Radar (song)

Last updated

"Radar"
Britney Radar.png
Single by Britney Spears
from the album Circus
ReleasedJune 22, 2009 (2009-06-22)
RecordedNovember 8, 2006
Studio Sony (New York City)
Genre
Length3:49
Label Jive
Songwriter(s)
  • Ashton Cole
  • Henrik Jonback
  • Balewa Muhammad
  • Candice Nelson
  • Ezekiel "Zeke" Lewis
  • Patrick "J. Que" Smith
Producer(s)
Britney Spears singles chronology
"If U Seek Amy"
(2009)		"Radar"
(2009)		"3"
(2009)
Music video
"Radar" on YouTube

"Radar" is a song by American singer Britney Spears from her fifth studio album, Blackout (2007). It was written and produced by Bloodshy & Avant and the Clutch, with additional writing from Henrik Jonback. The recording sessions took place the day after Spears filed for divorce from Kevin Federline, and members of the Clutch claimed to be surprised by her work ethic. "Radar" was originally planned to be released as the third single from Blackout, but "Break the Ice" was chosen instead. The song was then planned as the fourth single, but the release was cancelled as Spears began recording her sixth studio album, Circus (2008). "Radar" was later included as a bonus track on Circus, and released as the fourth and final single from the album on June 22, 2009, by Jive Records.

Contents

Musically, "Radar" runs through a midtempo dance groove. Spears' vocals are auto tuned and accompanied by sonar pulses and a heavy usage of distorted synthesizers. The lyrics refer to an attraction between the protagonist and a man, while she wonders if he knows what she is feeling. "Radar" received mixed reviews from critics; some called it one of the highlights of Circus, while others felt that it was over-produced and also criticized her vocals for being processed. In July 2008, "Radar" charted in the top 40 of Ireland and New Zealand, and inside the top ten in Sweden. After it was released as a single from Circus in 2009, the track performed poorly on the charts and did not manage to enter the top 40 in most countries.

The single's accompanying music video was directed by Dave Meyers, and pays tribute to the music video of Madonna's "Take a Bow" (1994). In the video, Spears is an aristocratic woman involved in a love triangle with two men who are polo players. The video received mixed reviews from critics, who complimented the fashion but called the idea unoriginal. "Radar" was performed by Spears at The Circus Starring Britney Spears (2009), with the accompanying dance routine featuring her pole dancing.

Background

The main instrumentation was recorded by Bloodshy & Avant at Bloodshy & Avant Studios in Stockholm, Sweden. [1] In November 2006, Spears recorded "Radar" with Ezekiel Lewis and Patrick M. Smith of the Clutch at Sony Music Studios in New York City. [1] [2] Lewis had wanted to work with her for a long time and was motivated to produce something for her that was going to "help her project become a great project to come back with". Smith stated that the team tried to create a record "for the Britney Spears that we know and love" and that it did not "touch on anything that was really dealing with all the stuff that she was dealing with." Both commented that although Spears arrived late to the recording sessions, she caught them off guard with her efficiency and professionalism, with Lewis adding, "It was absolutely nuts, and she took directions very well. [...] I don’t know what I was expecting because we went in to cut that record the day after she filed divorce from Kevin [Federline]." [2] The song was later mixed by Niklas Flyckt at Mandarine Studios in Stockholm, Sweden. [1] "Radar" was originally planned to be released as the third single from Blackout, according to Lewis. [2] "Break the Ice" was released instead and "Radar" was chosen as the fourth single. [3] In July 2008, a physical promotional single was released in countries such as New Zealand and Sweden. [4] [5] However, a wider release was scrapped when Spears began recording new material for her sixth studio album, Circus . [3] On May 7, 2009, the song was announced as the fourth single from Circus. [6]

