Britney (Bebo Norman song)
Encyclopedia
"Britney" is a song by American christian music recording artist Bebo Norman
. It was written and produced by Norman for his ninth studio album, the self-titled Bebo Norman
(2008), with additional writing by Jason Ingram. The song was released on July 28, 2008 through BEC Records as the album's first single. The inspirational
folk
song, is an apology to pop singer Britney Spears
for the consequences of fame and success. "Britney" was very well received by music critics, with some calling it sweet and not cynical at all, and noticing the song's sympathetic message to Spears. After its release, Lynne Spears
praised the song and thanked Norman for writing it. "Britney" failed to chart on Billboard Hot 100
. However, the song did managed to peak at number twenty-eight on the Hot Christian Adult Contemporary chart.
, after watching a news report about Spears on television. The song was later recorded and produced by Norman for his self-titled album
, with additional production by Jason Ingram and Rusty Varenkamp. When asked about the song, Norman said:
"Britney" is an inspirational
ballad with elements of folk music
, that lasts for three minutes and thirty-four seconds long. Josh Taylor of Jesus Freak Hideout
compared its structure to "Hey There Delilah
" by the Plain White T's
. The song was released on July 28, 2008 as a digital single on iTunes Store
, two months before the official release of Norman's album. Despite not being a Spears fan, Norman claimed "Toxic
" as one of the songs that he really liked.
called the song an "anthem of sorts". Deborah Evan Price of Billboard
said "Britney" has "a sympathetic message to the burnished pop singer." Josh Taylor of Jesus Freak Hideout
said, "the way in which [Norman] continually addresses Britney Spears just seems the least bit odd", but commented on how pleasant the song is. A review by Idolator
noticed "Britney" has "a melody that dares to be clear and pretty in ways emo bands [...] don’t usually dare," and commented how the song's "strongly sung" lyrics are "sweet [and] not cynical at all." The Denver Post
reported that after the song's release, Spears' mother Lynne
thanked Norman for writing the song, "because it was all she wanted to say to her daughter." On the week of September 19, 2008, "Britney" peaked at number twenty-eight on Billboard
Hot Christian Adult Contemporary chart.
Source:
Bebo Norman
Jeffrey Stephen "Bebo" Norman is a contemporary Christian musician from Columbus, Georgia, USA. His most successful album to date is Myself When I Am Real, which included hit songs "Great Light of the World" and "Falling Down". Other popular songs by Norman include "Disappear", "Nothing Without...
. It was written and produced by Norman for his ninth studio album, the self-titled Bebo Norman
Bebo Norman (album)
-Critical reception:Andree Farias of Allmusic said, "self-titled releases tend to make a statement of some sort, whether you're a newcomer, a veteran, or just a has-been gunning for a second chance. In the case of Christian pop troubadour Bebo Norman, his self-titled debut for BEC Recordings is...
(2008), with additional writing by Jason Ingram. The song was released on July 28, 2008 through BEC Records as the album's first single. The inspirational
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
song, is an apology to pop singer Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
for the consequences of fame and success. "Britney" was very well received by music critics, with some calling it sweet and not cynical at all, and noticing the song's sympathetic message to Spears. After its release, Lynne Spears
Lynne Spears
Lynne Irene Spears is an American author and the mother of pop singer Britney Spears and teen actress Jamie Lynn Spears.-Early life and family:...
praised the song and thanked Norman for writing it. "Britney" failed to chart on Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. However, the song did managed to peak at number twenty-eight on the Hot Christian Adult Contemporary chart.
Background and composition
"Britney" was written by Bebo Norman in the beginning of 2008 as an apology to the pop singer Britney SpearsBritney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
, after watching a news report about Spears on television. The song was later recorded and produced by Norman for his self-titled album
Bebo Norman (album)
-Critical reception:Andree Farias of Allmusic said, "self-titled releases tend to make a statement of some sort, whether you're a newcomer, a veteran, or just a has-been gunning for a second chance. In the case of Christian pop troubadour Bebo Norman, his self-titled debut for BEC Recordings is...
, with additional production by Jason Ingram and Rusty Varenkamp. When asked about the song, Norman said:
"‘Britney’ is a song about what our culture says and does to young women these days. It’s about the lies we tell them about fame and money and what’s beautiful and what will give them life. It’s an apology for those lies. But more than that, it’s an invitation to the truth about a God who is bigger than the pain this world so often leaves them in."
