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Piece of Me

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"Piece of Me"
Song


"Piece of Me" is a song written by Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg, and Klas Åhlund and recorded by American singer Britney Spears. It is the second single (except in France where it hasn't been released) from Spears' fifth studio album Blackout. The song was very successful, peaking inside the top ten in most countries it charted, and reaching number one in Ireland and Brazil. It was also successful in clubs, reaching number one in various Dance Club Play charts, including Billboard's in the United States and in Australia.

The song received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics, citing its introspective content and for her response to the media.

Background

"Piece of Me" was written by Swedish songwriters Bloodshy & Avant duo, Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg, and Klas Åhlund for Spears's fifth studio album, Blackout. Although Spears was not credited as writer of the song, her A&R rep, Teresa LaBarbera Whites, stated that she was involved in the songs and how they turned out.[1] The song was recorded in response to the constant media scrutiny and sensationalization of her private life. In a radio interview with Ryan Seacrest, Spears said of the song: "wherever you go there's a lot of people who ask questions and sometimes you don't know their intentions and stuff like that. So, it's kind of a cute way of putting it out there you know like, 'You want a piece of me', you know in a cool, cute and clever way. It's a cute song... I like it."[2] Swedish pop singer Robyn is featured on background vocals. The track was produced by Bloodshy & Avant, who produced Spears' Grammy Award-winning single "Toxic".

Composition

Template:Sound sample box align left Template:Multi-listen start Template:Multi-listen item Template:Multi-listen end Template:Sample box end "Piece of Me" is a pop-groove song performed in a three minutes and thirty-two seconds duration, and is 115 BPM. It is composed in the key of C# minor,[3] and is set in common time; in 4/4 count.[3] The melody runs through a down-tempo dance beat, and highlights loud '80s-influenced synth and sex tape audio samples (as to represent the typical celebrity scandal).[4] Spears's voice is heavily synthesized[5] and constantly shifts in pitch.[6] The track consists of over-the-top vocal distortions which caused a split sound effect, making it difficult to discern which voice is Spears'.[7] It has a dominating sounds of squelching series of beats and bleeps, introduced in the sludgy bassline beginning of the melody. Background vocals for Piece of Me were performed by Robyn. The song has a background of Middle Eastern-like percussion finger cymbals.

"Piece of Me" is constructed in the common verse-chorus pattern. The lyrics are written like a biography retelling Spears's mishaps, sung in nearly spoken manner.[4] "Piece of Me" starts with a pre-verse before its main verse. The chorus repeatedly ask "You want a piece of me?" which slightly changes in melody to "You wanna piece of me?".[8] There are also rhyming lyrics of "rich and famous" with "shameless" in the chorus. The producers chimes in when she sings "Extra! Extra!". A new pre-verse and verse is created after the first chorus.[9] The bridge follows after the second chorus using the same lyrics in the first pre-verse. "Piece of Me" ends in a repeated chorus.

Release and cover artwork

"Piece of Me" was officially released on January 7 2008 in the U.S. and the UK[10][11], but had already received radio airplay before then.

An alternate cover for the CD single which features images of Spears's fans making up the main image of her in a montage form. Fans that had signed up for Sony BMG UK Britney Spears updates received the e-mail informing them. The cover was revealed on January 4, 2008.[12]

Reception

Prior to the release of Blackout, "Piece of Me" was among the critically praised and recommended of the album's tracks. Margeaux Watson of Entertainment Weekly praised "Piece of Me" stating it "is a rump shaker that finds Spears venting".[13] Chuck Taylor of Billboard said that "the song drips and drools '80s synths, alongside a drowsy midtempo clip, as Brit sings in a heavily layered near-monotone."[14] Bill Lamb from about.com wrote that the song is brilliant, and is one reason to listen to Blackout.[15] Kelefa Sanneh of New York Times defined "Piece of Me" as: "[a song] introduced by a sludgy bass line, Ms. Spears waxes defensive, in a heavily synthesized voice that's the main (and sometimes only) instrument."[5] Alex Fletcher of Digital Spy noted that the song's "fat, squelching series of beats and bleeps", is "an electro-thudding cry of defiance".[16] Jennifer Vineyard reported that "Spears' mission statement of sorts, finds the singer so vocoder-ized that it's hard to tell where the real Britney begins and ends — which is part of the point."[1]

"Piece of Me" gained attention from critics for its introspective content. Kelly Oliver-Hornyak of The Lantern, a student publication of Ohio State University, found "Piece of Me" a matured version of Spears's 2000 single "Stronger, noting that "she has dealt with her family in the spotlight and a divorce rather than her teenage break-ups."[17] Bill Lamb commented that "Britney Spears answers all of the critics directly, forcefully, and fearlessly", giving the song four and a half stars out of five.[18] Melissa Maerz of Rolling Stone referred to it as "tabloid-bashing banger" and a "must hear song",[19] while including it in their annual "100 Best Songs of the Year" at number fifteen.[20] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of All Music Guide commented that Bloodshy & Avant "try desperately to craft a defiant anthem for this tabloid fixture".[21]