Music and lyrics

Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
"Radar" (2009)
A sample of Spears' "Radar". The song is an electro, Euro disco, and electronic disco song influenced by R&B, and rave music. [7] [8] [9]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Radar" runs through a midtempo dance groove. [10] The song is an electro, Euro disco and electronic disco composition influenced by R&B, and rave music. [7] [8] [9] It has a bouncy and skipping beat, and a repetitive melody reminiscent of a nursery rhyme. [11] [12] Spears' vocals are auto tuned and kept "more in the foreground", according to Jennifer Vineyard of MTV. [7] [13] Her voice is accompanied by sonar pulses and distorted synthesizers. [7] The synthesizers have been compared by Kimberly Chou of The Michigan Daily to those of Soft Cell's "Tainted Love" (1981). [13] During the outro, Spears repeats Vocodered da-da-das. [13] [14] Critics noted that "Radar" is influenced by the music of Rihanna; [11] [15] Cameron Adams of the Herald Sun said the song sounds "like an inferior take" of Rihanna's single "SOS" (2006). [15] Roger Friedman of Fox News said that along with "Break the Ice", "Radar" was more "straight-ahead electronic disco" than the rest of Blackout and added that it "sounds like Las Vegas goes Eurodisco." [9] In the lyrics, Spears lets the subject know he is on her radar, while she lists the qualities the man has. Kimberly Chou said Spears' delivery "[is] so aggressive it's almost threatening." [13] Spears sings lyrics such as "Confidence is a must / cockiness is a plus / edginess is a rush / edges I like 'em rough / A man with a Midas touch / Intoxicate me I'm a lush." [16] During the bridge she sings "I got my eye on you / And I can't let you get away", making clear her attraction. [7]

Critical reception

Spears performing "Radar" at The Circus Starring Britney Spears Atlanta 09.jpg
Spears performing "Radar" at The Circus Starring Britney Spears

Blender gave the song four and a half stars, named it the second potential hit from the album, and called it "a bubblegum-electro dance floor jam with a hook most pop stars would kill for". [17] Eric R. Danton of The Hartford Courant deemed it as "crackling" and "club-ready", while calling it one of the "killer tracks" off the album along with "Break the Ice" and "Hot as Ice". [18] Denton Record-Chronicle 's Mike Daniel said the best tracks of Blackout are "the unwaveringly catchy 'Radar' and the neo-wave curveball of 'Heaven and Earth'". [19] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic said some of the songs of Blackout, "really show off the skills of the producers", exemplifying "Gimme More", "Radar", "Break the Ice", "Heaven on Earth" and "Hot as Ice". He also selected it as one of his 'track picks' of the album. [20] Jedd Rosche of The Maneater deemed it as one of the standout tracks of Blackout along with "Ooh Ooh Baby." [21]

Nekesa Mumbi Moody of USA Today called it "a sexy techno groove that you can't help but bounce to." [22] Theon Weber of The Village Voice said that "Spears's writers present her with the goofiest, most vivacious productions she's ever had, filling 'Radar' with pinging noises and polishing Madonna's dance-floor trash bright." [23] Nick Levine of Digital Spy called it "a rave-tinged electro blipathon on which Spears is vocodered to the point of sounding extra-terrestrial." [8] Alexis Petridis from The Guardian said that the song "seems to be bending over backwards to annoy the listener. Perhaps it's a last desperate tactic to win back some privacy: she's trying to get people to leave her alone by making as irritating a noise as possible." [12] A reviewer from the Ottawa Citizen said that "some tracks [of the album] just don't work, such as Radar, in which Britney's voice is tuned up so high she sounds like she's 14." [24]

Laura Herbert of BBC News said that many of the album's songs, including "Radar" and "Toy Soldier" "are repetitive and over-produced." [25] Jim Abbott of the Orlando Sentinel said that "Musically, songs such as 'Piece of Me,' 'Radar' and 'Break the Ice' are one-dimensional, robotic exercises." [26] Chris Wasser from the Irish Independent said the album had single potential, exemplifying that "There's little doubting we'll hear the bouncing and digitally affected vocals of Radar and the livelier Hot As Ice on the radio soon enough, but both tracks still seem a little under par." [27] After the release of "Radar" as a single from Circus, Nick Levine of Digital Spy said it "still sounds pretty ace, one of the best examples of the robopop sound Blackout essentially invented, but its fresh-out-the-box sheen has long since faded". [3] On July 29, 2009, "Radar" was chosen as single of the week by FHM . [28]

Commercial performance

On November 17, 2007, due to digital downloads for the Blackout release, "Radar" peaked at number 52 on the US Billboard Hot Digital Songs [29] and number seven on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100. [30] The song also charted in several countries based on strong digital sales and airplay alone, surprisingly reaching high chart positions. In Ireland, the song debuted at number 47 on July 15, 2008. [31] It peaked at number 32 on August 5, 2008. [32] In Sweden, "Radar" debuted at number 46 on July 24, 2008. The single peaked at number eight on July 28, 2008, becoming the second highest-charting single from the album after "Gimme More". It stayed on the position for two weeks, and for eight weeks on the chart overall. [33] In New Zealand, the song debuted at number 37 on August 18, 2008, and peaked at number 32 two weeks later. It stayed on the chart for five weeks. [34]

After being confirmed as the fourth single from Circus, "Radar" re-entered the charts in several countries. On August 29, 2009, the song peaked at number 30 on the US Billboard Pop Songs. [29] On September 5, 2009, "Radar" finally entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 90, and peaked at number 88 on the following week. [29] It became her fifth song from Circus to chart on the Hot 100, marking the first time five songs from one of her albums entered the chart. It was also her 22nd Hot 100 hit. [35] "Radar" also became her 21st chart entry on the Pop Songs chart, the most for any artist of the decade at the time. [36] As of July 2010, "Radar" has sold 481,000 paid digital downloads in the United States. [37] On the same week, the song peaked at number 65 in Canada. [29] The track re-entered the ARIA Singles Chart at number 46 on July 20, 2009, and stayed on the chart for just one week. [38] In the UK, the song peaked at number 46 on August 2, 2009. [39]

Music video

Development

"She kind of filled [Madonna's] shoes. [But] everything is done in a Britney way. She's not Madonna, and Madonna is not Britney. It seems like Madonna made the same choices that were right for her at the time, to class her up when she had just done a sexpot video. She was riding that image train too. She was leading that image train, and I think that Britney has done that as well."

—Dave Meyers, explaining the tribute to the music video of Madonna's "Take a Bow". [40]

In June 2008, a video for "Radar" was planned that would have Spears and her friends chasing a man in different clubs. [41] However, this was scrapped along with the single's release. [3] The music video for "Radar" from Circus was filmed on May 27 and 28, 2009, at the Bacara Resort & Spa located in Santa Barbara, California. It was directed by Dave Meyers, who previously worked with Spears on her music videos for "Lucky", "Boys" and "Outrageous" as well as the Curious commercials. [40] [42] Meyers claimed the video pays tribute to the music video of Madonna's 1994 single "Take a Bow". He added, "[we were] looking for a way to take her into a contemporary, classy environment. I felt empowered by referencing Madonna's video. Britney hasn't done anything like that". [10] He had a very clear idea of how he wanted the story line to work: "There is a narrative going on, a romantic triangle on a weekend at this polo mansion," he said. "A soap-opera romance." Meyers commented that working with Spears again was "a great celebration of trusting one another", explaining that both wanted "to do something fresh and new, seeking out an actual different technique and stylistic choices and trying to find a form to celebrate them in." Since the song was not the first single from Circus, Meyers chose to experiment and not have dancing scenes, saying that "the videos are a chance for her to vocalize a sense of herself. The media tends to attack her, so I thought, 'Let's show the classy side of Britney and focus on a classy experience, very European-inspired'. And she's at the point in her career where I think this would be a nice step." [40] After the video was finished, Meyers said he was happy with the lack of dancing scenes, because the cuts and dissolves kept the pace of the song. [10]

Synopsis

The video begins with Spears arriving at a polo mansion. [43] She comes out from the car wearing a vest, jeans and showing her midriff. She starts singing while her boyfriend welcomes her. They walk past a barn, where a polo player is sitting. They look at each other briefly and she starts to sing in a balcony, watching the second man with a pair of binoculars. [43] At the end of the first chorus, her boyfriend comes and puts a studded necklace around her neck, as a surprise gift. Until the end of the second chorus, we see scenes of Spears singing and watching the polo player as he gets ready. When the bridge begins, Spears arrives at a match wearing a white dress and a large hat. She looks at the polo player over her shoulder and sings the lines "I got my eye on you / And I can’t let you get away". When the match ends, she leaves and the second man follows her. [43] They flirt inside a hallway and leave. Her boyfriend notices her absence, walks into the hallway and sees her necklace on the floor. The video ends with Spears and the second man walking into the sunset.

Release and reception

The music video leaked online on July 1, 2009. [43] Daniel Kreps of Rolling Stone said the music video was her weakest since "Gimme More" and highlighted the comparisons with "Take a Bow", saying, "while Madonna dressed the role of a distressed aristocratic senorita in the stands, Spears’ wardrobe and giant hat mirror the elite at the Kentucky Derby". He also said the idea was unoriginal and compared it to Spears' fragances commercials. [44] Peter Gicas of E! commented that the video was a nice departure from her recent more choreographed videos, such as "Womanizer" and "If U Seek Amy". He commended it for its "more straightforward approach in telling a so-called story", but felt it was "a bit too much like one of those overly dramatic fragrance commercials". [45] OK! said the video was "posh" and also noted the difference from her recent videos. [46]

