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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 US, and around the world.

Album history

Originally slated to be released on November 13, 2007, the release date was moved up to October 30 2007 due to numerous unauthorized online leaks of demos and illegal downloads of them in an attempt to combat song piracy, as well as the success of the lead single, according to the album's record label.

There was confusion as to the album's title prior to an official announcement. Spears's website ran a competition for fans to vote for the album's title, however none of those names were used. Several sources, including People Magazine claimed "Piece of Me" was the album's title as well as second single. The album was also put up for pre-sale on some online music merchant's sites under the "Piece of Me" title.

On October 5, 2007, a message was posted on Spears's 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."

Internet blogger Perez Hilton is being sued by Zomba Label Group for posting at least ten unfinished or complete tracks on his website.

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

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. However, Jive posted the commercial for the album, which was in rotation on television and 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.

Critical reception

The album has generally received 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". 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. 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." Popjustice also stated the album was "modern sounding, and brilliantly produced." 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".

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

However, there were also negative reviews. Newsday titled its review "Save your money" and called the album "terrible". 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." 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 was practically 'unplugged' compared to this."

Track listing

1. "Gimme More" (Nate Hills, James Washington, Keri Hilson, Marcella Araica) – 4:11
2. "Piece of Me" (Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg, Klas Åhlund) – 3:32
3. "Radar"(Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg, Henrik Jonback, Balewa Muhammad, Candice Nelson, Ezekiel "Zeke" Lewis, Patrick J. Que Smith) – 3:49
4. "Break the Ice" (Nate Hills, James Washington, Keri Hilson, Marcella Araica) – 3:16
5. "Heaven on Earth" (Michael McGroarty, Nick Huntington, Nicole Morier) – 4:52
6. "Get Naked (I Got a Plan)" (Corte Ellis, Nate Hills, Marcella Araica) – 4:45
7. "Freakshow" (Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg, Henrik Jonback, Ezekiel "Zeke" Lewis, Patrick "J.Que" Smith, Britney Spears) – 2:55
8. "Toy Soldier" (Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg, Magnus Wallbert, Sean Garrett) – 3:22
9. "Hot as Ice" (T-Pain, Nate Hills, Marcella Araica) – 3:17
10. "Ooh Ooh Baby" (Kara DioGuardi, Farid Nassar, Erick Coomes, Britney Spears) – 3:28
11. "Perfect Lover" (Nate Hills, James Washington, Keri Hilson, Marcella Araica) – 3:03
12. "Why Should I Be Sad" (Pharrell Williams) – 3:10

Bonus Tracks

• "Outta This World" (U.S. Target and Japan Bonus Track) 3:44

• "Everybody" (iTunes and Japan Bonus Track)† 3:18

• "Get Back" (iTunes and Japan Bonus Track) – 3:51

• "Gimme More" (Paul Oakenfold Remix) (Japan Bonus Track) – 6:08

• "Gimme More" (Junkie XL Dub) (iTunes International Bonus Track) – 4:59

• "Gimme More" (Stonebridge Dub Mix) (iTunes Switzerland & Italy Bonus Track) – 7:23

† based on a sample of Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)"

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 of 2007, "Gimme More" has been certified gold in the U.S.
• "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 single has risen to number twenty-one. It has also reached number one on the Irish Singles Chart, number two on the UK Singles Chart, and number six on the Canadian Hot 100 so far.
• Although the next single has not been announced officially, Millennium Dance Complex" owner stated that Spears is practicing a routine for the song "Hot as Ice". On the same day, X17online reported that Spears told photographers while leaving the studio that she she plans to shoot a new music video for the song "Hot as Ice" and that she wants it to be "Something new" and fresh.

