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Radar (song)

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This article is about the Britney Spears song "Radar". For other uses of "Radar", see Radar (disambiguation).
"Radar"
Song

"Radar" is a song by American pop singer Britney Spears from her fifth studio album Blackout. The song was also included as a bonus track on her sixth studio album Circus. It was released on June 23, 2009 by Jive Records as the fourth single from Circus. The lyrics of the song refer to an attraction between the protagonist and a man, while she wonders if he knows what she is feeling. Produced and co-written by Bloodshy & Avant and The Clutch, "Radar" is an electropop song with usage of sonar pulses and synths. "Radar" received positive critical appreciation, with most reviewers calling it one of Blackout's highlights.

In the music video, directed by Dave Meyers, Spears is an aristocratic woman, involved in a love triangle with two men, who are polo players. "Radar" was performed for the first time on The Circus Starring: Britney Spears, which features Spears pole dancing. Radar has become a Top 40 EU smash peaking at number 32 in Ireland and 43 in the EU Singles Chart thus far. It peaked at number 9 in Germany also.

Structure and lyrics

Written by Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg, Henrik Jonback, Balewa Muhammad, Candice Nelson, Ezekiel "Zeke" Lewis and Patrick "J. Que" Smith and produced by Bloodshy & Avant and The Clutch, "Radar" is similar to Spears' Grammy Award-winning single, "Toxic", both of which incorporate influences of electropop, synthpop, and dance. In MTV's review of Blackout, "Radar" was described as:

... an electro/Eurodisco approach, but keeps Spears' vocals more in the foreground. Instead of emulating a video game, she's accompanied sparingly by sonar pulses and distorted synths to keep the sound dangerous, because she's on the prowl. 'I got my eye on you.' she speaks at one point. 'And I can't let you get away.'[3]

Single release and promotion

"Radar" was confirmed as the fourth and final single from Blackout on May 3, 2008 by the production team The Clutch. On June 11, 2008 Jive Records announced that the release of "Radar" had been cancelled since Spears had begun recording new material for her sixth studio album Circus.

In 2008, a promotional CD was sent off for international airplay and "Radar" was then included in playlists for Australian, New Zealand, Finnish, Swedish, Polish, Irish, and British radio stations. The song began to prove popular in their request shows and led to heavy rotation. Although not officially released as a CD single at the time, it charted in several countries due to airplay and strong digital sales.[4] Its highest chart position was number eight on the Swedish Top 60 Singles Chart.[5] The song also appeared on different U.S. Billboard component charts around the same time Blackout charted on the Billboard 200.[6]

"Radar" was officially released to U.S. radio stations on June 23, 2009,[1] but it has received airplay prior to that date. It has since peaked at number thirty-one on the airplay-based Billboard Pop Songs. In the UK, "Radar" was added to the B List of the Radio 1 Playlist in July 2009.[7] On July 27, 2009, "Radar" was chosen as single of the week in FHM. [8] To promote the song, a contest in DanceJam.com was announced. The contestants have to upload a video of them dancing to "Radar", and Spears and Jive Records will pick the winner. [9]

Critical reception

The track received mostly positive reviews. Blender magazine gave the track a positive review, stating it has a hook "most pop stars would kill for."[10] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic, an online music database, considered it "relentless," and was chosen as one of the album's highlights.[11] Allmusic chose it as a track pick from Blackout.[12] The Hartford Courant called it a "killer track" and considered it "club-ready" and "crackling."[13] Nick Levine of Digital Spy calls 'Radar' "pretty ace, one of the best examples of the robopop sound Blackout essentially invented, but its fresh-out-the-box sheen has long since faded."[14] Darryl Sterdan of Jam! calls it "a slinky electro-shuffle that works an old-school Fever groove, while the bleepy synths and fuzzy bassline update it for the Eurodisco crowd." [15]

Chart performance

2007

Mostly due to its digital download sales on the occasion of the official Blackout album release, "Radar" had a brief appearance on several U.S. Billboard component charts on November 17, 2007. While its host album debuted on the Billboard 200, the song charted at number sixty-eight on the Billboard Pop 100,[16] and at number fifty-two on the Billboard Hot Digital Songs.[17] The track was also listed on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart at number seven.[18]

