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Circus (Britney Spears album)

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Untitled

Circus is the sixth studio album from American pop singer Britney Spears. The album was announced by Jive Records on September 15, 2008,[2] and is set for release in the United States on December 2, 2008,[2] which is Spears's 27th birthday. In the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia it will be released prior to that date.[3]

The first single, "Womanizer", became Spears's first number one single on the Billboard Hot 100 since her debut "...Baby One More Time", almost 10 years prior.[4][5] The second single will be the title track "Circus", it was announced the same day as the track listing on October 31, 2008.[6]

The album leaked in its entirety to the internet on November 17, 2008.

Background

It was confirmed in May 2008 that Spears was "in the experimental stages of a new album."[7] Spears's manager, Larry Rudolph, announced in a July 2008 press release that Spears would be "spending her summer in the studio, working on a brand new album [...] with a team of top-notch producers and songwriters, and we're very excited about what she's accomplished so far."[8] In an August 2008 interview with OK! magazine, Spears said that the album is "more urban. I'm working with producers who are just amazing [...] There is this fresh new energy."[9] "I'm writing every day, right here at the piano in this living room... This is my best work ever."[10]

Shannon Holtzapffel, a dancer in the leaked video of Spears dancing to "Mannequin", told The Daily Telegraph, "When we were finished rehearsing, they'd take the CD and put it in a safe. I've never experienced anything like it before."[11]

Rolling Stone's fall music preview stated that Spears "has recorded some 30 tracks for her sixth studio album." Spears continued, "I came into the studio because I had some free time, but once I started working, I was like, 'This is cool!' It just happened."[12]

In the United Kingdom, the album will be in direct competition with the new Take That album, titled The Circus, released on the same day.[13] Take That's manager claimed the album's title choice was a coincidence, and that the band had worked "months in advance " and would not be changing the title.[14]

Production

Danja and Bloodshy & Avant, who produced several tracks from Blackout, both announced independently that they were recording with Spears again.[15] Vocal producer Jim Beanz told Us Weekly that he had also been in the studio with Spears.[16] He said of Spears: "Everyone has personal stuff, but a true professional doesn’t bring it into the studio."[17]

In her interview with OK! magazine, Spears revealed that she was working with Harvey Mason of The Underdogs.[18] Spears commented, "I wanted to experiment with producers I haven't worked with much before, like the Underdogs, who have a Timbaland kind of sound".[12] According to the Los Angeles Times, Guy Sigsworth - who previously produced the singles "Everytime" and "Someday (I Will Understand)" - spent time in the studio with Spears.[19] Max Martin, who wrote Spears's first hit, "...Baby One More Time", has produced his "best work ever".[20] Dr. Luke (who actually often collaborates with Martin) has produced songs for the album, including the title track,[21] with up-and-comer Benny Blanco.[22] Nicole Morier, who co-wrote Blackout's "Heaven on Earth", wrote several songs with Britney in spring 2008; "Mmm Papi" and the European & Deluxe Edition bonus track "Rock Me In" came out of these sessions. Another notable collaborator is The Outsyders, an Atlanta-based production team, who produced the album's first single.[21]

Junkie XL,[23] Lil Jon,[24] Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins,[25] Sean Garrett,[7] Taio Cruz,[26] and JR Rotem worked on songs for Spears that did not make Circus.

Critical reception

The Sun newspaper in the U.K. had an exclusive preview of the album and were the first ones to post the world's first reviews of Circus.[27] Of the track, "If U Seek Amy", "It’s a great track. A stomping robo pop number with clattering kettle drums and Brit being quite frank about the opinion she holds of herself". "Kill the Lights" was described as "a brilliant disco banger". The reviewer expressed the opinion that the album had similarities to Madonna's Hard Candy.[28]

According to Nick Levine of Digital Spy, it has many similarities to her last studio album, although she sounds more confident and there is less reliance on the vocoder. "Out From Under" was described as "a teary eyed ballad...that's really quite lovely".[29]

Promotion

In order to promote the album Jive Records set up a hotline where fans could leave a message for Spears, with some of the callers receiving a return phone call from Spears.[30] Some tracks off the album were previewed via the website of the New York radio station WKTU and Amazon.com.[31]

