Pandemic Playlist: 'It's Britney, B*tch!' Our top 5 Britney Spears tracks to match all your lockdown moods
Unless you've also been practicing a bit of social media distancing while quarantined, you may have heard that Britney Spears recently shouted out to her ex Justin Timberlake via Instagram. The two had one of the most high-profile relationships and subsequent breakups back in the 2000s, one that led to all sorts of allegations of cheating among other things and spawned some of the best hits of the time, including Justin's 'Cry Me A River' and Britney's haunting response, 'Everytime'.
It's odd to think back on that era and remember how much drama ensued between Hollywood's biggest names, and as we all watch the 2000s roll back around there was the looming question of what else was going to roll around with it. The fact that what we got was maturity and reconciliation between once-feuding exes is rather heartwarming.
So in celebration of the positivity, here are our favorite Britney tracks to match your quarantine moods!
'Toxic' (2003)
It's so hard to believe this song came out in 2003! It sure doesn't feel that long ago. And that might have something to do with the fact that this song has endured as one of pop's best tracks ever, besides being the song that revived Britney's at-the-time waning career.
The song was unlike anything being put out at that time, and even in the nearly two decades since, nothing else has quite managed to touch it. On the surface, it's a dance-pop song with techno elements, but the song actually samples its high-pitched strings from Bollywood, more specifically, Lata Mangeshkar and SP Balasubrahmanyam’s 'Tere Mere Beech Mein' (1981). It also samples from surf music, drawing comparisons to the Bond theme song, which itself also sampled from Bollywood.
And while the song originally referred to the kind of toxic relationship that makes you feel like you're addicted to someone who is bad for you, it has taken on a new meaning and is close to achieving meme status in these pandemic times. Turn this track up as you practice safe social distancing!
'Circus' (2008)
"There's only two types of people in the world / The ones that entertain and the ones that observe / Well, baby, I'm a put-on-a-show kinda girl." And ain't that the truth!
Especially during these times, as Britney has continued to keep us entertained while also making sure we stayed positive, healthy, and sane.
The track itself alludes to Britney's personal life and relationships, and how they tended towards the chaos and grandiose of traditional circuses. She has also described it as being about her life as an entertainer and how it can feel like a circus, especially because so many of her acts involves costumes and theatrics.
And while the world has gone quiet due to the lockdown, it somehow at the same time feels a lot like a circus as we scramble to find the cure for what ails the planet. But while we wait, we can enjoy the pop queen's amazing showmanship!
'Everytime' (2004)
This song remains one of Britney's best ballads. It's stripped-down music combined with Britney's haunting vocals and an equally haunting music video that sees Britney apologizing to a lover for hurting them all the while trying to deal with the horrors of fame has elevated it to the status of one of the best pop songs of all time. It achieved even more of an iconic status once people began speculating this was Britney's response to Justin's 'Cry Me A River'.
But in addition to that, this song is just a beautiful way to remember a loved one. And taking a leaf out of Britney's book of self-growth, maybe now is the perfect time to apologize to someone you once hurt.
If you're not quite ready to take that step, however, this is still a great song for when you're feeling down or missing someone.
'Stronger' (2000)
Maybe instead of missing someone, though, you've come to realize once you were alone with your own thoughts and feelings that some relationships in your life veered into 'toxic' territory — and it was time to break free.
'Stronger' is a song about a woman who is tired of her cheating boyfriend and has decided to find the strength in herself to move on. The song's empowering message was solidified with lyrics like "I'm not your property" and "I don't need nobody," but is most beautifully delivered in the line "My loneliness ain't killin' me no more," which is a reversal on the lyrics "My loneliness is killing me" from Britney's iconic debut song 'Baby One More Time'.
This quarantine period is, for many of us, the perfect time to shed extra baggage and emerge from our nests with a renewed sense of purpose. And this song and its video both offer the perfect buildup to the journey of rising above what has plagued you thus far and finally breaking free to find a newly-empowered version of yourself.
'Till The World Ends' (2011)
Performed by Britney and co-written by Kesha, this song was bound to be a hit.
The electro-dance-pop number begins with the lyrics "This kitten got your tongue tied in knots, I see / Spit it out, 'cause I'm dying for company," and initially were a reference to someone finding it difficult to speak when faced with Britney's status as a pop icon as well as her sexual prowess and appeal. But for many of us stuck indoors with minimal human contact, these lines take on a very different meaning!
Kesha herself described the song as being an anthem for female musicians out touring the world, having an amazing magical time, and not wanting the night to end — after all, when things are going great, we want that feeling to last 'till the world ends'.
For a lot of us, amid all the gloom, some days are actually better and we don't want to let them end. So give yourself a break and hit play — might as well enjoy the night!
Pandemic Playlist is a daily list of songs that will keep you entertained instead of feeling drained while you're isolated at home. Look out for a fresh selection of great tunes from MEAWW to refresh your mood every day!