20. “Boys”
One of the Neptunes’ magical collaborations with the Princess of Pop ââ,¬” a Chic bass line, bare-bones beat, and three and a half minutes of Spears cooing about those nasty boys.
19. “Why Should I Be Sad”
An almost literal narration of Spears’ failed relationship with Kevin Federline fed through Pharrell Williams’ suave filter. The only ballad on Blackout caps the album with a defiant question nobody was expecting to hear from Britney’s lips.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=gt67X2I4yzI
18. “(You Drive Me) Crazy”
Close your eyes, don’t picture Melissa Joan Hart and Adrien Grenier, and simply enjoy the thick late-’90s pop thunk of this Max Martin-penned smash from Brit’s 1999 debut.
17. “I’ve Just Begun (Having My Fun)”
Don’t say she didn’t warn us.
16. “How I Roll”
Will.i.am had Spears singing about the “Big Fat Bass,” but this twitchy schoolyard ditty is the most wacked-out, adventurous piece of the Femme Fatale puzzle.
15. “Radar”
The song so nice Brit released it twice: Once on Blackout and again on Circus as a bonus track. Its buzzy synths are a better fit on the former, sandwiched between No. 12 and No. 21.
14. “Lucky”
A cautionary tale about the trappings of fame sounds so much better sung in Spears’ most pinched pout.
13. “If U Seek Amy”
Proof the weight of Spears’ epic public meltdown couldn’t beat the brattiness out of Britney. The nudge-nudge-wink-wink name is only half the fun of this frantic, dancey Max Martin production.
12. “Piece of Me”
In which Spears helpfully explains why the music industry is panicked, I mean, please: Because she’s likely to get on the TV for stripping on the streets while getting the groceries. This lil’ bump-n-grinder from Bloodshy & Avant is shameless pleasure.
11. “… Baby One More Time”
We never forgot the first time.
