Today , Britney Spears released her long awaited new single Pretty Girls , featuring ubiquitous Aussie rapper Iggy Azalea. Since 1999 , it is her 40th single , and is currently Number 1 in 32 countries. Incidentally , today is the 14th anniversary of the release of second album , Oops..I Did It Again. Still the fastest selling album by a female artist in US chart history.
A far cry from the mixed reception to 2013's Britney Jean , this Fancy/Hollaback Girl retread should give Britney her biggest solo hit in years. Listen to the track below
With sixteen years in the pop game , Britney Spears has racked up an impressive canon of hits. She dominated the pop landscape for most of the early noughties before the skids famously came off in 2007.
But she remains a true pop survivor and icon. Her imperial phase may be long over , but whos to say she wont still give Swifty et al a run for their money.
From school uniforms to shaved heads , lesbian kisses with Madonna to snake clad awards show performances , Britney Spears has had soaring highs and tabloid filling lows. Here The Playlist , counts down her definitive 10 greatest singles.
10. Womanizer (2008 )
The lead single from Circus was a sassy kiss off to a one fo those 'playa' types. After her tumultuous 2007 , this was a welcome return to form for Britney.
9. I'm A Slave 4U (2001 )
Produced by Pharell Williams , the lead single from Britney , was famously premiered at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards. Britney breathlessly shimmying onstage with a python wrapped arpund her shoulders was instantly iconic. Its accompanying video , probably her sexiest yet. It was a clear attempt to finally ditch the cotton candy all American girl next door image. The track was hypnotic , slinky and sexy and still sounds as fresh 14 years later
8. Gimme More (2007 )
The lead single from the acclaimed and now beloved Blackout. Despite personal turmoil and a life that seemed to spiral out of control culminating in Britney shaving her head , pop greatness emerged. That song that opens with the now legendary " Its Britney , bitch ".It was a futuristic , thrilling , pole dance bop.
Britney gave a disastrous performance of the track at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards. After such iconic past performances at the show , it was a tragedy unfolding in front of the world. Britney was distant , off beat and just didn't seem the girl we all knew and loved.
7. Stronger ( 2000 )
This Max Martin helmed empowerment gem was one of the highlights of the Oops I Did It Again album. Opening with a foghorn , the track was vintage Britney. " My loneliness aint killin me no more " she sings defiantly. The accompanying Joseph Kahn video , one of her most memorable.
6. You Drive Me (Crazy ) (1999 )
Britney's third single and at this stage it was becoming apparent that she was no one hit wonder and was here to stay. She really was on a roll. It was 90s fluff pop at its finest and remains one of Brit's most enduring tracks
5. Piece Of Me (2008 )
The second single from Blackout seemed to mark a turning point for Spears. In her most autobiographical track to date , art imitated life as Britney knowingly sang " I'm missus lifestyles of the rich and famous , you wanna piece of me , Im missus 'oh my God , that britneys shameless " It was stunning electropop two fingers to the media who had dissected and scrutinised the most turbulent year of her life. A year after her much maligned performance , Britney returned to the MTV Video Music Awards and scooped the prestigious Video Of The Year
4. Oops..I Did It Again (2000 )
By the time Britney popped up in that infamous all red catsuit , she was was undoubtedly the biggest popstar on the planet.
Oops played it safe with a winning formula , but was infectiously catchy pop
3. Everytime ( 2004 )
Whilst Britney is famed for her all out pop stompers , Everytime is probably the greatest ballad shes recorded. It's also her last solo UK chart topper. Accompanied by another stunning and controversial video featuring Stephen Dorff. This was Britney at her most vulnerable. And it remains gorgeous. Fragile but effective.
2. Baby One More Time (1999 )
The pop classic that started it all. A school uniform and pigtails and the rest is popculture history. A bona fide pop phenomenon, this remains Spears signature track.
1. Toxic ( 2004 )
And so I have crowned this Britney's greatest hit. Surf guitar , Bollywood strings and a huge dollop of knowing sass make it Britney's most memorable track.
No comments:
Post a Comment