Live performances and cover

Spears performed the song during The Circus Starring Britney Spears (2009). After the performance of "Piece of Me", there was a brief interlude in which acrobats hanging from fabric simulated a thunderstorm. [47] Spears took the stage again to perform "Radar", which featured her pole dancing. She wore a black bra encrusted with Swarovski crystals, fishnet stockings and high-heeled laced up boots, designed by Dean and Dan Caten. Spears ended the performance with her and her dancers posing in the middle of the three-ring stage as a red curtain slowly descended in the closing. [48] A contest in DanceJam.com was announced to promote the song. The contestants had to upload a video of them dancing to "Radar", and Spears and Jive Records picked the winner. [49] In the revamped Britney: Piece of Me concert (2016), "Radar" plays during an interlude that features multiple excerpts of Spears' music videos. A cover version of the song by singer-songwriter Christopher Dallman was included in an extended play titled Sad Britney , released on November 9, 2009, along with covers of "...Baby One More Time", "Toxic" and "Gimme More". [50]

Usage in media

The song appears on the 2023 TV series Wilderness ' third episode, titled "Repent at Leisure", while the character Liv, portrayed by Jenna Coleman, runs through the forest. [51]

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Radar"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [71] Platinum1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Radar"
RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United StatesJune 22, 2009 Contemporary hit radio Jive
PortugalJuly 27, 2009 Digital download (EP)Sony Music
Sweden
CanadaJuly 28, 2009
GermanyNovember 23, 2009Digital download (Digital 45)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Britney Spears</span> American singer (born 1981)

Britney Jean Spears is an American singer. Often referred to as the "Princess of Pop", she is credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Spears has sold over 150 million records worldwide, making her one of the world's best-selling music artists. She has earned numerous awards and accolades, including a Grammy Award, 15 Guinness World Records, six MTV Video Music Awards, seven Billboard Music Awards, the inaugural Radio Disney Icon Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her heavily choreographed music videos earned her the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.

<i>In the Zone</i> 2003 studio album by Britney Spears

In the Zone is the fourth studio album by American singer Britney Spears. It was released on November 15, 2003, by Jive Records. Spears began writing songs during her Dream Within a Dream Tour, not knowing the direction of the record. She stated she was an autobiographical songwriter, although not to the point where she felt self-exploited. During the process, she ended her highly-publicized relationship with singer Justin Timberlake. With the tour's conclusion in July 2002, Spears planned to take a six-month break from her career; however, recording for the album commenced in November.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Break the Ice (song)</span> 2008 single by Britney Spears

"Break the Ice" is a song by American singer Britney Spears from her fifth studio album, Blackout (2007). It was released as the third and final single from the album on March 3, 2008, by Jive Records. The song was written by Nate "Danja" Hills, Jim Beanz, Keri Hilson and Marcella Araica, while production was handled by Danja and vocal production was handled by Beanz. "Radar" was originally planned to be released as the third single, but "Break the Ice" was released after it was chosen by a poll on Spears's official website. Musically, "Break the Ice" is an electro-R&B song with influences of crunk. The song opens with a choir and features synthesizers. Its lyrics deal with an attraction between two people. "Break the Ice" received critical acclaim, with reviewers praising its lyrics, production, Spears' vocal performance and deemed it a strong electronic song from the record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Me Against the Music</span> 2003 single by Britney Spears

"Me Against the Music" is a song by American singers Britney Spears and Madonna for Spears' fourth studio album, In the Zone (2003). It was written by Spears, Madonna, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, Thabiso "Tab" Nikhereanye, Penelope Magnet, Terius Nash and Gary O'Brien. The song was released on October 14, 2003, by Jive Records, as the lead single of In the Zone. After bonding with Spears during a night in New York City, Stewart and Magnet started working on the song for her. During rehearsals for the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, Spears played Madonna the track and asked her to do the song with her.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toxic (song)</span> 2004 single by Britney Spears

"Toxic" is a song by American singer Britney Spears, released as the second single from her fourth studio album, In the Zone (2003). It was written and produced by Bloodshy & Avant, with additional writing from Cathy Dennis and Henrik Jonback. A dance-pop and techno-pop song with elements of South Asian music, "Toxic" features varied instrumentation, such as drums, synthesizers and surf guitar. It is played in the key of C minor with a tempo of 143 beats per minute. It is accompanied by breathy vocals and high-pitched strings, sampled from the 1981 Bollywood song "Tere Mere Beech Mein" by Laxmikant–Pyarelal. The lyrics of "Toxic" draw an extended metaphor of a lover as a dangerous and addictive drug.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Prerogative</span> 1988 single by Bobby Brown