Charts and certifications

Awards

2007

2008

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

Production

References

1. Reuters (2007-10-11). "Zomba Sues Blogger over Britney Leaks". Billboard.biz. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-01-12. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
2. Britney Spears. Britney Spears Blackout Spot (Flash Video). Jive Records. Retrieved 2008-01-12. {{cite AV media}}: Unknown parameter |date2= ignored (help)
3. Nick Levine (2007-10-29). "Album Review - Britney Spears: Blackout". Digital Spy. Digital Spy Limited. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
4. Alexis Petridis (2007-10-26). "Britney Spears, Blackout". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
5. Margeaux Watson (2007-10-23). "Music Review: Blackout". Entertainment Weekly. Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
6. "A Proper Verdict on the Britney Album". Popjustice. Popjustice Ltd. 2007-10-22. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
7. Melissa Maerz (2007-11-15). "Album Review: Blackout". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
8. Robert Christgau, David Fricke, Christian Hoard, Rob Sheffield (2007-12-17). "The Top 50 Albums of 2007". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2008-01-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
9. Glenn Gamboa (2007-10-25). "Britney Spears' New CD? Save Your Money". Newsday. Newsday Inc. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
10. Kerri Mason (2007-10-29). "Blackout". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
11. Reuters (2007-10-24). "Britney 'like a singing blow up doll'". NineMSN.com. Ninemsn Pty Ltd. Retrieved 2008-01-12. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help) "Britney 'like a singing blow up doll'". NineMSN. Retrieved October 24, 2007.]
12. ^ "Britney Spears - Blackout". CDJapan.co.jp. Neowing. 2007-11-14. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
13. Silvio Pietroluongo (2007-10-03). "'More' Scores for Britney on Digital, Hot 100 Charts". Billboard.biz. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
14. 'Upbeat' Britney Spears Hits the Dance Studio Retrieved January 23, 2008
15. Britney's Latest Pal -- A Chair? Retrieved on January 21, 2008
16. X17 XCLUSIVE - BRITNEY WANTS "SOMETHING NEW" FOR HER NEXT VIDEO! Retrieved January 21, 2008
17. Editors from capif.org.ar "Ranking Venta Mayorista de Discos". CAPIF. Retrieved November 5. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
18. ^ Editors from ARIA charts. "ARIA albums charts". ARIA. November 4, 2007. Retrieved November 4. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
19. ^ Brandle, Lars (November 8, 2007). "Britney Spearheads Hot Euro Chart Return". Billboard magazine. Retrieved November 8. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
20. Editors from skynet.be "Ultra Top 50". skynet.be. November 10, 2007. Retrieved November 10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
21. "Top 30 CDs Sales". Hot100Brasil. 3 November 2007 - 9 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
22. Editors from allmusic.com "Britney Spears: Billboard Albums". All Music Guide. Retrieved November. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
23. Editors from cria.ca CRIA Canadian Recording Industry Association Retrieved on December, 2007.
24. Editors from ifpicr.cz "IFPI Czech Republic". ifpicr.cz. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
25. ^ Editors from acharts.us "Album performance". acharts.us. November 7, 2007. Retrieved November. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
26. ^ Editors from ifpi.gr "IFPI Greece". ifpi.gr. Retrieved November. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
27. ^ Editors from Oricon "Japanese charts". Oricon. Retrieved November. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
28. ^ Editors from AMPROFON "Mexican charts" (PDF). AMPROFON. Retrieved November. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
29. Editors from promusicae.org "Spanish charts" (PDF). PROMUSICAE. Retrieved November. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
30. Editors from bpi.co.uk BPI British Phonographic Industry Retrieved on Fri, November 23, 2007.
31. Hasty, Katie (November 7, 2007). "Eagles Fly Past Britney To Debut at No. 1". Billboard magazine. Retrieved November 7. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
32. Subscription required. Nielsen SoundScan
33. Editors from MediaTraffic.de United World Chart. Week 4, 2008.
34. "2007: The Year in Music - Readers' Choice". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-17. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
35. Face to Face Britney vs. Kanye West at the Virgin Media Music Awards Virginmedia.com
36. Editors from NRJ Awards. Britney Spears' Blackout Best International Album Retrieved on December, 2007.
37. Apelzin Awards Winners

External links

• Official Website/Under Construction
• Jive Official Website/Blackout Magazine
• Official UK Site

• Pages with empty short description
• 2007 albums
• Albums with alternate track listings
• Britney Spears albums
• Jive Records albums