This Day in Pop: Britney Spears releases 'Hold It Against Me' single in 2011 (January 10)

[PokemonSpears]

On January 10, 2011, Britney Spears released Hold It Against Me, the lead single off her seventh studio album Femme Fatale. It was wrote and produced by Max Martin and Dr. Luke, with additional writing by Bonnie McKee. The EDM track with dubstep elements, was originally offered to Katy Perry, but the producers didn't think it really suited her.

The song debuted at #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming her fourth song to achieve this. With this, Britney Spears became the second artist in Billboard's history to debut at #1 with more than one song, and to do so with a second consecutive single (her previous single 3 also debuted at #1 in 2009), both records behind Mariah Carey. She also became the seventh artist to top the chart in three consecutive decades. It was also #1 in Canada, Denmark, Finland and New Zealand. It also topped the US Dance Club Songs, Dance/Mix Show Airplay and Digital Song Sales charts.

 

The song was made available a day prior to the original release date, following a tweet

 

A demo by Bonie McKee had been leaked on January 06

 

However, the song wouldn't be performed live until March 25 at Rain Nightclub in the Palms Casino resort in Las Vegas.

 

Here's the rehearsal, btw

 

Then she performed for the first time ever at Good Morning America on March 27, though it aired on March 29. She also performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! the same day.

 

 

Hold It Against Me was also the opening song from her Femme Fatale Tour later that year.

 

She hasn't performed the song again ever since the tour ended in late 2011.

A music video was released in February, directed by Jonas Åkerlund and choreographed by Brian Friedman, following the modest amount of 14 teasers   but we'll celebrate that anniversary next month: 

 

It's worth mentioning, after the song was released, the pop/country duo The Bellamy Brothers complained about the song being too similar to their 1979 single If I Said You Have a Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me.

 

Max Martin, Dr. Luke and Bonnie McKee sued them for defamation and libel, but the case was dismissed after the duo apologized. In 2013 Bonnie explained in an interview for Hollywood Reporter how the song came about:

Quote

[...] And then also [Britney Spears’] "Hold It Against Me" was a happy accident. It was actually inspired by Katy because I was writing with her at the time and I went in the other room where I was working on Britney in between. She came into the room in some tight, **** little dress and I jokingly said, "Damn, Katy if I told you you had a nice body would you hold it against me?" I was like, "Bingo!" and I wrote that song.

 

THR: Does Britney know she has Katy to thank for that song?

McKee: I don’t think so. I never actually got to meet Britney when we worked on the album, which is funny because I’m singing a lot of it. But she knows who I am, and she’s been really sweet about praising me.

THR: What's the guiding principal when writing a song for Britney?

McKee: Britney Spears is just all ***, all day. It's like, how many ***ual innuendos can I come up with?

 

 

[thebritmaster]

I will always remember the first time I heard this at 12:01 AM EST 

[Luminous]

Still a BOP and i love how great it sounds with some good loud speakers, i mean.. the last chorus is gold, one of my favourites until this day... 

 

[popprison]

love this song and 2011 was an amazing year for pop 

femme fatale is one of her most entertaining albums ever.

production is peak on that one 

[Blackout2006]

I was in 9th Grade at the time in 2011, and still remembering 15-year old me being hyped up by the teasers which would eventually lead to this iconic music video 

[Midnight]

Was I the only stan who wanted to dye my hair blue after watching Britney's dancer ? 

What's his name always made me  everytime I saw him.

[Midnight]

By the way love this video and song, it's one of her best ever 

[PokemonSpears]

12 minutes ago, Blackout2006 said:

I was in 9th Grade at the time in 2011, and still remembering 15-year old me being hyped up by the teasers which would eventually lead to this iconic music video 

[britneyluv]

8 minutes ago, Blackout2006 said:

I was in 9th Grade at the time, and still remembering 15-year old me being hyped up by the teasers which would eventually lead to this iconic music video 

I do have to say that as out of touch her team tends to be, this was a brilliant marketing campaign. I remember awaiting those little teasers every day and if Britney were in a better place, I think the music video could have been epic. Jonas Akerlund came up with an incredible concept, but I can't help but think her team put up rocupcakess every step of the way. As it is, the video is quintessential Britney, but the whole era was marred by a lack of energy and overall dead appearance that admittedly improved over the course of the tour. 

