If U Seek Amy

Last updated

"If U Seek Amy"
If U Seek Amy.png
Single by Britney Spears
from the album Circus
ReleasedMarch 10, 2009 (2009-03-10)
Recorded2008
Genre
Length3:36
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Max Martin
Britney Spears singles chronology
"Circus"
(2008)		"If U Seek Amy"
(2009)		"Radar"
(2009)
Music video
"If U Seek Amy" on YouTube

"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.

Contents

"If U Seek Amy" was generally well-received by critics. After its release, the song caused some controversy in various countries because "If U Seek Amy" sounds like "F-U-C-K me". This led to the Parents Television Council (PTC) threatening to file indecency complaints against any radio station that played the song during daytime. An edited version of the song titled "If U See Amy" was released in some regions, including in stations owned by Clear Channel Radio and Austereo. "If U Seek Amy" was successful, reaching the top 10 or the top 20 in various countries around the world. It was also Spears' third single from the album Circus to reach the top 20 in the US.

The music video for "If U Seek Amy" begins with a parody of an America's Newsroom report by Megyn Kelly and portrays Spears at a sex party that takes place at her house. Towards the end, she changes into conservative housewife clothes and opens the front door with her family while paparazzi take pictures of them. It references some of her previous music videos such as "...Baby One More Time" and "Piece of Me". Critics noted the similarities with her past work and also compared it to the film Eyes Wide Shut . "If U Seek Amy" was performed at the Circus Starring Britney Spears (2009) and the Femme Fatale Tour (2011). It was also performed as part of the revamped setlist of Spears' Las Vegas residency show, Britney: Piece of Me (2013–17). Most recently, "If U Seek Amy" was performed on Spears' Piece of Me Tour in 2018.

Background

The song was co-written and produced by Max Martin, who wrote hits for Spears' first albums, including "...Baby One More Time" (1998) and "Oops!... I Did It Again" (2000). This marked the first time they worked together since her third studio album, Britney (2001). [1] Recording sessions took place at Conway Recording Studios and Sunset Studios in Hollywood, California. [2] Background vocals by Kinnda and Martin were recorded at Maratone Studios in Stockholm, Sweden. The recordings were mixed by Serban Ghenea at MixStar Studios in Virginia. [2] On December 5, 2008, a poll was added to Spears' official website to choose the third single, involving ten other songs from Circus. [3] On January 7, 2009, it was announced that "If U Seek Amy" had won, receiving 26% of the total votes. [4]

Music and lyrics

Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
"If U Seek Amy" (2009)
A sample of Britney Spears's "If U Seek Amy" where she sings the chorus, which contains the euphemism.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"If U Seek Amy" runs through a dance-oriented beat and features many instruments, including keyboards, snare, bass drums, electric guitars and timpani. [5] According to the sheet music published at musicnotes.com by Hal Leonard Corporation, the song has a beat of 130 beats per minute and is written in the key of A minor. Spears's vocal range spans from G3-C5. [6] In the song, Spears seems to be looking for a woman named Amy in a club. [7] It has been suggested that Amy is either Amy Winehouse or an alter ego of Spears herself. [8] The verses end with the hookline "Hahahehehahaho". [9] The chorus begins with the lines "Love me, hate me / Say what you want about me", a reference to the public's perception and fascination with Spears' life. [7] This presents Spears both as "an object of desire and a punching bag". [5] According to Neil McCormick of The Daily Telegraph , this line also alludes to the public image of Amy Winehouse. [9]

The title, "If U Seek Amy", is a pun, meaning to sound like "F-U-C-K me" when heard in the chorus, "All of the boys and all of the girls are begging to, if you seek Amy." [10] This wordplay was compared to passages of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and James Joyce's Ulysses where characters covertly spell out profanities, songs by Memphis Slim, R. Stevie Moore, April Wine, Poster Children and The Script entitled "If You See Kay," [11] and the title of Van Halen's 1991 album, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge . [12]

