A celebration: Britney Spears's 'Oops!...I Did It Again' turns 20
Image: Mark Seliger
Today marks the 20th anniversary of the release of Britney Spears’s second album Oops!…I Did It Again which first slid into music retailers on 16 May 2000. One of the defining release not just of Spears’ career but also pop music in the early 2000s, the album spawned 4 global hit singles and would sell over 20 million copies worldwide, making it one of the biggest selling albums of all time.
Spears had first burst onto the music scene in 1999 with the classic single ‘…Baby One More Time’ and debut album of the same name. She quickly became a pop culture phenomenon and barely 9 months after the release of the …Baby One More Time album she was back in the studio recording the follow up which would become Oops!...I Did It Again. Recorded in New York, Switzerland and Sweden, Spears worked with a number of high profile producers and writers including Diane Warren, Shania Twain and the Swedish powerhouse team of Max Martin, Andreas Carlsson and Per Magnusson who had also worked on …Baby One More Time.
First single ‘Oops!...I Did It Again’ was released ahead of the album in March 2000 and it became startlingly apparent that Spears was not just a flash in the pan. An insanely catchy pop track with a kitsch but mesmerising music video, in hindsight it was the ultimate Britney Spears moment and quite probably the moment she crossed the line from teen pop star to pop icon. The hits continued – ‘Stronger’, ‘Lucky’, ‘Don’t Let Me Be The Last To Know’ - and Spears carved her place in history as the artist who inspired countless young women of that generation to not only see strength in their femininity but to love music and even pursue careers in music.
Oops!...I Did It Again went on to peak at number 1 on the US charts, breaking the record for most debut week sales for a female artist, a record that remained in place for 15 years. It peaked at number 2 in Australia and the UK and number 1 in 14 other countries across the world. And while the album followed a similar musical path of the dance-teen-pop of her debut album, its incorporation of R&B and more sophisticated ballads paved the way for the maturation of Spears as an artist 12 months later with the harder electronica and R&B of the Britney album.
To celebrate the 20th birthday of Oops!...I Did It Again Women In Pop are revisiting it track-by-track below. Tell us your favourite track in the comments!
1. ‘Oops!...I Did It Again’
An infectious track which has perhaps become her most iconic track thanks to the never ending list you can compile of its amazingness. A brilliantly silly title, melodies to die for, her robotic ‘yeah yeah yeahs’ the Titanic-inspired spoken word bridge and that iconic music video which sees Spears in outer space dressed in a body hugging bright red latex catsuit (what else?)...we could go on all day. The single was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2001 and peaked at number 1 in the UK and Australia but surprisingly only made it to number 9 in the US.
2. ‘Stronger’
The third single to be released from the album, this dance pop track is probably one of the most mature tracks on the album and has become one of her most enduring hits. For the first time we see a glimpse of Spears as a strong, independent, empowered woman that could almost become an anthem for her entire career which would go on to see it’s fair share of ups and downs. “I’m not your property as of today / You might think that I won’t make it on my own / But now I’m stronger than yesterday / Now it’s nothing but my way.” The single peaked at number 13 in Australia, 11 in the US and 7 in the UK.
3. ‘Don’t Go Knockin’ On My Door’
Following a similar style as ‘Oops!...I Did It Again’ there is a harder beat to this track with more of an R&B feel and a hint of TLC’s ‘No Scrubs’. Lyrically, Spears brushes off a former lover with pretty clear instructions to stay well away from her and a spoken word interlude leads into the next track.
4. ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’
This classic Rolling Stones track has been covered by countless artists since its release in 1965 and as long as you go into this track letting go of any misguided, outdated fervour for the original, Spears does a pretty good job with her version. A stripped back, almost lullaby-ish opener soon breaks into a dirty, funk track which breathes new life into the track. Spears memorably performed the track live at the 2000 MTV Music Video Award.
5. ‘Don’t Let Me Be The Last To Know’
Probably the album’s highlight, this song was written by Robert John ‘Mutt’ Lange and his then wife Shania Twain. Spears recorded the track at Lange and Twain’s Switzerland studio. One of the most musically mature tracks on the album, there are gorgeous melodies, soaring backing vocals and divine backing beats. Spears has said this is one of her favourite songs from her entire career. Released as the final single from the album in some markets, but not Australia or the US, the song peaked at number 12 in the UK.
6. ‘What U See (Is What U Get)’
With an opener which is almost identical to ‘Oops!...I Did It Again’, this is a track which can easily be glossed over but it is worthy of a closer look. Alongside the sublime melodies of the pre-chorus, there is a strong female empowerment message in the lyrics which are still relevant 20 years later: “You think I'm wearing too much make-up / That my dress is too tight / You should never try to change me / I can be nobody else / And I like the way I am.”
7. ‘Lucky’
Another track proceeded by a spoken word interlude, this time a voice message from a male friend providing Spears with the idea for ‘Lucky’. The second single released from the album, this is one of the album’s standouts with a classic, timeless pop sound with sonic influences from the 50s, 80s and well as 2000s. The lyrics tell the story of a famous Hollywood star who may have the perfect life to outsiders but behind closed doors is miserable, another track on this album which would later mirror Spears’ own life. “The world is spinning, and she keeps on winning / But tell me what happens when it stops? /...If there's nothing missing in my life / Then why do these tears come at night?
8. ‘One Kiss from You’
The track on the album that probably has the heaviest R&B vibe, this is a light, joyful love song that quickly sweeps you up in it infectious sound. Fun fact, this track was written by Steve Lunt, who also produced part of the album and would work with Spears further into her career, most notably on the 2003 album In The Zone.
9 ‘Where Are You Now’
A tender ballad which showcases Spears underrated warm, emotive vocals this song sees Spears seeking closure from an absent lover. “Where are you now, you gotta let me know / Oh baby so I can let you go”.
10. ‘Can’t Make You Love Me’
Another beat heavy, dancefloor banger with a hint of 1970s disco snaking through thanks to a ‘Superstition’-ish funky backbeat. Lyrically the song deals with the classic teen angst of unrequited love with the person of Spears’ interest destined to only ever remain her secret crush.
11. ‘When Your Eyes Say It’
Written by songwriting legend Diane Warren, who has written for Cher, Lady Gaga and Céline Dion amongst others, this is a beautiful electro ballad, full of warmth and heart. You could argue Spears’ vocals veer into cutesy territory, but we think this only increases the sense of romance and beauty that swirls through the track. The introduction of strings towards the end of the track is genius.
12. ‘Dear Diary’
A gentle, sweet track to finish the album which genuinely has a Mariah Carey feel to it, and has possibly the best vocal performance from Spears on the album. A classic teen pop love song, it was the first song co-written by Spears to appear on one of her albums.
A special, limited, 20th Anniversary edition of Oops!…I Did It Again will be released on August 14 and can be pre-ordered now.
Oops!...I Did It Again is available across all platforms, including iTunes, Apple Music and Spotify.
To keep up with all things Britney Spears you can follow her on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
