Looking back on "Mona Lisa"

[Urbanney]

I was just listening to Mona Lisa and thinking of just how "Britney" the song is. To this day, Britney likes to write stories that appear to be metaphors for her life on her Instagram posts, post photos of art that appear to symbolize her life, and create skits that make light of some of the things she's been through. And usually, the stories and artworks she posts are very fairy tale-like in symbolism. And here was Mona Lisa, 17 years ago, being a fairy tale-like song/story about a woman that appears to symbolize Britney:

Quote

Ladies and gentlemen, I've got a little story to tell

About Mona Lisa, and how she suddenly fell

See everyone knew her, they knew her oh so well

Now I am taking over, to release her from her spell

It's like a part 2 of "Lucky." Britney sings about other people needing to let go of Britney the picture-perfect popstar persona she has and finds it so urgent to release this song that she runs to a radio station to release it without her team knowing. Then, ironically, the song gets completely reworked for an official release where her vocals and production are neutered from the emotion that was in the version Britney released on her own, with changed lyrics, and a safer, more pop-sounding production.

It's just fascinating to see how Britney is largely the same person she was then with her metaphors, symbolism, and fairy tales, and how these power struggles over her career, creativity, and persona have been on-going even years before the conservatorship.

[OneLife]

I love this song... hope for more songs like this.

[Donavan Ward]

Britney will address it all in her book. She remembers everything. 

[s&m]

I don’t care about this song 

[Urbanney]

6 minutes ago, s&m said:

I don’t care about this song 

[AP4]

I remember when she went to KIIS Fm and released this. That was my go to station at the time and I was like wait omg! We need an official release of BRITNEY’S version because the one that was released isn’t the same at all. 

[Slayer]

Ugh, I love this song 

[Midnight]

This is a great song, very eerie though.

[GlitterRain]

Love this thread and this song! Thanks for sharing 

[thebritmaster]

Love the OP shows appreciation for the initial superior version 

[Matou]

She wanted to be free since 2004 (at least) it's crazy

Her next album is gonna be legendary

[nwonder]

I always imagined this kinda look if she ever did a video…

[jordeezy river red]

The vocal technique in this song reminds me a lot of "Hot As Ice"and "What You Need"

[Stannedforever]

Don't drag me for this, but for me this song is more interesting than Rebellion. 

I know that Rebellion has very creepy backstory (the mysterious death of the producer) and slightly creepier lyrics, but the fact that Britney went as far as going into radio station the get this song played. She clearly wanted to take control of her career, starting with this, following by her other self-recorded stuff, just to get stopped by her label. In a way it's symbolizes her fight against the industry. 

 

In my opinion JIVE did a damage control move when they released this song in chaotic. It would've probably become far bigger myth in the fanbase if it wasn't released (and reworked). 

[jordeezy river red]

2 minutes ago, Stannedforever said:

Don't drag me for this, but for me this song is more interesting than Rebellion. 

I know that Rebellion has very creepy backstory (the mysterious death of the producer) and slightly creepier lyrics, but the fact that Britney went as far as going into radio station the get this song played. She clearly wanted to take control of her career, starting with this, following by her other self-recorded stuff, just to get stopped by her label. In a way it's symbolizes her fight against the industry. 

 

In my opinion JIVE did a damage control move when they released this song in chaotic. It would've probably become far bigger myth in the fanbase if it wasn't released (and reworked). 

You are right. I think a lot of people didnt like the "Mona Lisa" vocals back when she leaked it...they didnt get it. Same as when the Cold as Fire demo was leaked. 

[BSfan4Ever]

On 07/09/2022 at 18:50, s&m said:

Je m'en fiche de cette chanson 

sorry ? 

[BSfan4Ever]

if only Original Doll would have been released... 

[Kletus]

Ok can we talk? Rebellion, Mona Lisa, etc. Are all trash. They aren’t produced well and have crap lyrics. They would’ve flopped tremendously. Let’s stop pretending otherwise. That is my OPINION.

[OneLife]

It's a shame that there wasn't a music video for this song, something like this could have been great.

 

[Style.]

This song is a masterpiece! I love it!