'Blackout' 15th anniversary week

[PokemonSpears]

 

On October 25, 2007, Britney Spears released her fifth studio album Blackout. The dance-pop / electropop record was executive produced by Britney, and recorded between 2006 and 2007. Other collaborators of the album were Danja, Bloodshy & Avant, Sean Garrett, Jim Beanz, Keri Hilson, The Neptunes, J. R. Rotem, among others.

• October 25 - Spain
• October 26 - Germany, Italy, iTunes
• October 27 - Australia
• October 29 - France, Poland, UK
• October 30 - US, Canada
• October 31 - Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden
• November 14 - Japan

Blackout incorporates Euro disco and dubstep influences and its lyrical content revolves around fame, ***, clubbing and the media scrutiny she was subject of during the time of its recording.

Though the album was scheduled for a November release, it had to be rushed released due to a leak of the tracks ahead of time.

In June, Britney had posted on her website a poll for the fans to choose the title of the album. The options were:

• OMG Is Like Lindsay Lohan Like Okay Like
• What If the Joke Is on You
• Down Boy
• Integrity
• Dignity

Ultimately, in October Jive Records announced that the album would come out in November and that it would be titled Blackout. According to Jive it “refers to blocking out negativity and embracing life fully.”

The album peaked at #2 on the US BB200, becoming Britney's first album not to reach the top position on that list. It was also #2 in France, Mexico and UK, but it did reach #1 on the European Top 100 Albums charts, as well as the Australian, Canadian and Irish lists.

Three singles were released off this album: Gimme More, Piece of Me and Break the Ice. Besides the VMA's 2007 performance, the album didn't receive more promotion except for phone interview with Ryan Seacrest for his radio show. No tour accompanied this album either, however, many of the Blackout tracks were performed during the Circus Tour in 2009, as well as subsequent shows of Britney.

She mentioned Heaven on Earth as a highlight of the album.

 

According to Ezekiel Lewis of The Clutch, Radar was also intended to be released as a single but was pushed back once she started recording new material (after being placed under the conservatorship).

In 2017, The Fader did an article for its 10th anniversary, where Britney commented about the album

Quote

Blackout was the first time I worked with Danja, and he gave me the opportunity and freedom to work with more urban sounds and influences. It really inspired me! I also got the chance to sing more and stretch my voice in ways I hadn’t done before. The magic of Blackout was actually pretty simple. It just wasn’t so thought out. I just did what I felt and it worked. Sometimes less is more I guess.

I still perform “Freakshow” in my Vegas show — it’s one of my favorite songs that was never released as a single. It’s so much fun and it gives me the chance to get the audience involved. Oh yeah — it’s sassy. And I love sassy!

Danja also shared his experience recording the album

Quote

I didn’t think about “pop music” while creating Blackout. I was into dance music and EDM at the time, but it wasn’t mainstream yet. I was just going to a club in Miami a couple of times to see the atmosphere. Everyone was bouncing around to Benny Benassi’s “Satisfaction” and Tiesto, literally in a trance. I was like, That’s it. If my music doesn’t make you feel like that, what are we doing? I didn’t think about anything other than bringing that essence to popular culture. [...]

There was not a lot of pre-planned thoughts while going into the studio — we were just going with the flow. We were able to create without any distractions, or anyone giving us any real direction. That’s why I think the part of Blackout that I was a part of ended up being what it is. We were free.

She might have been going through more in her personal life than what we knew at that time, and it got a little crazier when we were deeper in the project. But throughout the whole process, she was very present, attentive, and interactive. She was one of the easiest people to get things done with — she would sit there and sing no matter how many times we had her do it over, and just get it done.

You can read more of it here.

