Britney Spear Album history

In February 2006, it was reported that Spears was "in the midst of recording her next album, which could surface later this year." According to People, Spears said "her new music could reinvigorate the current pop scene." Eleven months later, Spears revealed in a personal message on her official website that she was "working hard to release the new album sometime later this year."

American producer Sean Garrett first spoke of his songs for Spears in May 2006. Garrett described the tracks together as "some real crazy-ass stuff that the world is going to love." After Britney's personal troubles in the beginning of 2007, Garrett said "She will be coming back really strong, I promise," and that there are "a couple of bombs, instant party classics that we worked up then, and we are still feeling strong about them." Garrett also told People that the album's sound "is like 'Toxic' times 10." In July 2007, Garrett stated "I've got this one record I've been holding for 10 months that...will shake up the world. It's uptempo, out of control...produced by me and Bloodshy," and also revealed that "the record is done and definitely what people want to hear from her." (The song turned out to be "Toy Soldier".)

Jonathan "J.R." Rotem said that Spears had uptempo club songs, relationship songs "and everything in between." He later said of his work with Spears that his "goal is to try to one-up it." Rotem also revealed "there's some dance stuff; there's some slow, more introspective stuff; some club things."

In August 2007, it was revealed that the album's first single, the Danja-produced "Gimme More," would be going to airwaves.

The album was originally slated to be released on November 13, 2007 The release date was later brought forward to October 30, due to numerus unauthorized online leaks and to prevent any future illegal distribution of songs. Internet blogger Perez Hilton is being sued by Zomba Label Group for posting at least ten unfinished or complete tracks on his website.

There was confusion as to the album's title prior to an official announcement. Spears's website ran a competition for fans to vote for the album's title; however, none of those names were used. Several sources claimed "Piece of Me" was the album's title as well as second single. On October 5, 2007, a message was posted on Spears's official website confirming that the title of the album is Blackout. A spokesperson for Jive Records has said that the title and theme of Britney’s fifth studio album Blackout is about "blacking out negativity and embracing life."

On November 13, 2007, U.S. store Target released a special edition of Blackout with the bonus track "Outta This World", a bonus mobile wallpaper and ringtone.

Spears won "Best International Album" for Blackout at France's NRJ Awards in January 2008. Spears was not present to accept the award, so a representative for "Jive Records" accepted it on her behalf.

Britney Promotion

This is the first studio album for which Spears did not do any promotion prior to its release with the exception of her performance at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards. However, Jive posted the commercial for the album, which was in rotation on television and on its official YouTube page.

In addition to the official "Piece of Me" music video, the "Britney Spears Wants a Piece of You" contest, in which fans could create videos for "Piece of Me" single themselves using MTV.com's Video Remixer, began on November 30, 2007. The winning video aired on TRL on December 20, 2007. MTV, Jive Records, and Spears herself chose the winner.

Britney Spear's Track listing

Track listing

1. "Gimme More" (Nate Hills, James Washington, Keri Hilson, Marcella Araica) – 4:11
2. "Piece of Me" (Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg, Klas Åhlund) – 3:32
3. "Radar"(Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg, Henrik Jonback, Balewa Muhammad, Candice Nelson, Ezekiel "Zeke" Lewis, Patrick J. Que Smith) – 3:49
4. "Break the Ice" (Nate Hills, James Washington, Keri Hilson, Marcella Araica) – 3:16
5. "Heaven on Earth" (Michael McGroarty, Nick Huntington, Nicole Morier) – 4:52
6. "Get Naked (I Got a Plan)" (Corte Ellis, Nate Hills, Marcella Araica) – 4:45
7. "Freakshow" (Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg, Henrik Jonback, Ezekiel "Zeke" Lewis, Patrick "J.Que" Smith, Britney Spears) – 2:55
8. "Toy Soldier" (Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg, Magnus Wallbert, Sean Garrett) 3:22
9. "Hot as Ice" (T-Pain, Nate Hills, Marcella Araica) – 3:17
10. "Ooh Ooh Baby" (Kara DioGuardi, Farid Nassar, Erick Coomes, Britney Spears) – 3:28
11. "Perfect Lover" (Nate Hills, James Washington, Keri Hilson, Marcella Araica) – 3:03
12. "Why Should I Be Sad" (Pharrell Williams) – 3:10

Bonus Tracks

* "Outta This World" (U.S. Target and Japan Bonus Track) 3:44

* "Everybody" (iTunes and Japan Bonus Track)† 3:18

* "Get Back" (iTunes and Japan Bonus Track) – 3:51

* "Gimme More" (Paul Oakenfold Remix) (Japan Bonus Track) – 6:08

* "Gimme More" (Junkie XL Dub) (iTunes International Bonus Track) – 4:59

* "Gimme More" (Stonebridge Dub Mix) (iTunes Switzerland & Italy Bonus Track) – 7:23

Singles

* "Gimme More" is the first single from Blackout. Spears performed the song at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards on September 9, 2007. It was released earlier to radio stations on August 30, 2007 and as a digital download on iTunes on September 27, 2007. "Gimme More" became Spears' highest peaking single since "...Baby One More Time," having reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100. Since the release in September of 2007, "Gimme More" has been certified gold in the U.S.

* "Piece of Me" was released for radio airplays in the US and set as the second single off the album. The music video was shot on November 27, 2007 at Los Angeles restaurant and night club Social Hollywood. It debuted at number sixty-five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart mostly due to its digital download sales. Since the release of the "Piece of Me" music video, the single has risen to number eighteen. It has also reached number one on the Irish Singles Chart, number two on the UK Singles Chart, and number five on the Canadian Hot 100 so far.

* Although the next single has not been officially announced, "Millennium Dance Complex" owner stated that Spears is practicing a routine for the song "Hot as Ice". On the same day, X17online reported that Spears told photographers while leaving the studio that she plans to shoot a new music video for the song "Hot as Ice" and that she wants it to be "Something new" and fresh..

* Contrary to the media reports that "Hot as Ice" is the next single, a promo CD has just been released for "Break the Ice" and has been confirmed by her official website, Britney.com . In addition, the single has been steadily climbing the Mediabase chart, and is currently at number sixty-one.