MTV will be airing a 90-minute documentary tentatively titled For the Record, on November 30, 2008. The show is about her return to the pop music spotlight.[32] Spears's official website will be releasing a series of posters to promote "Circus."[33]

Live performances

Spears's live comeback began on November 6, 2008 with a cameo appearance at the Dodger Stadium show of Madonna's Sticky & Sweet Tour.[34] Midway through "Human Nature", Spears joined Madonna on stage.[35]

MTV UK, MSNBC and Simon Cowell himself have reported that Spears will perform at the British reality television contest The X Factor.[36][37] This will mark her first return to the United Kingdom since her Onyx Hotel Tour. Spears will be performing "Womanizer" on the show.[38]

According to her official website[39], Spears will be performing on France's top-rated Star Academy, the Gallic version of The X Factor on Friday, November 28. One day later, she will perform on Britain's The X Factor on November 29, which will complete her mini European promo tour (the date for this perfomance is rumored, although the performance itself has been confirmed by her official site). Britney will be spending Thanksgiving in Europe. [40]

On the October 6, 2008 episode of Good Morning America, host Robin Roberts stated that Spears would be performing "Womanizer" on the show in December.[41] Spears will be celebrating her 27th birthday on the show along with the performance in Bryant Park.[42]

It was reported by Daily Mirror on September 13, 2008 that Spears will be performing at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas on New Years Eve to promote her new album, in what would be "one of the biggest comebacks in history".[43]

2009 World Tour

Shortly after the New York radio station Z100 played her new song, "Womanizer", Spears made a surprise appearance on the show and announced she would be going on a worldwide tour in spring of 2009 to support the album, and that rehearsals would begin in January for a March start.[44] Spears signed a deal with live entertainment company AEG to produce the tour.[45][46] Wade Robson will be directing the tour and choreographing a third of it.[47]

According to UK newspaper The Sun, Spears will be performing a 2 week stint in London at The O2 arena in June, 2009.[48]

Track listing

Standard Edition[49] [50]
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Womanizer"K. Briscoe, The Outsyders3:43
2."Circus" Benny Blanco, Dr. Luke3:12
3."Out from Under"Guy Sigsworth3:54
4."Kill the Lights"Danja, Jim Beanz3:59
5."Shattered Glass" Benny Blanco, Dr. Luke, Claude Kelly2:53
6."If U Seek Amy" Max Martin3:37
7."Unusual You"Bloodshy & Avant4:23
8."Blur"Danja3:09
9."Mmm Papi" Let's Go To War and Nicole Morier3:22
10."Mannequin" Rob Knox, Harvey Mason, Jr.4:06
11."Lace and Leather" Benny Blanco, Dr. Luke, Claude Kelly2:48
12."My Baby"Guy Sigsworth3:20
13."Radar" Bloodshy & Avant, The Clutch3:49
Bonus Tracks
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
14."Rock Me In[51]" (European and Deluxe Edition Bonus Track)Greg Kurstin, Nicole Morier3:17
15."Phonography" (European and Deluxe Edition Bonus Track)Bloodshy & Avant, The Clutch3:35
16."Quicksand[52]" (European iTunes Deluxe Bonus Track)Fernando Garibay, Lady GaGa 
17."Amnesia[53][54]" (Japanese & UK Bonus Track)Fernando Garibay3:57
18."Trouble[55]" (iTunes Pre-order Bonus Track) Bloodshy & Avant, The Clutch 

Deluxe Edition

According to Amazon.com and the promo packet released by Jive Records, a two-disc Deluxe Edition of Circus will be released on December 2, 2008.[56][57] The Deluxe Edition will contain a DVD and will be released on November 29, 2008 in Australia[58],December 1, 2008 in the UK [59] [60] and on November 28, 2008 in the European Union.[61] The Deluxe Edition also includes a special collector's two sided poster.[62] It will feature the bonus tracks "Rock Me In" and "Phonography".[63]

Deluxe Edition DVD contents[64] :

  1. The making of Circus 9:33
  2. "Womanizer" music video 3:45
  3. Photo Gallery 2:00

Singles

"Womanizer"

Main article: Womanizer (song)

