Britney Spears And The Case Of
Never Releasing Your Album’s Best Song As A Single
Britney Spears is enjoying a career high at the moment. Her recently launched tour is playing packed houses and enjoying good reviews, her Femme Fatale album became her sixth to debut at No. 1 and the single “Till the World Ends” is arguably her biggest hit since “Toxic” – sure, she’s charted higher with “Womanizer,” “Circus” and “Hold It Against Me,” but name a recent Spears song that has garnered as much long-term buzz, radio play and critical acclaim as “Ends.”
So things are going well. But as a longtime Spears fan, we firmly believe they could be going even better. Why? Because she has somehow forgotten to release the best songs from her last four albums as singles. That’s why.
The latest single from Femme Fatale, “I Wanna Go,” is set to make its video debut on Wednesday. It’s a great track, there’s no doubt, and frankly, we were happily surprised she went with it over the will.i.am.-produced “Big Fat Bass” or the Bloodshy song “How I Roll.”But why not the trippy, beautiful Euro-synth dance jam “Trip To Your Heart”?
For a look at more non-single Britney greatness, read on.
“Breathe on Me,” In the Zone
Early in her career, Britney was all winks and playful nudges. Look but don’t touch. It wasn’t until 2003’s In the Zone that she brought the sex. And she’s never been hotter than she is on the Mark Taylor-produced "Breathe on Me." This thing is all swirling beats and pounding bass, the perfect soundtrack to a long night out on the dance floor. It was shocking to hear Brit Brit coo the lines "Ooooo, it's so hot and I need some air / And boy, don't stop cause I'm half-way there." Half-way where, Britney? (Wink, nudge) Wherever it is, we’re right there with you!
“Heaven on Earth,” Blackout
MTV News’ new girlfriend Kara DioGuardi co-produced this synth-heavy dance tune with a pulsating electro beat and catchy chorus – “Fell in love with you and everything that you are / Nothing I can do I'm really crazy about you / When you're next to me it's just like heaven on earth / Tell me that I'll always be the one that you want / Don't know what I'd do if I ever loose you / Look at you and what I see is heaven on earth." But Spears’ breathy delivery really hits it home. While it didn’t get the single treatment it deserved, it’s refreshing to know that it was Britney’s favorite Blackout track too.
“Unusual You,” Circus
In a weird way, it’s a ballad, right? It may not be conventionally slow, and yes there’s a definite pulse, but this moody Bloodshy & Avant tune is loaded with longing and heartbreak. “Unusual You” features the most compelling lyrics of any Spears song and represents one of the few times she’s addressed the private turmoil that culminated in a brief stay in a psychiatric facility in early 2008 with lyrics like “Did so many things when I was someone else / Boxer in the ring trying to defend myself.” Whatever it is, it’s perfection.
Source: m.mtv.com