In an interview uploaded to Britney's official Youtube channel to promote Circus (released a year after Blackout), Britney is asked to compare both albums and describes Blackout as darker and edgier:

Quote

"The Circus [album] is a little bit lighter than, um, I think Blackout. I think a lot of the songs that I did at that time, um, I was going through a really dark phase of my life, so a lot of the songs reflect that. Um, but it's really interesting because I wasn't going on tour with that album, so I'm gonna have to bring some of those songs from that album onto this tour that I do, so I'm excited because it's gonna feel like so much new material. So um, I'm excited though, but they are two totally different vibes. I think this one probably has a lighter feel, like a little bit more POP in it, than Blackout. Blackout is a little bit more darker and edgier and, ah, a little bit more urban. "

 

 

In 2008, Blackout won Best Album award at the MTV Europe Music Awards, and also International Album of the Year at the NRJ Awards. In 2012, the album was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's music library. Limited edition vinyls and a cassette have been released in the past few years.

 

 

You can listen to the album here:

[Cqleb]

The world tomorrow:

RCA/Sony Tomorrow: 

[Emil87]

A literal MASTERPIECE that never gets old. Kudos to Danja, Bloodyshy & Avant, and everyone else involved, but mainly to Britney for executive producing her catchiest and most cohesive album to date during one of the darkest periods of her life. We love to see hear it!

[babyimmafreak90]

Still in regular rotation for me and as good as it ever was. Legend status. 

[britneymegamix]

This album is so Halloween 🎃

[BritneyStan88]

My most favorite album of hers. 
UO vinyl has a very special spot on my shelf. 

The  rumor has Britney is about to drop surprise anniversary reissue that comes with songs from the vault, 4 different cover versions and also some signed copies. 

[MasterMindz]

2 hours ago, PokemonSpears said:

OMG Is Like Lindsay Lohan Like Okay Like

never knew this before 

[Tear the floor up up]

The album that made 13-year-old me a STAN

[MissSpearsSaysSo]

Omg, I wasn’t able to buy in on release day (Oct 30th in US), so I had to get it on Halloween, the next day. It was such a surreal experience for me, my hand was shaking as I put the CD into my player, and I kinda cried.. Damn, every song is Still So Good.

[MikeHunt]

I don’t recall if it was the night that Gimme More was released or the week Blackout was released but I was at a gay club called Rage (now closed) in WeHo and Britney showed up with friends and was upstairs in a closed off area. I’m so happy I was grown enough (wasn’t 21 yet) to be in the clubs when Blackout was new. It hit so hard! And years later I was blessed to have been at another nightclub when Britney and Nicki Minaj showed up to debut Till the World Ends remix! 

[electricopop]

THE MOST ICONIC ALBUM OF ALL TIME!

[Ehju0901]

This whole era was so spontaneous.  I remember “Gimme More” and the “Hot As Ice” demo leaking before we even knew an album or anything was on the way.

Also, “Get Back” was originally meant to be the first single and there was a rumored performance planned.  It was compared to Chris Brown’s “Wall to Wall” at the time.

[MikeHunt]

11 minutes ago, Ehju0901 said:

This whole era was so spontaneous.  I remember “Gimme More” and the “Hot As Ice” demo leaking before we even knew an album or anything was on the way.

Also, “Get Back” was originally meant to be the first single and there was a rumored performance planned.  It was compared to Chris Brown’s “Wall to Wall” at the time.

I remember a lot of demos from BO were leaked by Perez Hilton but I don’t recall a Gimme More demo leak? 

[doomphantom1]

i remember getting goosebumps when i heard break the ice...i was surprised that every song on the album was that good...it's an amazing album and def her best.

[PokemonSpears]

 

[Adriannn]

MASTERPIECE 

[SlayOut]

4 hours ago, Tear the floor up up said:

The album that made 13-year-old me a STAN

Same here!

[SlayOut]

The album that truly changed the trajectory of my life

[i sometimes sing live]

The fact that none of her albums have gotten the anniversary edition treatment is insane to me. Artists like freakin' Marina and Ellie Goulding have started releasing anniversary editions at this point. Her team is just so behind on everything even when it's free money...

[Sia]

The nostalgia of it all! I remember seeing this when it was running:

https://youtu.be/ev6rK7tZi-c