"My Prerogative" is a song by American singer Bobby Brown from his second studio album, Don't Be Cruel (1988). It was released on October 11, 1988, as the second single from the album. After recording sessions were completed, Brown and producer Gene Griffin traveled to New York City, since he felt something was "missing" from the record. "My Prerogative" was written by Brown as a response to the criticism he received for his firing from New Edition. He explained the song was about making decisions in one's life and not caring about other people's judgment. "My Prerogative" is often considered as new jack swing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Do Somethin'</span> 2005 single by Britney Spears

"Do Somethin'" is a song by American singer Britney Spears from her first greatest hits album, Greatest Hits: My Prerogative (2004). It was written and produced by Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg, with additional writing by Henrik Jonback and Angela Hunte. The song was never intended to be released as a single; Spears, however, wanted to shoot a music video for it, and had to convince her record company. It was then released on February 14, 2005, by Jive Records as the second single from the album outside North America. The dance-rock song features usage of electric guitars, and its lyrics allude to having a good time and not caring about other people's judgement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bloodshy & Avant</span> Swedish songwriting and production duo

Bloodshy & Avant are a Swedish songwriting and production duo consisting of Christian "Bloodshy" Karlsson and Pontus "Avant" Winnberg. They have worked with many prominent artists, including Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue, Ms. Dynamite, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Katy Perry, Kelis, Girls' Generation, Christina Milian, Sky Ferreira, Hikaru Utada and BoA. In addition to their production work, Karlsson and Winnberg are also members of the synth-pop group Miike Snow, alongside lead vocalist Andrew Wyatt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Britney Spears videography</span>

American entertainer Britney Spears has released 47 music videos and ten video albums. She has appeared in several films, television shows, and commercials. Spears made her acting debut at age 11 in the television show The All-New Mickey Mouse Club (1993–1994), playing various roles. She then made her feature film debut in Longshot (2001) as a cameo, portraying a flight attendant. In 2002, she starred as Lucy Wagner in Crossroads. The film grossed $61 million worldwide and earned her a nomination for Best Female Breakthrough Performance at the 2002 MTV Movie Awards. The same year, she gave her voice to the character Donner in the American dubbing of Robbie the Reindeer's television specials Hooves of Fire (1999) and Legend of the Lost Tribe (2002). In television series, she portrayed the guest roles of Amber-Louise and Abby in Will & Grace (2006) and How I Met Your Mother (2008), respectively. Spears also has released a few television documentaries, including Britney: For the Record (2008).

<i>Blackout</i> (Britney Spears album) 2007 studio album by Britney Spears

Blackout is the fifth studio album by American singer Britney Spears. It was released on October 25, 2007, by Jive Records. Its production and release occurred as Spears' personal struggles were highly publicized and overshadowed her professional projects. She executive-produced the album, working with producers Danja, Bloodshy & Avant, Sean Garrett, and the Neptunes, among others; it is the only album on which Spears is credited as the executive producer. The final result was primarily a dance-pop and electropop record with Euro disco and dubstep influences, with lyrical themes revolving around love, fame, media scrutiny, sex, and clubbing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gimme More</span> 2007 single by Britney Spears

"Gimme More" is a song by American singer Britney Spears from her fifth studio album, Blackout (2007). It was released on August 31, 2007, by Jive Records, as the lead single from the album. "Gimme More" was recorded in 2006 during Spears' second pregnancy and was one of the first solo productions by Danja. The song opens with an intro in which Spears utters the phrase, "It's Britney, bitch." Musically, "Gimme More" is a song with elements from dance-pop, electropop and EDM using breathy vocals. The track closes with a speak-sing outro by Danja.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piece of Me</span> 2007 single by Britney Spears

"Piece of Me" is a song by American singer Britney Spears from her fifth studio album, Blackout (2007). It was released on November 27, 2007, by Jive Records as the second single from the album, but was actually the last song recorded. It was written and produced by Swedish producers Bloodshy & Avant and Klas Åhlund as a response to the media scrutiny and sensationalism of the singer's private life, which they had witnessed firsthand after working with her over the years. The song, acting as the singer's manifesto, has biographical lyrics retelling Spears's mishaps. It can be classified as an electropop, dance-pop and EDM-pop song that features an "electro instrumental track" and runs through a down-tempo dance beat. Spears's voice is heavily synthesized and her pitch constantly shifts; backing vocals are provided by Bloodshy & Avant and Robyn.

