2007 was a (very) rough year for Britney Spears. There was the head-shaving incident, that time she went ham on a paparazzo’s car with an umbrella, two counts of hit and run, her divorce from Kevin Federline, a bitter child custody battle, an unfortunately lackluster MTV Video Music Awards “comeback” performance, and a catalogue of highly publicized and photographed outbursts. The singer suffered one of the most global and unforgettable breakdowns the world had ever seen. But, thankfully, Britney also gave us Blackout in 2007, an album of such quality that it’s been added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s music library and archives.
Blackout was so far ahead of its time in a myriad of ways that even today, 10 years later in 2017, it’s still impacting pop music. Initially, it was more or less written off by critics as a flop, but would eventually be praised as Britney’s most experimental and seminal album to date. Blackout was released on October 25, 2007, and is Britney’s first credit as an executive producer (which makes total sense, considering she’s all over the album’s lyrics and thematic elements).
Like running around a funhouse, Blackout has more than a few tricks up its sleeve. The very moment you press play, an instant catchphrase is born: “It’s Britney, bitch.” (And this classic saying is alive and well today, I might add.) The album is by far her darkest work, exploring themes of sexual fulfillment, fame, divorce, not giving a fuck, public humiliation, and, ultimately, having one hell of a good time. At its core, its songs are electro-pop gold, but ones that have been manipulated over and over again to the extent where Britney sounds like an otherworldly creature.
At the time, Britney was the world’s most widely photographed and watched celebrity, which gives her iconic track “Gimme More” a whole string of meanings. On the surface, it’s about exhibitionism, but it lyrically reflects the life of an overwhelmed and overburdened star on the verge of collapse. She moans, “They want more? Well, I’ll give them more,” practically daring the media to keep coming after her until she inevitably implodes. Her maniacal laugh at the track’s opening is also worth mentioning, because it indicates something mischievous is on the horizon. And that’s exactly what the rest of the album delivers: hard-partying, dirty dancing, random hook-ups, and unabashed pleasure.
The music video for “Gimme More” allegedly saw Britney pulling the ultimate IDGAF move by dismissing all instruction and instead dancing around stripper poles with her girl posse. It’s by no means her best video, but it accurately depicts where she was at at the time. And it’s certainly one of the realest and most vulnerable moments Britney has ever offered, so, if for no other reason, that makes it one for the ages.
“Piece of Me,” which earned Britney THREE MTV Video Music Awards, is a terrific fuck you anthem. It’s where she changed her name to “Miss American Dream since I was 17”—a bold, but entirely fair declaration. “Piece of Me” is the most self-aware track we’ve ever heard from the star, and it shows her brazenly sticking two middle fingers up at all of her haters. The song’s video treatment directly targets the paparazzi in all of their deplorable glory and culminates with an unforgettable bathroom dance routine where Britney sports a super-short and sparkly purple dress.
“Radar” and “Break the Ice” are two stories of sexual prowess, with the first about a chance encounter and the latter revisiting a former lover. Either way, once Britney catches you in her gaze, you’re hers for the taking. And there isn’t any stopping her.
Other noteworthy tracks include bedroom banger “Get Naked (I Got a Plan),” dubstep-y and partially rapped “Freakshow,” and casual hook-up commander “Toy Soldier.” “Get Naked (I Got a Plan)” is borderline pornographic at times, particularly when we hear Britney moaning and purring. “Freakshow” was ahead of its time for infusing dubstep into a mainstream pop track, because, back in 2007, dubstep simply hadn’t hit the main scene yet. Begging for an experienced lover on “Toy Soldier,” Britney sings: “This time I need a soldier, a really badass soldier.” Basically, she needs a man that can walk the walk and take care of her carnal desires. (And don’t we all?)
Blackout is an album made for dirty dance floors, after-parties, your bedroom, and making bad decisions—but ones so fun you really don’t care about the repercussions. It makes you feel like going home with the hot waiter or bartender just because. And it’s fundamentally about getting yours before anyone else gets theirs. Sonically and visually, Britney was distorted and warped to perfection for the record, and her efforts have inspired countless other artists to follow in her footsteps ever since. Whatever way you slice it, Blackout cemented a place for itself in pop culture not merely for the ’00s, but forever. Now go revisit the album and let me know your favorite track in the comment section below.
Check Out My Instagram: