You're gonna have to see through my perspective

]
12. Overprotected | 8.52 Highest Scores: 11: (Scene), 10: (Anita Hanjaab, Slayer, Nick F1, blacksquare, Tafty), Lowest Scores: 5.5: (pippa)


At #12 is the original & best version of Overprotected, released in December 2001 as the 2nd international single from her self-titled 3rd studio album Britney. The song was remixed by Darkchild for the American market where it was released as the album's 3rd single in April 2002. Written and produced by Max Martin & Rami, while Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins produced the R&B version. Lyrically the song is about girl who is tired of being overprotected and just wants to be herself. Upon release it received generally positive reviews & attained commercial success internationally by reaching top 5 peaks in Sweden, Romania, Italy & UK, as well as hitting top 10 & 20 peaks in several countries such as Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Spain, France & Australia. In 2003, the song received a nomination for a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. The track also appeared in in the 2019 Max Martin jukebox musical "& Juliet". The song appears in Act 1, where it is performed by Francois and Juliet.

I think many at the time saw this as something of a step back when compared to the bold lead single, but if you actually pay attention to this song then you'll realize that its a true emancipation from her girl-next-door persona, with its aggressive delivery such as the pounding beats, electronic synths and her defiant vocal delivery. Okay there may be a few similarites between this & her earlier material, which can be a given since they were done by the same team, but here the production's far more punchier and the lyrics are more relevant to Britney herself & yet still retains that catchiness that we've become accustomed to when listening to a Britney single. This is a cracking tune that perfectly represented third album and its theme of stepping forward into adulthood. Of note this would be the last Max Martin penned track until they worked together on her 2009 hit "3".

Not Lucky finishing at #13!

 

Two songs I love in a row

Did Overprotected reach #4, same as Slave??

 

Brilliant bop!! All three singles from Britney were.

Did Overprotected reach #4, same as Slave??

 

Brilliant bop!! All three singles from Britney were.

Yes it did reach #4 the same as Slave.

Overprotected entered at #5 and then climbed to #4 a week later, which was fairly unusual for the time! Usually the first week was destined to be the peak.

 

She did come to the UK to promote, I'm not sure about the timings but maybe it had a positive effect on week 2.

Overprotected entered at #5 and then climbed to #4 a week later, which was fairly unusual for the time! Usually the first week was destined to be the peak.

 

She did come to the UK to promote, I'm not sure about the timings but maybe it had a positive effect on week 2.

 

I always put that down to it being an ultra-low sales period in January and things shuffling around a lot more easily.

 

There were also no new entries above #13 that week.

I had a look back, notably her interview with Frank Skinner aired on Saturday 26th January!

 

Maybe it somewhat helped Overprotected's second week - its sales decline was 35,500 to 31,000 (-12.68%), which wasn't too bad compared to some other new entries from her release week (A1, Ja Rule, Flip & Fill)! Although as you say, it was a very static week without major new entries, which was fortunate for Overprotected. A pity it couldn't get to #3 - only 1,200 behind A1!

 

Mind you, the 'Britney' album didn't get a particularly big boost from the interview... it climbed from #24 to #19 in the two weeks that Overprotected went from #5 to #4.

 

As a matter of interest, I'm a Slave 4 U went from #4 - 52,000, to #7 - 31,000 (-40.38%), while I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman went from #2 - 40,000, to #5 - 25,000 (-37.50%).

 

 

27th January 2002

01 (86) HERO - Enrique Iglesias (101,056)

02 (NE) CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE - A1 (56,500)

03 (02) GET THE PARTY STARTED - Pink (44,000)

04 (01) MY SWEET LORD - George Harrison (42,000)

05 (NE) OVERPROTECTED - Britney Spears (35,500)

06 (NE) ALWAYS ON TIME - Ja Rule Featuring Ashanti (34,500)

07 (NE) TRUE LOVE NEVER DIES - Flip & Fill Featuring Kelly Llorena (32,000)

08 (04) ADDICTED TO BASS - Puretone (30,000)

09 (03) AM TO PM - Christina Milian (27,000)

10 (10) CRAZY RAP - Afroman (24,000)

 

3rd February 2002

01 (01) HERO - Enrique Iglesias (98,388) [-2.64%]

02 (03) GET THE PARTY STARTED - Pink (37,000) [-15.91%]

03 (02) CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE - A1 (32,200) [-43.01%]

04 (05) OVERPROTECTED - Britney Spears (31,000) [-12.68%]

05 (08) ADDICTED TO BASS - Puretone (28,400) [-5.34%]

06 (06) ALWAYS ON TIME - Ja Rule Featuring Ashanti (26,800) [-22.32%]

07 (07) TRUE LOVE NEVER DIES - Flip & Fill Featuring Kelly Llorena (25,700) [-19.69%]

08 (04) MY SWEET LORD - George Harrison (25,400) [-39.52%]

09 (09) AM TO PM - Christina Milian (22,600) [-16.30%]

10 (11) I THINK I LOVE YOU - Kaci (21,900)

I'm Miss American Dream since I was 17

11. Piece of Me | 8.562 Highest Scores: 10: (Anita Hanjaab, Slayer, Nick F1, ready for it, Nick Jonas, Mack, Tafty, Eduardo), Lowest Scores: 4: (Jade)


Just outside the top at #11 is Piece of Me, released in November 2007 as the 2nd single from Britney's 5th studio album Blackout. Written and produced by Swedish producers Bloodshy & Avant and Klas Åhlund as a response to the media scrutiny and sensationalism of the singer's private life, which they had witnessed first hand after working with her over the years. The was actually the last song recorded for the album which was considered finished by this point. but the producers were persuaded by her A&R Teresa LaBarbera Whites to work on a new track. Winnberg commented that it had always been an unwritten rule not to write songs about Britney's personal life since the label rejected "Sweet Dreams My LA Ex", a response track to Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me a River". However, the duo wrote "Piece of Me" & sent it do Britney, who loved it. Upon release it garnered widespread acclaim from the music critics & became a global success by topping the charts in Ireland & hitting top 10 peaks in several countries such as Australia, UK, Netherlands, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Finland & Sweden. In the USA it reached a #18 peak, becoming her 9th top 20 hit there. Rolling Stone ranked the song at number 15 on their list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007.

