Welcome to the first ‘Underrated’ – an in-depth look at the moments and people in pop culture who have gone by without recognition. This first instalment takes a look at the 2007 album ‘Blackout’ by pop superstar Britney Spears.
July 2007. Britney Spears had spent the start of the year falling out of night clubs, getting out of cars without underwear on, shaving off all her hair and going in and out of various rehabilitation facilities. All this had been captured by the ever present lens of the paparazzi and presented to a public already familiar with the bizarre antics of the former teen star. Even before all this we had already seen her marry twice – one, lasting only 48hrs in Vegas to a childhood sweetheart, have two children and divorce a second time.
If anyone was in need of a comeback it was Britney.
Then in the peak of summer, like a phoenix from the ashes, a new song - the first single from Spears’ 5th studio album - leaked online. ‘Gimme More’ is a taste of 21st century American pop at it’s very best; produced by Timbland protégé Danja and written by Keri Hilson, the blend of Danja’s pulsating beats, Hilson’s sensual lyrics and Spears’ breathy hypnotizing vocals, ‘Gimme More’ is perhaps the best Britney Spears song ever. From the opening line “It’s Britney, bitch” to Danja’s shout out “the legendary Miss Britney Spears” ‘Gimme More’ is the manifesto for the rest of ‘Blackout’- bratty, brave, bold, brash, Britney.
Second single ‘Piece of Me’, produced and written by long time Spears’ collaborators Bloodshy and Avant further drives home the point that this, at least sonically, is a new edgier Britney that doesn’t care what you (aka the media) think. Other album highlights include another Danja produced track, the sexy ‘Get Naked (I Gotta Plan)’, album closer the Pharrell Williams penned ‘Why Should I Be Sad’ and another Bloodshy and Avant effort ‘Toy Soldier’ which, with it’s obnoxious delivery, busy production and catchy lyrics is quintessential Britney.
Full of fresh sounds for the time and well crafted club driven beats, ‘Blackout’ remains Britney’s most critically acclaimed album, yet commercially it has been her least successful. It doesn’t take a genius to realise the reason for this; an audience distracted by the seemingly hourly updates on blogging sites and tabloid magazines on Spears’ personal life would probably have been completely unaware a new album was being released. This combined with what little promotion Britney herself did for the project (her lazily mimed performance of ‘Gimme More’ at the MTV VMA’s that year probably did more harm than good and I refuse to even acknowledge the accompanying music videos to the album’s three singles) led to it ultimately going largely unnoticed by the record buying public.
It’s a shame that, outside of Britney Spears fans, ‘Blackout’ has never received the recognition it deserves. Whether that recognition lies with Britney herself or the teams of producers and writers who helped create the album is debatable. What is clear is that ‘Blackout’s influence can be heard in the work of numerous artists including Ciara, Lady GaGa, Christina Aguilera and even Madonna. Britney Spears, the trend setter? Hardly. What ‘Blackout’ does prove though, is that even when she is in the middle of a personal life crisis, you can still count on Britney to lead the way to the dance floor. And it’s still fun to join her.
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