Circus: Track by Track Analysis

Let's face it. This analysis is far more important than of almost anything else I can write. With the depressing stories on the newsfront: CitiGroup cutting 50,000 (yes you read that right) jobs, the American economy 'already in a recession,' and 'value-based' holiday shopping (sorry Neiman Marcus, I wanted your Lego sculpture for $60,000.00 this year too. There's always 2009.), and the growing feeling of buyers remorse, there are very few things that can make Americans excited and happy.

Thankfully Britney Spears's new album is on its' way. And thankfully for me, I got my giddy hands on a copy last night. I won't say how. Sorry. A girl's gotta have some secrets that can be shared with only the closest of best friends. Regardless, forget the depressing economic analysis, and enjoy the mind-numbing analysis of Circus. It's been on repeat on my iPhone all morning long (the whole album). So that's gotta say something...

First things first, logistics. Check out the track list.
1.) Womanizer
2.) Circus
3.) Out From Under
4.) Kill The Lights
5.) Shattered Glass
6.) If You Seek Amy
7.) Unusual You
8.) Blur
9.) Mmm Papi
10.) Mannequin
11.) Lace & Leather
12.) My Baby
13.) Radar

Bonus Tracks:
-Rock Me In
-Phonography
-Amnesia
-Trouble (iTunes bonus)
-Quicksand (iTunes bonus)

(Sidenote: I can't give a description of the last two, as being iTunes tracks, they won't be available until the US and international iTunes release on December 2nd.)

Womanizer: Boy don't try to front, I know just what you are.
So we've all heard this one over and over and over. 20/20. MTV. KISS108FM. All I see in my mind when I hear Britney's melodious voice is her naked thighs in that music video sauna. Although for a 15 year old boy, this image would be fantastic, for a twenty-something girl, no thanks. I'm good. P and I have already given our two cents about this song anyway. I still love it. P doesn't like how the word 'womanizer' rolls off of Brit-Brit's tongue. To each his (or her!) own.

Circus: When I crack that whip, everybody gonna trick just like a circus.
Britney's next single (apparently the video has already been shot) is one of the best on Circus. Like old school Britney style, it sounds straight off of In The Zone or Blackout (minus the crazy). The beat is infectious - I want to start dancing in my cubicle. I can only hope that this starts getting played at bars and lounges soon. One can only imagine how this song could get me going, post a few martinis -- can someone point me in the direction of a danceable bartop?

Out From Under: I don’t wanna dream about all the things that never were.
One of the 5 songs that we got a taste of on the promo cd that leaked last week. The minute clip or so really doesn't do this (or any of the other 4) songs justice. Britney's ballads are normally either stellar (i.e. Everytime) or horrible (i.e. Dear Diary). This falls within the stellar. It's heartbreaking and really beautiful sounding at the same time. Probably a good one to reminisce about an ex/crush/whoever about. Yes, call me a sap, it's okay.

Kill The Lights: Is that money in your pocket or are you happy to see me?
Think Stronger v.2.0. As Danja declares in the hip-hoppy intro, "Your very own pop princess, now queen of pop." I wonder how Madonna feels about this declaration of her clear dethroning - although it's probably been long done by now. While this was leaked by Jive on purpose as a buzz track last week, the sound has definitely grown on me with each listen that I give it.

Shattered Glass: You're gonna see me in your dreams tonight. My voice is gonna haunt you all the time.
The moment I opened this song on my iTunes, I immediately thought of late 80s/early 90s pop. Slightly reminiscent of old school Madonna and Ace of Base (my guilty pleasure), the chorus is simple and catchy. Also fantastic, the throwback to Everytime lyrics. Haunting in your dreams, blah blah blah. The one falter of the song? Must Britney say 'glass' the way she does? Give it a listen, see if it makes you cringe a bit too.

If You Seek Amy: Love me, hate me, say what you want about me. But all of the boys and all of the girls are begging to if you seek amy.
I've already written a fair amount about this song after the promo leak, but I cannot lie, this is one of my new favorite songs. It's already been made into my iPhone ringtone, and even my boyfriend's jaw dropped when he heard it playing in my room this weekend. "Is she saying what I think she's saying?!" That's the common response to the song - (still don't get it? Say 'if you seek amy' 10 times fast). I've read blurbs wanting this to be released as a single, and although it'd be popular, I'm thinking the metaphor might not go over so well with radio station airplay. Boo.

Unusual You: Didn’t anyone tell you, you’re supposed to, break my heart? I expect you do, so why haven’t you?
By far, the best ballad(ish?) song of the album. It sounds a bit like And Then We Kiss, an unreleased song from the In The Zone era. It's slightly more upbeat than a full ballad, but incredibly haunting and sad. Seems like Ms. Spears has the same trouble with men that every twenty-something girl does. You're not alone Britney!

Blur: Can't remember what I did last night, everything, everything is still a blur.
One of the tracks that I'm completely undecided on. Running parallel with Early Mornin' from In The Zone (which also took me about a zillion listens and a remix version to have me decide I liked it), Britney seems a bit too old for me to want songs about her drinking so much that she forgets what she did the night before. She has two babies at home, shouldn't she be home tending to them? Not sure if she's sending the proper message about being competent with this one...

