TEN YEARS OF BLACKOUT - A LOOK BACK AT A POP MASTERPIECE

It was 2007 and anyone with a tv was well aware of Britney’s troubles that year—the shaved head, the alleged drug use, the rehab, the divorce, the custody battle. Countless internet outlets every day provided daily accounts of famous women behaving badly which have always been easy targets for our fascination. Yes, 2007 was the Paris DUi, the Lindsay rehab, Anna Nicole’s descent into oblivion and of course the spectacular crucifixion of Britney Spears. Amy Winehouse also fell from grace that year, amid drug troubles and mayhem. She was supposed to rise back up, Britney was not. She was supposed to be another Hollywood casualty.

Then came “Blackout”….

On October 25, 2007 Britney released Blackout, her fifth studio album. With no support from media outlets, her miss mash management, and most notably her record company ( who chose to funnel finances into her ex- boyfriends album promotion instead of hers), she had an uphill battle on her hands. What people didn’t know was how good the album was.  Blackout changed the pop landscape, gone were the pop structured Max Martin gems, in its place a stark, metallic, electro futuristic masterpiece that would be hard to replicate. Ten years on, the album is still one of the best pop albums ever made and is highly regarded as the blueprint for modern pop music. Blackouts influence is apparent on many of the music that came after its release. Without "Blackout" there would be no "The Fame". It changed the game for pop. The album was rumored to be called "Black" or "Black Curtain" or even "Piece of Me" as confirmed also by Jive Records, but the project that would ultimately be called "Blackout”. It was the album Madonna wishes she made. Beyonce would never be able to carry it off...

Songs from Blackout, especially “Gimme More” and “Piece of Me,” were everywhere in 2007. "Toy Soldier," "Get Back" and "Hot As Ice" were all rumored to be the Blackout lead single, but Britney chose Gimme More. They are also many versions ( some unreleased ) of the video, which included more nudity, a funeral scene, and a sexy Britney playing with a cat on a bed. “Gimme More” and “Piece of Me were the soundtrack to many a gay dance floor all over the globe. “It’s Britney, bitch!” became one of the most famous lines in music history. Some critics praised the album for its bold and innovative sound, others panned the album saying it was a mishap of sound that bordered on boring electronica. Pitchfork gave it good rating which is crazy considering how limited their musical scope is . The Times named it as the fifth best pop album of the decade.Blackout was originally scheduled to be released on November 13 in the United States, though it was ultimately rush-released after several unauthorized internet leaks, all of which Perez Hilton took to posting on his site for the world to hear. It was meant to fail .

Oh how wrong they were…

Britney is the credit as an executive producer on Blackout. Britney’s was in complete control of the sound and the album's execution. Her only time til the “Glory” album in 2016. Producers Nate “Danja” Hills, Jim Beanz, Sean garrett & Swedish duo Bloodshy & Avant were responsible for the album’s futuristic production, Pharrell for the smooth grooves. After her failed attempt at complete control in the form of the “Original Doll” sessions ( with some amazing tracks like Mona Lisa, Guilty - which samples Prince’s Kiss- and Love 2 Love U). Many felt that she would be better off giving the control to others. But Britney had this under control ( if that was the only thing she had control in her life at the time). Writing credits from Keri Hilson, Pharrell, Danja and Kara DioGuardi to name a few, ensured that the top writers would be heavily supported with impeccable production and THAT voice.

The booklet shot by Ellen Von Unworthy is the topic of much debate. Many fans hated the cover. The model Caultor John, who plays a priest in some shots of the album's booklet, said in an interview that there were pictures of him and Britney shot during the photo shoot that were more extreme than the two proposed in the booklet. When he was asked about the photos, he said: "There was definitely chemistry between me and Britney on the set and those pictures were pretty good, because there were even some kisses". Many fan versions of the album cover were made... Most much better than the end result...

Blackout appeared on Rolling Stone's decade-end poll, where it was voted the 7th best album of the decade by their readers.The Guardian writers' list of favorite albums ever also listed Blackout as favorite. The Times named it the fifth best pop album of the decade. Online its been called “the gay mans Sgt Peppers” and The Observer stated that Spears "delivered the best album of her career, raising the bar for modern pop music”... No other album that decade had been so talked about and discussed as Blackout.

BREAKING IT DOWN