9 amazing Britney Spears songs you've never heard – because she didn't release them

[hotnheavyaprilrain]

http://www.digitalspy.com/music/feature/a809285/britney-spears-songs-unreleased-listen/

Britney made her pop music debut at only 16, and has notched up a fair few hits in her time.

Of course you don't spend almost 20 years in the music industry without recording a lorry-load of songs. For every album released, there are countless tracks that didn't make the final cut or even past the demo stage. And Britney has released nine studio albums (not to mention two greatest hits collections).

 

Even before internet file sharing became a thing, Britney demos and unreleased tracks were being shared among fans on forums. Since then, literally hundreds of rare Britney songs have made their way on to the web.

With some of the tracks you can understand why they never made the cut, but some offer a glimpse into what could have been for the musical icon and we've picked out some of our criminally overlooked favourites…

1. '(Tell Me) Am I a Sinner?'

Recorded as part 2001's transitional album Britney, '(Tell Me) Am I a Sinner' peeks into Britney's experiemental side. From the William Orbit-esque verses, complete with scattering electronics that'd make Imogen Heap jealous, to the almost saccharine chorus, the track acts as a precursor to Britney's leftfield sensibilities.

2. 'What You Sippin' On'

There are actually two versions of 'What You Sippin' On'. Initially the track, a low slung and vibey R&B affair, was meant to end up on Britney's 2003 LP In The Zone. When it missed out on that album Britney wanted to include it on 2007's Blackout. Featuring rapper AC, it's no surprise the song was left off the record, with way too many references to Brit's personal life, including a personal shout out to K-Fed. Those In The Zone moments aren't left out, however, as the song directly samples from the Moby-produced 'Early Mornin'.

3. 'And Then We Kiss'

The frenetic energy in 'And Then We Kiss' matches expertly with something that Britney does so well: forbidden sexuality. Like a lot of In The Zone, for which the track was meant, the song is layered full of yearning as it speeds towards the chorus. However, there's not one giant payoff like, say, 'Toxic'. Instead, Britney's soft vocals and the whirring electronics express the uncertainty of desire.

The track was, of course, later remixed by Junkie XL and added to the B in the Mix: The Remixes. However, while incredible, it lacks the subtleties of the original.

4. 'Rebellion'

No full version of 'Rebellion' exists on the internet. In fact, no one is 100% sure whether the song was ever really finished. That hasn't stopped fans from elevating this demonic and deranged bit of pop music into Britney folklore.

 

The song's lyrics deal with themes that stray very close to Brit's own personal experiences at the tail end of 2007, which just happens to be when the demo appeared. "Be wary of others, the ones closest to you," Britney coos over an almost dubstep wobble and ominous strings, before going on to talk breaking free. It's chillingly close to the bone, which makes the mystery even more enticing.

5. 'Baby Boy'

It comes as a surprise when you first hear 'Baby Boy' and its confessional lyrics, raw vocals and deep-rooted melancholy. While obviously a demo, there's something to the croaky depth in the delivery that keeps you enthralled throughout. She might not be the best singer in the world, but Britney Spears sure knows how to use her voice to pack an emotional punch.

6. 'Let Go'

Like 'Baby Boy', 'Let Go' showcases Britney's lower vocal register to great effect. And, like 'Baby Boy', the song is pretty emotional. Taken away from studio trickery, auto-tune and club bangers, and given the opportunity to truly express herself, Brit gives way more than you're expecting. It's surprising and, at times, rather moving.

7. 'State of Grace'

Every time rumours of a new Britney Spears album begin to surface, fans on forums and on social media start to question whether Brit will finally deliver her Ray Of Light. This could, of course, be taken metaphorically (i.e. when will she release a personal album that'll catapult her back up the charts), but with songs like 'State of Grace' out there it's hard not to think that sonically, Britney could deliver something akin to the luscious production of Madonna's confessional.

8. 'Strangest Love'

'Strangest Love' is a sort of cousin to 'Everytime' in that it taps into that dreamy and feathery production that makes both songs so enchanting. Dealing with themes of loneliness, loss and love, it's testament to the emotion that Britney can convey with the smallest of vocal shifts. Giving the song a listen now, it would have still made a great addition to Brit's most recent album, Glory.

9. 'Unbroken'

Post-Blackout, the quantity of Britney rarities begins to thin out. However, 'Unbroken', which is taken from the Femme Fatale sessions, is a pulsing drum-and-bass-influenced track that offers shades of that rockier element that Britney keeps threatening to reveal. Fear not, however, as it's only a flicker and then Brit's vocal returns with lashings of vocoder and studio magic. This could have easily been a Femme Fatale bonus track and we'd never be any the wiser.

[WholeHawaii]

I LOVE Sippin' On. 

[BrittonJeanSpears]

Except all of us have heard all of those.