Retrospective: Britney Spears’ Iconic “If U Seek Amy” Turns 10

Mike Nied | March 11, 2019 4:00 pm
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Britney Spears went through a creative rebirth with the release of Circus in 2008. One year after descending into the darkest depths of the clubs on her electro-kissed opus Blackout, the Princess Of Pop was back at her bubbliest on the new album. With its sing-along chorus and flashy video, lead single “Womanizer” surged up the charts and landed the icon her first #1 hit since “…Baby One More Time.” She had almost as much luck with the clever title track, which peaked at number 3. Both songs garnered no shortage of praise from the public. However, it was the LP’s third single – “If U Seek Amy” – that really got people talking.

For it, Brit linked up with frequent collaborator Max Martin. The Swede-pop genius crafted hits including her 1998 debut, “Oops!…I Did It Again” and the fan-favored “Overprotected.” Basically, the duo created pop perfection every time they stepped in the studio together. However, he hadn’t made the cut for In The Zone or Blackout. Thus fans were ecstatic for their reunion. Considering their track record for sugary sweet bubblegum bops, “If U Seek Amy” was bound to be another electrifying mega-hit. And it was. However, there is a slight surprise in the lyrics. The seemingly nonsensical title is a brilliantly disguised double entendre.

While masquerading as a senseless bop, the chorus amps up the raunch-factor after a closer listen. “Love Me, hate me, say what you want about me. But all of the boys and all of the girls are begging to if you seek Amy,” Britney coyly sings. She played up the seductive lyrics in the accompanying video. After opening with a dig at Fox News host Megyn Kelly, Britney is seen at home surrounded by a crew of dancers the morning after an orgy. Later, she goes through a quick wardrobe change before leaving the house to greet a crew of swarming paparazzi with an apple pie in hand (#ApplePiePromo, anyone?!).

The tongue-in-cheek video went on to become a viral success, which helped the track rocket up into the Top 20 on the charts. Ten years later, “If U Seek Amy” lives on as an iconic addition to Brit’s discography. Take a trip down memory lane and revisit the sexy banger below!

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