“Piece of Me” seems to value the role of motherhood. Love is deemed “Heaven on Earth.”
Nearly every song drips with sexuality, from “On My Radar” (“Think I can handle that animal in the sack”) to “Break the Ice” (double entendres for erections). Spears and guest Danjahandz discuss plans to “Get Naked.” F-words invade that track and “Hot as Ice,” which propositions a lover with lines such as “If you’ve ever been to heaven, this is twice as nice.” Proud of her body and way too eager to show it off, the singer wants a man out of uniform (“Toy Soldier”) and details her assets for a partner (“Perfect Lover”). We also get provocative CD photos. On several cuts she basks in the strobe light, celebrating her risqué image and capacity to drive the voyeuristic masses wild with tabloid-ready antics. For example, Britney delivers a spectacle on the dance floor on “Freakshow” (“They wanna look/We can give ’em an encore/We can give ’em a peep peep show”). “Gimme More” plays to flashing cameras as she’s “dirty dancing.”
Rehab. Custody battles. Public appearances sans panties. Spears seems bent on destroying her life one headline at a time, but there’s no need to let her randy dance-pop take teens with her. Blackout is sleazy and scandalous. All that’s missing is the paparazzi.
Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.
