Blackout is the fifth studio album by American pop singer Britney Spears, released by Jive Records on October 30, 2007. Spears began working on this album as early as February 2006, exploring into electropop, synthpop and techno. The album has also a more R&B/urban sound and recording with new producers such as Danja. Blackout was her first studio album in four years since 2003's In the Zone and is the first time Spears is the executive producer of one of her albums. The album's title refers to "blacking out negativity and embracing life fully". The songs on the album are thematically focused on sex, love and Spears' relationship–struggle with the media.
The album's first single, "Gimme More", peaked at number one in the Canadian Hot 100 and became a top five hit in twelve countries. The second single, "Piece of Me", reached number one in Ireland. The final single, "Break the Ice", reached number one in the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play, making all the singles of the album go to the top position of at least a chart. All three songs frequently appeared on the lists that included the best records of the year. Even though initial critical response was mixed to positive, the album later won high critical acclaim and appeared on many lists that included the decade's best albums. The album was named the 5th "Best Pop Album of the Decade" by The Times, the 7th-best album of the decade on the Rolling Stones "The Decade-End Readers’ Poll", and the 3rd Best Album of the decade on the Billboard "Readers Poll", and won "Album of the Year" at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2008. To date, the album has sold over 3.1 million copies worldwide.
Promo Video:
Blackout's Singles:
Blackout Single Covers:
Blackout Promo Pictures:
Britney Listening to Blackout in Car:
Some Stats:
- Was released in October 30th, 2007, although it was originally planned for a mid-November release.
- Featured the hit single, Gimme More, which sold over 4 million singles worldwide
- Was supposed to debut at #1 in the USA, but Billboard made a last minute change in rules, not allowing it to debut at #1.
- Debuted at #2 in the USA, making Britney the only artist to have five consecutive albums in the first and second spots of the charts.
- Debuted at #2 in the UK
- Topped the charts in Mexico, Ireland, Australia, Greece, France, Europe, Brazil, Japan and many more countries.
- Sold 124,000 copies on its first day in the US, with sales of 290,000 copies in its first week according to Nielsen SoundScan.
- Sold over 3.1 million copies worldwide
- Had six songs from it featured in the Circus Tour
- Won two EMA, Billboard Award, NTV, and many decade-end best album awards.
- Featured the hit Piece of Me, which is one of Britney's most successful single in Europe, and also featured the hit Break The Ice, which sold over 1.5 million singles worldwide.
- Britney said in a People magazine article this album would "reinvigorate the current pop scene," which she said was "boring."
- She began recording this album during her pregnancy with Jayden in Las Vegas and L.A.
I love everything about this album. I will always love Gimme More and Get Naked. Break The Ice and Piece of Me will always be my favorite songs from Britney.
