Why did I do a review of Britney? Because its a cruel world and she's an easy target.
Britney: non compos mentis, stretchered out by paramedics, gleefully Papped, for the world to see. How we mourn the fallen angel. “Too much too soon” and other assorted clichés come to mind.
But wait, she’s fine isn’t she? She’s absolutely fine. Phew. Well, that’s what Britney’s second and latest release from her 5th studio album Blackout, would have us heartless bastards believe. According to Piece of Me, Britney is on top of the world, and wants to have a good old rant at the Paparazzi and media rumour mill. A worthy rant, arguably, and certainly subject matter that will resonate with the fans. Whilst most of the lyrics sound desperate, and rather ironic: “I guess I can’t see the problem with earning and being a mama” (don’t think the judge sees it that way Brit), the comeback kid reminds us “I’m miss American dream, since I was 17”. And yeah, it’s true. And although the line “no wonder there’s panic in the industry, I mean please”, referring to her absence from the charts, comes off as a little cavalier considering the jury is still out on Britney (not the court case), she is again pretty accurate; its not to be underestimated the gap in pop that was left when the songstress chose marriages, kids and Kentucky Fried Chicken over pop domination.
The style of the song is in keeping with many of the tracks on the new album: sweeping synth lines, slick drums, and sickeningly insistent vocal effects. Produced by Bloodshy & Avant, responsible for the rather good Toxic, the song, unfortunately, largely dissapoints. It just feels far less well thought out as an arangement than the first single Give Me More, where less was definitely more. Piece of Me seems a bit brash in comparison; cluttered, unstructured, with no real hook to the chorus, infact, not much of a difference to the parts of the song. And of course HAL 9000 on the vocal effects mean it could be any old heffer singing the song, not the sweet southern pop princess we once knew.
However, it is very likely that the single will do well. The “message” (*groans) of the song will surely resonate with fans, who, like many others feel that Britney is the victim of major-league celebrity bashing and is due for her big comeback. And Jive records, previously pretty doubtful of renewed success, seem to think so too. Give Me More’s video budget was reportedly $25,000 (about the price of a Ford Focus), and Piece of Me is an altogether reasonable $500,000. Out with the motorway strip club and Windows Movie Maker visual effects, and in with Hollywood glamour and glitz. That’s the Britney we want to see. We’re well past the point, sadly, of pigtails and school uniform though.