Criminal: Britney's biggest sleeper hit ever?

[Isla]

It went viral on TikTok so I think that’s helped with its stream count.

still wish it could have been a bigger hit at the time.

[Rachel Green Geller]

It's the best song on the album, the music video was great and she looked ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!

Criminal was criminally underrated for way too long. Gonna go stream it now.

[BrittonJeanSpears]

I love "Criminal", but let's be honest, there's two reasons why it went huge;

The soft-core ****o that is the music video (Jason's railing her in every surface imaginable, GOOD LORD)

And the song went viral on TikTok a few years ago when the medieval remixes trend was popping, since Criminal itself already kinda sounds medieval with the flute.

[BrittonJeanSpears]

5 hours ago, GlitterRain said:

How dare you!!!!! Criminal is iconic. I was rooting for you. We were all rooting for you 

edit: not me not having a single clue what a sleeper hit was and thinking it meant a flop song 

A sleeper hit just means a song that becomes bigger over time. Work B was the definition of a sleeper hit. The fans didn't like it at first, the song peaked at #12 in the Hot 100 and then PLUMMETED, and the video wasn't that well-received. But Britney kept doing interviews for it, skits for it, it showed up in like 20 tv shows in 2 months (including New Girl, which was huge at the time) and now it's considered one of her signature hits.

It created longevity for itself, which became legacy.

While Criminal did not have longevity, it is creating legacy.

[BeyonceIsQueen]

The song is chill but it’s nothing special tbh.  Video is entirely forgettable.  You will just have to deal

[Spicechinodiva]

Movies are sleeper hits..

 

The 1996 Slasher Scream that's a sleeper hit..

It opened at number 6, they thought it flopped, Wes Craven said oh no. It's a hit give it Time, he's right, it's now one of the best loved Horror film's seen as the one that gave the dying genre new life after the era of straight to video, and from I know what you did last summer to urban legend spun it's own cash in craze, but none as iconic or relevant as Scream.

 

We're getting a sixth film, name me another 90s franchise that's for adults and defined generation x and millennials pop culture as this was many millennials middle school first r Rated film in theaters, which British people are shocked I at 12 was allowed to see scream,I guess 18 is super strict can't even go with a guardian.

@Slayer 

So sleeper hit isn't a bad thing, I guess in music it just takes longer for word of mouth..

[Jaiden]

It was the most successful and radio played FF single in Brazil.

 

[SlayOut]

7 hours ago, GlitterRain said:

How am I supposed to know these terms  

Spend less time making so many threads and more time on dictionary.com  jk sis

[SlayOut]

OT, Criminal is criminally underrated!  I agree with @Isla and the role of a Tik Tok introducing the song to a wider audience!

[Goten21]

7 hours ago, MikeHunt said:

A few years ago when my niece was like 5/6 I heard her singing Criminal. I was shocked because it was a Britney song but an older song. I asked her how does she know that song and she played me this YouTube video with like anime art but criminal was made into like a creepy remix. And I don’t know what those kinds of videos are called but I guess they were huge with her age range. 
 

Then a few years later Criminal because a hit on TikTok because of some trend. Very cringey but hey it got Britney’s song exposure.

I think that’s why it has so many streams! The youth just keeps repurposing it and I’m here for it! 

Girl im sorry but how are you describing nightcore like that. And not u calling a tiktok boosted hit cringey. Sometimes I forget u guys are probably 30+

[Bboy1988]

The song is a unique bop and the Mv is pretty cool 

[Bboy1988]

28 minutes ago, Goten21 said:

Girl im sorry but how are you describing nightcore like that. And not u calling a tiktok boosted hit cringey. Sometimes I forget u guys are probably 30+

The shade for us 30+!🙃😭 lol

[WilderWein]

the video for that song.. it’s where Britney learned those unflattering weird handmovements she still does to this day. i guess it makes her feel like she’s moving / dancing a lot or something!?! 

[Duff Man]

The video is like a Netflix drama in 6 minutes..its entertaining.. britney is down to earth and humble..

Girls relate to britney in the video.  Sad but true.. in a generation raised by tictok and social media and reality tv, lines like "lets see that pretty little face huh..? Look me in the face and dont disrepect me' followed by britney crying as she puts on perfume then coming back with the line "so your not working the street corner tonight i see"

Its britneys most british themed music video.. in the sense Rihannas "we found love" was also very british..

It wasnt acknowledged much back then but todays generation seem to like the british theme.. it makes it relatable..

Everyone likes a bad boy ..especially in this day and age when everything's ****ed up and 16 is like the new 25

I think the song has long-term success because the Song has replay value  ..its a decent song.  The video is amazing.. and britney has a way to make it relatable 

[PinkBarbie]

I used to really like Criminal

I still do but the cringe TikToks kinda ruined it

[blackingouthenegativity]

3 hours ago, Goten21 said:

Girl im sorry but how are you describing nightcore like that. And not u calling a tiktok boosted hit cringey. Sometimes I forget u guys are probably 30+

It's ok, one day you'll figure out that TikTok sucks just like we did about Facebook and twitter

[BrittonJeanSpears]

7 hours ago, Goten21 said:

Girl im sorry but how are you describing nightcore like that. And not u calling a tiktok boosted hit cringey. Sometimes I forget u guys are probably 30+

I need to find this nightcore remix FR

[S jones]

Yeah! It’s a slow Hit! The song is amazing but got more exposure on streaming platform..thanks to TikTOk

[MikeHunt]

8 hours ago, Goten21 said:

Girl im sorry but how are you describing nightcore like that. And not u calling a tiktok boosted hit cringey. Sometimes I forget u guys are probably 30+

If you don’t consider this cringe, I question your judgment sweetie 
 

 

[Cancer]

It's one of the weaker song on that album. The flute, the melody...all grate on my ears.