If U Seek Amy

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"If U Seek Amy"
Single by Britney Spears
from the album Circus
Released March 10, 2009[1]
(see Release history)
Format CD single, digital download
Recorded 2008
Genre Pop
Length 3:37
Label Jive
Writer(s) Max Martin, Shellback, Savan Kotecha, Alexander Kronlund
Producer Max Martin
Certification Gold (ARIA)[2]
Britney Spears singles chronology
"Circus"
(2008)		 "If U Seek Amy"
(2009)
 "Radar"
(2009)
Audio sample
file info · help
Music video
"If U Seek Amy" at YouTube

"If U Seek Amy" is a song by American pop singer Britney Spears and the third single released from her sixth studio album Circus. The song was announced as a single by Spears's official website on January 7, 2009.[3] The track was co-written and produced by Max Martin, who also wrote previous hits for Spears, including "...Baby One More Time", "Oops!... I Did It Again" and "Stronger".

Contents

[edit] Reception

Billboard's review called it a "slice of indisputable pop mojo" and "a stomping dance floor beat with building synths prodding the song along."[4]

Rolling Stone called the song "a saucy, swinging standout."[5] Allmusic said the song is:

. . . a Katy Perry-styled exercise in crass commercial carnality that is at once the best and worst song here. Best because Max Martin once again works his undeniable pop magic, turning this into a trashy stomper that feels inevitable and eternal, working against any sense of taste or decorum, something that the lyrics work overtime to undercut as they insist that all the boys and all the girls still want to F, U . . . well, spell it and you'll get the picture, and if you don't, Britney's elocution will paint it for you. This sexy strut doesn't work because Britney's sexiness never was this explicit; she teased and hinted, at least in her music, and it feels wrong to have her be so nakedly vulgar here. Still, it was a necessary move, a way to stir up headlines and perhaps snatch the tabloid tiara from Katy's head.[6]

Entertainment Weekly called it "puerile" and that "it'll be a middle-school sensation."[7] The Guardian said "If U Seek Amy" is a better pun than it is a song, but there's a relish about her delivery of the chorus — "all the boys and all the girls are begging to F-U-C-K me" — that's noticeably lacking elsewhere."[8] USA Today said "If U Seek Amy" mocks onlookers' morbid fascination with the downward spiral of celebrities.[9] The Independent gave the song a negative review, writing: "If You Seek Amy is crass: the entire song is simply an excuse for Spears to sing 'All of the boys and all of the girls want to F-U-C-K me,' about as cheap as sensationalist outrage gets."[10]

[edit] Lyrical content and edited single

"If U Seek Amy" has caused controversy in some regions due to its use of a double entendre in the chorus, which can be interpreted as "all the boys and all the girls are begging to F-U-C-K me."[8] Australian music site Undercover.com.au quoted parents as saying, "I was astonished and totally taken aback when I heard my 5 and 7 year old kids walking around the house singing 'F-U-C-K' ... When I asked them what it was, they told me it was Britney Spears. I was horrified."[11] Rolling Stone defended Spears, arguing that parents should have been aware of the singer's musical themes.[12] The Parents Television Council, a private media watchdog group, cautioned radio stations and cable music channels about broadcasting the music video for this song for the same reason.[13]

Due to this reaction, a new radio edit was created titled "If U See Amy."[14] This edit takes out the 'k' in 'seek' and cuts part of the chorus, therefore running thirteen seconds shorter than the original version. "If U See Amy" version was released to US radio. The amended version was released in the UK in May.[14] While the song has not officially been renamed or released in Australia, some radio stations, such as those belonging to the Austereo Radio Network, play the censored version, while others continue to play the uncensored.[15] Both the music video and the international radio single remain "If U Seek Amy."[16]

[edit] Chart performance

According to Nielsen SoundScan, "If U Seek Amy" sold over 107,000 digital copies within two weeks of the album's release,[17] which propelled the song to enter the Hot 100 at eighty-six on the release week of the album. The song re-entered the chart at number ninety-four on the chart week of March 7, 2009, and peaked at number nineteen on May 09, 2009.[18] In Australia, the song debuted on the chart at number forty-nine on February 16, 2009,[19] and moved to a peak position of eleven.[20] The song was certified Gold, selling over 35,000 copies.[21]

