ARTIST: Britney Spears
TITLE: “Womanizer”
WEB DEBUT: Sept. 26, 2008
ONE-LISTEN VERDICT: “Womanizer” is a peppy, aerobics-appropriate bit of dance-pop that is directed toward a cheating guy who’s a total dog. Musically, it continues the “thrashy march” trend that’s seemingly dominating all of non-R & B-influenced pop these days. (Can someone tell me why this sound is all of a sudden everywhere? Do we have to blame Max Martin, or iPod fidelities, or what?) And Spears sounds actually engaged with the material on a vocal sense–although there are a few weird bits in the song, though, that sound like they were given over to the singer of the guide track. The spoken-word bits, in particular, sound… tougher, as if they were being performed by a woman who had dressed up as Little Mac for Halloween. No, really.
WHERE TO HEAR IT: Z100 has a stream.
@cassidy2099: I’m with you and your office, casssidy. This is flat, uninspired writing (repetitions pile up everywhere). Britney doesn’t have anything to work with here.
@cassidy2099: No, I’m with you on that one. I’m seriously not liking it.
It’ll probably grown on me after hearing it a dozen times or so… especially in a bar/club.
(But, then again, I have a terrible Britney radar: I still don’t understand the appeal of “Toxic”.)
“Womanizer” is a great song. Yes, it’s repetitious, but it’s the kind of repetitious that annoys until the 512th time you listen, then your head bobs along of its own accord.
I think the weird vocals (especially in the talky bits) stem from her vocals being underproduced, at least moreso than usual. There’s definitely a strong backing track in the verses, but the talking is all Britney…the real Britney.
Not as good as “Gimme More” or the other singles from the tremendous album that was Blackout, but a good sign of things to come from Circus nonetheless.
I am not going to lie to you guys. I love this.
An x-entertainment link! Awesome.
As for the ubiquitous sound: It’s Goldfrapp. The bulk of people who listen to records don’t listen to Goldfrapp, but people who produce records clearly do.
Continues in the snarling, electified vein of “Blackout,” and I’m a fan of these well-written little spoken-word type verses; oh, and this chorus is destined for 18-25-year-olds’ lips, and it’ll fit well. A success, and I’m a fan.
Don’t blame Max Martin for anything! The man’s a genius!
And this is catchy.
sounds lady-gaga-inspired.
it’s okay, but the voice really doesn’t have much “britney” quality to it. which is great in some respects… it’s pretty different for her.
@dyfl: Christina Aguilera’s new single is verrrrrrry Goldfrapp-inspired.
“Ooh Ooh Baby” pt. 2, which is no bad thing at all.
@hortense: Xtina’s new single IS “Ooh La La” right down to the cadence of the schaffelpop beat.
@borntohula: DON’T defame Britney by mentioning her awfulness here please.
Damn, this is good.
THIS is Britney, bitch.
I’m surprised I’m in the minority here. I’ve played this for people around my office and we have a rare consensus that this is the worst. Especially that chorus.
@CapnCalamity: I’m not sure you can say “but a good sign of things to come” as the Outsyders produced the track, which happened to be their first track ever produced.
I’d say since she’s working with the same producers as she did on Blackout, it’ll be just as good (if not better) than Blackout.