Critical reception

The song received generally favorable reviews. Chris Williams of Billboard said the song is "Max Martin and Spears at their best: a stomping dance floor beat with building synths prodding the song along and the singer sounding like she's having a blast being the bad girl". [13] Rolling Stone writer Caryn Ganz called the song one of the standout tracks of the album. [14] Alexis Petridis of The Guardian commented that her stronger and confident delivery in the chorus was noticeably lacking in the rest of the album. [15] Joey Guerra of the Houston Chronicle also said that the "more aggressive, pointed persona" Spears adopts in the song is one of the high points of the album. [16] The Emory Wheel's writer Julia Cox called it "the album's strongest and most unorthodox song". [8] Ricardo Baca of The Denver Post named the song the most fascinating track of the album and commented on the euphemism, saying "It's trashy and clever, and it's also quite fun. And fun is exactly what Spears should be aiming for". [17] However, there were also some negative reviews. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic said the song is "a Katy Perry-styled exercise in crass commercial carnality that is at once the best and worst song here". [18] Chris Willman of Entertainment Weekly called it "puerile" and added that "it'll be a middle-school sensation". [19] NME named it one of the filthiest songs of all time. [20]

Controversy

Spears performing "If U Seek Amy" with a pink hammer in her hand, at the Circus Starring Britney Spears If You Seek Amy live.jpg
Spears performing "If U Seek Amy" with a pink hammer in her hand, at the Circus Starring Britney Spears

Controversy was first reported by Australian music site Undercover.com.au on December 5, 2008, after the release of the album. Leonie Barsenbach, a housewife from Sydney, said, "I was astonished and totally taken aback when I heard my 5 and 7-year-old kids walking around the house singing 'F-U-C-K' ... When I asked them what it was, they told me it was Britney Spears. I was horrified. I got them the Circus album but there was no warning on it ... It is extremely offensive. I feel deceived." [21] [22] Rolling Stone writer Daniel Kreps defended Spears, arguing that parents should have been aware of the singer's musical themes. [23] After the song was announced as the third single from the album, American radio stations were unsure about playing the track due to its double entendre in the chorus. [12] Program directors of Z100 and KIIS-FM compared the issues to be faced by their radio stations to the release of the Black Eyed Peas' 2005 single, "Don't Phunk with My Heart", saying that "listeners thought it was the other word, and so we had to change it to 'mess'". [12] Program director Patti Marshall of Q102 said "It's ok to put in on an album, have fun with it, but we're publicly owned, you know? [...] It's not about us. It's about the mom in the minivan with her 8-year-old." [12] WFLZ's Tommy Chuck said his station produced their own edit of the song that replaced "seek" with "see", with the station's disc jockeys referring to it as "If U See Amy". [24]

Shortly after, the Parents Television Council (PTC) threatened to file indecency complaints with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) against any station that played the song between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. [25] PTC President Tim Winter said "there is no misinterpreting the lyrics to this song, and it's certainly not about a girl named Amy. It's one thing for a song with these lyrics to be included on a CD so that fans who wish to hear it can do so, but it's an entirely different matter when this song is played over the publicly-owned airwaves, especially at a time when children are likely to be in the listening audience." [26] RBR.com reported that "interestingly, Circus was reviewed by Common Sense Media, another organization whose mission is to help parents manage their children's media consumption. It rated it appropriate for age 13 and up, but made no specific mention of 'If U Seek Amy'. Even more interestingly, reputed incoming FCC Chair Julius Genachowski is a founding board member of Common Sense." [27] The threats of the PTC were later extended to cable music channels that played the music video; however, the FCC does not have control over cable. [28]

On January 23, 2009, Tom Poleman, senior vice president of programming for Clear Channel Radio, announced they planned to play an edited version. [25] Sharon Dastur of Z100 added that Spears had recorded a new version of the song and the new edit would be provided by Jive Records. [25] David Hinckley of the Daily News commented that "Clear Channel, which laid off 9% of its workforce this week, is hardly in the mood to finance an FCC fight right now". [25] Finally, a radio edit titled "If U See Amy" was released to American radio stations (after some stations briefly eliminated those lyrics of the song entirely), which changes the "seek" to "see", [22] which instead spells "F-U-C-K me". [29] The amended version was released in the UK in May. [22] While the song has not officially been renamed or released in Australia, some radio stations, such as those belonging to Austereo, play the censored version, while others continue to play it uncensored. [30] Both the music video and the international radio single remain "If U Seek Amy". [31]