In New Zealand, "If U Seek Amy" debuted at number thirty-eight on March 16, 2009, jumping to number twenty-eight the following week. The song peaked at number seventeen and spent just six weeks on the chart.[22] "If U Seek Amy" entered the UK Singles Chart at number forty-five on April 6, 2009 due to its rising digital sales. After its physical release the track peaked at number twenty on May 11, 2009.[23]

In Canada the song debuted at eighty-eight on December 20, 2008,[24] that being the same week the album was released. It returned on February 14, 2009 at eighty-six before getting to thirteen, where it finally peaked on April 4, 2009.[25][26]

[edit] Music video

Spears standing with a pie in the '50s inspired scene of the music video for "If U Seek Amy".

Filming for the video began on February 7, 2009, and was directed by Jake Nava, who previously worked with Spears for her 2004 music video "My Prerogative".[27] The "If U Seek Amy" video also contains references to other Spears videos.[28] The music video premiered on March 12, 2009 on both Virgin Mobile's official website and Spears's official websites.[28][29]

The video starts off with a news anchor saying the title of the song above a news banner that reads "Britney Spears song lyrics spell out obscenity in disguise," a parody of an America's Newsroom report by Megyn Kelly. It then skips to a house, in which a party is coming to an end. Spears gets up from the bed to sing the first verse. After looking out the window, she dances with other party goers as the chorus starts. She is looking around for Amy while she is singing and begins to dance with four other female dancers dressed in cheerleading outfits. In this alter ego she is wearing a pair of bespoke red petal Christian Louboutin pumps and a black sleeveless top.

All the guys are watching them dance until the screen fades to white and Britney begins to change into a conservative '50s-style outfit including a Lacoste polo shirt, white skirt, and white heels. As the chorus begins again, she comes out of her bedroom. She walks down the stairs where a woman gives her a potholder, which she uses to pick up a pie. She then takes the pie outside to be joined by her seemingly conservative-looking children and husband. As they go down the walkway, they are surrounded by paparazzi who have no idea what goes on behind closed doors. While the kids and husband wave, Spears smiles for the camera and blows a kiss. The video then ends with the news anchor saying, "It doesn't make any sense, does it?"

As of 16th July,The music video for “If U Seek Amy,” third single off Circus, has a new record in Greece as it remains the #1 ranking of the best music videos on MTV for 12 solid weeks.

[edit] Track listing

US Promo CDR

  1. "If U Seek Amy" (Radio Edit) — 3:37
  2. "If U Seek Amy" (Main Version) — 3:36
  3. "If U Seek Amy" (Instrumental) — 3:30
  4. "If U Seek Amy" (Clean Acapella) — 3:36
  5. "If U Seek Amy" (Dirty Acapella) — 3:37
UK/Australian CD Single[30]
  1. "If U Seek Amy" (Main Version) — 3:30
  2. "Circus" (Joe Bermudez Radio Remix) — 3:43

US Promo CD

  1. "If U See Amy" (US Radio Edit) — 3:20

German Premium Maxi CD[31]

  1. "If U Seek Amy" (Main Version) — 3:38
  2. "If U Seek Amy" (Bimbo Jones Radio Remix) — 2:57
  3. "If U Seek Amy" (Crookers Remix) — 4:29
  4. "If U Seek Amy" (U-Tern Remix) — 6:10
  5. "If U Seek Amy" (Music Video)

Digital EP - The Remixes [32]

(Released: June 2, 2009)

  1. "If U See Amy" (Crookers Remix) — 4:29
  2. "If U Seek Amy" (Mike Rizzo Funk Generation Club Mix) — 7:52
  3. "If U Seek Amy" (Weird Tapes Club Mix) — 5:15
  4. "If U Seek Amy" (Junior Vasquez Big Room Mix) — 9:43
  5. "If U Seek Amy" (U-Tern Remix) — 6:10
  6. "If U Seek Amy" (Doug Grayson Club Mix) — 5:18

