Blackout (Britney Spears album)

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Blackout
Blackout cover
Studio album by Britney Spears
Released October 26, 2007 (2007-10-26)
(see below)
Recorded 2006–2007
Genre Pop, dance-pop, electropop, urban pop, pop rap
Length 43:37
Label Jive
Producer Britney Spears (executive), Danja, Bloodshy & Avant, The Clutch, Kara DioGuardi, Freescha, Sean Garrett, Fredwreck, The Neptunes
Professional reviews
Britney Spears chronology
B in the Mix: The Remixes
(2005)		 Blackout
(2007)		 Sixth Studio album
(2008)
Singles from Blackout
  1. "Gimme More"
    Released: September 25, 2007
  2. "Piece of Me"
    Released: January 7, 2008
  3. "Break the Ice"
    Released: March 3, 2008

Blackout is the fifth studio album by American pop singer Britney Spears. It was released on October 27, 2007, in Australia, October 29, 2007, in the UK and October 30, 2007, in the U.S., and around the world. According to IFPI, the album had shipped almost 4 million units worldwide by the end of 2007. [1] It was ranked at number fifty by Rolling Stone in its publication of the Top 50 albums of 2007.

Contents

[edit] Album history

In February 2006, it was reported that Britney was "in the midst of recording her next album, which could surface later this year." According to People, Spears said "her new music could reinvigorate the current pop scene."[2] Eleven months later, Spears revealed in a personal message on her official website that she was "working hard to release the new album sometime later this year."[3] The album was not released later that year, however, due to the birth of Spears' second son, Jayden James Federline, and her separation from husband Kevin Federline.

Jonathan "J.R." Rotem said that Spears had uptempo club songs, relationship songs "and everything in between."[4] He later said of his work with Spears that his "goal is to try to one-up it." Rotem also revealed "there's some dance stuff, there's some slow, more introspective stuff, some club things."[5]

Britney Spears began working with Nate "Danja" Hills while she was pregnant with her second child. Recording began in Las Vegas and continued at Spears' home in Los Angeles.

In August 2007, it was revealed that "Gimme More," would be going to airwaves as the album's first single.[6]

The album was released on October 30, 2007, ahead of it's planned release date, due to numerous unauthorized online leaks, and to prevent any future illegal distribution of songs.[7]

There was confusion as to the album's title prior to an official announcement. Spears' website ran a competition for fans to vote for the album's title; however, none of the suggestions were used. Several sources claimed "Piece of Me" was the album's title as well as second single. On October 5, 2007, a message was posted on Spears' official website confirming that the title of the album is Blackout. A spokesperson for Jive Records has said that the title and theme of Britney’s fifth studio album Blackout is about "blacking out negativity and embracing life."

On November 13, 2007, U.S. store Target released a special edition of Blackout with the bonus track "Outta This World," a bonus mobile wallpaper and ringtone.

Spears won "Best International Album" for Blackout at France's NRJ Awards in January 2008.[8]

[edit] Promotion

This is the first studio album for which Spears did not do any promotion prior to its release, with the exception of her performance at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards, which was panned by both fans and critics. Jive Records posted a commercial for the album on its official YouTube page.

In addition to the official "Piece of Me" music video, the "Britney Spears Wants a Piece of You" contest, in which fans could create videos for "Piece of Me" single themselves using MTV.com's Video Remixer, began on November 30, 2007. The winning video aired on TRL on December 20, 2007. MTV, Jive Records, and Spears herself chose the winner.

[edit] Release history

Country Date
Europe October 26, 2007
Latin America
Australia October 27, 2007
United Kingdom October 29, 2007
United States October 30, 2007
Worldwide
Brazil
Philippines November 4, 2007

[edit] Critical reception

The album has received mostly positive reviews. Digital Spy called it "the most danceable, modern and thrilling album that Spears has ever made, the disc where she finally shakes off the last remnants of her Mickey Mouse Club image."[9] The Guardian stated that "It's a bold, exciting album: the question is whether anyone will be able to hear its contents over the deafening roar of tittle-tattle."[10] Entertainment Weekly gave the album a B+ rating, and praised the album as "a perfectly serviceable dance album abundant in the kind of bouncy electro elements that buttressed her hottest hits."[11] Popjustice also stated the album was "modern sounding, and brilliantly produced."[12] Rolling Stone went on to give the album three and a half stars out of five, and joked that Spears will "continue to crank the best pop booty jams until a social worker cuts off her supply of hits."[13] Critics have also noted new influences in Spears' music, such as the London-based underground electronic genre dubstep as the main influence for the track "Freakshow."[14]