"Britney" is an inspirational
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
ballad with elements of folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, that lasts for three minutes and thirty-four seconds long. Josh Taylor of Jesus Freak Hideout
Jesus Freak Hideout
Jesus Freak Hideout is a Christian music website. The website specializes in reviewing, previewing, and selling Christian albums. The website is known for its album reviews, independent music, artist interviews, concert dates and ministry through devotionals and prayer...
compared its structure to "Hey There Delilah
Hey There Delilah
"Hey There Delilah", written by Tom Higgenson, is the third single released from the band Plain White T's 2005 album All That We Needed. In June 2007, over two years after the song's release, it became the band's first hit in the United States, eventually reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in July...
" by the Plain White T's
Plain White T's
Plain White T's is an American Pop rock band from Chicago, Illinois. Formed in 1997 by high school friends Tom Higgenson and Ken Fletcher, the group had a mostly underground following in Chicago basements, clubs, and bars in its early years, and underwent numerous personnel changes.The band is best...
. The song was released on July 28, 2008 as a digital single on iTunes Store
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
, two months before the official release of Norman's album. Despite not being a Spears fan, Norman claimed "Toxic
Toxic (song)
"Toxic" is a song by American recording artist Britney Spears, co-written and produced by Bloodshy & Avant, from her fourth album, In the Zone. It was released on January 12, 2004, by Jive Records as the second single from the album. After trying to choose between " Boom Boom" and "Outrageous" to...
" as one of the songs that he really liked.
Reception
Andree Farias of Allmusic highlighted "Britney" on Bebo Norman's album, saying, "the left-field stunner is "Britney", a poignant, heartfelt ode to the teen pop superstar that also serves as a sharp analysis of culture's make-or-break treatment of celebrities." The team of New Release Tuesday, "a popular music website in the Christian community", praised the song, with reviews saying, "["Britney"] is without a doubt one of Bebo Norman's best song's." A review by Lancaster Online called "Britney" a "hit song", and described it as "a compassionate look at someone damaged, but maybe not broken, by the relentless glare of the spotlight." Kim Jones of About.comAbout.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
called the song an "anthem of sorts". Deborah Evan Price of Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
said "Britney" has "a sympathetic message to the burnished pop singer." Josh Taylor of Jesus Freak Hideout
Jesus Freak Hideout
Jesus Freak Hideout is a Christian music website. The website specializes in reviewing, previewing, and selling Christian albums. The website is known for its album reviews, independent music, artist interviews, concert dates and ministry through devotionals and prayer...
said, "the way in which [Norman] continually addresses Britney Spears just seems the least bit odd", but commented on how pleasant the song is. A review by Idolator
Idolator (website)
Idolator is a music blog. Created by the blog network Gawker Media in August 2006, Idolator was later sold to rival blog network Buzz Media, which also owns music blog Stereogum. From the 2007 departure of original head writer Brian Raftery until November 2009, the blog's head writer was Maura...
noticed "Britney" has "a melody that dares to be clear and pretty in ways emo bands [...] don’t usually dare," and commented how the song's "strongly sung" lyrics are "sweet [and] not cynical at all." The Denver Post
The Denver Post
-Ownership:The Post is the flagship newspaper of MediaNews Group Inc., founded in 1983 by William Dean Singleton and Richard Scudder. MediaNews is today one of the nation's largest newspaper chains, publisher of 61 daily newspapers and more than 120 non-daily publications in 13 states. MediaNews...
reported that after the song's release, Spears' mother Lynne
Lynne Spears
Lynne Irene Spears is an American author and the mother of pop singer Britney Spears and teen actress Jamie Lynn Spears.-Early life and family:...
thanked Norman for writing the song, "because it was all she wanted to say to her daughter." On the week of September 19, 2008, "Britney" peaked at number twenty-eight on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Christian Adult Contemporary chart.
Credits and personnel
- Bebo Norman – vocalsLead vocalistThe lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
, songwriting, acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
, background vocals - Mike Payne – acoustic guitar, electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
- Adam Lester – electric guitar
- Jason Ingram – keyboards, songwriting, programmingProgramming (music)Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices, often sequencers or computer programs, to generate music. Programming is used in nearly all forms of electronic music and in most hip hop music since the 1990s. It is also frequently used in modern pop and rock...
, background vocals - Josh Moore – keyboards
- Tony Lucido – bass instrument
- Will Sayles and Ben Phillips – drums
- Rusty Varenkamp – programming
Source:
Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | July 28, 2008 | Digital download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
BEC Records |
| Canada | July 29, 2008 | Tooth & Nail Tooth & Nail Records Tooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in the U.S. state of California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington, where it is situated today... |
|
| France | BEC Records | ||
| Germany | |||
| Netherlands | |||
| United States |