Music video

The music video was filmed on November 27 and November 28, 2007 at an exclusive Hollywood nightclub and restaurant, Social Hollywood.[22] It was directed by Wayne Isham, who had previously worked with Spears in the video "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman" and in the international Pepsi commercial campaign in 2002.[22] On November 30, 2007, the "Britney Spears Wants a Piece of You" contest was launched in which fans can make videos of "Piece of Me" themselves using MTV's Video Remixer.[1][23] The clips used was the images of Spears over the years including interviews, red-carpet appearances and performances.[1] MTV, Jive Records and Spears chose the winner and the winning video aired on Total Request Live on December 20.[23]

People posted a sneak preview of the video on December 13, 2007.[24] MTV premiered the video on December 14.[25]

File:Piece of Me music video by Britney Spears.jpg
Britney Spears dancing in a luxurious restroom for the video.

The music video for "Piece of Me" follows a paparazzi theme.[22] The clip begins with a group of paparazzi taking pictures outside a residential area of Spears bemoaning her exposed bottom and wiggles it for all to see while various blonde girls are changing clothes and playfully dancing. Spears shows in front of a multi-colored illuminated background wearing a brown-fur vest, black bra and destroyed jeans. Scenes with Spears tearing negative tabloid covers down and creating positive ones are interpolated in the video. Spears later joins the other girls who have changed into matching blonde-bob wigs, dark sunglasses, and black trench coats as they enter a car being hounded by paparazzi. The girls make it to the party and exit the car in different clothes. Inside the party, a rogue paparazzi joins the girls in the bathroom but Spears spotted him at the end . The girls are seen back at the apartment watching an entertainment news where the "Britney invasion" from earlier is reported. The final scene shows a close up of Spears's face smirking.

The international version includes scenes of Britney with a short blonde wig at the beginning, and different scenes towards the end of the video.[citation needed]

The music video for "Piece of Me" has been viewed over 40 million times on popular video-sharing website YouTube, becoming her most viewed music video on the website, the 21st most viewed ever and the 13th most discussed of all time.[citation needed]

It also performed well in the Latin MTV's Show, Los 10+ Pedidos, peaking at number one several times.[citation needed]

Chart performance

"Piece of Me" debuted on November 17, 2007 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 at number sixty-five,[26] as well as at number thirty-seven on the Canadian Hot 100.[27] After the release of the single's music video, "Piece of Me" climbed up the charts. On January 5, 2008, the single rose to number twenty-one, receiving the Greatest Gainer certification.[28] On February 9, "Piece of Me" peaked at number eighteen,[29] and has since stayed the chart for twenty weeks, it was then removed from the Hot 100 due to Billboard deletion criteria[30], it was, however, charted on the Hot 100 Singles Recurrents at nine on the week of April 05, 2008 due to still-strong digital sales as well as a somewhat high airplay. The single has been certified Platinum by the RIAA[31]

The single debuted at number two on the Australian Singles Chart on February 4, 2008.[32][30] Certified Platinum by ARIA,[33] the single also spent nine consecutive weeks at number one on the Australian Dance Chart, while simultaneously topping the Australian Airplay Chart. The track enjoyed a second surge in support by fans which saw it climb back to the top of the Australian Dance Chart. It has currently held the number one spot for thirteen weeks and has achieved Platinum status.[34]

The single was successful in European charts. In the United Kingdom, "Piece of Me" debuted at number sixty-nine on December 24, 2007.[35] From number nineteen on January 7, "Piece of Me" propelled to number two on January 14, 2008 after its physical release,[36] surpassing the peak position of its predecessor, "Gimme More", which peaked at number three in 2007. In the UK, as of March 2 2008, "Piece of Me" has sold 147,382. The single failed to top the chart and has since stayed there for eight weeks.[37] The song entered the Irish Singles Chart on December 20, 2007 at number twenty-four,[38] and after four weeks on the chart, it reached the top spot on January 12, 2008.[39] "Piece of Me" became her seventh Irish number-one single, tying with Madonna as solo female artist with the most number ones in the country. "Piece of Me" has also reached the top ten in Denmark, Finland, Greece, Italy, and Sweden, where the single had it's first chart entry.[30]

The single debuted in New Zealand at number thirty-four on December 31, 2007.[40] "Piece of Me" peaked at number four on February 4, 2008, surpassing the achievements of "Gimme More", which peaked at number fifteen in October 2007 and is still charting after 18 weeks.[41]; the single was certified gold after thirteen weeks on the chart. "Piece Of Me" is Spears' highest charting single in New Zealand since Toxic, which peaked at number two in April 2004.[42]

In Latin America, the single has so far has peak at six in the Latin America Top 40, making Spears' fourth entry in the top ten on the chart.[43]

"Piece of Me" debuted on the United World Chart on January 5, 2008 at number thirty-eight.[44] The single has since peaked at number six, staying there for three weeks, and accummulating 2,458,000 points.[30] It has been certified Platinum.