[edit] Charts

Charts Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart[20] 11
Austrian Singles Chart[33] 34
Belgian Singles Chart (Flanders)[34] 16
Belgium Singles Chart (Wallonia)[35] 8
Canadian Hot 100[36] 13
Danish Singles Chart[37] 23
German Singles Chart[38] 36
Irish Singles Chart[39] 11
Israeli Singles Chart[40] 3
New Zealand Singles Chart [41] 17
Swedish Singles Chart[42] 13
Swiss Singles Chart[43] 61
Turkey Top 20 Chart[44] 6
UK Singles Chart[45] 20
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[18] 19
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[46] 16
U.S. Billboard Pop 100[47] 9
Certifications
Country Certification Sales
Australia Gold[48] 35,000+

[edit] Release history

Region Date Label Format
United States March 10, 2009 Jive Records/Zomba Radio[1]
June 2, 2009[49][50] CD single
Australia March 16, 2009 Sony BMG CD single[30]
Italy Digital download[51]
United Kingdom May 4, 2009 CD single,[52] digital download[53]
Germany May 29, 2009 CD single,[54] digital download[55]

[edit] Credits

  • Written by Max Martin, Shellback, Savan Kotecha, Alexander Kronlund
  • Produced by Max Martin
  • Lead & Background Vocals by Britney Spears
  • Additional Background Vocals by Max Martin, Kinnda
  • All Programming by Shellback & Max Martin
  • Recorded by Seth Waldmann at Conway Studios & Sunset Studios, Los Angeles, CA
  • Additional Recording at Maratone Studios, Stockholm, Sweden. Assisted by Eric Eylands
  • Mixed by Serban Ghenea at MixStar Studios, Virginia Beach, VA
  • Additional Pro-Tools Engineering by John Hanes. Assisted by Tim Roberts