Commercial performance

According to Nielsen SoundScan, "If U Seek Amy" sold over 107,000 digital copies in the United States within two weeks of the album's release. [26] On April 11, 2009, the song peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot Digital Songs. [32] On May 9, 2009, the song peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100, making Circus the first Spears album to have three top 20 hits since her 1999 debut, ...Baby One More Time . [32] As of March 2015, "If U Seek Amy" has sold 1.3 million digital downloads in the United States according to Nielsen SoundScan. [33] It is her 10th best-selling digital single in the country. [33] In Canada, the song debuted at 88 on December 20, 2008. [34] It returned on February 14, 2009, at 86 before reaching the 13th position, where it finally peaked on April 4, 2009. [35] [36]

"If U Seek Amy" debuted at number 49 on the ARIA Singles Chart on February 16, 2009, [37] and moved to a peak position of 11 on March 30, 2009, also becoming the chart's "greatest gainer". [38] It has since been certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) with sales of over 35,000 copies. [39] "If U Seek Amy" entered the UK Singles Chart at number 45 on April 6, 2009, due to its rising digital sales. [40] After its physical release, it peaked at number 20 on May 10, 2009. [41] According to the Official Charts Company, the song has sold 105,000 copies there. [42] "If U Seek Amy" also achieved success worldwide, reaching the top 10 in Belgium (Wallonia), France and Turkey, and the top 20 in Belgium (Flanders), Ireland, New Zealand and Sweden. [43]

Music video

Development

The music video for "If U Seek Amy" was filmed on February 7, 2009, at Pacific Palisades, California, and was directed by Jake Nava, who previously worked with Spears for her "My Prerogative" music video. [44] [45] Spears was styled by David Thomas for the video. [46] During the scenes at the party, she wears American Apparel wet-looking leggings and a black corset from London lingerie designer Bordelle with diamond-shaped holes. [46] She also wears a pair of red high-heeled Louboutins with rouced petals, that were not available for sale until a month after the video was released. [46] [47] When she is dressed as a housewife, Spears has a blonde wig, wears a pale pink sweater, a white skirt from Derek Lam and a Lacoste polo shirt. [44] [46] The music video premiered on March 12, 2009, on both Virgin Mobile's official website and Spears's official websites. [48]

Synopsis

Spears dressed as a housewife, during the final scenes of the music video Normal If U Seek 663.JPEG
Spears dressed as a housewife, during the final scenes of the music video

The video starts with a news anchor (played by Kristina Mitchell) saying the title of the song above a news banner that reads "Britney Spears song lyrics spell out obscenity in disguise". This is a parody of an America's Newsroom report by Megyn Kelly. [49] It then skips to a house, in which a sex party is coming to an end. Spears starts singing while sitting on the edge of a bed while the people that surround her are getting dressed. [50] She gets up and looks out the window. As the first verse ends, she picks up a pair of panties from the floor, recalling her personal struggles and the "Piece of Me" video. [48] She dances with four male dancers in the first chorus. During the second chorus, she dances with four other female dancers dressed in cheerleading outfits, while many men are watching them dance. The screen fades to white and Spears begins to change into a conservative 1950s-inspired housewife outfit. [50] As the chorus begins again, she comes out of her bedroom. She walks down the stairs, with dancers surrounding her and a woman gives her a potholder, which she uses to pick up a pie. [48] After this, she walks out the front door of the house and is joined by her seemingly conservative-looking husband and children, one of them dressed with the schoolgirl outfit Spears wore in the "...Baby One More Time" video. [48] As they go down the walkway, they are surrounded by paparazzi, who have no idea what goes on behind closed doors. [50] While the kids and husband wave, Spears smiles for the camera and blows a kiss. The video then ends with the news anchor saying, "Doesn't make any sense, does it?". [48]