Certifications

Country Certification Sales
Australia[45] Platinum 70,000
Belgium[46] Gold 7,500
Denmark[47] Platinum 15,000
New Zealand[48] Gold 7,500
United Kingdom Silver 200,000
United States[49] Platinum 1,055,942
United World Chart[50] Platinum 2,500,000

Charts

Track listings and versions

Major formats released for "Piece of Me":

European/Australian Maxi CD Single (88697 186802)

(Released: January 11, 2008)

  1. "Piece of Me" (Album Version) – 3:32
  2. "Piece Of Me video 3.10
  3. "Piece of Me" (Bloodshy & Avant's Böz o lö Remix) – 3:51
  4. "Piece of Me" (Bimbo Jones Remix) – 6:26
  5. "Piece of Me" (Vito Benito Remix) – 6:46
  6. "Gimme More" (The "Kimme More" Remix) (featuring Lil' Kim) – 4:14
The Remixes - EP [Digital]

(Released: January 28, 2008)

  1. "Piece of Me" – 3:33
  2. "Piece of Me" (Bloodshy & Avant's Böz o lö Remix) – 4:55
  3. "Piece of Me" (Tiësto Radio Edit) – 3:25
  4. "Piece of Me" (Junior Vasquez and Johnny Vicious Radio Edit) – 3:40
  5. "Piece of Me" (Friscia and Lamboy Radio Edit) – 3:29
  6. "Piece of Me" (Reggae Remix) (featuring Sly & Robbie) – 4:19

Official version and remixes

Credits and personnel

  • Written by: C. Karlsson, P. Winnberg & K. Åhlund
  • Produced by: Bloodshy & Avant
  • Recorded by: Bloodshy & Avant at Bloodshy & Avant Studios, Stockholm, Sweden and Chalice Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California
  • Mixed by: Niklas Flyckt at Mandarine Studios, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Keyboard, Programming, Bass & Guitar by: Bloodshy & Avant
  • Additional Guitar by: Henrik Jonback
  • Additional Bass: by Klas Åhlund
  • Background Vocals by: Robyn Carlsson
  • Mastered by: Tom Coyne at Sterling Sound, New York City