<i>Circus</i> (Britney Spears album) 2008 studio album by Britney Spears

Circus is the sixth studio album by American singer Britney Spears. It was released to coincide with her 27th birthday on December 2, 2008 in the United States, by Jive Records. Transitioning from the "darker and more urban" themes of her fifth studio album Blackout (2007), Spears wanted to make her next project "a little bit lighter". She recorded much of the album between March and September 2008, after being involuntarily placed under a conservatorship earlier that year, following her highly-publicized personal struggles in 2007. As executive producers, Larry Rudolph and Teresa LaBarbera Whites enlisted Spears' previous collaborators such as Max Martin, Bloodshy & Avant, Guy Sigsworth and Danja, as well as new ones, including Dr. Luke, Benny Blanco and Claude Kelly. Their efforts resulted in a primarily pop and dance record, whose lyrical themes addressed fame, infidelity, and infatuation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Womanizer (song)</span> 2008 single by Britney Spears

"Womanizer" is a song by American singer Britney Spears from her sixth studio album, Circus (2008). It was released on September 26, 2008, by Jive Records as the lead single of the album. Produced and written by the Outsyders, the song was re-recorded after a snippet was leaked onto the internet. "Womanizer" is an up-tempo electropop and dance-pop song. Described by Spears as a girl anthem, the song's lyrics recall a womanizing man, while the protagonist of the song makes clear she knows who he really is.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Circus (Britney Spears song)</span> 2008 single by Britney Spears

"Circus" is a song by American singer Britney Spears. It was released on December 2, 2008, through Jive Records as the second single from her sixth studio album of the same name. Written by Dr. Luke, Claude Kelly and Benny Blanco, "Circus" is a metaphor for the public's perception of Spears' life. After she listened to the track for the first time, she felt inspired to create an album and a tour with a circus theme. "Circus" is an uptempo electropop and dance-pop song with elements of pop rock and "half-rapped" vocals. The song's lyrics talk about being an entertainer and putting on shows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If U Seek Amy</span> 2009 single by Britney Spears

"If U Seek Amy" also broadcast on radio as "If U See Amy" or simply "Amy" is a song by American singer Britney Spears from her sixth studio album, Circus (2008). It was released on March 10, 2009, by Jive Records as the third single of the album, chosen by a poll on Spears's official website. "If U Seek Amy" was written and produced by Swedish producer Max Martin, who also wrote previous hits for her first three albums. In the song, Spears is looking for a woman named Amy in a club, and although it appears to be about sex, it is actually about how society perceives her life. Musically, "If U Seek Amy" makes use of instruments such as keyboards and timpani.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Circus Starring Britney Spears</span> 2009 concert tour by Britney Spears

The Circus Starring Britney Spears, commonly referred to as the Circus Tour, was the seventh concert tour by American entertainer Britney Spears. It was launched in support of her sixth studio album, Circus (2008). Rumors of a tour arose as early as October 2007, however, nothing was confirmed until December 2008, when the tour was officially announced, with North American and European dates revealed. The stage was composed of three rings and set in-the-round to resemble an actual circus. Fashion designers Dean and Dan Caten created the costumes. A giant cylinder screen was set above the stage to showcase videos and backdrops. Effects were provided by Solotech. Magician Ed Alonzo joined Spears during the second act. The setlist was composed generally from her albums In the Zone, Blackout and Circus. Spears announced she would tour Australia for the first time in June 2009.

"Kill the Lights" is a song recorded by American singer Britney Spears, taken from her sixth studio album Circus (2008). It was written by Nathaniel Hills, James Washington, Luke Boyd and Marcella Araica, who previously worked with Spears on Blackout (2007). "Kill the Lights” is a song produced by Danja, that alludes to the singer's relationship with the paparazzi and the news media, while also addressing the consequences of becoming a celebrity. "Kill the Lights" received mostly positive reviews from music critics, who considered it a futuristic and sexy sequel to Spears' "Piece of Me" (2007), although they described her vocals as heavily produced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian Karlsson (DJ)</span> DJ and record producer

Lars Christian Karlsson, also known by his stage name Bloodshy, is a Swedish DJ, percussionist, record producer and remixer known for his work with the musical groups Bloodshy and Avant, Miike Snow, Ingrid, and Galantis. He started his international music career as one half of the electro pop duo Bloodshy & Avant with Pontus Winnberg, producing and co-writing tracks for pop stars such as Madonna, BoA, Kylie Minogue, and Katy Perry. Bloodshy & Avant notably co-wrote and produced Britney Spears' single "Toxic", which earned them a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording in 2005. While continuing to work with Bloodshy and Avant, Karlsson also became a member of the indie pop band Miike Snow around 2007. Miike Snow, the group's debut album, was released in 2009, and peaked at number 11 on the Top Electronic Albums chart in the United States. Miike Snow won the 2011 European Border Breakers Award, and their second album Happy to You reached No. 1 on the Belgian Heatseekers Albums Chart and 43 on the Billboard 200.