This album was ranked at number fifty by Rolling Stone in its annual publication of top 50 albums of 2007.[15]

However, there were also negative reviews. Newsday titled its review "Save your money" and called the album "terrible."[16] Billboard stated "This is still pop, but the last bits of Spears' song-and-dance girl veneer are cracking, along with the rest of her public persona."[17] Other reviews noted the overwhelming presence of "studio trickery" had the effect of making her sound like a "Brit Bot." "If a blow-up sex doll could sing, this is what she'd sound like," wrote critic Jim Farber. "In terms of studio trickery, Paris Hilton's album [Paris] was practically 'unplugged' compared to this."[18]

[edit] Chart performance

It was initially predicted both by music critics, the media and fans alike that the album would claim the number one spot in its first week of release in the United States after it sold 124,000 copies in its first day of release.[19] However, a last minute and controversial rule change which allowed albums sold at only one retailer to appear on the Billboard 200 denied Spears the top spot.[20]

Therefore, despite selling 290,000 copies in its first week, the album became her first studio album not to debut at number one on the Billboard 200. Instead, it debuted at a still impressive number two with sales far behind that of The Eagles' Long Road Out of Eden which claimed the number one spot that week selling nearly 711,000 copies exclusively at Walmart.[21] This made Spears the only female artist in history whose first five studio albums have debuted in the top two slots on the chart. Blackout also set the record for the biggest-selling digital album debut by a female artist in one week.[22]

The album was received equally well in the United Kingdom, debuting at number two on the UK Albums Chart, her highest debut since her sophomore album Oops!… I Did It Again, which debuted at number two. The album quickly fell out of the top forty. However, the album managed to remain in the top seventy five through continued sales and has been certified Gold. As a result of the success of the album's singles "Gimme More", "Piece of Me" and "Break the Ice", the album climbed back into the top forty in its twenty second week of release, with a massive jump of eighteen places from number forty three to number twenty five in one week.[23] The following week, the album climbed another six places and re-entered the top twenty, placing at number nineteen in the chart and marking its ninth week back in the top forty. It also managed to stay at this position in its tenth week and continues to sell strongly.[24]

In New Zealand, the album debuted at number eight on the New Zealand Albums Chart, making it Spears' highest debut since Oops!... I Did It Again back in 2000. Although it quickly fell off the chart, it re-entered after the success of "Piece Of Me" and climbed back up to number eleven where it stayed for three weeks. Blackout was certified Gold for sales of over 7,500 after fifteen weeks. So far the album has remained on the chart for twenty weeks.[25]

The album was also successful in Australia, debuting at number three on the Australian Albums Chart and has so far reached Platinum status, for sales of over 70,000 copies.

In Cyprus, the album debuted at number one on the Cypriot International Charts making her the only international female artist apart from Madonna to have all of her studio albums debut at number one.

On the whole, the album sold 435,906 copies in its first week, ultimately debuting at number two on the United World Chart. The album continued to sell strongly in its second and third weeks of release, with combined sales of almost 200,000. The album has continued to sell consistently and it has so far sold over 3,500,000 copies worldwide.[26]

[edit] Track listing

# Title Writers Producer Time
1. "Gimme More" Nate Hills, James Washington, Keri Hilson, Marcella Araica Danja 4:11
2. "Piece of Me" Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg, Klas Åhlund Bloodshy & Avant 3:32
3. "Radar" Karlsson, Winnberg, Henrik Jonback, Balewa Muhammad, Candice Nelson, Ezekiel "Zeke" Lewis, Patrick Smith Bloodshy & Avant, The Clutch 3:49
4. "Break the Ice" Araica, Hills, Hilson, Washington Danja 3:16
5. "Heaven on Earth" Nick Huntington, Michael McGroarty, Nicole Morier Freescha, Kara DioGuardi 4:52
6. "Get Naked (I Got A Plan)" Ellis, Araica, Hills, Nigel Talley†, Washington† Danja 4:45
7. "Freakshow" Spears, Lewis, Smith, Karlsson, Winnberg Bloodshy & Avant, The Clutch 2:55
8. "Toy Soldier" Sean Garrett, Karlsson, Winnberg, Magnus Wallbert Bloodshy & Avant, Sean "The Pen" Garrett 3:22
9. "Hot as Ice" Hills, Araica, T-Pain Danja 3:17
10. "Ooh Ooh Baby" Spears, Farid Nassar, DioGuardi, Erick Coomes Fredwreck, Kara DioGuardi 3:28
11. "Perfect Lover" Araica, Hills, Hilson, Washington Danja 3:02
12. "Why Should I Be Sad" Pharrell Williams The Neptunes 3:10
13. "Outta This World" (U.S. Target and Japan) Hills, Washington, Hilson, Araica Danja 3:44
14. "Everybody" (iTunes and Japan) Spears, Annie Lennox, Jonathan Rotem J.R. Rotem 3:18
15. "Get Back" (iTunes and Japan) Hills, Araica, Ellis Danja 3:51
16. "Gimme More" (Paul Oakenfold Remix) (Japan Edition) Araica, Hills, Hilson, Washington Danja 6:08
17. "Gimme More" (Junkie XL Dub) (iTunes International) Araica, Hills, Hilson, Washington Danja 4:59
18. "Gimme More" (StoneBridge Dub) (Swiss and Italian iTunes) Araica, Hills, Hilson, Washington Danja 7:23