References

  1. ^ a b c d Vineyard, Jennifer ((October 12, 2007)). "Britney Spears's New Album, Blackout: A Track-By-Track Report". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2008-01-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Cite error: The named reference "Vineyard" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. ^ Staff ((November 02, 2007)). "The Weekend Fix: Celebrity Birthdays, the latest news, The 'American Gangster' Movie Minute and more". MTV News Canada. CTVglobemedia. Retrieved 2008-01-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ a b "Piece of Me". Sheetmusicdirect.us. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  4. ^ a b Lamb, Bill. "Britney Spears - Piece of Me". About.com. About, Inc. Retrieved 2007-12-30.
  5. ^ a b Sanneh, Kelefa ((November 29, 2007)). "'Miss Bad Media Karma' Sings, Too". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2007-12-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ Ewing, Tom (November 20, 2007). "Britney in the Black Lodge (Damn Fine Album)". Pitchfork Media. Pitchfork Media Inc. Retrieved 2008-01-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ Al-Msaibeeh, Laith (November 10, 2007). "Profound comeback blacks out negative press for pop princess". Oshkosh West Index. Retrieved 2008-01-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ Sung, Hannah. "Britney's Back in 'Blackout'". AOL Music. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  9. ^ Friedman, Roger ((September 28, 2007)). "Britney Spears' Album: First Listen to New Songs". Fox News. FOX News Network, LLC. Retrieved 2008-01-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ "Piece of Me". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
  11. ^ "Piece of Me - Out Now!". Sony BMG UK. Sony BMG Music Entertainment (UK). January 07, 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ "Piece of Britney Sleeve contest". December 06, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ Watson, Margeaux (October 23, 2007). "Music Review: Blackout (2007)". Entertainment Weekly. Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. Retrieved 2007-12-10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ Taylor, Chuck. "Single Review: "Piece of Me"". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-01-26.
  15. ^ Lamb, Bill (November 30, 2007). "Music Review: "Piece of Me"". About.com. Retrieved 2007-10-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ Fletcher, Alex (December 14, 2007). "Britney Spears: "Piece of Me"". Digital Spy. Digital Spy Limited. Retrieved 2008-01-26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ Oliver-Hornyak, Kelly (October 31, 2007). "New album redefines Britney Spears". The Lantern. College Publisher. Retrieved 2008-01-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ Lamb, Bill. "Britney Spears - Piece of Me". About.com. Retrieved 2008-01-30.
  19. ^ Maerz (November 15, 2007). "Album Review: Blackout". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2008-01-26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  20. ^ "The 100 Best Songs of 2007". Rolling Stone. December 11, 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Blackout". All Music Guide. Macrovision Company. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
  22. ^ a b c Aswad, Jem ((November 28, 2007). "Britney Spears Shoots 'Piece Of Me' Video, Using Pursued-By-Paparazzi Theme". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2008-02-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ a b Nudd, Tim ((November 30, 2007)). "Britney Spears Wants You to Direct Her Next Music Video". People. Time Inc. Retrieved 2007-12-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ MTV News staff ((December 13, 2007). "Britney Spears' 'Piece Of Me' Clip Gets Online Preview; Plus Scott Weiland, Scott Stapp, Jessica Simpson, J.K. Rowling, C-Murder & More, In For The Record". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2008-02-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  25. ^ Lamb, Bill (December 15, 2007). "Britney Spears "Piece of Me" Video - Taking No Prisoners". About. About, Inc. Retrieved 2008-02-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ "The Billboard Hot 100: Piece of Me". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. November 17, 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  27. ^ "Canadian Hot 100: Piece of Me". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. November 17, 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". αCharts.us. chart dated January 05, 2008. Retrieved 2007-02-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  29. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". αCharts.us. chart dated February 9, 2008. Retrieved 2007-02-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  30. ^ a b c d e ""Piece of Me" Global Chart Positions and Trajectories". αCharts. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  31. ^ RIAA - "Piece of Me" Certification RIAA.com
  32. ^ "Australia Singles Top 50". αCharts.us. chart dated February 04, 2008. Retrieved 2007-02-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  33. ^ Top 50 Singles Chart - Australian Record Industry Assocation
  34. ^ http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display.asp?chart=1D20
  35. ^ "UK Singles Top 75". αCharts.us. chart dated December 24, 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  36. ^ "UK Singles Top 75". αCharts.us. chart dated January 14, 2008. Retrieved 2007-02-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  37. ^ pieceofme="aCharts"/>
  38. ^ "Ireland Singles Top 50". αCharts.us. chart dated December 20, 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  39. ^ "Ireland Singles Top 50". αCharts.us. chart dated January 12, 2008. Retrieved 2007-02-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  40. ^ "New Zealand Top 40". αCharts.us. chart dated December 31, 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  41. ^ "New Zealand Top 40". αCharts.us. chart dated February 04, 2008. Retrieved 2007-02-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  42. ^ http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/chart.asp
  43. ^ Ranking del 13 de Abril del 2008
  44. ^ "United World Chart: Tracks". United World Chart. Media Traffic. chart dated January 05, 2008. Retrieved 2007-02-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  45. ^ Australia Certification
  46. ^ Belgium Certification
  47. ^ Velkommen til Hit-listen.dk
  48. ^ http://http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/chart.asp/
  49. ^ RIAA - "Piece of Me" Certification RIAA.com
  50. ^ http://www.mediatraffic.de/tracks.htm
  51. ^ Cite error: The named reference BillB was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  52. ^ Cite error: The named reference Top40 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  53. ^ http://swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Britney+Spears&titel=Piece+Of+Me&cat=s
  54. ^ http://www.ifpicr.cz/hitparada/index.php?a=titul&hitparada=2&titul=145673&sec=5ddc507c81df94a3b6f910f5217365d6
  55. ^ http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Britney+Spears&titel=Piece+Of+Me&cat=s
  56. ^ http://www.hitlisterne.dk/
  57. ^ http://swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Britney+Spears&titel=Piece+Of+Me&cat=s
  58. ^ http://swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Britney+Spears&titel=Piece+Of+Me&cat=s
  59. ^ Russian Top100 Chart
  60. ^ http://swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Britney+Spears&titel=Piece+Of+Me&cat=s
  61. ^ "Ranking del 14 de Abril del 2007 (Semana 15)". Top Latino Singles Chart. Todos los derechos reservados. April 14, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  62. ^ Turkish Airplay Chart

60. Piece Of Me on [1] BritneyFM.com

Preceded by
"Amazing" by Celeda
 Hot Dance Club Play number-one single
March 8, 2008 - March 15, 2008 		Succeeded by
"Together" by Bob Sinclar and Steve Edwards
Preceded by Irish number-one single
January 10, 2008 - January 24, 2008 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
"Low" by Flo Rida featuring T-Pain
 Hot100Brasil number-one singles
March 29, 2008 - April 5, 2008 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Piece_of_Me&oldid=210278610"