Reception

James Montgomery of MTV stated that the video manages to combine elements from her previous music videos, such as the style of "Everytime" and the attitude of "Stronger". He also referred to it as "a pretty amazing amalgamation of all things Brit, and a nice primer of her entire career up to this point". [48] Rolling Stone writer Daniel Kreps compared the party in the video to the 1999 film Eyes Wide Shut and added that "this may be the first Spears video ever crafted strictly with the morally-lax Internet in mind, a brazen clip that doesn't have to tone down its explicit nature lyrically and visually in order to get airplay". [50] Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly said, "it's kind of difficult to believe the song's real meaning will get past even the thickest listener, the video itself is pretty tame...almost disappointingly so". The reviewer also compared Spears' hairstyle during the housewife scenes to that of Marilyn Monroe. [51]

Live performances

Spears performing "If U Seek Amy" at the Femme Fatale Tour Britney Spears IUSA FFT Cleveland.jpg
Spears performing "If U Seek Amy" at the Femme Fatale Tour

Spears performed the song during 2009's the Circus Starring Britney Spears. After a performance of "Boys" from Britney , Spears performed a military drill with her male dancers, which ended with her putting on a faux fur vest to perform "If U Seek Amy". At the end, Spears pulled a giant pink hammer and proceeded to knock her dancers off the stage, in a similar way to Whac-A-Mole. Jerry Shriver of USA Today said in the opening night of the tour, "[the] single 'If U Seek Amy' draws a huge roar and sing-along from the crowd as Spears shakes her long blond mane". [10] Craig Rosen of The Hollywood Reporter commented, "The artist that raised the ire of parents from the beginning in her scandalous schoolgirl outfit also continues to use shock-and-awe tactics. Her latest, 'If U Seek Amy' [...] was included in the set, much to the delight of her young fans". [52]

"If U Seek Amy" was also performed by Spears at 2011's Femme Fatale Tour. Spears reappeared onstage after "Lace and Leather" to perform a jazz-inspired version of the song, wearing a white skirt and standing over a fan, recalling Marilyn Monroe's iconic scene in The Seven Year Itch (1955). The backdrops behind her showed 1940s crime film-inspired black-and-white footage while photographers in colorful outfits took pictures of her. Rick Florino of Artistdirect said, "Marrying old school detective fare and stadium-size anthems is something no other pop star has done, and once again Britney's the first." [53] Nicki Escudero of the Phoenix New Times stated that it was "nice" to hear remixed versions of older hits, "such as the jazzy 'If You Seek Amy,' [ sic ] the sultry and Middle Eastern-inspired 'Boys' and the sped-up 'Toxic'." [54]

Spears performed the song at her revamped Las Vegas residency show, Britney: Piece of Me, at The AXIS theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, starting in 2016. [55] The performance, which pays homage to Spears' Circus era, immediately follows the song "Circus" (2008) on the set list.

In both world tour adaptations of the residency, Britney: Live in Concert and Piece of Me Tour, as well in her Apple Music Festival performance in 2016, "If U Seek Amy" was also performed, mirroring the same performance of the residency.

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [99] Gold35,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [100] Silver200,000‡
United States (RIAA) [101] 2× Platinum2,000,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "If U Seek Amy"
RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United StatesMarch 10, 2009 Contemporary hit radio Jive
IrelandMarch 13, 2009 Digital download Sony Music
New ZealandMarch 16, 2009
GermanyApril 12, 2009 CD
May 29, 2009 Maxi CD
United StatesJune 2, 2009Digital download (EP)Jive
United KingdomJune 15, 2009 RCA

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everytime</span> 2004 single by Britney Spears

"Everytime" is a song by American singer Britney Spears from her fourth studio album, In the Zone (2003). It was released as the third single from In the Zone on May 10, 2004, by Jive Records. After her relationship with Justin Timberlake ended in 2002, Spears became friends with her background singer Annet Artani. They started writing songs together at Spears' house in Los Angeles, and then traveled to Lombardy, Italy, where they collaborated on "Everytime". Musically, it is a piano-driven pop ballad, which lyrically plea for forgiveness for inadvertently hurting a former lover. Spears composed the music herself and wrote the lyrics with Artani about a romantic breakup.