2008

Although the physical release of the song was scrapped in 2008, "Radar" charted in several countries based on strong digital sales and airplay alone, surprisingly reaching high chart positions. On July 15, 2008, it debuted on the Irish Singles Chart on number forty-seven and peaked at number thirty-two on August 5, 2008.[19] On the Swedish Singles Chart, "Radar" charted at number forty-six on July 21, 2008 and peaked at number eight on the following week, surpassing the achievements of its predecessors "Piece of Me" (number nine) and "Break the Ice" (number eleven). On August 4, 2008 "Radar" remained at number eight, spending a second week in the top ten.[5]

On August 25, 2008, the song debuted on the Top 100 of the Australian ARIA Singles Chart. It spent eleven weeks on the chart, eventually peaking at number fifty-nine. At that time, "Radar" was Spears' lowest charting single in Australia, and the first not to get into the official published ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart.[20] On the New Zealand Singles Chart, the track debuted at number thirty-seven on August 18, 2008 where it stayed for two weeks before moving up to its peak position at number thirty-two.[21] It spent just five weeks on the chart.[22]

With the release of Circus and strong digital sales, "Radar" re-charted on the Billboard Pop 100 at number ninety-one on December 20, 2008, being listed for one week.[23]

2009

After being confirmed as the fourth single release from Circus in 2009, "Radar" charted or re-charted in several countries. It was stated by Billboard on June 10, 2009 that the Billboard Pop 100 chart was discontinued.[24] On its last official issue dated June 27, 2009, "Radar" re-charted on the Pop 100 at number ninety.[25]. The track returned to the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles on June 25, 2009 at number seventeen,[26] and climbed up to number eight on the following week. On August 06, 2009, "Radar" rose up to number two, surpassing its 2007 peak of seven.

On June 25, 2009, "Radar" also debuted at number thirty-five on the Mainstream Top 40 chart, making Spears the artist with the most Mainstream Top 40 chart hits since 2000 (21 tracks) breaking out of a tie she was in with U.S. rapper and singer Nelly (20 tracks).[27] As of July 2009, the revamped Billboard website lists the Mainstream Top 40 chart as Pop Songs.

On July 20, 2009, the song re-entered the Australian ARIA Singles Chart at number forty-six, beating its 2008 peak of fifty-nine, but only being within the Top 50 for one week.[28] "Radar" debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 103 on July 20, 2009. [29] Due to the absence of a physical release, the single peaked at #46 in the UK becoming Spears' lowest charting single there.

On August 19, 2009, "Radar" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number ninety and jumped two places the following week to 88. On the Canadian Hot 100, the song climbed from eighty-three to seventy-eight and on the US Pop Songs chart, the song moved three spots from number thirty-three to number thirty.[30]

Music video

File:RadarVideoBritney.png
Spears in the music video for Radar.

The music video was filmed on May 27 and 28, 2009 in conjunction with a Candie's photo shoot at the Bacara Resort & Spa just north of Santa Barbara, California, [31]directed by Dave Meyers,[32] who previously worked with Spears on her music videos "Lucky", "Boys", and "Outrageous". In an interview, he told MTV that the music video was inspired by Madonna's "Take a Bow". He also wanted to experiment with the video and show a different side to Spears, "I thought, 'It's not the first single [from Circus]. Let's be a little experimental and push to not have her around dancers,' " Meyers said. "I feel, I guess, that the videos are a chance for her to vocalize a sense of herself. The media tends to attack her, so I thought, 'Let's show the classy side of Britney and focus on a classy experience, very European-inspired.' And she's at the point in her career where I think this would be a nice step."[33] The video was officially released on July 2, 2009 on Spears' official Vimeo account and website.[34][35]

