EPISODE 262

There’s no more iconic Britney lyric than the opening of “Gimme More.” It's 2007, four years since her last album In The Zone was released, and Britney is affirmatively back with the uptempo track leading off her album Blackout: “It’s Britney, Bitch.” The song echoes the dance-pop Neptunes sound of “I’m A Slave 4 U.” It's built around a driving riff and off-kilter drums produced by Floyd Nathaniel Hills AKA Danja. Each time Britney sings “more” her voice is pitched down to a devilish growl. This disturbing vocal processing mirrors the vulgar paparazzi and public scrutiny in her personal life. On the fourth and final episode of our series Listening to Britney, we want to once again focus on her voice, how it's manipulated, how it’s evolved, and where it might be going.

Songs Discussed

• Britney Spears - Piece of Me, Don’t Let Me Be The Last To Know, I’m a Slave 4 U, Stronger, Lucky, Piece of Me, Till The World Ends, Scream & Shout (with will.i.am), Alien, Make Me… (feat. G-Eazy)

• Herbie Hancock - Watermelon Man

• Anonymous - D’Amiens longum performed by Theatres of Voices, Paul Hillier

• Dirty Projectors - Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie

• Francis Bebey at Real World Studios

• The Ba-Benzélé Pygmies - Hindewhu (Whistle Solo)