"Speakerphone" is a song by Australian singer Kylie Minogue for her tenth studio album X (2007). It was produced by Bloodshy & Avant duo Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg, who co-wrote it with Henrik Jonback and Klas Åhlund. The song featured dance, electronic, and funk elements. It heavily used Auto-Tune and vocoder, which caused some critics to liken it to music by Britney Spears and Daft Punk. "Speakerphone" received mixed responses from critics. The song appeared on the Canadian Hot 100 and the Hot Canadian Digital Singles Billboard charts.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Blackout liner notes.
  2. 1 2 3 "The Clutch Talks How To Write a Hit Song". AllHipHop. April 22, 2008. Archived from the original on September 22, 2008. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Britney Spears – Radar review". Digital Spy. June 27, 2009. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  4. ↑ "Britney Spears — Radar". charts.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 24, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Britney Spears — Radar". Swedish Charts. Retrieved January 24, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Breaking News: Radar is Britney's fourth single". BritneySpears.com. May 7, 2007. Archived from the original on May 11, 2009. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Vineyard, Jennifer (October 12, 2007). "Britney Spears' New Album, Blackout: A Track-By-Track Report". MTV News . Archived from the original on November 27, 2014. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  8. 1 2 3 Levine, Nick (October 29, 2007). "Britney Spears: 'Blackout'". Digital Spy. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  9. 1 2 3 Friedman, Roger (July 28, 2007). "Britney Spears' Album: First Listen to New Songs". Fox News. Archived from the original on February 8, 2009. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  10. 1 2 3 Vena, Jocelyn (November 25, 2009). "Britney Spears Channeled 'Classy' Madonna In 'Radar' Video". MTV News. Archived from the original on September 1, 2014. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  11. 1 2 Arnold, Chuck (September 11, 2007). "Sneak Preview: Britney Spears's New Album Details". People . Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  12. 1 2 Petridis, Alexis (October 26, 2007). "Britney Spears, Blackout". The Guardian . Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Chou, Kimberly (September 19, 2007). "Britney? Back". The Michigan Daily . Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Decent early reviews of new Britney tracks". Today.com. September 12, 2007. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  15. 1 2 Adams, Cameron (November 14, 2007). "Spears new offering Blackout a knockout". Herald Sun . Archived from the original on November 16, 2007. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  16. ↑ "CD REVIEW: Britney's Blackout — From the Inside Out". OK! . October 29, 2007. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  17. ↑ Powers, Ann (November 12, 2007). "We're Still Listening to Britney's album". Blender . ISSN   1534-0554.
  18. ↑ Danton, Eric R. (October 30, 2007). "CD Review: 'Blackout' by Britney Spears". The Hartford Courant . Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved February 15, 2010.
  19. ↑ Daniel, Mike (November 6, 2007). "Britney Spears' recordings find art imitating life". Denton Record-Chronicle . Archived from the original on June 9, 2007. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  20. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (November 2007). "Blackout — Britney Spears". AllMusic . Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  21. ↑ Rosche, Jeff (November 2, 2007). "Spears shocks and sickens with Blackout". The Maneater . Archived from the original on March 26, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  22. ↑ Mumbi Moody, Nekesa (October 25, 2007). "Surprise! Britney's new CD a triumph". USA Today . Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  23. ↑ Weber, Theon (October 30, 2007). "Britney Spears's Blackout". The Village Voice . Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  24. ↑ Ottawa Citizen (October 30, 2007). "Britney's latest album: Two views on Blackout". Canada.com. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
  25. ↑ Herbert, Laura (October 30, 2007). "Review: Britney Spears' Blackout". BBC News . Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  26. ↑ Abbott, Jim (November 2, 2007). "Believe it -- Britney's latest is vacuous pap". Orlando Sentinel . Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  27. ↑ Wasser, Chris (November 7, 2007). "Energy crisis: Britney's 'Blackout'". Irish Independent . Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  28. ↑ Howard, Tom (July 29, 2009). "Britney, Fukkk Offf, Mstrkrft: this week's singles". FHM . Archived from the original on August 1, 2009. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  29. 1 2 3 4 "Britney Spears – Radar charts". Billboard . November 17, 2007. Retrieved November 25, 2009.
  30. ↑ "Chart Search". Billboard .
  31. ↑ "Irish Singles Chart". Irish Recorded Music Association. acharts.us. July 15, 2008. Retrieved November 25, 2009.
  32. ↑ "Irish Singles Chart". Irish Recorded Music Association. acharts.us. August 5, 2008. Retrieved November 25, 2009.
