Britney Spears was never known for her singing voice. Yet, of all the female pop artists of the late 1990s, she knew how to pick the best songs and craft an image that appealed to the largest possible audience.
“…Baby One More Time,” Spears’ debut video, had something for everyone. There were dance routines for young girls to copy with their friends, schoolgirl outfits for men to ogle at, and a hook that even the biggest music snobs secretly liked. It was penned and produced by Max Martin, the Swedish mastermind responsible for many pop hits in the past two decades.
“…Baby One More Time” was, predictability, not without controversy – especially since Spears was 17 when the song and video were released. Some criticized the song’s lyrics for being too suggestive, while others made similar criticisms of the video.
It’s also not surprising to learn that it was Spears herself who wanted the changes that made the video so controversial. Director Nigel Dick had original selected a jeans and T-shirt wardrobe, but Spears pushed for the Catholic schoolgirl outfits. Even then, Spears felt the outfits were too “dorky” and decided to tie her shirt, exposing the midriff that would launch a thousand morality debates in the United States.
Today, it’s rather amusing to think of all the fuss people made about “…Baby One More Time.” Indeed, Spears’ career has been marked by greater controversies, including several infamous MTV Video Music Award Performances. Yet despite all of the controversies and personal issues Spears has battled lately, there’s no denying the influence of “…Baby One More Time.” It paved the way for the success of numerous female pop artists in the 1990s and remains one of the biggest-selling singles of the past 15 years.
Want more 90s pop? Check out our throwbacks on Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way” and N’ Sync’s “I Want You Back.”
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