<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">Outrageous (song)</span> 2004 single by Britney Spears

"Outrageous" is a song by American singer Britney Spears from her fourth studio album, In the Zone (2003). It was written and produced by R. Kelly, with vocal production provided by Trixster and Penelope Magnet. The song was released on July 13, 2004, by Jive Records, as the fourth and final single from In the Zone. "Outrageous" was the record label's choice for first or second single, but Spears pushed for "Me Against the Music" and "Toxic" respectively, to be released instead. It was finally announced as a single after it was selected as the theme song for the 2004 film Catwoman. "Outrageous" is a hip hop and R&B song with an exotic feel. Lyrically, it talks about materialism and entertainment. "Outrageous" received mixed reviews from critics. Some praised its funky sound, while others deemed it "forgettable".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm a Slave 4 U</span> 2001 single by Britney Spears

"I'm a Slave 4 U" is a song recorded by American singer Britney Spears for her third studio album, Britney (2001). Written and produced by Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes, it was released on September 25, 2001, by Jive Records as the lead single from the album. Marking a transition for Spears from the teen pop sounds of her previous singles, "I'm a Slave 4 U" is a dance-pop track with urban pop and R&B influences. The lyrics describes the plea of a young woman to be liberated and feel independent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">...Baby One More Time (song)</span> 1998 single by Britney Spears

"...Baby One More Time" is the debut single by American singer Britney Spears from her debut studio album of the same title (1999). It was written by Max Martin and produced by Martin and Rami. Released on September 29, 1998, by Jive Records, the song became a worldwide hit, topping the charts in over 20 countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, where it earned quintuple and triple-platinum certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), respectively, and was the latter's best-selling single of 1999. The song is one of the best-selling singles of all time, with over 10 million copies sold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boys (Britney Spears song)</span> 2002 single by Britney Spears

"Boys" is a song by American singer Britney Spears from her self-titled third studio album (2001). It was written and produced by Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams. A version of the song titled "The Co-Ed Remix" and featuring guest vocals from Williams was released as the fifth single from Britney on June 24, 2002. The new version also served as the second single from the soundtrack of Austin Powers in Goldmember. "Boys" is a pop, R&B and hip hop song, including funk influences. The remix carries a slower tempo than the album version, and both versions were noted by critics to be reminiscent of music by American artist Janet Jackson. Some critics praised Spears and Williams' chemistry, as well as the production on the track, while others did not think the song worked well.

<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. It was initially offered to Kylie Minogue for her album Body Language, but she turned it down. 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 Bollywood strings, sampled from Laxmikant–Pyarelal's "Tere Mere Beech Mein" (1981). Its lyrics 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">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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radar (song)</span> 2009 single by Britney Spears

"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.

<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, 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.

"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">3 (Britney Spears song)</span> 2009 single by Britney Spears

"3" is a song by American singer Britney Spears from her second greatest hits album, The Singles Collection (2009). It was written and produced by Max Martin and Shellback, with additional writing from Tiffany Amber. The song was released on September 29, 2009, by Jive Records, as the only single from The Singles Collection. "3" is an uptempo electropop song that features a heavy bassline and synthesizers, and lyrics that talk about threesomes, while referencing American folk-singing trio Peter, Paul and Mary during the chorus as sexual slang.

<i>The Singles Collection</i> (Britney Spears album) 2009 greatest hits album by Britney Spears

The Singles Collection is the second greatest hits album by American singer Britney Spears. It was released on November 10, 2009, through Jive Records to commemorate her ten-year anniversary since entering the music industry. The compilation was released in many different formats, including a one-disc edition, a CD+DVD edition and a box set, which contained twenty-nine singles, each packaged in its own slip case with original cover art. The CD+DVD edition, as well as the box set, contains a DVD with Spears's music videos. The album includes a new song, "3", produced by Max Martin and Shellback.

<i>B in the Mix: The Remixes Vol. 2</i> 2011 remix album by Britney Spears

B in the Mix: The Remixes Vol. 2 is the second remix album by American singer Britney Spears. The follow-up to B in the Mix: The Remixes (2005), it was released on October 7, 2011 by Jive Records. On September 9, 2011, Spears announced the release by posting the cover artwork and track listing on her Tumblr account. The album includes remixes of various tracks from her studio albums Blackout (2007), Circus (2008) and Femme Fatale (2011), as well as a remix of "3" and, exclusively in Japan, a remix of "My Prerogative". The remixes were done by disc jockeys such as Kaskade, Tiësto and Benny Benassi. The music was influenced by various subgenres of pop music, such as disco and house. The album was released the same day RCA absorbed Jive Records.