The video begins with Spears arriving at a polo club. She comes out from the car wearing a vest, jeans and sunglasses and starts singing while a man welcomes her. They walk past a barn, where another man wearing a wifebeater is sitting. They look at each other briefly and she starts to sing in a balcony, watching the second man with a par of binoculars. At the end of the first chorus, the first man comes and gifts her a necklace. Until the end of the second chorus, we see scenes of Spears singing and watching the second man as he gets ready. When the bridge begins, Spears arrives at the match wearing a white dress and a large hat, a reference to a scene in the 1967 film adaptation of "Anna Karenina". Spears looks at the second man and sings I got my eye on you, and I can’t let you get away. When the match ends, she leaves and the second man follows her. They flirt inside a hallway and leave. The first man notices her absence, walks into the hallway and sees her necklace on the floor. The video ends with Spears and the second man walking into the sunset.

Daniel Kreps of Rolling Stone called it "Spears' weakest video since "Gimme More", said the idea was unoriginal and compared it to a "a 30-second commercial for one of Spears’ perfumes". [36] OK! said it was "posh" and gave the video a positive review, and said it was a nice departure from her recent revealing videos. [37] E! Online said it was "different" from "Womanizer" or "If U Seek Amy" and that the lack of choreography helps for making a straightforward approach in telling the video's story.

Live performance

Spears performing Radar on The Circus Starring: Britney Spears world tour.

The song was performed for the first time in The Circus: Starring Britney Spears. It serves as the last song of the first act. The performance begins with an interlude, in which aerialists simulate a thunderstorm. They come down and go below the stage, while laser surround the main stage and Spears comes up wearing a sparkling bra, high-waisted shorts and high-heeled laced-up boots. She goes to one of the small stages at the beginning of the chorus, and poledances with her dancers around her. She then moves to the other small stage and repeats the same. In the last chorus, she comes to the main stage and performs with her dancers. She climbs onto a much longer pole when the song ends, and dances until the curtain comes down.

Track listing

CD Single[38]
  1. "Radar" (Main Version) — 3:48
  2. "Radar" (Tonal Club Remix) — 4:56
Digital bundle
  1. "Radar" (Main Version) — 3:48
  2. "Radar" (Bloodshy & Avant Remix) — 5:44
  3. "Radar" (Manhattan Clique UHF Remix) — 5:53
  4. "Radar" (Tonal Club Remix) — 4:56
  5. "Radar" (Tonal Radio Remix) — 4:00

Charts

Chart (2008/2009) Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart[39] 46
Canadian Hot 100[30] 65
Irish Singles Chart[40] 32
Eurochart Hot 100 Singles[41] 43
French Digital Chart[42] 44
New Zealand Singles Chart[43] 32
Swedish Singles Chart[5] 8
UK Singles Chart[44] 46
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[30] 88
U.S. Billboard Pop 100[30] 68
U.S. Billboard Pop Songs 30

Release history

From Blackout
Date Label(s) Format
July, 2008 Jive Records/Zomba Promo single
From Circus
Region Date Label Format
United States June 23, 2009 Jive Records/Zomba Airplay
Italy July 22, 2009[45] Sony Music Airplay, digital download
Europe[46] July 27, 2009
United Kingdom[47] Digital Download
Germany September 25, 2009[48] CD Single

Personnel and credits

  • Vocals: Britney Spears
  • Background vocals: Candice Nelson
  • Producers: Bloodshy & Avant
  • Co-Producers: The Clutch
  • Recording: Bloodshy & Avant, The Clutch
  • Engineer: Jim Carauna
  • Mixing: Niklas Flyckt
  • Bass and Guitar: Henrik Jonback
  • Keyboards, Programming, Additional Bass and Guitar: Bloodshy & Avant
  • Recorded at: Bloodshy & Avant Studios (Stockholm, Sweden), Sony Music Studios (New York City), & Palms Resort Peal Theatre Recording Studios (Las Vegas, Nevada)

