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March 26, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

The 1001 Albums Challenge # 137: Britney Spears – “…Baby One More Time”

I never listened to this at the time – but I couldn’t avoid the videos for the big singles, particularly the title track. It was everywhere. This was a teen sensation – and it was pitched in all the right ways (or wrong ways if you think about it) to a broad audience. Britney Spears, former child star, was a teen pop sensation that was a role model for young girls, a sex symbol for young boys and (ew) older men…she was the naughty schoolgirl trope turned into a pop singer. 

I can listen to the album now – as I’ve done – and hear fantastic pop arrangements. Great hooky pop songwriting. But I don’t care for it. It was never meant for me. And so I won’t be revisiting it. 

It’s hard to when you watch the video again and hear (and see) the leg banging against the desk and then the thumping of the pen. I mean it’s all so artless and cynical and creepy and nasty…and that’s money in the bank. And never mind the after effects or the mental-health spiral of the performer. None of that matters in that cash-grab moment. 

So, actually, baby no more times. But this was a huge album. An important album for many. And there’s no way you can say it is shit. It’s simply a matter of taste. 

I’m going through the book, 1000 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, and playing all of the albums I haven’t (previously) heard. It’s a pointless goal, but it’s my goal…

Posted in Blog, Miscellany and tagged with 1001, 1001 Albums, 1001 Albums To Hear Before You Die, 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, 1990s, 1999, Baby One More Time, Britney, Britney Spears, Britney Spears - “...Baby One More Time”, Fantasy, Nineties, Oops I Did It Again!, Pop, Teenager, The 1001 Albums Challenge, The 1001 Albums Challenge # 137, The 1001 Albums Challenge # 137: Britney Spears - “...Baby One More Time”, Video. RSS 2.0 feed.
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