1. Toxic (2004)
USA BILLBOARD HOT 100: #9
UK SINGLES CHARTS: #1
From the Album: In The Zone
Why its Great: At a time when Britney hadn’t had a top 10 hit on the Hot 100 in the US for four years, this shot her back up into the upper echelons in her own country, as well as continuing her success around the world. Written by Cathy Dennis (my first childhood crush as it happens) who had had some success in the early ’90s with her solo work before concentrating on song-writing this is much like her debut song in that from the second it starts it’s instantly recognisable. This time it’s the almost Psycho-Esque strings that kick in almost immediately, indelibly imprinting themselves on your brain until you realise resistance is futile.
Although there are suggestions that the song was another one once earmarked for Janet Jackson, Dennis wrote the song with Britney in mind although she admitted the process was “sheer torture” in terms of making the words fit the melody. A fun video where apparent Flight Attendant Britney becomes Secret Agent Britney helped things along too, despite being banished to late night MTV in the aftermath of the Justin Timberlake/Janet Jackson Superbowl controversy.
Alternative Album Cut: Showdown – from the same album, once again written by Cathy Dennis and produced by the same team responsible for Toxic (Bloodshy & Avant) this is a minimalist pop song (i.e no real melody) that Spears nevertheless pulls off with aplomb.