Britney Spears' '3': Odd lyrics, but a production seduction

The latest addition to the Britney Spears empire was unveiled this morning: a new cut in "3" that hit on all the hallmarks that have made the Britney brand strong for much of the last decade. Swedish producer Max Martin was behind the boards, the man who helped Britney craft such synthy-dance hits as "...Baby One More Time" and, more recently, "If U Seek Amy."

And the message? The song stays close to the Spears playbook of sex and more sex, deflecting all attention away from her  myriad controversies to put the focus squarely on the come-on. "Living in sin is the new thing," Spears coos in the lyrics, but the topic is old news for her.

The song is slick, but it's cold, and therefore in line with Spears' recent trek around the globe. Her Circus comeback tour was an elaborate stage get-up, one to prove that the franchise is alive and well, if alive and well is judged solely by dollar signs. Gymnasts, magicians and clowns put on a massively designed three-ring show, all while Spears shredded one glitter-soaked midriff-exposing outfit for another.

Yet there was little attachment to the song, zero interaction with the audience, and skin stood in for emotion -- or even talent. Like "Blackout" and "Circus," "3" is a study in production; give Spears' team credit for  elevating the song above typical dance products.

Her vocals stick close to snyths, and as the song builds, it becomes near impossible to tell the two apart. In a gambit that's worked for Spears before, she sounds sweetly generic. "What we do is innocent / Just for fun," she sings, even if she means anything but in what is a rather angelic-sounding bridge.

It's the emotionless striptease as pop song, complete with studio-perfected sexual moans, that may or may not stand in for an R-rated word, and a clever digital down-tune into an eager, count-along chorus. The cut's biggest oddity is the lyrics that reference folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, as if they were some sort of acoustic ménage à trois.

But ultimately, it's less a single than a distraction, a perfectly capable club song that stands as a marketing device, one designed to help sell Spears' upcoming hits set, "The Singles Collection" (Nov. 24). It's been only five years and two albums since Jive last released a Spears hits package, and "3" exists solely as a way to resell material fans probably already own, comfortably standing alongside her recent hits.

-- Todd Martens

Photo: Elena Blednykh / Getty Images

Comments

[Seth]

ewwww. That photo is pretty gross. :(

[Jordan Miller]

I agree

[Jon K.]

This generation's list of super-stars are such a bunch of shallow, narcissistic, borderline talents who excel purely upon their looks, video choregraphy, and advanced production technology.

Everything is flavor of the minute.

I miss artists who were actually good songwriters and musicians who had enough self-awareness to write lyrics of intelligence and introspection as opposed to "Let's Party!" told a hundred different ways.

"Artists" (and I use that term very loosely) who constantly sing about partying and sex when there is so much suffering going on during the worst economic crisis in 70 years are self-absorbed idiots. Period.

[A spears Fan...]

Its a gift to the fans, weather the song is used for marketing. You guys seriously need to focus on your own lives instead of finding something to pick apart for Ms. Britney Spears. At least she has done way more than you can say for yourselfs. !

[kooo]

I think she is HOT in the photo. Let's party!

[Ruben]

The song is amazing!!! Very clever and catchy with the hidden sexual edge that when you hear you might not get until you read the lyrics. Britney is definitely back and shows no signs of slowing down.

[Greg]

GROSS LYRICS BRIT!

I usually love her work I mean it catchy but ew.

Max martin: Moms should not be singing this song what will her kids think in the future???

LOve the Beat...Hate they lyrics!!

[Literate]

To "A spears fan...": Your response is painful to read! The word is "whether", not "weather" (although to make this a sentence I would suggest using "whether or not"). The plural of yourself is yourselves, not yourselfs. I am not sure you mean "for" Britney Spears; perhaps you mean "in regard to"? And you only need to use a period or an exclamation market, not both. Now what was it you were saying?

[j m]

Liberals believe that nothing is perverted.
These lyrics are perfectly fine.

[chantal]

In this life all that matters is beign beautiful n sexually attractive n that's what celebreties are now in days if ur ugly or not attractive then of course your going to hate on celebreties

[Brits bits]

ENOUGH .... Britney spears is an ENTERTAINER she never claims to be a goody goody she has sold more albums and concerts this year then a lot of ppl would do in a lifetime .... if she is so BAD then why does everybody love her? EXACTLY .. HATERS ...

[Imran Anwar]

Well, at least she's not in the news for endangering her kids or her own life with bad decisions and risky behavior. Good to see people like her recover and start a turnaround.

Imran

[MIke]

She had it all and then just threw it away. Personally I think she's down for good and I don't see any comeback whatsoever.

Give it up Brit. I'm sure you still have some money. Go away and enjoy it.

[Tania]

You're talking about her aren't you......job well done!!

[Ronnie]

This article just disrespects Britney, who I believe has given Rollingstone ome of there biggest magazine covers. Guess us Britney fans @ breatheheavy start the boycott of Rollingstone. I went to 3 circus concerts and I thought she was very involved with the audience, we love Britney, and you obviously just wanted to say bad things, so get a life. Please.

