Womanizer is the latest by Britney Spears
Song lacks structure and catchiness normally present in Spears’ work
By Matthew B. Zeidman
NEW YORK (Hollywood Today) 9/27/08 – Earlier in the month, it seemed the industry that spent a year roasting troubled starlet Britney Spears for her erratic behavior was willing to give the reformed singer a second chance, surprising her with three trophies at the MTV Video Music Awards. Unfortunately, “Womanizer,” the single released Friday that was intended to be the steak to the sizzle of Spears’ new image, is sorely lacking in what made even the work she did during her most difficult times sparkle.
The song, which made its official debut on New York radio station Z100 yesterday morning, is, for lack of a better word, anarchic. It sticks with the techno/dance style established throughout “Blackout,” Spears’ critically acclaimed 2007 album, but lacks any real structure and suffers from what can best be described as a musical monotone.
The unique verses, which have Spears describing the titular cad, are flat and unmemorable, while the tedious chorus, which has her spitting the name “womanizer” over and over at the man she finds so repugnant, falls short of providing a memorable hook.
“Gimme More,” which was the first single off “Blackout,” had a repetitive chorus, too, but it boasted dark, rich music and a hypnotic undercurrent that made it work, not to mention Spears’ silky voice and well written lyrics, which ensured that the rest of the piece wasn’t just filler. Even that album’s “Piece of Me,” whose paparazzi-inspired lyrics won no points for subtlety, offered an attractive combination of musicality, technology and the raw power of Spears’ voice. Every one of those elements is missing from “Womanizer.”
While, over the past decade, many critics have complained of Spears’ music taking a backseat to her sexpot persona, she has never failed (until now) to deliver listenable, radio-friendly songs in a variety of genres. While no one will ever compare her work to that of existential greats Bob Dylan or John Lennon, Spears is undoubtedly good at what she does.
In a perfect world, “Womanizer” would become a quickly forgotten fluke when more singles off the upcoming CD, “Circus,” were released and proved more worthy of the musical icon’s high standards. It would be a great shame for the born entertainer not to live up to her potential.
13 responses so far ↓
1 Dana Martin // Sep 27, 2008 at 9:13 am
I am a hardcore Britney fan and I was very dissapointed with this single. As the report above stated it’s lacking substance and a catchy hook. I have heard Mannequin which I think she should’ve released first so that the album came out fighting and knocking other tracks off the charts which I did not do.
2 appropriateness // Sep 27, 2008 at 9:42 am
sad.
paul newman passes away and HT leads with a bash on this nonce
3 Paul // Sep 27, 2008 at 10:58 am
If you haven’t heard it yet, give it a listen here:
http://z100.elvisduran.com/pages/news/britneyspears/
4 kevin lisovich // Sep 27, 2008 at 7:47 pm
you are quite wrong my friend. you will soon see.
5 Nathan // Sep 29, 2008 at 3:29 pm
This is just one persons opinion but I think the song is great. Fantastic club song. Not her strongest, agreed, but it will hold me over until the album drops.
6 tiee // Sep 29, 2008 at 10:25 pm
i heard it first and listened to it again and again! m not thoouroughly impressed but it will have to do for now!!!! with the records it seems to be breaking already i have high hopes for this song…!!!!
7 lj // Oct 4, 2008 at 2:02 pm
well i liked it… and it will do well for her. Some singles take a little longer to get established. i knew a lot of people who didn’t like sexy back when they first heard it.. then luved it.
she will be big again
8 elke // Oct 12, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Love her new song womanizer..very catchy and the video is “hot.” ~smile
9 John // Oct 16, 2008 at 1:26 pm
WWJD
10 Sam // Oct 22, 2008 at 4:40 am
Britney Spears is so tired. All her musical concepts are all the same. Nothing new here. Computerized music to cover up her lack of vocal talent, but considering how terrible the music business is today, all this woman has to do is take her clothes off and she will become a hit in this country. So sad, that many real talented artists are left to the back seat, while not so talented individuals like Spears are given center stage! What ever happened to real good music? Those days are gone.
11 John Mark // Oct 22, 2008 at 9:10 am
My favorite was the fun :
Piece of Me…
Those bouncing synth flourishes made that song, as well as her own ability to laugh at her self (it was a bit self satiracal).it didn’t perform on the charts, while this cliché is jumping from 94 to number one in one week???
Well said Sam. There are far more talented artists with a lot of ingenious sounds and messages. Just not as ‘All American’
Proud to be an American where we can suport Paris Hilton’s and other equally self sacrificing examples of heroism
12 Erik H // Apr 17, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Does anyone know where I can find free online grant applications?
13 Prednisone // May 22, 2009 at 6:57 pm
cheap prednisone
Leave a Comment