I'm A Slave 4 U by Britney Spears

Album: Britney (2001)

Charted: 4 27

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Songfacts®:

The hip-hop production team The Neptunes wrote and produced this track, which is about a lady who will do anything for her man. The Neptunes (Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo) were red hot in 2001, doing not just production work, but also remixes for the likes of Backstreet Boys and Daft Punk, and also recording with their group N.E.R.D.
Spears premiered this song at the MTV Video Music Awards on September 6, 2001. Arriving at the show with her boyfriend, Justin Timberlake, the 19-year-old Spears carried a live snake - a 7-foot albino Burmese python named Banana - on her shoulders during the performance, which was set to look like a jungle, complete with a caged tiger. Choreographer Wade Robson said he was going for an Adam & Eve theme.

Britney was the big VMA draw at the time and expected to do something outrageous. The previous year, she stripped off most of her clothes while performing "Satisfaction."

Britney admitted in her memoir The Woman In Me that the snake crept her out. "I felt if I looked up and caught its eye, it would kill me," Britney wrote. "What nobody knows is that as I was singing, the snake brought its head right up to my face and started hissing... finally, I got to the part where I handed it back."
The "4U" is a Prince thing. He has many songs with numbers and capital letters in the titles, including "I Would Die 4U."
This was the first single off Spears' third album, which she named Britney because it was her most personal. Like her first two albums, it debuted at #1 in the US.
The chorus is "get it get it, get it get it," although it sounds like "kitty kitty, kitty kitty."

Comments: 16

Mike from Matawan, NjI can't believe that there was actually a time I would have licked her ace-hole like a lollipop.
Kaneesa from Sallisaw, OkOkay okay I'm from the britney spears rise to fame generation and I STILL love her and not just because of her look! I think this song was directed to girls that were turning 18 and they had been protected their whole lives the whole album is like that and its ppl like you that add to the stress of her life I think ppl should leave her alone she is only human and so are we r lives are just not public! STEP OFF!
Jack from Denver, CoIts pop music people. Its not really about talent, its about having something to dance to. This song is probably one of the danciest of Britney's, very provocative.
Bob from Hallanedale, FlYes Nathan, you hit it right on the nose. This bimbo is all looks and noise and no substance what-so-ever. The only thing that I disagree with is that she does not have the talent to work at a Louisiana truck stop.
Dave from Cardiff, WalesAnyone else notice that this song and Justin Timberlake's "Like I Love You" sound very alike??
Austin from Smallsville, NeBritney Spears lipsinks a lot. Which is why I am suprised she lasted that long. Also she is just a product. She doesn't mix beats or write lyrics. Even the singing isn't that great. But thats what the pop scene is now. All looks no talent
Nicole from N/a, WiHey Nathan I am completely in agreement with you.
Nathan from Defiance, OhYou would think that most people would realize the only reason they like Britney Spears is because of her image. She is a sub-par singer, if it wasn't for her looks, she'd be working at a redneck truck stop in Lousiana. Anyone still listening to her should be ashamed.
Anna from Freiburg, GermanyBritney, what have you done to us? Okay, okay, I never liked you that much, but I don't hated you. Tss, It's your life, do what you want. I warn you. When you'll be old you'll wish you'd never recorded the song. I promise!
Erik from Monterrey, MexicoChester, you mean the Acapella version right? Its really great, she sounds awesome.
Slave its not one of my favorite Britney songs, but it was a really new sound for her.
Chester from Lincolnshire, EnglandOn Britney's chart-topping music video DVD (titled 'Greatest Hits: My Prerogative'), there's a special feature from the 'I'm A Slave 4 U' video.

Britney is standing in front of the green-screen in her video costume, and you can hear her singing 'I'm A Slave 4 U' without any of the music at all. It's surprising how good her voice actually is on this song, when she's not being drowned out by the record scratching and thumping bass.
Chester from Lincolnshire, EnglandOne of Britney finest moments to date! This is an awesome song and was a VERY daring move for Britney at the time. Until 'I'm A Slave 4 U' all she'd ever done was safe edgy pop... then suddenly she comes out with a mature, unique hip-hop sound and is working with the Neptunes. People were shocked!

The song is credited for featuring a unique style of writing and song structure, and for setting a recent trend in hip-hop for the continuous repetitive thumping bass and 'jungle' strings.

The song was a huge hit for Britney and paved the way for the new mature Britney we've seen in recent years. Without breaking into the hip-hop club scene with 'I'm A Slave 4 U', Britney would have never ended up collaborating with Pharrell Williams or the Ying Yang Twins, nor would she have ended up working with R.Kelly, P.Diddy, Moby e.t.c.
Scott Baddwin from Edmonton, EnglandTiana,This song is not"im not a girl not yet a woman" this song is "i'm a slave 4 U"
Germaine from Melbourne, AustraliaI've heard this song actually samples a song called "Nasty" by the 80s girl group Vanity 6. The song was produced by Prince.
Minda from Jamestown , Tnshe needs to learn where to wear her under garments..lol
Gabe from Edinburg, TxI just wsh Britney gave me a chance at a date or something I would treat her like a queen!

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