Single Review: Britney Spears, Hold it Against Me

Reviewed by: Chris White

UK release ate: 20/02/2011

Skiddle Rating: 5/5

So we find ourselves at the start of a whole new era... a new image, new sounds, a new way of life in fact. I am of course referring to ‘the legendary’ Miss Britney Spears, and the release of her brand spanking new single ‘Hold It Against Me’.

Stories and rumours on what direction Brit’s new album would take have been flying around for the best part of a year now. Perhaps most exciting was the news that renowned Dubstep producer Rusko has collaborated with her on a number of tracks and has been waiting to hear if they’d made the cut. Erm, I’m sorry... Dubstep? Britney Spears? That just doesn’t work, does it.

Except that actually, it does. Completely. So ‘Hold It Against Me’; instantly you are smacked in the face by the relentless, thumping bass line with a slight electro tinge, which runs throughout the entire song. As we approach the chorus Spears purrs ‘If I said I want your body now, would you hold it against me?’, the bass lets up for this part but as soon as the last syllable has been pronounced, it’s back. BOOM.

So far, so excellent. But just as the second chorus has climaxed, things go a little quiet. What could be next? A warbling middle eight, giving us all a chance to regain our breath? Try the exact opposite. A DUBSTEP BREAKDOWN. And there we have it, Britney Spears giving us a big, fat, slice of dubstep, albeit with the obligatory gasps and moans Britney does so well.

This song could be exactly what Britney needs to regain her pop crown. In a climate of Katy Perrys, Ke$has and Lady Gagas, we needed something fresh, something new. And as many people seem to have forgotten, this is exactly what Britney does best. Bringing it. Think back to ‘Slave 4 U’, a wonky Neptunes-produced slutfest. Then ‘Gimme More’ - dark, atmospheric urban-tinged pop, with Britney’s unmistakable breathy vocals.

In the year touted as ‘Britney VS Gaga, with both ladies releasing their new albums, I’d say it’s pretty safely 1-0 to Miss Spears.