… Baby One More Time (Lied)
| "...Baby One More Time" | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single by Britney Spears | ||
| From the album ...Baby One More Time | ||
| Single Released | December 1998 | |
| Single Format | CD single Cassette single 12" single | |
| Genre | Pop | |
| Song Length | 3:30 | |
| Record Label | Jive | |
| Writer | Max Martin | |
| Producer | Max Martin Rami | |
| Director | Nigel Dick | |
| Certification | Platinum | |
| Chart Positions | #1 US (2 weeks) #1 UK (2 weeks) #1 CAN (4 weeks) #1 AU (9 weeks) | |
| Britney Spears single chronology | ||
| "...Baby One More Time" (1998) |
"Sometimes" (1999) | |
"...Baby One More Time" is the debut single from pop music singer Britney Spears, released from her debut album ...Baby One More Time in December 1998. It became her 1st #1 single in both the US and UK.
"...Baby One More Time" was written by long-time Spears collaborator, Max Martin and was produced by Mr. Martin and Rami. The song, which is practically the definition of the late '90s teen pop revival, remains to be Spears' most infamous and successful single. The song recalls Spears regretting her previous decision to end a relationship and how much she wishes to reconcile because of what he means to her, emphasising how much she wants him to "hit me baby one more time".
As a result of its international success and infamous music video, "...Baby One More Time" is generally perceived as one of Spears' signature songs.
Music video
Directed by common Spears collaborator Nigel Dick, the "...Baby One More Time" video is what arguably feuled the single to become such a huge international success. It's orignal setup, however, was in high contrast to what eventually became the final product.
The original plan was to have the video in a cartoon-like enviorment, in a likely attempt to attract the audience of younger children. However, Spears was unhappy with this, and argued that the set should be a bit more mature. So, the childish nature of the primary plan was scrapped, and instead was replaced with Britney's idea for the video to be shot in a school. Her now-infamous getup in the schoolgirl uniform followed up this plan, and the video's production went underway.
Shot at Venice High School in California, the scenario begins with Spears in a particuliarly boring class right before the end of the day. Her assistant Felicia played the role of Britney's teacher. When the bell rings, Spears runs out into the hall and begins a choreographed dance. After this, we find Britney outside now adorned in an athletic outfit. Along with a couple of other students, she performs a number of gymnastic moves before heading back inside. At this point, we find Spears sitting on the bleachers in the gymnasium watching a basketball game. Her love interest in the video (who happens to be played by her cousin) is finally revealed. After this short segment, Britney begins her final dance routine and the video ends shortly afterwards, revealing that the whole thing had actually just been Britney's daydream.
The video became an instant hit on MTV and other music channel vehicles, and eventually became her first to retire on TRL. Though it did not win, the video was also nominated for three MTV Video Music Awards in 1999, including Best Female Video, Best New Artist and Best Choreography.
Chart performance
"...Baby One More Time" remains to be Spears' biggest US (and international) hit to-date. The song debuted at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100 (the highest debut of her career), and was able to climb to #1 on the chart, staying there for two weeks and becoming her first and currently only #1 single in the US. The song also reached the top spot of the Hot 100 Singles Sales chart, staying there for a solid four weeks; this eventually propelled the single to a platinum certification. Though not as strong as its sales tallies, the single also experienced considerable airplay, becoming one of her few top ten hits on the Hot 100 Airplay chart.
The single also became an all-around hit on Top 40 radio, going top ten on both the Top 40 Tracks and Rhythmic Top 40, and #1 for five weeks on the Top 40 Mainstream. The song even broke into the lower half of the Adult Top 40.
Internationally, the song received just as much success, going to #1 for two weeks in the UK; it became the largest-selling single of the year, with 1.45 million copies sold and propelled her to superstardom there. It also reached the top spot in Canada for four weeks, and in Australia for a staggering nine weeks.
Controversy
Some people claim that the song contains a subliminal message, in the form of backmasking. If you play the lyric "When I'm not with you I lose my mind, give me a sign..." in reverse, you get something that sounds like "sleep with me I'm not too young". It is unknown whether this occurrence is merely coincidental, or whether it was put there deliberately by Britney's producers.
Charts
US
| Year | Single | Chart | Position | Number of Chart-Topper |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | "...Baby One More Time" | Billboard Hot 100 | #1 (2 weeks) | 1st |
| 1999 | "...Baby One More Time" | Billboard Hot 100 Singles Sales | #1 (4 weeks) | 1st |
| 1999 | "...Baby One More Time" | Billboard Hot 100 Airplay | #8 | -- |
| 1999 | "...Baby One More Time" | Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | #41 | -- |
| 1999 | "...Baby One More Time" | Top 40 Tracks | #3 | -- |
| 1999 | "...Baby One More Time" | Top 40 Mainstream | #1 (5 weeks) | 1st |
| 1999 | "...Baby One More Time" | Rhythmic Top 40 | #10 | -- |
| 1999 | "...Baby One More Time" | Adult Top 40 | #25 | -- |
Chart trajectory
| Billboard Hot 100 chart trajectory—"...Baby One More Time" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 |
| Chart position | 17 | 14 | 18 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 24 | 29 | 31 | 38 | 46 | 46 | 49 |
International
| Year | Single | Chart | Position | Number of Chart-Topper |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | "...Baby One More Time" | UK Singles Chart | #1 (2 weeks) | 1st |
| 1999 | "...Baby One More Time" | Canadian Singles Chart | #1 (4 weeks) | 1st |
| 1999 | "...Baby One More Time" | ARIA Singles Chart | #1 (9 weeks) | 1st |
Awards
Though she did not win, Spears was also nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 2000 Grammy Awards for the single.
M6/Mellier Premier Clip Awards - France
| Year | Winner | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | "...Baby One More Time" | Best Music Video |
| Year | Winner | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | "...Baby One More Time" | Best Song |
| Year | Winner | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | "...Baby One More Time" | Choice Single |