References

  1. ↑ Vineyard, Jennifer (September 15, 2008). "Britney Spears' New Album, Circus, Slated For December 2 Release". MTV . Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  2. 1 2 Circus liner notes.
  3. ↑ Staff Reporter (December 5, 2008). "What Should Britney's Next Single Be?". BritneySpears.com. Archived from the original on March 2, 2009. Retrieved November 28, 2009.
  4. ↑ Staff Reporter (January 7, 2009). "Britney Spears announces controversial third single". Access Hollywood . Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  5. 1 2 Staff Reporter (December 3, 2008). "Britney comeback takes disturbing twist". The Age . Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Digital Sheet Music – Britney Spears If U Seek Amy". MusicNotes.
  7. 1 2 Jones, Steve (November 26, 2008). "Britney enjoys 'Circus'". USA Today . Retrieved November 28, 2009.
  8. 1 2 Cox, Julia (December 5, 2008). "No Clowning Around on New Spears Album". The Emory Wheel. Emory University. Archived from the original on December 9, 2008. Retrieved November 28, 2009.
  9. 1 2 McCormick, Neil (November 24, 2008). "Britney Spears: Circus pop CD review". The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on May 19, 2009. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  10. 1 2 Shriver, Jerry (March 4, 2009). "Britney in concert: The Circus is finally back in town". USA Today. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
  11. ↑ Shieldlower, Jesse (March 19, 2009). "If You Seek Amy's Ancestors". Slate. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Kaufman, Gil (February 12, 2009). "Britney Spears' 'If U Seek Amy' Poses Censorship Problems For Radio". MTV. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  13. ↑ Williams, Chris (April 4, 2009). "If U Seek Amy single review". Billboard . Nielsen Media . Retrieved November 28, 2009.
  14. ↑ Ganz, Caryn (December 11, 2008). "Circus : Britney Spears : Review". Rolling Stone . ISSN   0035-791X.
  15. ↑ Petridis, Alexis (November 28, 2008). "Britney Spears: Circus review". The Guardian . Retrieved November 28, 2009.
  16. ↑ Guerra, Joey (December 2, 2008). "Britney will bring her Circus to town in March". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  17. ↑ Ricardo Baca (December 7, 2008). "Britney Spears' "Circus" is trashy, clever and fun". The Denver Post . Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  18. ↑ Stephen Thomas Erlewine (December 2, 2009). "Circus Review". Allmusic . Retrieved November 28, 2009.
  19. ↑ Wiillman, Chris (November 29, 2008). "Circus Review". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  20. ↑ Lewis, Luke (January 23, 2009). "From Chuck Berry To Britney – A History Of Pop Filth". NME . Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  21. ↑ Cashmere, Paul (December 5, 2008). "Parents Outraged By Britney Spears Song". Undercover News. Cashmere Media Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on October 13, 2009. Retrieved December 5, 2009.
  22. 1 2 3 Adams, Guy (January 21, 2009). "Britney forced to rerecord 'sexually offensive' song". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved December 5, 2009.
  23. ↑ Kreps, Daniel (December 5, 2008). "Britney News : Song Title Angers Parents, First Husband goes to Jail". Rolling Stone . ISSN   0035-791X.
  24. ↑ Kaufman, Gil (January 22, 2009). "Britney Spears' Suggestive Single 'If U Seek Amy' Edited By Radio Stations". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved December 5, 2009.
  25. 1 2 3 4 Hinckley, David (January 23, 2009). "Z100 needs Britney Spears to clean up". Daily News (New York) . Mortimer Zuckerman. Archived from the original on February 3, 2009. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  26. 1 2 Cohen, Jonathan (January 21, 2009). "Parents TV Council Protests Britney Song". Billboard . Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  27. ↑ Staff Reporter (January 22, 2009). "PTC seeks blackout for "...seek Amy"". Radio & Television Business Report. Archived from the original on January 25, 2009. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  28. ↑ Eggerton, John (January 21, 2009). "PTC Cautions Media About Britney Spears Song". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  29. ↑ Fraser McAlpine. "Britney Update". BBC Chart Blog, January 26, 2009. Accessed May 4, 2018.
  30. ↑ "Explicit Britney Spears, Lily Allen songs leave Oz parents livid". DNA. April 5, 2009. Archived from the original on December 17, 2009. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  31. ↑ "Britney Spears renames sexy song". MTV (UK & Ireland). January 20, 2009. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  32. 1 2 "If U Seek Amy charts". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  33. 1 2 Trust, Gary (March 24, 2015). "Ask Billboard: Britney Spears's Career Sales". Billboard . Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  34. ↑ "Canada Singles Top 100". Billboard. acharts.us. December 20, 2008. Retrieved November 1, 2009.
