This Day in Pop: Britney Spears releases Criminal single in 2011 (September 30)

[JayTawndre]

The Britney Army trashed this song and trashed it when it was the final single I remember those days 

I loved Criminal since the beginning. Although I did vote for DDB because let's face it that song was robbed of being a single. I bet if Sabi were not on it, it would have been a hit.

[PokemonSpears]

4 minutes ago, JayTawndre said:

The Britney Army trashed this song and trashed it when it was the final single I remember those days 

I loved Criminal since the beginning. Although I did vote for DDB because let's face it that song was robbed of being a single. I bet if Sabi were not on it, it would have been a hit.

I voted Inside Out but I really loved the Criminal video, my favorite from FF

[JayTawndre]

1 minute ago, PokemonSpears said:

I voted Inside Out but I really loved the Criminal video, my favorite from FF

Yes the Criminal video was awesome. I just wish we could have the original directors cut released. There was more footage not used, remember? Along with the Perfume video.

[ElectricPlatypusLove]

The entirety of Femme Fatale era makes me extremely uncomfortable now. Britney was living and peddling a lie and felt like a stranger. The music was fabulous but the negative aura surrounding Britney during that time still manages to sour it a bit. With all the recent revelations, even with Jason seemingly not to blame for any of it, it still really ties her personal life to this album era by putting him into the music video.

I do find it fascinating how her tour essentially told her story in a theatrical way. It's surprising she got away with that one. The man obsessed with controlling her in real life must have approved the theme of a man obsessed with controlling her. I'd like to think it was liberating to express herself through her art, but suspect even that was instead twisted into a way to taunt her further. She so frequently looked so unhappy on stage during the Femme Fatale Tour. 

What's Criminal is what has been done to Britney. And in some ways I feel the lies to us--the fans who adore and support her--are also quite valid and heinous. We were duped into supporting a machine that hurt someone we cared about. Britney's life made me completely change my own career trajectory from one searching fame and celebrity status to one that savors anonymity. 

I look forward to learning more about how she feels about her music and single releases from this time. The music certainly stands on its own but it was forced upon her I can certainly understand why she never performed much Femme Fatale material.

 

[iCaptainCandy]

10 years to catch the real Criminal.

[JP9101]

On 9/30/2020 at 5:00 PM, blackoutbixxh said:

Inside Out should have been the last single of the FF era 

You mean up n down 

[Jefferson Silva]

hate this song and video but it was a hit on brazil at the time 

it even has a Forró version

[Poptimist]

It was decent as a filler. I just can’t believe it took “Inside Out” place as the fourth single. That’s why you should do an effing focus group instead of asking the fans 🤦🏽

[_DirtyDiana_]

Time was really the ultimate truth teller with this one. Who would have thought years ago that Criminal would be the most streamed FF track and would pull similar daily streams as the other 3 singles COMBINED?

a HIT in Eastern-Europe/Brazil and a classic for Gen-Z 

[Miss Negative]

I like Criminal, but Inside Out was robbed. I was so sad when it didn't win the poll.

[Alvy]

That poll still pains me to this day, ugh  

I wanted Inside Out instead. But whatever... At least the MV was great, and she looked phenomenal. 

[UncannyX-Man2099]

On 9/29/2020 at 9:59 PM, Roxxy said:

This was my peak crush on Jason.  He is Dzaddy and my second favorite Britney boyfriend. 

He really looked so damn hot in this video. 

[gapeach704]

I don't understand the hate this video gets.  The cinematography was gorgeous.  And for a FOURTH single, it did pretty well with charting at #55.

Our last true worldwide, proper 4 single era 

[Cqleb]

Funny how Criminal would've been released the day after Jamie is suspended, wish the news was actually on the release day  

[bas che]

I voted for Inside Out.

[bas che]

12 hours ago, JayTawndre said:

The Britney Army trashed this song and trashed it when it was the final single I remember those days 

I loved Criminal since the beginning. Although I did vote for DDB because let's face it that song was robbed of being a single. I bet if Sabi were not on it, it would have been a hit.

Studies show that Sabi’s verse invented veganism.

[Isla]

I love this song and it's one of my faves from Femme Fatale. A shame it didn't do well as a single. I voted for it in the Facebook poll

[U_WannaLiveFancy]

Forever salty that we couldn't have DDB or Scary instead. I did not know about the fan voting at the time, but in my dream world they'd just release Scary on the normal edition of the album and slay with it (MV + live FF tour) :cryingemoji:

[strongertomorrow]

I would’ve loved to see her perform it live sometime… And Jason and her looked really amazing as a couple, visually the most pleasing, I liked him for her, but obviously don’t know what went on behind the scenes, but got good vibes

 

also, inside out is iconic — I wish there was a video for it or some live performances

[Sgt Spears deputy]

In my Top Ten favorite songs of all time from her. I was so happy that it became a single. The beginning reminds me of the beginning of a fairy tale. And it's my absolute favorite video of her.

But even if I love the song more than anything, I am amazed that it is so popular with Spotify.  Fans have actually other favorite Britney songs.