CAN BRITNEY CONQUER A WORLD GONE GAGA?

Can Britney conquer a world gone Gaga?

 

The
last time we saw Britney Spears, her
‘Circus’ world tour was coming to an end in Australia. The mammoth live jaunt
had spanned nine months, three continents and 97 shows, bringing in over £80
million. But perhaps more importantly, it had also sealed the tabloid-battered
singer’s pop redemption.

Little of note has been heard from the US
singer since that last show in Adelaide in November 2009, save for official
confirmation that her global stardom was back on track. Six months ago, Forbes
produced their annual ‘Celebrity 100’ rundown, which listed Britney at six,
placed between U2 and Tiger Woods.

With estimated earnings of over £40
million and headline-grabbing figures across media platforms, this seemed like a
pretty good place to be. Or did it? Because not only did the poll confirm she
was, in fact, now only the third most powerful pop star on the planet but it
also highlighted a surely more significant trend.

Two places behind
runner-up Beyoncé at number four was Lady Gaga. Way
down the list at ten was Madonna, further confirming that the music landscape
she and Britney once dominated had changed forever. There is a new kid in town,
a development strengthened in the weeks and months since.  

With the
momentum of three years of solid touring behind her alongside the staggering
success of debut album ‘The Fame’, Gaga is now the world’s premier chart star
and she will look to cement that position in 2011 with imminent new album ‘Born
This Way’. But where does this leave Britney?

News emerged last week of a
new single, ‘Hold It Against Me’, and the demo soon followed. “If u think that's
good, wait ‘til you hear the real one Tuesday,” tweeted Britney ahead of today’s
official unveiling of the first track from her as-yet-untitled seventh studio
album, which you can LISTEN
TO HERE.

With the hype machine in full flow and Spears hoping to
steal a march on her formidable chart rival’s comeback, anticipation has reached
fever pitch. What can she do to remain relevant and perhaps win back her pop
crown? The answer is a bold, dynamic song that takes risks and will hope to be
rewarded.

Ahead of her new material, long-time collaborators Max Martin
and Dr. Luke made their intentions clear. The latter said he wanted her sound to
“get harder” and take it “a little more deep into electronic - grimier.” ‘Hold
It Against Me’ was leaked yesterday and the initial response suggests they have
been successful.

Although Spears has long since found her feet on the
dancefloor, this song is a particularly thumping club banger, all frazzled,
uber-fashionable Eurodance synths, complete with a hectic, Dubstep-inspired
mid-section, which is sure to get the critics onside. Happily, a memorable
chorus has also been bolted into place. In fact, lyric-wise, we’re in familiar territory. “If I said my heart was
beating loud, If we could escape the crowds somehow, If I said I wanted your
body now, would you hold it against me,” she moans in what is a promising
return. But is it enough?

With her dynamite live theatrics, ceaseless
ambition and outrageous, universally-lauded style, Gaga has arguably set a new
bar that ‘Hold It Against Me’ will struggle to live with. Or, as one of her
‘little monsters’ wrote online: “Bask in the glory of Brit's new single. The
excitement will die down on February 13. The true queen is coming, because she
was born that way.”

What do you think of Britney’s new single? Will
it be enough to reclaim her pop crown from Lady Gaga or is her turn at the top
over? Have your say below...