  35. ↑ "Canada Singles Top 100". Billboard. acharts.us. February 14, 2009. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  36. ↑ "Canada Singles Top 100". Billboard. acharts.us. March 21, 2009. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  37. ↑ "Australia Singles Top 50". Australian Recording Industry Association. acharts.us. February 16, 2009. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  38. ↑ "Australia Singles Top 50". Australian Recording Industry Association. acharts.us. March 30, 2009. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  39. ↑ "Britney Spears – If U Seek Amy ARIA certification". Australian Recording Industry Association. ARIA Charts. March 30, 2009. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  40. ↑ "UK Singles Top 75". UK Singles Chart . acharts.us. April 5, 2009. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  41. ↑ "UK Singles Top 75". UK Singles Chart. acharts.us. May 10, 2009. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  42. ↑ "Britney Spears – Official Top 20". MTV. MTV Networks. Archived from the original on December 11, 2010. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
  43. ↑ "If U Seek Amy in the world charts". Ultratop 50 Australian Charts. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  44. 1 2 Vena, Jocelyn (February 12, 2009). "Britney Spears Plays Sexy '50s Housewife In 'If U Seek Amy' Video". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  45. ↑ "Earlier Filming Date Scheduled For Britney If U Seek Amy Music Video Shoot". Britney.com. February 4, 2009. Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  46. 1 2 3 4 Staff Reporter (March 2, 2009). "Britney adopts raunchy new look". Fairfax New Zealand . Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  47. ↑ Jones, Anthony (February 20, 2009). "Britney Spears Puts Her Foot Down For High Fashion In New Music Video". Papierdoll Magazine. Papierdoll. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  48. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Montgomery, James (March 12, 2009). "Is Britney Spears' 'If U Seek Amy' Her Best Video Ever?". MTV. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  49. ↑ Shea, Danny (April 17, 2009). "Megyn Kelly Challenges Britney Spears To Showdown Over "F**k Me" Video: "Bring It, Britney!" (VIDEO)". HuffPost . Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  50. 1 2 3 4 Kreps, Daniel (March 12, 2009). "Britney Spears Premieres Video For Controversial "If U Seek Amy"". Rolling Stone. ISSN   0035-791X . Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  51. ↑ Greenblatt, Leah (March 12, 2009). "Britney Spears' new 'If U Seek Amy' video: Eh, it's okay". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  52. ↑ Rosen, Craig (April 7, 2009). "Britney Spears at Staples Center – Concert Review". The Hollywood Reporter . Nielsen Media. ISSN   0018-3660 . Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  53. ↑ Florino, Rick (June 25, 2009). "Live Review: Britney Spears, Nicki Minaj, Jessie and the Toy Boys 'The Femme Fatale Tour' — Anaheim, CA". Artistdirect. Rogue Digital, LLC. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
  54. ↑ Escudero, Nicki (June 23, 2011). "Britney Spears at Jobing.com Arena, 6/22/11 (Video)". Phoenix New Times . Archived from the original on September 2, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  55. ↑ Stern, Bradley (February 14, 2016). "Britney Spears Kicks Off Remixed, Reimagined and Still Very Much Iconic 'Piece Of Me' Residency in Las Vegas". PopCrush.
  56. ↑ "Britney Spears – If U Seek Amy". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  57. ↑ "Britney Spears – If U Seek Amy" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  58. ↑ "Britney Spears – If U Seek Amy" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  59. ↑ "Britney Spears – If U Seek Amy" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  60. ↑ "Brasil Hot 100 Airplay". Billboard Brasil (Brasil: bpp) (2): 96. April 2011.
  61. ↑ "Brasil Hot Pop & Popular Songs". Billboard Brasil (Brasil: bpp) (2): 97. April 2011.
  62. ↑ "NMC Airplay TOP 10 Week13 (23.03.2009 - 29.03.2009)". BAMP. Archived from the original on April 9, 2009. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  63. ↑ "Britney Spears Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  64. ↑ "Britney Spears Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  65. ↑ "Britney Spears Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  66. ↑ Britney Spears — If U Seek Amy. TopHit. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  67. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 200920 into search. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  68. ↑ "Britney Spears – If U Seek Amy". Tracklisten. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  69. ↑ "If U Seek Amy in France". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique . Retrieved January 1, 2010.