On September 15, Jive released a statement announcing the title of her sixth studio album, Circus as well as the first single, "Womanizer". The single was released to radio stations on September 26, and the release date for the album is December 2, Spears's 27th birthday.[65] On October 15, the song made a record-breaking jump to number one on the Billboard Hot 100, breaking the record set by T.I.'s Live Your Life. It also garnered first-week download sales of 286,000, the biggest opening-week tally by a female artist since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking digital downloads in 2003. It marked Spears's first number one single on the Hot 100 since her debut, "...Baby One More Time".[66]

"Circus"

Main article: Circus (song)

On October 31, 2008, it was announced on Spears's official website that "Circus" would be released as the album's second single. It has been announced that single will be released in late November or early December to follow the album's release and to commemorate Spears's birthday.[67]

Release history

Country Date
European Union[68] November 28, 2008
New Zealand
Indonesia
South Africa
Australia[69] November 29, 2008
Rest of Europe November 30, 2008
United Kingdom December 1, 2008
North America December 2, 2008
Taiwan
Hong Kong
South Korea
Latin America December 3, 2008
Philippines
Japan

References

  1. ^ http://www.sonybmg.de/artists2.php?iA=7&artist=176644&product=88697407762
  2. ^ a b "Britney Spears Announces New Album 'Circus' for Worldwide Release December 2nd". Yahoo!. September 15, 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  3. ^ "Britney Spears "Circus" releases early". CDON.com. 2008-10-23. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
  4. ^ "It's Official!!!". Britney.com. 2008-09-15. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
  5. ^ Confirmed: "Womanizer" Single Release Pushed Back
  6. ^ Circus becomes 2nd single
  7. ^ a b Marisa Laudadio (2008-05-21). "Producer: Britney is 'really shaping up'". People.com. Time Inc. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
  8. ^ Natasha Stoynoff and Bryan Alexander (2008-07-16). "Britney Spears working and 'having fun' on new album". People. Time Inc. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
  9. ^ Gil Kaufman (2008-08-13). "Britney Spears says new album is her 'best work ever,' describes shock of Jamie Lynn's pregnancy". MTV News. MTV. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
  10. ^ "World exclusive: Britney reveals all!". OK!. Northern and Shell. 2008-08-12. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
  11. ^ Jonathon Moran (2008-09-14). "How he danced with Britney Spears". The Daily Telegraph. News Corporation. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  12. ^ a b "The Killers, AC/DC, Britney Spears, 50 Cent, Bob Dylan: 50 of the Season's Biggest Records". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. 2008-09-20. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
  13. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7669987.stm
  14. ^ http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/music/music-news/2008/10/14/exclusive-take-that-hit-back-at-britney-spears-in-album-row-86908-20801677/
  15. ^ Jonathan Cohen (2008-07-16). "Britney Spears spending summer in studio". Billboard.com. Nielsen Company. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
  16. ^ "Britney Spears recording new album". Us Weekly. Wenner Media. 2008-06-20. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
  17. ^ "Britney Spears prepping 'Blackout' follow up". Access Hollywood. NBC Universal. 2008-06-20. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
  18. ^ Lorena Blas (2008-08-13). "Now Britney's all about being a mom, making an album". USA Today. Gannett Company. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
  19. ^ Richard Cromelin (2008-06-05). "Korn's Davis ready to stretch with Britney's old producer?". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
  20. ^ "Max Martin Works on Best Song Ever for Britney". Homo Xtra. 2008-09-27. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
  21. ^ a b Jennifer Vineyard (2008-09-15). "Britney Spears's new album slated for December 2". MTV News. MTV. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  22. ^ "Britney Spears's 'Circus' in stores December 2nd". Yahoo! Biz. Yahoo!. 2008-10-31. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  23. ^ "Junkie XL's tracks did not make it onto Britney's 'Circus' album". Oh No They Didn't!. LiveJournal. 2008-09-19. Retrieved 2008-09-20.
