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Blackout is the fifth studio album by American recording artist Britney Spears, released on October 25, 2007, by Jive Records, four years following her previous studio album, In the Zone. Spears started writing songs for the album in November 2003, and began experimenting with a more acoustic sound. Following her marriage with Kevin Federline in 2004 and the birth of her first son the subsequent year, she began recording the album in 2006 with producers J. R. Rotem, Danja and Kara DioGuardi. She gave birth to her second son and filed for divorce in late 2006, after which she continued working with producers such as The Clutch and Bloodshy & Avant. In May 2007, she embarked on The M+M's Tour at House of Blues venues across the United States.

Recording sessions took place at various studios around the country, including Spears' home in Los Angeles. Some of the producers claimed to be impressed with her work ethic and professionalism, despite all her problems in her personal life. Spears wanted to make a fun, danceable album with uptempo, high-energy music. Blackout is mainly an electropop and dance album, which incorporates elements of several musical genres such as hip-hop, funk, Euro disco and dubstep. The themes of the album range from fame, sex, love and dancing. The cover sleeve and images were shot by Ellen von Unwerth. The centerfold pictures, which feature Spears and a priest in suggestive poses in a confessional, were condemned by the Catholic League.

Blackout was to be released on November 13, 2007, but was moved up to October 30 due to unauthorized leaks. Zomba Label Group sued Perez Hilton for posting at least ten leaks on his gossip blog; the parties reached a settlement in June 2009. Blackout received mostly positive reviews from music critics. Most called it her most progressive and consistent album yet, but others argued that its quality should have been attributed to the producers rather than Spears, and also criticized her vocals for being overly-processed. Blackout was set to debut at the top of the Billboard 200, but debuted at number two due to a last-minute rule change. The album topped the European Top 100 Albums and the Canadian and Irish charts, while peaking inside the top ten in another thirteen countries. By the end of 2008, Blackout had sold 3.1 million copies worldwide.

Three singles were released from the album. "Gimme More" reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a top-five hit in fourteen countries. "Piece of Me" reached the top-ten in twelve countries, including Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. Unlike her previous albums, Spears did not heavily promote Blackout. Her only performance to promote the album, "Gimme More" at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards, was universally panned by critics. In subsequent years, reviewers have viewed the album in a more favorable light. Blackout has appeared on reader polls by Billboard and Rolling Stone, while The Times named it as the fifth best pop album of the decade. In 2010, Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone called Blackout "the most influential album of the past five years."

Track Listing[]

Standard Version
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Gimme More"Marcella Araica • Nate Hills • Keri Hilson • James Washington4:11
2."Piece of Me"Christian Karlsson • Pontus Winnberg • Klas Åhlund3:32
3."Radar"Karlsson • Winnberg • Henrik Jonback • Ezekiel Lewis • Balewa Muhammad • Candice Nelson • J. Que3:49
4."Break the Ice"Araica • Hills • Hilson • Washington3:16
5."Heaven on Earth"Nick Huntington • Michael McGroarty • Nicole Morier4:52
6."Get Naked (I Got A Plan)"Araica • Hills • Washington • Corté Ellis • Nigel Talley4:45
7."Freakshow"Britney Spears • Jonback • Karlsson • Lewis • J. Que • Winnberg2:55
8."Toy Soldier"Karlsson • Winnberg • Sean "The Pen" Garrett • Magnus Wallbert3:21
9."Hot as Ice"Araica • Hills • Faheem Najm3:16
10."Ooh Ooh Baby"Spears • Eric Coomes • Kara DioGuardi • "Fredwreck" Farid Nasser3:28
11."Perfect Lover"Araica • Hills • Hilson • Washington3:02
12."Why Should I Be Sad"Pharrell Williams3:10
Total length:43:37
Digital Reissue
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."Get Back"Araica • Ellis • Hills3:50
14."Gimme More (Junkie XL Dub)"Araica • Hills • Hilson • Washington4:58
15."Everybody"Evan Kidd Bogart • Annie Lennox • Jonathan Rotem • Dave Stewart3:17
Total length:55:42
Target Exclusive
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."Outta This World"Araica • Hills • Hilson • Washington3:45
Total length:47:22
Japanese Bonus Tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
14."Everybody"Bogart • Lennox • Rotem • Stewart3:50
15."Get Back"Araica • Ellis • Hills4:58
16."Gimme More (Paul Oakenfold Remix)"Araica • Hills • Hilson • Washington3:17
Total length:60:35

Singles[]

"Gimme More", the album's lead single, charted at number three on the Billboard chart. It was written by Nate "Danja" Hills, James "Jim Beanz" Washington, Keri Hilson and Marcella Araica. The opening line "It's Britney, bitch" became very popular among the public. The song was Spears' fifth top ten hit and also her second highest-peaking single at the time.

"Piece of Me", the album's second single, received generally positive reviews, praising its production and defiant lyrics, while citing it as one of the highlights from Blackout. The song talks about Spears's troubles with the paparazzi and the scandals she has had in the past years.

"Break the Ice", the album's third and final single, had moderate success due to Spears being unable to promote it properly or film a music video. The song opens with a choir and features synthesizers with Keri Hilson on backing vocals.

"Radar", a song featured on the album, was originally supposed to be released as the album's fourth single. It was scrapped after Spears announced work on Circus. The song was featured as a bonus track on her next album and was released as its fourth and final single.