References

  1. ^ a b http://gfa.radioandrecords.com/publishGFA/GFANextPage.asp?sDate=06/23/2009&Format=1
  2. ^ a b http://www.discogs.com/release/1546104
  3. ^ "Britney Spears' New Album, Track By Track - News Story, Music, Celebrity, Artist News - MTV News". MTV. October 12, 2007. Retrieved 2009-05-09.
  4. ^ http://www.nova100.com.au/site/new_music/playlistnovarated.aspx
  5. ^ a b c Sverigetopplistan (July 31, 2008). "Swedish Singles Chart". Swedish Charts. Retrieved July 19, 2009.
  6. ^ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.vnuArtistId=290150&model.vnuAlbumId=1196626
  7. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/playlist/
  8. ^ http://www.fhm.com/reviews/music/britney-fukkk-offf-mstrkrft-this-weeks-singles-20090729
  9. ^ http://dancejam.com/contests/britney/entries/new
  10. ^ http://www.blender.com/blender-blog/41731/werestilllisteningtobritneysalbum.html
  11. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wxfrxzlhldse~T1
  12. ^ [1]
  13. ^ [2]
  14. ^ Nick Levine. Britney Spears - "Radar" Digital Spy. Accessed July 29, 2009.
  15. ^ Darryl Sternan. Britney Spears - "Blackout" Jam!. Accessed August 9, 2009.
  16. ^ "Billboard Pop 100". Billboard.com. November 17, 2007. Retrieved 2008-05-19.
  17. ^ "Billboard Hot Digital Songs". Billboard.com. November 17 2007. Retrieved 2008-05-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ Billboard magazine (November 17 2007). "Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2008-05-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ http://acharts.us/ireland_singles_top_50/2008/32
  20. ^ http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20081020-0000/issue972.pdf
  21. ^ http://acharts.us/nz_singles_top_40/2008/36
  22. ^ http://charts.org.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Britney+Spears&titel=Radar&cat=s
  23. ^ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=396&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Pop+100&ci=3104757&cdi=10091222&cid=12%2F20%2F2008
  24. ^ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/chart-beat-bonus/chart-beat-pink-black-eyed-peas-shinedown-1003982023.story
  25. ^ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=396&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Pop+100&ci=3109289&cdi=10228666&cid=06%2F27%2F2009
  26. ^ http://worldofbritney.com/?p=4264
  27. ^ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/ask_bb/index.jsp?JSESSIONID=sThkKXGXVsGld59LC5KntGQp5jccNrQNDdLSc1RY2lV51Tz1QGTy!-1321088367
  28. ^ http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display.asp?chart=1U50
  29. ^ http://zobbel.de/cluk/090725cluk.txt
  30. ^ a b c d Billboard.com (August 2009). "'Radar' Current Charting Position". Billboard Magazine. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  31. ^ http://www.radaronline.com/photos/image/6957/2009/05/britneys-radar-video-set#image-load
  32. ^ http://www.britneyspears.com/2009/05/a-tweet-from-britney-6.php
  33. ^ [3]
  34. ^ Official 'Radar' Music Video
  35. ^ Britney Spears on Vimeo
  36. ^ http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/07/01/britney-spears-radar-video-barely-registers-a-bleep/
  37. ^ http://www.okmagazine.com/news/view/15377/Britney-Debuts-/
  38. ^ http://www.amazon.de/Radar-Britney-Spears/dp/B002I9T5AW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1249082822&sr=8-1
  39. ^ Australian Recording Industry Association (July 20, 2009). "Australian Singles Chart". Retrieved July 19, 2009.
  40. ^ Irish Recording Music Association (August 7, 2008). "Irish Singles Chart". aCharts. Retrieved July 19, 2009.
  41. ^ "Radar - Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 2009-06-26.
  42. ^ http://lescharts.com/weekchart.asp?cat=si&year=2009&date=20090815
  43. ^ Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (September 1, 2008). "New Zealand Singles Chart". New Zealand Charts. Retrieved July 19, 2009.
  44. ^ http://zobbel.de/cluk/090725cluk.txt
  45. ^ http://www.webmusicworld.net/wmw/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=66&Itemid=26
  46. ^ http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=323492849&s=143451
  47. ^ http://www.amazon.co.uk/Radar/dp/B002HRIW04/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1250431634&sr=8-1
  48. ^ http://www.amazon.de/Radar-Britney-Spears/dp/B002I9T5AW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1249082822&sr=8-1
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