  70. ↑ "Britney Spears – If You Seek Amy" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  71. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  72. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – If U Seek Amy". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  73. ↑ "Media Forest Week 23, 2009". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest.
  74. ↑ "Britney Spears – If U Seek Amy". Top Digital Download. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  75. ↑ "Desbanca Paulina Rubio a La Quinta Estación del primer lugar radial". Monitor Latino . Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  76. ↑ "Tipparade-lijst van week 19, 2009". Dutch Top 40 . Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  77. ↑ "Britney Spears – If U Seek Amy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  78. ↑ "Britney Spears – If U Seek Amy". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  79. ↑ "Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart: May 21, 2009". TopHit . Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  80. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200918 into search. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  81. ↑ "Britney Spears – If U Seek Amy". Singles Top 100. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  82. ↑ "Britney Spears – If U Seek Amy". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  83. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  84. ↑ "Britney Spears Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  85. ↑ "Britney Spears Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  86. ↑ "Britney Spears Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  87. ↑ "Britney Spears Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  88. ↑ "Britney Spears Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  89. ↑ "Top 20 Most Streamed International Singles In Malaysia Week 21 (20/05/2022-26/05/2022)". RIM. June 4, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2022– via Facebook.
  90. ↑ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2009". Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved December 23, 2009.
  91. ↑ "Rapports Annuels 2009 (Wallonia)" (in French). Ultratop . Retrieved December 26, 2009.
  92. ↑ "Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 2009". Crowley Broadcast Analysis. April 3, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  93. 1 2 "Billboard year-end charts". Billboard. Retrieved January 10, 2010.
  94. ↑ "Les marchés de la musique enregistrée - Top 100 titres téléchargés (web + mobile) volume - 2009" (PDF). GfK. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 13, 2016. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  95. ↑ "Rádiós Top 100 – hallgatottsági adatok alapján – 2009" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  96. ↑ "NRJ TOP 100 of 2009". NRJ Lebanon. 2009. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  97. ↑ "Annual 2009" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved December 26, 2011.
  98. ↑ "Charts Plus Year end 2009" (PDF). Charts Plus. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
  99. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2009 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  100. ↑ "British single certifications – Britney Spears – If U Seek Amy". British Phonographic Industry.
  101. ↑ "American single certifications – Britney Spears – If U Seek Amy". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  102. ↑ "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!". Archived from the original on November 1, 2009. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  103. ↑ "If U Seek Amy (2009) | Britney Spears | High Quality Music Downloads | 7digital Ireland". Archived from the original on December 17, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  104. ↑ "If U Seek Amy (2009) | Britney Spears | MP3 Downloads 7digital New Zealand". Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  105. ↑ If U Seek Amy. April 12, 2009 – via Amazon.
  106. ↑ "If U Seek Amy/Premium". May 29, 2009 – via Amazon.
  107. ↑ "If U Seek Amy Remixes (2009) | Britney Spears | MP3 Downloads 7digital United States". Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  108. ↑ "If U Seek Amy Remixes (2009) | Britney Spears | MP3 Downloads 7digital United Kingdom". Archived from the original on November 30, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
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.