  33. ↑ "Britney Spears — Radar (song)". Swedish Charts. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  34. ↑ "Britney Spears — Radar (song)". Swedish Charts. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  35. ↑ Trust, Gary (August 20, 2009). "Chart Beat Thursday: Black Eyed Peas, Jason Mraz, Miley Cyrus". Billboard. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
  36. ↑ Trust, Gary (August 10, 2009). "Ask Billboard: Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Maxwell". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  37. ↑ Grein, Paul (July 30, 2010). "Chart Watch Extra: 40 Digital Song Milestones — Chart Watch". Yahoo! Music . Retrieved September 7, 2010.
  38. ↑ "Australian ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA Charts. July 20, 2009. Retrieved November 25, 2009.
  39. ↑ "UK Singles Chart". Official Charts Company. August 2, 2009. Retrieved November 25, 2009.
  40. 1 2 3 Vena, Jocelyn (July 14, 2009). "Britney Spears Shows 'Classy Side' In 'Radar' Video, Director Says". MTV News. Archived from the original on July 6, 2014. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  41. ↑ Kreps, Daniel (June 20, 2008). "Britney Spears Back in the Studio, Says Producer". Rolling Stone . ISSN   0035-791X.
  42. ↑ Vineyard, Jennifer (June 1, 2004). "Britney's Catsuit May Come In Handy For Next Single, But Not For China". MTV News. Archived from the original on November 30, 2015. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  43. 1 2 3 4 Vena, Jocelyn (July 1, 2009). "Britney Spears' New 'Radar' Video Leaks". MTV News. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  44. ↑ Kreps, Daniel (July 1, 2009). "Britney Spears' "Radar" Video Barely Registers a Bleep". Rolling Stone. ISSN   0035-791X.
  45. ↑ Gicas, Peter (July 1, 2009). "Britney Spears' "Radar" Finally Gets Some Video Love". E!. Comcast . Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  46. ↑ "Britney Debuts "Radar" Video". OK! . July 1, 2009. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  47. ↑ "Big Easy fans thrilled by Britney's 'Circus' act". Today. Associated Press. March 4, 2009. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  48. ↑ Alexander, Hilary (March 2, 2009). "Britney Spears kicks off Circus world tour in New Orleans". The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on March 7, 2009. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
  49. ↑ ""Get on Britney's Radar" Contest with Britney Spears". DanceJam.com. Archived from the original on August 8, 2009. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  50. ↑ Christopher Dallman (November 27, 2009). "Giving thanks". Cjdmusic.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved November 27, 2009.
  51. ↑ https://www.nme.com/news/tv/wilderness-soundtrack-every-song-3498648
  52. ↑ "Britney Spears – Radar". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  53. ↑ "Britney Spears – Radar" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  54. ↑ "Brasil Hot 100 Airplay". Billboard Brasil (in Portuguese). Brazil: BPP. January 2010. p. 81.
  55. ↑ "Britney Spears Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  56. ↑ "Britney Spears Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  57. ↑ Britney Spears — Radar. TopHit. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  58. ↑ "Éxitos discográficos americanos". Excelsior California. August 22, 2008. Archived from the original on May 30, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  59. ↑ "Radar France chart". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. August 15, 2009. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  60. ↑ "Britney Spears – Global Dance Songs". Billboard. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  61. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Radar". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  62. ↑ "Britney Spears – Radar". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  63. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200932 into search. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
  64. ↑ "Britney Spears – Radar". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  65. ↑ "Britney Spears: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  66. ↑ "Britney Spears Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  67. ↑ "Britney Spears Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  68. ↑ "Pop Rock" (in Spanish). Record Report. September 6, 2008. Archived from the original on August 16, 2008.
  69. ↑ "NRJ TOP 100 of 2008". NRJ Lebanon. 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  70. ↑ "Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 2009". Crowley Broadcast Analysis. April 3, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  71. ↑ "American single certifications – Britney Spears – Radar". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  72. ↑ "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!". January 1, 2010. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  73. ↑ "Radar". Portugal: 7digital.[ permanent dead link ]
  74. ↑ "Radar". Sweden: 7digital.[ permanent dead link ]
  75. ↑ "Radar". Canada: 7digital.[ permanent dead link ]
  76. ↑ "Radar (Digital 45)" (in German). Germany: Amazon Music. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.