You want more? Well, she’ll give you moar.
The princess of pop (no, that’s not up for debate) has given us some of the best bangers of the 21st century– you can listen to them here – but unless your a devoted follower of the Holy Spearit, you might have missed the plethora of excellent deep cuts buried away on her nine studio albums.
As her Piece Of Me tour makes it’s way to the UK (including a sure-to-be-historic performance at Brighton Pride on 4 August), we’re taking a look back at some of her most underrated album tracks, from Lonely to Toy Soldier to Just Like Me.
It wasn’t easy, but we’ve managed to narrow it down to just 15 of the best. Enjoy!
Don’t Go Knockin’ On My Door
While Britney may have still been in her sugary-sweet girl-next-door phase on second album Oops!… I Did It Again, album track Don’t Go Knockin’ On My Door saw the singer take on what we’d refer to in 2018 as a ‘fuckboy’ with all the ferocity of the world-dominating artist she was soon to become. Much like hit single Stronger, it also provided a gateway to the more industrial, Michael Jackson-style sound that would orchestrate her third studio album, Britney.
Where Are You Now
If you’re a fan of classic Britney ballads and early 00s cheese, this one’s for you. Unlike Don’t Go Knockin’ On My Door, Where Are You Now showcased a more tender, soulful side of the then-teen pop star. The Whitney-esque track is also an excellent showcase for her vocal prowess, for all you doubters out there – yes, we’re talking about that run at 3:12. Heavenly.
Lonely
Those MJ-inspired tracks we talked about? This one’s peak that. Think of Remember The Time meets In The Closet, and you’re on the right track. As she growls and hiccups across Darkchild production just like the King of Pop used to, you’ll wonder why this one didn’t get the single treatment.
What It’s Like To Be Me
It may have been a lifetime ago (and we know he did her wrong), but we can’t help but feel nostalgic for those Britney/Justin days when we listen to What It’s Like To Be Me, a sass-laden album closer featuring writing credits, production and backing vocals from JT himself.
Breathe On Me
In The Zone saw Britney at her most sensual, and that vibe peaked with Breathe On Me, a sultry ode to monogamy and the power of breathy foreplay. Rumour has it, Brit loved the track so much she wanted to make it a single, but it unfortunately never came to fruition. She has, however, made the song a staple of her Piece Of Me tour, so silver linings and all that.
Touch Of My Hand
Before Hailee Steinfeld vowed to love herself and Demi Lovato played solo, there was Britney’s Touch Of My Hand, which brought a whole new meaning to self-care. Although she played coy when asked about the track’s meaning during an interview at the time, we know exactly what Miss Spears is talking about, and we are here for it.
Get Naked (I Got A Plan)
Asking us to choose a top deep cut from Blackout is like asking us what our favourite season of RuPaul’s Drag Race is – they’re all so damn good, it’s impossible. So instead we’ve got three for you. The first is Get Naked (I Got A Plan), a stripper anthem we’d expected to hear in a dingy sex club in Berlin. And yes, we mean that in the best possible way.
Toy Soldier
On Toy Soldier, Britney puts out a Craigslist ad for the one thing we all want: a “bad-ass soldier” who knows how to take care of us. Production from Bloodshy & Avant (the duo responsible for Piece Of Me) completes the track, which features one of the best uses of a military drum roll since Destiny’s Child made us all lose our breath.
Ooh Ooh Baby
Our final deep cut from Blackout is Ooh Ooh Baby, although it was a close call between this and Hot As Ice. It’s got one of the most infectious beats on the album, and it’s perfect for strutting down the (imaginary) runway in your new Pride outfit or slinking around the bedroom in your sexiest underwear.
Unusual You
While 2008’s Circus largely marked a return to clean-cut, chart-topping pop music for Britney, the album still had its artney moments with Mannequin and Blur, but it’s the lush vocals and pulsating beats of ethereal ballad Unusual You that really holds its own against the clubby highs of Womanizer and If U Seek Amy.
Shattered Glass
Before there was Hold It Against Me, there was Shattered Glass. Referred to by many fans as a ‘prequel’ to the number one single, mostly due to its dark electronic beats and classic Spears confidence, the track sees Britney warn a cheating lover that he’ll never forget her while she goes off to live her best life without him.
Inside Out
Sitting alongside all the relentless club bangers that Femme Fatale blessed us with was this stunning mid-tempo, written and produced with the help of hit-makers Max Martin and Bonnie McKee. With hints of dubstep and some brazenly forthright lyrics, it’s sexney at her best.
Alien
While her second self-titled album, Britney Jean, may not have received the critical or commercial success that she’s accustomed to, there were a few standout tracks that are worth adding to your playlists. Aside from the obvious Work Bitch (a true gay anthem), there was Alien, a slice of melancholic William Orbit-produced magic about the loneliness of being a global icon. Just ignore that infamous vocal glitch and you’re good to go.
Just Like Me
This heartbreaking guitar-driven track tells the (fictional) story of Britney walking in on her man cheating with a look-a-like. It’s a brilliant concept, and even better when you know it comes from the mind of Brit herself, as co-writer Justin Tranter recently explained that it was just one of the “really cool fucked-up ideas” she had while they wrote together in the studio.
Change Your Mind (No Seas Cortes)
The ultimate should’ve-been-a-single. While we keep praying for a music video (we know, it’s not going to happen…) we’ll have to find solace in knowing we’ll get to see this Latin-influenced banger performed on stage with some sickening choreography during her Piece Of Me tour later this year.
If we’ve managed to work up your appetite for Britney’s underrated gems, check out a playlist of all the songs featured below.
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