Britney Spears 5th Album "Blackout"

Blackout is the fifth studio album by American pop singer Britney Spears, released by Jive Records on October 27, 2007. Spears began working on this album as early as February 2006, exploring into electropop, synthpop and techno. The album has also a more R&B/urban sound and recording with new producers such as Danja. Blackout was her first studio album in four years since 2003's In the Zone and is the first time Spears is the executive producer of one of her albums. The album's title refers to "blacking out negativity and embracing life fully". The songs on the album are thematically focused on sex, love and Spears' relationship–struggle with the media.

Blackout debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, becoming her first and so far only studio album not to debut at number one due to a last-minute rules change by the Billboard music association. According to the IFPI, the album was 32nd in terms of units shipped by the end of 2007.

The album's first single, "Gimme More", peaked at number one in the Canadian Hot 100 and became a top five hit in twelve countries. The second single, "Piece of Me", reached number one in Ireland. The final single, "Break the Ice", reached number one in the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play, making all the singles of the album go to the top position of at least a chart. All three songs frequently appeared on the lists that included the best records of the year. Even though initial critical response was mixed to positive, the album later won high critical acclaim and appeared on many lists that included the decade's best albums. The album was named the 5th "Best Pop Album of the Decade" by The Times, the 7th-best album of the decade on the Rolling Stones "The Decade-End Readers’ Poll", and the 3rd Best Album of the decade on the Billboard "Readers Poll", and won "Album of the Year" at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2008. To date, the album has sold over 3.1 million copies worldwide.


Singles
"Gimme More" was 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' first top 5 hit since "...Baby One More Time", reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100. Since the release in September 2007, "Gimme More" has been certified Platinum in the U.S.
"Piece of Me" was released as the second single from the album. The music video was shot on November 27, 2007, at Los Angeles restaurant and night club, Social Hollywood. It debuted at number 65 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, mostly due to its digital download sales, and peaked at number 18. It has also reached number one on the Irish Singles Chart, number two in Australia and on the UK Singles Chart, and number five on the Canadian Hot 100. The first live performance of "Piece of Me" was during The Circus Starring Britney Spears, where Spears dances in a Golden Cage.
"Break the Ice" was officially released for radio airplay in the U.S. on March 3, 2008, The song peaked at number 43 on the Hot 100. The music video for the song premiered on March 12, the first, of Spears' videos to be fully animated.
"Radar" was planned as the fourth single from the album but plans were scrapped since Spears had begun recording new material for her sixth studio album, leading to "Radar" being only released as a promotional single. The song was also included on Circus as a bonus track and was released as the fourth single from the album. Radar was first performed live at The Circus Starring Britney Spears tour.
Track listing
No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "Gimme More" Nathaniel Hills, James Washington, Keri Hilson, Marcella Araica Danja 4:11
2. "Piece of Me" C. Karlsson, P. Winnberg, K. Åhlund Bloodshy & Avant 3:32
3. "Radar" C. Karlsson, P. Winnberg, H. Jonback, B. Muhammad, C. Nelson, E. Lewis, J. Que Bloodshy & Avant 3:49
4. "Break the Ice" N. Hills, J. Washington, K. Hilson, Marcella Araica Danja 3:16
5. "Heaven on Earth" M. McGroarty, N. Huntington, Nicole Morier Kara DioGuardi, Freescha 4:52
6. "Get Naked (I Got a Plan)" C. Ellis, N. Hills, Marcella Araica Danja 4:45
7. "Freakshow" B. Spears, C. Karlsson, P. Winnberg, H. Jonback, E. Lewis, J. Que Bloodshy & Avant, The Clutch 2:55
8. "Toy Soldier" C. Karlsson, P. Winnberg, M. Wallbert, S. Garrett Bloodshy & Avant, Sean Garrett 3:22
9. "Hot as Ice" T-Pain, N. Hills, Marcella Araica Danja 3:17
10. "Ooh Ooh Baby" B. Spears, K. DioGuardi, F. Nasser, E. Coomes Fredwreck, Kara DioGuardi 3:28
11. "Perfect Lover" N. Hills, J. Washington, K. Hilson, Marcella Araica Danja 3:02
12. "Why Should I Be Sad" P. Williams The Neptunes 3:10