Only missing the all important top 10 by a mere 1.5 & has scored consistantly well throughout the rate. This song makes a bold statement against the toxic tabloid's & even now after 17 years it remains just as bold and effective as it was back then. Despite all of her personal struggles she still manages to deliver the goods & this cracking tune is a testament to that with its defiant attitude, distorted dance beats, mid-tempo melodies & killer hooks each adds to its overall brilliance. Upon my first listen of the album I knew that this was gonna be a single & thankfully this masterpiece of 00's electro pop got its time to shine & became an instant classic overnight. The crowning glory of the "Blackout" era for sure.

Time for another results re-cap 11-20:

11. Piece of Me - 8.562
12. Overprotected - 8.52
13. Lucky - 8.5
14. Circus - 8.458
15. Break The Ice - 8.375
16. Till The World Ends - 8.145
17. Me Against The Music (ft Madonna) - 8.145
18. Hold Me Closer (ft Elton John) - 7.812
19. My Only Wish (This Year) - 7.77
20. My Prerogative - 7.708



Here's what to come in the top 10:

Baby One More Time
(You Drive Me) Crazy
Born To Make You Happy
Oops I Did It Again
Stronger
I'm A Slave 4 U
Toxic
Everytime
Gimme More
Womanizer

That's a solid and representative top 10.

 

I wish 'Womanizer' wasn't there but I suppose it deserves its place.

Just before the top 10 gets announced here's the last of these eras post:

Baby One More Time - 3/5
Oops I Did It Again - 2/4
Britney - 1/7
In The Zone - 2/4
Blackout - 1/3
Circus - 1/4
Femme Fatale - 0/4
Britney Jean - 0/2
Glory - 0/5

Greatest Hits - 0/3
Collaborations/Other - 0/9



As you can see its the first 6 eras that represent the entire top 10 here, with 'Baby One More Time' having the most there with 3. Then 'Oops I Did It Again' & 'In The Zone' each has 2 entries left, then finally 'Britney', 'Blackout' & 'Circus' has 1 left remaining respectively.

Near perfect top 10. Well done everyone! : D

 

Only change is make is taking out I’m A Slave 4 U and putting in Me Against The Music.

 

 

All you people look at me like I'm a little girl

10. I'm A Slave 4 U | 8.625 Highest Scores: 11: (Anita Hanjaab, ready for it), 10: (Nina West, Slayer, Nick F1, GTH, blacksquare, Tafty, Scene), Lowest Scores: 5: (JLJ, pippa)


Kicking off the top 10 in almighty style at the #10 spot is I'm A Slave 4 U, released in September 2001 as the lead single from her 3rd studio album Britney. Written and produced by Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams. The song marked a transition for Britney from the teen pop sounds of her previous singles & delves into a more urban & R&B influenced dance pop with the lyrical theme describing the plea of a young woman to be liberated and feel independent. The song's writers & producers Pharrell & Chad also collaborated with Britney on "Boys" another track from the album. Both songs were originally intended for Janet Jackson's album "All For You", she recorded one of the tracks in demo form before she passed on them both and was then handed to Britney. Upon release it garnered a mixed response from music critics, but achieved commercial success worldwide by reaching top 10 peaks in almost every country it charted in such as Germany, Belgium, UK, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain, Australia, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, Denmark & France. In the USA it managed to reach a #27 peak on the Hot 100, becoming her first lead single not to crack the top 10. The low sales points were mostly due to the song's 12-inch single release instead of a competitive regular CD single. Since it's release the song has become one of her signature hits, as well as having been considered one of the defining songs of the early 2000s, the new millennium, and of the pop genre. Her 2001 MTV Video Music Awards performance of the song is considered amongst the greatest live performances in pop music history.

This marked a true turning point in Britney's career as she leaves behind the bubblegum pop phase of her career & steps forward into a more mature chapter of her career. From the opening beats of this track, it became clear that everything was about to change as she ditches the winning formula of her past hits with this somewhat shocking yet brilliant track. The hypnotic grooves, thumping bass & bouncy beats really expands Britney's sound further and the percussive claps and breathy vocals sounds fantastic against the crisp production that has aged incredibly well & really shows her versality as a performer and even despite the shift in tone, it never sounds anything less than the legendary Britney herself. This may not have had the same commercial impact that her previous lead singles had, but it was no less significant as still to this day stands as one of Britney's most iconic and brilliant that stands the test of time.

Near perfect top 10. Well done everyone! : D

 

Only change is make is taking out I’m A Slave 4 U and putting in Me Against The Music.

 

I'd have both in top10 and get rid of Womaniser

Only 10 😱

Britney's discography is just incredible!

I'm surprised (but impressed) 'Crazy' is still in the running!

I'm surprised (but impressed) 'Crazy' is still in the running!

 

This tbh!! It only ever gpt to no.5 and was seen as a bit of a flop at the time!!

Can you please retire that word already? :drama:

 

It really wasn't

It was!! It followed a yuge no.1