Original Doll is Britney's fifth album that never was, it was supposed to be her big artistic album to express herself creatively and musically. According to interviews she had finished the album by early 2005 and was ready to release the first single "Mona Lisa" in February of that year shortly after she had finished the music video for Do Somethin'. Britney said in this interview with KIIS FM that the album would be released during the Spring of 05' and that she was incredibly excited about the project.
Unfortunately for various reasons we never got this album and Britney ended up back tracking on an interview with TRL weeks later and we got a lame Choatic: EP with Someday (I Will Understand) as the lead single, a detoothed Mona Lisa with edited vocals and lobotomized lyrics and some In The Zone rejects to fill it out as the "release" she was talking about instead of the Original Doll era.
Some have said it's because Jive didn't feel the album was commercial enough that they so hastily pulled the plug and others blame the fact that Britney was impregnated by Kevin back to back which derailed the project into nonexistence, but leaks have provided us a look into what this era could have been by way of demos. It looks like Original Doll would have been somewhat similar to Gwen's own 2004 release Love. Angel. Music. Baby in terms of sound and material. Below are some of the songs, that were recorded during the Original Doll sessions in their demo forum. Take a listen and weigh your opinion. Could Original Doll have smashed in 2005 with the likes of Gwen, Kelly, and Mariah on the charts? Would it have been successful coming off of In The Zone? How do you believe it would have done in terms of critical acclaim and the general public's view of Britney?
would've propably gone #1 and sold platinum at least,
I agree. It probably would have sold around 4-5 million copies at least, which would have been low at that time but still respectable. I also think she would have had some hits since digital sales were starting to impact the chart back then. It would have been an interesting era to say the least. If it is true about Jive feeling there were no hits on the album I have to disagree with them. I think Cheap Cologne, Money, Love and Happiness and Love 2 Love U could have done something on the charts, even if they weren't necessarily huge hits.
The concept of the album itself is spectacular since Britney herself can relate to it since she was considered the epitome of the manufactured pop star and Original Doll was an album that was going to dive deep into that. Mona Lisa is the perfect example. How fame isn't all that you think it is and your going to experience more than you bargained for when you sign your name on that record deal contract. I think it would of been a spectacular record. Shame.
well the concept was difficult to execute, you know, the whole alter ego, Mona Lisa, introduced in Do Something. I think she could've pulled it off, but it wasn't really good news for the label.