Much Maligned, Britney Returns

Britney Spears makes her triumphant return to the music scene with “Blackout,” her first studio album in over four years. It features twelve new provocative songs that, while not poetry, are thoroughly enjoyable.

Spears has had an epic past several years. Since her last studio album in 2003, she has had two marriages, one annulment, one divorce, two children, a stint in rehab, an ongoing custody battle, and the infamous haircut that rocked the world. Unfortunately for her, all of these events were probably blown out of proportion by the media.

Britney’s big flipping-of-the-bird song to the tabloids is “Piece of Me,” which is one of the most personal tracks on the album and also is set to be the second single. “I’m Miss American Dream since I was seventeen, I’m Mrs. lifestyles of the rich and famous, I’m Mrs. oh-my-God that Britney’s shameless,” a rebellious Britney sings. She taunts the invasive media with lyrics acknowledging their fascination with her. “You want a piece of me?” she asks rhetorically.

Clearly we do want a piece of Britney Spears. “Blackout” debuted at #2 on Billboard’s Album Sales Chart, and #1 on iTunes in over twelve countries. In just a few weeks, the album sold a respectable half million copies, making her the first female artist whose five studio albums have debuted in the top two slots on the chart.

Britney cools down the fiery album with “Why Should I Be Sad,” a passionate and relatively somber song about her relationship with ex-husband and financial dependent Kevin Federline. “They couldn’t believe I did it, but I was so committed. Why should I be sad? Heaven knows.” Britney says goodbye to Federline and listeners by repeating her final line, “It’s time for me to move along. Goodbye.”

One can say what they want about her personal life, but “Blackout” demonstrates that Spears still has what it takes to remain one of the world’s most influential and dominating music icons.