[Anthony]

Well she's absolutely stunning and glamorous, and in truth I'm kinda tired about how people keep saying that the celebrities and everything are shallow. If you want shallow take a good look at your child which is your pride and joy. Everyone is shallow in some way, but once again it's solely blamed on Spears and other famous celebrities. Sorry if this generation is different then the one you grew up in but get over it. Britney needs to keep doing what she does best and that's obviously singing and coming up with hit after hit :)

[A confused and fed up reader]

Under this review I see a list of links, and one of them is labeled "Snap Judgment." I had to concur. After reading this blog, I thought the exact same thing.

I wonder why it is that, when it's of convenience to us, we single one individual out of thousands to ridicule and pick apart as though we have the right to? You speak of sex, meaningless music, and the almighty dollar when it comes to Britney Spears' career. Really? Where have you been the past 50+ decades? You act like she's the only one when, in reality, she's merely one of thousands of mainstream artists who may do anything to get their millions of dollars. Of course these people love music (most of them, anyway), but they would rather have financial security than be singing for dimes on the street.

As for Ms. Spears, she's doing what she's always done: lip synced, danced, put on a great show, and ultimately entertained her audience. I believe, if you asked any true fan who has bought a ticket to her performance, they would all say it was well worth it.

A music career is a CAREER, that's all. It's business and not required to be personal, just as it's your business to write a scathing article about someone you probably couldn't care less about. It's how YOU get paid, isn't it?

I'm sure, as you sat at your keyboard, patting yourself on the back for your "clever" and "witty" smut blog, you failed to realize this.

Frankly, I'm more disappointed in people like you than I am musical artists who tend to mind their own business.

I can thank you for one thing, however: for reminding me why I dropped my double major in journalism in college.

[stellagranos]

Living in sin?
What year is this - 1956?

[Journeyblogs]

The song is cold, but that doesn't make it any less artistic. Whether you think the song shows today's society in good or bad light is up to you, but nonetheless it's an artistic representation of this generation. It's a great song in my opinion.

[Britney Spears - 3 lyrics]

This is very good song, I like it a lot :).

[Justin]

Okay, I just don't understand. Britney Spears is Britney Spears -- she's sexy, she's catchy, she's one of the top 10 best selling artists of all time. I know music is suppose to mean something, but it's also suppose to sell. She walks the line wonderfully - I'm sorry that no one wants to hear Alanis Morissette bitch about her day or Fiona Apple whine over piano music, I really am sorry because I like those artists too, but if Britney Spears isn't your style, she isn't your style so leave it alone because I guarantee you whoever wrote this is severely misinformed and probably not even a Britney Spears fan. As for you Jon K., have you ever met Britney Spears? Or any of the other "super-stars." My guess is no, so who are you to say they're shallow or narcissistic sir? Flavor of the minute? Britney Spears has been around for 11 years in October. Flavor the the decade I guess you'll change your opinion to? Partying and sex is what some people like to do. And no sir, there's no "period" to it. Yes, the economy is a very serious thing right now and it's a big deal, but personally and I'm 150% positive I'm not alone here, I really don't want to turn on the radio or go to a club or be anywhere really where there's some sad, emo chick strumming on a guitar singing with terrible metaphors and bad riffs about the economy. I apologize that I'm a happy, upbeat person who would rather listen to Britney Spears sing about sex and partying than a "real" artist sing about being sad. Self-absorbed idiots? You are the most adult person I've met today. Although, Seth I do have to agree with you and say that is a very unflattering photo.

[Jenni]

This is why people get sick of songs so easily nowadays.. because there is no content and it gets so boring to listen to. Theres nothing that makes u think or elicit ur emotions :(

[Billy Siniard]

Any song that is put out is intended to be marketed and sell...that's the circle of music production. haha Britney Spears isn't any less talented than previous music stars. She has plenty of number one hits whether it be a single or an entire album. She has the highest grossing tour of 2009 and has managed to go through hell and comeback in a respectable way. In many ways, Spears is a great talent. Britney is undoubtedly a legend and what others choose to say is merely their opinion. A hit is a hit and an award is an award...and she has both. I count her as pretty damn successful. And as for Jordan Miller...

"This generation's list of super-stars are such a bunch of shallow, narcissistic, borderline talents who excel purely upon their looks, video choregraphy, and advanced production technology."

Things change. Somethings are more important now a days. Besides, if you're telling me the older artists in their prime didn't care about their looks, then you're lying to yourself. You just have a stereotype with blonde girls singing pop music is what it sounds like to me. ^_^ teehee Everyone knows pop music isn't about displaying your vocal talent, it's about the groove of the music! Can you dance to it? It's about the dancing and the show you put on...not always about the singing...not for all artists anyway.

[Kim]

Britneys an awesome artist and it's amazing she has anything out cuz I mean she's only been touring since march has 2 kids yanno. F all u guys she's also a good singer and writes her own lyrics. U guys should give "feet on the ground" a nice listen. Although u'd find sommmething wrong with it, right?

[Oops...she did it again.]

Get over yourselves people. I mean really, no one ever said Britney was suppose to be the Carly Simon of our time. Instead, she has turned out to be the pop princess of our time, if not ONE of the most influential artists of all time. This song is like crack in the fact that it makes people feel good and dance, and then say "Gimme More." The production of Britney Spears has been the best marketing campaign of all time.