soon letting their hair down and whipping out their lip gloss in a lift as they head out for a night on the town. The lift handily opens out into a dance floor where they strut their stuff in front of some appreciative men. They try to inject some sauce and attitude and warble about being 'gangsters' but really like the video shows they're just office girls pretending to be bad.

— Metro talking about The Saturdays' Notorious[22]

PopDash stated the band teased us for the music video all week and seeing them partying in the club as well as they're secretaries scene waiting to clock off for the day; they stated it was a bit like the Boots advert but with a better song on it.[23]