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "CHR - Available for Airplay". FMBQ.com. 2008-02-28. http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16691. Retrieved on 2008-02-28. 
  2. ^ http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display_singles.asp?chart=1U50
  3. ^ "Britney Spears Announces Controversial Third Single". Access Hollywood. 2009-01-07. http://www.accesshollywood.com/britney-spears-announces-controversial-third-single_article_12920. Retrieved on 2008-01-08. 
  4. ^ "Circus Album Reviews". Billboard (magazine). 2008-12-12. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/reviews-singles/if-u-seek-amy-1003956184.story. Retrieved on April 04, 2009 ET. 
  5. ^ "Circus Album Reviews". Rolling Stone. 2008-12-12. http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/britneyspears/albums/album/24358115/review/24597794/circus. Retrieved on 2008-11-30. 
  6. ^ Allmusic.com review of If U Seek Amy
  7. ^ Entertainment Weekly review
  8. ^ a b Britney Spears: Circus review
  9. ^ USA Today review of Circus
  10. ^ The Independent review of Circus
  11. ^ Cashmere, Paul (2008-12-05). "Parents Outraged by Britney Spears Song". Undercover.com.au. http://undercover.com.au/News-Story.aspx?id=7081. Retrieved on 2009-04-29. 
  12. ^ "Britney News : Song Title Angers Parents, First Husband goes to Jail". Rolling Stone. 2008-12-05. http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/12/05/britney-news-song-title-angers-parents-first-husband-goes-to-jail/. Retrieved on 2008-01-08. 
  13. ^ Eggerton, John (2009-01-21). "PTC Cautions Media About Britney Spears Song". Broadcasting & Cable. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/162504-PTC_Cautions_Media_About_Britney_Spears_Song.php. Retrieved on 2009-01-21. 
  14. ^ a b Adams, Guy (2009-01-21). "Britney forced to rerecord 'sexually offensive' song". New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10552846. Retrieved on 2009-04-29. 
  15. ^ "Explicit Britney Spears, Lily Allen songs leave Oz parents livid". Asian News International. 2009-04-05. http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/entertainment/explicit-britney-spears-lily-allen-songs-leave-oz-parents-livid_100175786.html. Retrieved on 2009-04-29. 
  16. ^ Britney Spears renames 'If U Seek Amy'
  17. ^ Parents TV Council protests Britney songBillboard.com
  18. ^ a b http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+Hot+100&pageNumber=Top+11-50&g=Singles
  19. ^ "The Fray hold on to the top". Australian Recording Industry Association. acharts.us. February 16, 2009. http://acharts.us/australia_singles_top_50/2009/08. Retrieved on 2009-03-13. 
  20. ^ a b http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display.asp?chart=1U50
  21. ^ Australian ARIA Gold Certification
  22. ^ http://charts.org.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Britney+Spears&titel=If+U+Seek+Amy&cat=s
  23. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/singles.shtml
  24. ^ "Poker Face continues to rule the charts". Billboard. acharts.us. December 20, 2008. http://acharts.us/canadian_hot_100/2008/51. Retrieved on 2009-03-12. 
  25. ^ "Lady Gaga moves to the top again". Billboard. acharts.us. February 14, 2009. http://acharts.us/canadian_hot_100/2009/07. Retrieved on 2009-03-13. 
  26. ^ "Karl Wolf rises with Afrika". Billboard. acharts.us. March 21, 2009. http://acharts.us/canadian_hot_100/2009/12. Retrieved on 2009-03-13. 
  27. ^ "Earlier Filming Date Scheduled". Britney.com. February 2, 2009. http://www.britney.com/us/blog/earlier-filming-date-scheduled-britney-if-u-seek-amy-music-video-shoot. Retrieved on 2009-05-08. 
  28. ^ a b Montgomery, James (March 12, 2009). "Is Britney Spears' 'If U Seek Amy' Her Best Video Ever?". MTV News. MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1606882/20090312/spears_britney.jhtml. Retrieved on 2009-03-12. 
  29. ^ "Virgin Mobile USA to Debut Britney Spears' New Music Video". Virgin Mobile. MSNBC. March 10, 2009. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29617255/. Retrieved on 2009-03-12. 
  30. ^ a b http://www.bigwentertainment.com.au/product/if_u_seek_amy_3371346_8571.html
  31. ^ http://www.amazon.de/If-U-Seek-Amy-Premium/dp/B0026IZUD6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1241641048&sr=8-1
  32. ^ http://www.britney.com/us/blog/if-u-seek-amy-remix-ep-itunes-62/item.html
  33. ^ [1]
  34. ^ http://www.ultratop.be/nl/weekchart.asp?cat=s
  35. ^ http://www.ultratop.be/fr/weekchart.asp?cat=s
  36. ^ [2]
  37. ^ [3]
  38. ^ German Singles Chart
  39. ^ Irish Singles Chart
  40. ^ Israeli Official Singles Chart
  41. ^ Charts.org.nz: 'If U Seek Amy' Profile
  42. ^ Swedish Single Charts
  43. ^ [4]
  44. ^ Turkey Top 20 Chart Retrieved on 2009-04-20
  45. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/singles.shtml
  46. ^ Hot Dance Club Play Billboard.com. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
  47. ^ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/chart_display.jsp?g=Singles&f=Pop+100
  48. ^ [5]
  49. ^ http://www.britneyspears.com/2009/06/official-if-u-seek-amy-remix-ep.php
  50. ^ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/discography/index.jsp?pid=290150&aid=1257372
  51. ^ http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=308182976&s=143450
  52. ^ http://www.amazon.co.uk/If-Seek-Amy-Britney-Spears/dp/B001U3N3U0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1238882681&sr=8-2
  53. ^ http://www.radio1.gr/music/forthcoming_uk_singles.htm
  54. ^ http://www.amazon.de/If-U-Seek-Amy-Premium/dp/B0026IZUD6/
  55. ^ http://www.musicload.de/album/5063524_2/britney-spears/if-you-seek-amy-remixes/item.html

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Britney Spears
Studio albums
...Baby One More Time (1999) · Oops!... I Did It Again (2000) · Britney (2001) · In the Zone (2003) · Blackout (2007) · Circus (2008)
Compilations
EPs
Film and television
DVDs
Tours
Related topics
v • d • e
Britney Spears singles
...Baby One More Time
Oops!... I Did It Again
Britney
In the Zone
Greatest Hits: My Prerogative
Britney & Kevin: Chaotic
Blackout
Circus
"Womanizer" · "Circus" · "If U Seek Amy" · "Radar"
Promotional releases
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_U_Seek_Amy"
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