[edit] Singles

"Gimme More" is the first single from Blackout. Spears performed the song at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards on September 9, 2007. It was released earlier to radio stations on August 30, 2007, and as a digital download on iTunes on September 27, 2007. "Gimme More" became Spears' highest peaking single since "...Baby One More Time," having reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100. Since the release in September 2007, "Gimme More" has been certified Platinum in the U.S.[27]

"Piece of Me" was released for radio airplays in the US and set as the second single off the album. The music video was shot on November 27, 2007, at Los Angeles restaurant and night club, Social Hollywood. It debuted at number sixty-five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, mostly due to its digital download sales. Since the release of the "Piece of Me" music video, the popular single has risen to number eighteen. It has also reached number one on the Irish Singles Chart, number two in Australia and on the UK Singles Chart, and number five on the Canadian Hot 100. "Piece of Me" has been certified Platinum in the U.S. [28]

"Break the Ice" was officially released for radio airplay in the U.S. on March 3, 2008,[29] and a promotional CD was released. [30] The music video for the song premiered on March 12, the first ever of Spears' videos to be fully animated.

On June 11, 2008, Jive Records announced that no further singles would be released from Blackout.

[edit] Charts and certifications

Chart Country Provider(s) Peak
position		 Certification Sales/shipments
Australian Albums Chart[31] Australia ARIA 3 Platinum 70,000+
Austrian Albums Chart[32] Austria IFPI Austria 6
Belgium Wallonie Albums Chart[33] Belgium IFPI Belgium 6
Belgium Flemish Albums Chart[34] 17
Brazilian Albums Chart[35] Brazil Hot100Brasil 1
Canadian Albums Chart[36] Canada CRIA 1 Platinum[37] 100,000+
Czech Republic Albums Chart[38] Czech Republic IFPI Czech Republic 27
Danish Albums Chart[39] Denmark IFPI Denmark 6
European Top 100 Albums[40] Europe IFPI 1
Finnish Albums Chart[41] Finland IFPI Finland 22
French Albums Chart[42] France Disque En France 2 Gold[43] 75,000+
German Albums Chart[40] Germany IFPI Germany 10
Greek International Albums Chart[44] Greece IFPI Greece 3
Greek Albums Chart[44] 7
Irish Albums Chart[45] Ireland IRMA 1 2X Platinum[46] 40,000+
Italian Albums Chart[47] Italy FIMI 6
India Albums Chart India IMI 1
Japan Oricon Album Chart[48] Japan RIAJ 4 80,000+ [49]
Japan Oricon International Album Chart[48] 1
Mexican Albums Chart[50] Mexico AMPROFON 2
Mexican International Albums Chart[50] 1
Netherlands Albums Chart[51] Netherlands MegaCharts 14
New Zealand Albums Chart[42] New Zealand RIANZ 8 Gold[52] 7,500+[53]
Norwegian Albums Chart[54] Norway IFPI Norway 12
Portuguese Albums Chart[55] Portugal AFP 10
Spanish Albums Chart[56] Spain PROMUSICAE 11
Swedish Albums Chart[57] Sweden IFPI Sweden 11
Swiss Albums Charts[58] Switzerland IFPI Switzerland 4
UK Albums Chart[40] United Kingdom BPI 2 Gold 210,000+
Billboard 200[59] United States RIAA 2 861,000[60]
United World Chart[42] World MediaTraffic 2 Platinum 3,500,000+

