It’s not always easy being a Britney Spears fan. The famed pop singer has understandably had a turbulent career, with the scrutiny of the public eye focused squarely on Spears since the first three ‘dun dun dun’ notes of “…Baby One More Time” hit the airwaves in 1998.
Almost two decades later, Spears finally seems to have found the perfect balance of stardom, performing without the grind of travelling and press interviews thanks to her successful Las Vegas residency.
For the past two years, Spears has been quietly working on her ninth studio album and the follow up to Britney Jean. The 2013 album included the viral hit “Work Bitch,” but singles “Perfume” and “Alien” failed to resonant much with fans, making a minimal impact on the charts. Not since 2011’s Femme Fatale, which featured “Hold it Against Me” and “Till the World Ends” and 2008’s Circus, which spawned the huge hits “Womanizer,” “If You Seek Amy,” “Kill The Lights” and of course the title track, has Spears released albums that could come close to contending with the Britney-mania of the late 1990s and early 2000s.
That is, until now.
Earlier this week, Spears teased a snippet of a new track titled “Private Show,” which coincided with the upcoming release of her 20th fragrance. The short clip barely gave fans any real indication of what the new album would sound like, but that all changed late last night.
Rumours began swirling online earlier this month that Spears would be dropping a new single and video sometime soon. It appears at least half of that is true at this point. Popping up online last night, “Make Me” is a refreshing electronic-infused R&B jam from Spears that sits at the perfect tempo for the former Mickey Mouse Clubbers’ vocal registry. Spears is at her sultry-best, “oooohing” her way to the top of the charts and reclaiming her seat at the front of the pop royalty table. The single is a departure from the straight-pop tracks we’re used to hearing from Britney, a move that proves the 34 year-old is still a force to be reckoned with in 2016.
“Make Me” includes a verse from American rapper G-Eazy, who’s quickly becoming one of the hottest features, scoring a huge track this year along with Bebe Rexha on “Me, Myself & I.” With a laid-back style reminiscent of Big Sean, G-Eazy raps “See I could tell that you’re a dangerous woman / That means you’re speaking my language.”
In only a few hours, “Make Me” has thankfully knocked Justin Timberlake’s forgettable “Can’t Stop the Feeling” from the top of the charts and hit number one in 30 countries.
This is an incredible feeling. Thank you, thank you, thank you!! ❤️ #MakeMe https://t.co/CFC5aH25ao
— Britney Spears (@britneyspears) July 15, 2016
“Make Me” feels influenced by Drake, Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber’s recent collaborations with Skrillex, but in true pop princess fashion, Spears is able to make the single completely her own. That’s what makes her Britney, bitch.