On the subject of greatest hits, let's cut a single shall we...?
Oh, it's someone's 11...
60th Place
Criminal
(from Femme Fatale)
Average: 8.052
Top Scorer: 11 x 1 (@DJHazey)
High Scorers: 10 x 14 (
@boombazookajoe,
@Sprockrooster,
@Steve003,
@Lucas,
@maikos87,
@eatyourself,
@daninternational,
@Burzum,
@WhenTheSunGoesDown,
@Markus1981,
@Untouchable Ace,
@fatyoshi,
@1991,
@Music Is Death)
Low Scorers: 4 x 2 (
@nikkysan,
@Hurricane Drunk )
My Score: 8.75
Criminal is track 12, and the fourth and final single from Britney's seventh album, Femme Fatale. It was written by Max Martin, Shellback and Tiffany Amber and produced by the former two. The song was chosen as the final single with a Facebook poll for fans, beating Inside Out and (Drop Dead) Beautiful. Criminal was a success in Brazil reaching number 1 on Billboard Hot Pop Songs and Hot 100 Airplay. In the US the song peaked at number 55 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 19 on US Billboard Pop Songs. In Canada it reached number 63 on the Canadian Hot 100. In Europe, it reached top 20 in Slovakia, Czech Republic, Finland and France, and top 40 in Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, and both regions of Belgium. The music video, directed by Chris Mars Pilliero, was filmed in London, England. Britney's boyfriend at the time, Jason Trawick, featured as her love interest in the video at Britney's request. The video received some criticism from Hackney London Borough Council due to the use of replica guns appearing to glamorise violence, and it appeared as number 10 on a list of the ten most controversial music videos in pop music by AOL. However, the video performed well and reached the top position on its chart within minutes of its release on iTunes.
My thoughts: I struggled on where to land with this song, I do enjoy it but sometimes when I compare against her other songs it doesn't seem as strong. But the more I listened the more I fell in love with
a criminal it. Parts of the instrumentation sound a little... cheap, and it's a shame because it's a decent song.
In other news, what the FUCK is this video???
@boombazookajoe (10) The deluxe tracks on Femme are essential, but Criminal acting as the Standard Edition closer is a brilliant move. I love her voice in this one. The use of the flute is excellent. (She walked so "All Hands On Deck" by Tinashe could run, tbh.)
Britney's flute impact!
@blaze_dave (9) Never thought a flute would be so good in a song. A great mid tempo song and that middle 8 is just so good in the song. The music video had some cute fan references and Britney was serving that day. Who would have thought Radiance fragrance would give her that self confidence!
@Kaz D'Oerba (6) I regret voting for this as a single on her Facebook poll.
It's what she deserves for not including Trip To Your Heart and How I Roll as single options!
@livefrommelbs (8) Allow me to join the inevitable chorus of forum members praising the middle 8. Divine.
@cdd216 (9.75) Sonically speaking, this might be the weirdest and most random single that she has ever released? And I love her for it. I dare anyone here to name another pop song that's hook is powered by a pan flute. It's truly like nothing else I have heard before and I love her for having the balls to make this a single.
@daninternational (10) I'm glad she came back to this midetempo style, cos it's a great look on her. Upset that it isn't "the man's a smidgen unpredictable" as I thought though
Imagine smidgen as a lyric nn.
@AstronautMikeDexter (6) I like the video so that’s something.
@M24 (5.5) I quite enjoy the melody of this one, the lyrics are a choice though. That MV is a little disturbing too.
@WhenTheSunGoesDown (10) He’s got her name tattooed on his arm
But not in the video which is weird considering how literal the video is.
@KingBruno (9) This production is really Mirwais-esque! I love it. Nevertheless, Britney’s delivery is too flat, which is unfortunate.
@Guyhawke! (8.5) ‘Criminal’ was a surprising choice to round out the ‘Femme Fatale’ campaign. More than any song since ‘In The Zone’ the spectre of midtempo Madonna looms over ‘Criminal’, and the guitar and desolate flute do a good job of evoking a Western shoot-out which works for the lyrics. It’s just too subtle to have been a hit at radio. I am impressed that streaming has been so kind to ‘Criminal’ as it’s not an obvious go-to for a Britney playlist.
@Milotic (9.75) Should've been a bigger hit!
@BreatheBox (9) deserved to be a big hit back then and I'm happy it’s catching up, i can proudly reveal that I was a Criminal voter on that poll
Handing over to 11 giver, and famed Britney Jean apologist (ddd) @DJHazey:
@DJHazey (11) My other two 11 contenders won’t need as much help, but I fear for this because I’ve seen people hate on it over the years. Next to Fergie’s “Big Girls Don’t Cry” this is the best middle eight in the history of music. I get chills every damn time. Honorable 11 mentions are Stronger and 3.
Stronger by Sugababes? I agree.