[edit] Awards

[edit] 2007

Awards ceremony Award Results
Billboard Readers' Choice Album of the Year Won[61]

[edit] 2008

Awards ceremony Award Results
NRJ Music Awards Best International Album[62] Won[63]
Apelzin Awards Best Pop Artist[64] Won
Hit Music Awards[65] Best International Album Won
Best International Female Artist Won
Best Song (Gimme More) Won
Alfa Music Awards Awards Best International Album Won
TRL Italy Awards Best Number One (Gimme More) Nominated
First Lady Nominated
Imperio Music Awards Best Album (Blackout) Won
Best Female Video (Gimme More) Won
Sexiest Video ( Gimme More ) Won
Return Of The Year Won

[edit] Personnel

  • Vocals – Britney Spears
  • Background vocals – Britney Spears, Corte Ellis, Jim Beanz, Robin "Robyn" Carlsson, Kara DioGuardi, Sean Garrett, Keri Hilson, Windy Wagner, Pharrell Williams, Nicole Morier, Ezekiel "Zeke" Lewis, Nate Hills
  • Keyboards – Avant, Bloodshy, Fredwreck
  • Bass – Klas Alund, Eric Coomes, Henrik Jonback
  • Guitar – Eric Coomes, Fredwreck, Henrik Jonback

[edit] Production

  • Executive Producer: Britney Spears
  • Producers: Nate Hills, Avant, Bloodshy, Sean Garrett, Kara DioGuardi, Freescha, Farid "Fredwreck" Nassar, Ross Davies, The Clutch, The Neptunes
  • Mastering: Tom Coyne
  • Engineers: Jim Carauna, Jordan "DJ Swivel" Young, Duro
  • A&R Executive: Teresa LaBarbera Whites
  • A&R Administration: Nancy Roof
  • A&R Coordination: Jenny Prince
  • Zomba Production Coordination: Cara Hutchinson
  • Clearances: David Schmidt, Kobie "The Quarterback" Brown, Jeff Monachino, Damon "Ellis" Ellis
  • Photography: Ellen von Unwerth
  • Art Direction and design: Jackie Murphy, Jeri Heiden, Glen Nakasako
  • Stylist: Patti Wilson
  • Makeup: Francesca Tolot
  • Prop stylist: Kirsten Vallow
  • Manicurist: Lisa Jachno