Scrapped Re-release[]

A re-release was supposed to be released sometime in 2008. Britney started recording material for it but the project developed into the album Circus that would be released that year instead. There's no official track-list but here's a list of songs and demos that could've been intended for it.

Unreleased & Unused songs[]

Underlined can be found on the internet.

  • "911" - Known alternatively as "Nine One One". Written by Kara DioGuardi and J.R Rotem.
  • "All That She Wants" - Written by Britney Spears, Jonas Berggren & Ulf Ekberg. Leaked in 2008.
  • "All The Way" - Written by Cathy Dennis, Jack Splash & Dr. Luke. Described as a “feel good, upbeat song”.
  • "Untitled Lullaby" - Known alternatively as "Untitled/Lullaby" and "Baby Boy".
  • "Boyfriend" - Later recorded by Asia Cruise for her shelved album "Who is Asia Cruise?"
  • "Catch Me If U Can" - Written by Danja, James Washington, Keri Hilson and Marcella Araica. In 2007, Britney was photographed holding a demo CD with this song on the tracklist.
  • "Crucify Me" - Featured on the Blackout Demo CD, but did not leak. Demo by Elan Luz Rivera leaked in 2018.
  • "Downtown" - Written by Kara DioGuardi and J.R Rotem. Published by Bug Music and Southside Independent Music Publishing LLC.
  • "Dramatic" - In March 2008, an unofficial duet version with Heidi Montag was sent to Ryan Seacrest, who premiered it on radio. The real, solo version leaked in 2010.
  • "Grow" - Written by Britney Spears, Lisa Greene and Steve Anderson. Published by Universal Polygram International Publishing Inc.
  • "Hide From The Sun" - Possibly confirmed by J.R. Rotem in a radio interview in 2007.
  • "Hooked On" - Also known as "Sugarfall", was later published by EMI Blackwood Music Inc and Songs for Beans.
  • "I've Been Loving You Too Long" - Otis Redding cover produced by Christopher "Notes" Olsen, leaked in 2019.
  • "Just Let Me Go" - Also known as "Love 2 Love U", samples Madonna's "La Isla Bonita", leaked on December 2, 2011.
  • "Kiss You All Over" - Leaked in 2007. Also registered as "Kiss Me All Over".
  • "Mad Love" Believed to be for Britney, but in 2022, was confirmed to be written for Blackout.
  • "Motherlove" - Confirmed on Keri Hilton's website in 2007.
  • "One Of A Kind" - Written by T-Pain, producers unknown.
  • "Pull Out" - Known alternatively as "When U Gon Pull It" and "Pull It", published by C Amore Music, Hitco Music, Lil Jizzel Music Publishing, Songs of Universal Inc and Team S Dot Publishing.
  • "Rebellion" - Written and produced by Britney Spears and Christopher "Notes" Olsen. Full version is confirmed to exist, but is yet to be released/leaked.
  • "Red Carpet" - Produced by Sean Garrett. Published by Bug Music and Southside Independent Music Publishing LLC.
  • "Red Hot Lipstick" - Produced by Doug Elkins, included on original finished fifth album from early-mid 2006. Leaked in 2018.
  • "See My Side" - Demo produced by Bloodshy & Avant, later given to and released by Jordin Sparks.
  • "State of Grace" - Recorded as "Entre Nous Et Le Sol" by Christophe Willem for his second album, Caféine (2009).
  • "Someone" - In October 2007, Britney herself revealed it was going to be a single but didn't make the cut.
  • "To Love Let Go" - Known alternatively as "Let Go".
  • "The Face" - Written and produced by Britney Spears, Kara DioGuardi & J.R. Rotem. Britney was photographed holding a demo CD with this song on it.
  • "Who Can She Trust" Written solely by Britney Spears. According to J.R. Rotem, she sings 'Where am I?/Where will I find my face?/Where will I find my faith?' over a snap music hip-hop beat accompanied by the sound of a camera shutter clicking.

Unconfirmed or rejected demos:[]

  • "Beautiful Night" - Written by Billy Crawford. Britney said she loved the song, but it is unknown if she recorded it.
  • "Better In Time" - Demo by Andrea Martin leaked. Later released by Leona Lewis.
  • "Chatter" - One of the tracks that Britney possibly recorded with producer Notes for Blackout.
  • "Cowboy" - Demo produced by Christopher "Notes" Olsen. Unknown if recorded.
  • "Good Girl Gone Bad" Demo produced by Stargate, later given to and released by Rihanna. Unknown if recorded.
  • "Happily Never After" - According to Ne-Yo, Spears chose this song and "Good Girl Gone Bad" but it's unknown if it was recorded. Later released by The Pussycat Dolls.
  • "Hit Me" - Demo produced by Christopher "Notes" Olsen. This could also be a title for his remix of "...Baby One More Time" used on The M+M's Tour.
  • "Hips n Lips" - Demo produced by Arnthor Birgisson which Spears possibly recorded with Christopher "Notes" Olsen. Leaked in 2021.
  • "Warning" - Produced by Danja. A demo by Sean Garrett leaked in 2010.
  • "Yes I Will" - Written by Sean Garrett, Henrik Jonback, Bloodshy & Avant. Demo by Sean Garrett leaked in 2021.

Commercials[]

Artwork/Booklets[]

Physical Versions[]

Designs[]

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