I feel like the whole point of the video was that she was this unique alien specimen sent to Earth and while she originally thrived in front of all the cameras and limelight, it completely broke her until she triumphantly arose from the ashes to reclaim her rightly earned throne. However, while she may not have been in the same horrible place as 2007 - early 2008, the whole "BRITNEY HAS FULLY RECOVERED AND IS BACK BETTER THAN EVER" seemed to be more about gaslighting the fans and Team Colon patting themselves on the back rather than celebrating a happy and healthy Britney overcoming the odds and taking her career back with confidence 

[Guest]

I think this is one of her best songs, I love it so much. One of her best singles since GM and Circus. One of her best lead singles. I was so addicted to it in 2011. Its such a bop with an amazing production! 

[KrisJ]

Went to #1 globally and Britney went fishing in Kentwood 💅🏼🐟🐟🐟

[Soysaucechicken08]

I need more hold it against me’s type bops  in the near future from her😅😭😭😭

[breathe_on_me_toxic]

35 minutes ago, Midnight said:

Was I the only stan who wanted to dye my hair blue after watching Britney's dancer ? 

What's his name always made me  everytime I saw him.

no. same and same

[bas che]

Listening to HAIM was an ethereal experience. I just couldn’t believe how good it was.

Funny that it seemed to be the bigger hit from the FF era but the second single TTWE turned out to be a slow burner Success and eventually became the flagship of that era. It was also performed until 2017-2018. 
 

maybe the the dubstep in HIAM didn’t age so well? Idc though I love both ♥️

[breathe_on_me_toxic]

40 minutes ago, Midnight said:

Was I the only stan who wanted to dye my hair blue after watching Britney's dancer ? 

What's his name always made me  everytime I saw him.

after beeing discovered by britney he went on tour with madonna and others

[Frankie8]

I practically had a sore hand from hitting the repeat button.

It was like classic Britney updated to 2011. It was pure euphoria listening to it.

[Neydelinska Spearsi]

anyone remember this??

 

 

happy 10 yr anniversay HIAM! Hope the fish was delish!

[britney_rocks]

I love this song and video. I just hate how they had to use a body double for the paint scene. Britney could’ve easily done it. But we know our girl was not feeling that era 

[BlurredLover]

I can’t even believe it’s been 10 years!!! I remember having my first bf and rejecting anything gaga just to stan this lol I know super lame but inside out and hiagm mv were what saved my super fandom from the mortals ... 

[Blackout2006]

2 hours ago, PokemonSpears said:

I was checking if you guys would notice something was really wrong with the post

2 hours ago, britneyluv said:

I do have to say that as out of touch her team tends to be, this was a brilliant marketing campaign. I remember awaiting those little teasers every day and if Britney were in a better place, I think the music video could have been epic. Jonas Akerlund came up with an incredible concept, but I can't help but think her team put up rocupcakess every step of the way. As it is, the video is quintessential Britney, but the whole era was marred by a lack of energy and overall dead appearance that admittedly improved over the course of the tour. 

I feel like the whole point of the video was that she was this unique alien specimen sent to Earth and while she originally thrived in front of all the cameras and limelight, it completely broke her until she triumphantly arose from the ashes to reclaim her rightly earned throne. However, while she may not have been in the same horrible place as 2007 - early 2008, the whole "BRITNEY HAS FULLY RECOVERED AND IS BACK BETTER THAN EVER" seemed to be more about gaslighting the fans and Team Colon patting themselves on the back rather than celebrating a happy and healthy Britney overcoming the odds and taking her career back with confidence 

BritneyLuv and @Jitterbug, i thought yall would notice i was lying through my teeth because i am going to turn 15 this year  

Anyways, i did not know of the unreleased concept but it sounds so cool and even tho it would be amazing, we been knew it would not be authentic at all because Britney did not feel this era at all. Even in the Myah Marie Jean era she had more happiness