[edit] References

  1. ^ IFPI Top 50 album 2007
  2. ^ Chris Harris (2006-02-17). Britney Spears Working On New Album To Boost 'Boring' Pop Scene. MTV.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-30.
  3. ^ Gail Mitchell (2007-01-05). Britney Coming Back 'Bigger And Better' In 2007. Billboard.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-30.
  4. ^ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named crazyass
  5. ^ Corey Moss (2006-09-18). Britney's New Music Is 'The Next Level,' Producer Says. MTV.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-30.
  6. ^ Jonathon Cohen (2007-08-28). Britney Wants 'More' On New Danjahandz Track. Billboard.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-30.
  7. ^ MTV News staff (2006-10-10). Britney Spears Plans An Early Blackout. MTV.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-30.
  8. ^ Kimberley Dadds (2008-01-30). Spears wins album award at NRJ ceremony. Digital Spy. Retrieved on 2008-01-28.
  9. ^ Nick Levine (2007-10-29). Album Review - Britney Spears: Blackout. Digital Spy. Digital Spy Limited. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
  10. ^ Alexis Petridis (2007-10-26). Britney Spears, Blackout. The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
  11. ^ Margeaux Watson (2007-10-23). Music Review: Blackout. Entertainment Weekly. Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
  12. ^ A Proper Verdict on the Britney Album. Popjustice. Popjustice Ltd (2007-10-22). Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
  13. ^ Melissa Maerz (2007-11-15). Album Review: Blackout. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
  14. ^ Ewing, Tom. "Column: Poptimist #10: Britney in the Black Lodge (Damn Fine Album)", Pitchfork, 2007-11-20. Retrieved on 2007-11-21. 
  15. ^ Robert Christgau, David Fricke, Christian Hoard, Rob Sheffield (2007-12-17). The Top 50 Albums of 2007. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
  16. ^ Glenn Gamboa (2007-10-25). Britney Spears' New CD? Save Your Money. Newsday. Newsday Inc. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
  17. ^ Kerri Mason (2007-10-29). Blackout. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
  18. ^ Reuters (2007-10-24). Britney 'like a singing blow up doll'. NineMSN.com. Ninemsn Pty Ltd. Retrieved on 2008-01-12. "Britney 'like a singing blow up doll'". NineMSN. Retrieved October 24, 2007.]
  19. ^ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003665998
  20. ^ http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1573657/20071107/spears_britney.jhtml
  21. ^ http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/2/week-of-nov-5-2007-eagles-black-out-britney
  22. ^ http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/11-08-2007/0004701515&EDATE=
  23. ^ http://britneybreakstheice.blogspot.com/2008/04/uk-chart-update-for-week-ending-april_20.html
  24. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/albums.shtml
  25. ^ http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/chart.asp
  26. ^ http://britneyspearsblackout.com/?p=1312
  27. ^ Silvio Pietroluongo (2007-10-03). 'More' Scores for Britney on Digital, Hot 100 Charts. Billboard.biz. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  28. ^ RIAA - Gold & Platinum - May 30, 2008
  29. ^ [http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16691 FMQB Single Release's
  30. ^ BritneySpy.com - Your Online Britney Spy » Blog Archive » “Break The Ice” Promo CDS Released; Next Single?
  31. ^ Editors from ARIA charts. ARIA albums charts. ARIA (November 4, 2007). Retrieved on November 4, 2007.
  32. ^ Britney Spears - Blackout - austriancharts.at
  33. ^ ultratop.be - Britney Spears - Blackout
  34. ^ ultratop.be - Britney Spears - Blackout
  35. ^ Top 30 CDs Sales. Hot100Brasil (3 November 2007 - 9 November 2007). Retrieved on 2007-11-15.
  36. ^ Editors from allmusic.com Britney Spears: Billboard Albums. All Music Guide. Retrieved on November, 2007.
  37. ^ Editors from cria.ca CRIA Canadian Recording Industry Association Retrieved on December, 2007.
  38. ^ Editors from ifpicr.cz IFPI Czech Republic. ifpicr.cz.
  39. ^ danishcharts.com - Britney Spears - Blackout
  40. ^ a b c Brandle, Lars (November 8, 2007). Britney Spearheads Hot Euro Chart Return. Billboard magazine. Retrieved on November 8, 2007.
  41. ^ finnishcharts.com - Britney Spears - Blackout
  42. ^ a b c Editors from acharts.us Album performance. acharts.us (November 7, 2007). Retrieved on November, 2007.
  43. ^ Gold in France Disque En France Disque En FRance
  44. ^ a b Editors from ifpi.gr IFPI Greece. ifpi.gr. Retrieved on November, 2007.
  45. ^ >> IRMA << Irish Charts - Singles, Albums & Compilations >>
  46. ^ The Irish Charts - All there is to know
  47. ^ italiancharts.com - Britney Spears - Blackout
  48. ^ a b Editors from Oricon Japanese charts. Oricon. Retrieved on November, 2007.
  49. ^ ブリトニー・スピアーズ 「ブラックアウト Oricon Charts - last on chart 2008/01/14
  50. ^ a b Editors from AMPROFON Mexican charts. AMPROFON. Retrieved on November, 2007.
  51. ^ Dutch charts. MegaCharts. Retrieved on January, 2008.
  52. ^ RIANZ
  53. ^ RIANZ
  54. ^ norwegiancharts.com - Britney Spears - Blackout
  55. ^ portuguesecharts.com - Britney Spears - Blackout
  56. ^ spanishcharts.com - Britney Spears - Blackout
  57. ^ swedishcharts.com - Britney Spears - Blackout
  58. ^ Britney Spears - Blackout - swisscharts.com
  59. ^ Hasty, Katie (November 7, 2007). Eagles Fly Past Britney To Debut at No. 1. Billboard magazine. Retrieved on November 7, 2007.
  60. ^ [1]
  61. ^ 2007: The Year in Music - Readers' Choice. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc (January 2008). Retrieved on 2008-01-17.
  62. ^ Editors from NRJ Awards. Britney Spears' Blackout Best International Album Retrieved on December, 2007.
  63. ^ [2]
  64. ^ Apelzin Awards Winners
  65. ^ HIT MUSIC AWARDS Winners

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/ask_bb/index.jsp

[edit] External links


v • d • e
Britney Spears
Studio albums
…Baby One More Time (1999) · Oops!… I Did It Again (2000) · Britney (2001) · In the Zone (2003) · Blackout (2007) · 6th Studio Album (2009)
Other albums
Singles
DVD's
Tours
Related topics