Mmm Papi: I can really get far, don't break my heart. Let's make out.
Okay, this song had me hooked until about 40 seconds in when Brit-Brit just wails out, "oooo Papi love you." I'm sorry, I can't handle her voice saying 'Papi' for one. For two, why would you call a guy 'Papi' and not feel totally awkward about it (and have some sort of father complex). It's not a completely horrendous song, but it falls low on the Circus totem pole. It's one of the few (only?) songs that she co-wrote herself. Surprised? No, not really.

Mannequin: Got my heart set, do anything that I want so thank you. I like it and I do what I like, and if do what I like, then you’ll like it.
What is with all these pop princesses all about being 'bossy' (yes, I'm talking to you Lindsay Lohan) and knowing what you want. We get it, you know what you want, and you'll get it. But Britney, you say this, and you wanted Kevin Federline and you went for it (remember, you proposed to yourself?!), and look at where it got you? I don't know if you should always go with what you want... But I digress. Mannequin, not a horrible song, is upbeat, perfect for a good workout, but not the 'blockbuster' single that bloggers originally hyped it up to be a few months ago after hearing a clip leaked from a dance rehearsal.

Lace & Leather: Cotton candy kiss, can't wait for my sugar rush.
I'd have to say, by far this song has the most Blackout-ish sound to it. A little electronica-ish sounding, I can probably see this as a potential song - or at least I can hope, because I think a remixed version of this song would be 100000 times better. When the track listing for Circus got initially released, there was a murmur assuming that this song would be oh-so racy. Sorry everyone to burst your bubble, but you can get your head out of the gutter. Nothing too scandalous here. If you want more scandal, push 'back' on your iPod to track 6.

My Baby: With no words at all, so tiny and small.
Okay, it only natural that there's some sort of song for her kids, but does it have to put me to sleep? I would choose, Someday (I Will Understand) over this track as a loving song to her little ones any day. Unfortunate but true, this would be the song to hit skip over. I mean, take one listen to it, how many times does she have to say 'tiny' in one song? I get it Brit. Your kids are small -- tiny even. But ehhhhh, let's grab you a thesaurus next time.

Radar: Intoxicate me, I'm a lush. Stop, you're making me blush - people are looking at us.
I was just as surprised as anyone else when I saw a Blackout track appear on the Circus listing. New remix? New tempo? New something? That's what I assumed at least. But no, with the exception of a new 2 second intro (which kind of sounds like a 'wooooooosh'), it's the same track. Same lyrics. Same everything. I already have a Facebook album already titled with lyrics from this song - from March. How 2007 of you Britney. First recycling songs, next thing I know you're going to be seen wearing your old graphic tanks. Sigh.

Rock Me In: Hold me tight, don't let go. Take me in your arms and bring me close.
For the record, I do not know how these bonus tracks became bonus tracks and didn't make the cut for the main album. Brit's voice sounds a bit like it does in Do Something in this song. The song as a whole? Upbeat. A bit trippy. Infectious. Fantastic.

Phonography: And everybody's got freaky tendencies, here we won't admit it 'cause we all got needs.
Oh Britney. So edgy. Trying to have 'phonography' sound like 'pornography.' You're so badass. Apparently phonography is all about, following commands and "buttons coming loose." Or something like that. So apparently Britney likes phone sex, and likes to sing about it. She certainly has taken a page out of Madonna's book. Although I wonder if Madonna would ever say, "talk that sexy talk to me." Something tells me no...

Amnesia: I get amnesia when I'm standing next to you.
By far, my favorite bonus track (maybe song) of the album. The melody of the song screams classic pop music. It's catchy and upbeat - and oh my god gets stuck in your head so easily. It's very early Britney style (think something that would have been on Oops... I Did It Again). Maybe not a sophisticated style for Britney, but I love it - and that's what matters right?

After scrolling through the producer list for the album, it appears that Lady GaGa's track only made the iTunes bonus for the international version. Oh, I can hardly wait till December 2nd to hear it.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I got the iTunes bonus tracks + an unreleased track tonight. Here's the lowdown on them...

Quicksand: Gotta keep on breathing, baby even we're sinking.
Fifty seconds into Quicksand, and it's full on Lady GaGa a la Eh, Eh, Nothing Else I Can Say. The resemblance is so clear. Which means I absolutely love it. It's a techno pop ballad. How this didn't make it onto the main album is beyond me -- or actually, rather, maybe it's because there's enough people being called Lady GaGa impersonators already. Ahem Christina Aguilera. Lucky for those iTunes shoppers, they won't miss out.

Trouble: Then again I, I think I wanna lose control. Ain't nothing wrong with a little bit of trouble.
Another pretty quality bonus track. It's not a spectacular track, and a bit repetitive. Regardless, it's a good, upbeat song to get ready to go out to. I have a feeling, much like Womanizer, P and others might not love how the word 'Trouble' rolls of of Ms. Spears' tongue.

Rock Boy: Play me like a guitar and get into action.
I'm not fully sure what the deal is with this track. My best bet is that it's an unreleased track (I read somewhere that she recorded something like 40 songs for this record). Anyway, she, without a doubt, sounds like Ashlee Simpson in the intro -- you know how A.Simps always tends to say "uh!" or "uh huh!" at the beginning of every song? Yeah, Brit is doing it too. Despite that, this song is listenable -- there's something missing to it though that I can't put my finger on... Anyone with the track have suggestions?

Happy listening (if you can track the album down too)!
-M