  24. ^ Carlos Greer (2008-10-03). "Lil Jon says Britney's album 'will be big'". People. Time Inc. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
  25. ^ "Spears wants child-friendly home". BBC News. BBC. 2008-07-01. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
  26. ^ "Taio Cruz believes Britney Spears will have successful comeback". Thaindian News. 2008-10-18. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
  27. ^ "The Sun gets world's first review of Circus". BritneySpears.com. 2008-11-07. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
  28. ^ "Britney releases her most shocking work ever". BritneySpears.com. 2008-11-07. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
  29. ^ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a135219/notes-on-the-new-britney-album.html
  30. ^ http://www.britney.com/mobile
  31. ^ Vena, Jocelyn (2008-12-13). "Britney Spears Gives Fans A Taste Of Circus With Online Preview". MTV. Retrieved 2008-11-14.
  32. ^ http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1596736/20081009/spears_britney.jhtml
  33. ^ http://www.britneyspears.com/2008/10/the-circus-promotional-poster.php
  34. ^ Keith Caulfield (2008-11-07). "Britney, Justin join Madonna in Los Angeles". Billboard. Nielsen Company. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
  35. ^ "Britney joins Madonna on US stage =[[BBC]]". 2008-11-07. Retrieved 2008-11-07. {{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  36. ^ Powell, Erica (2008-09-18). "Britney Spears To Perform On X Factor!". MTV UK. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
  37. ^ "Britney to appear on Simon's 'X-Factor'". MSNBC. 2008-09-18. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
  38. ^ Tetteh, Sarah (2008-10-22). "Britney Spears exclusive pictures: Singer prepares raunchy routine for X Factor". Mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
  39. ^ www.britneyspears.com
  40. ^ http://x17online.com/celebrities/britney_spears/britney_to_appear_on_frances_version_of_american_idol-11082008.php
  41. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on4Qs6M9790
  42. ^ http://www.newkerala.com/mn/a-1573.htm
  43. ^ Griffin, Zoe (2008-09-13). "Troubled Britney Spears plans comeback gig in Las Vegas on New Year's Eve". http://www.mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-10-01. {{cite news}}: External link in |work= (help)
  44. ^ SFGate.com Britney Planning World Tour For 2009 Accessed October 2, 2008
  45. ^ Eonline.com [1]
  46. ^ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003873746
  47. ^ http://www.britneyspears.com/2008/11/wade-robson-is-directing-britneys-upcoming-tour.php
  48. ^ http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/article1880312.ece
  49. ^ [2]
  50. ^ http://www.sonybmg.de/artists2.php?iA=7&artist=176644&product=88697407762
  51. ^ European Bonus tracks
  52. ^ "iTunes bonus". BreatheHeavy.com. 2008-11-16. Retrieved 2008-11-17.
  53. ^ Japanese Bonus Track
  54. ^ http://img.tesco.com/pi/entertainment/CD/LB/883359_CD_L_B.jpg
  55. ^ "BONUS Britney Track". Britney.com. 2008-11-06. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
  56. ^ ""Circus" Deluxe Edition on Amazon.com". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
  57. ^ "Circus Promo Packet". Britney Spears official site.
  58. ^ Sanity.com.au Deluxe release
  59. ^ http://www.bigwentertainment.com.au/product/circus_2375732_8571.html
  60. ^ http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=280;-1;-1;-1;-1&sku=900467
  61. ^ "Circus - Deluxe Version (CD+DVD)". CDON.com. 2008-11-06. Retrieved 2008-11-08. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |firsrt= (help)
  62. ^ http://www.amazon.com/Circus-Deluxe-Britney-Spears/dp/B001HMHMBU
  63. ^ http://www.amazon.com/Circus-Britney-Spears/dp/B001HMHMBU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1226291556&sr=1-2#moreAboutThisProduct
  64. ^ http://www.sonybmg.de/artists2.php?iA=7&artist=176644&product=88697407762
  65. ^ Britney Spears Announces New Album 'Circus' for Worldwide Release December 2, Yahoo! Finance, September 15, 2008. Accessed September 16, 2008.
  66. ^ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003874105
  67. ^ Britney Spears's 'Circus': Cover art revealed!
  68. ^ "Britney Spears "Circus" Swedish Album Release". CDON.com. 2008-10-23. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
  69. ^ Sanity.com.au "Circus" (Deluxe edition) Australia release date. Retrieved on November 10, 2008


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