Anticipating

"Anticipating"
Single by Britney Spears
from the album Britney
Released	June 24, 2002
Format	CD single, 12" vinyl
Recorded	2001
Genre	Disco, dance-pop
Length	3:16
Label	Jive
Writer(s)	Britney Spears, Brian Kierulf, Josh Schwartz
Producer	Brian Kierulf, Josh Schwartz
Britney Spears singles chronology
"I Love Rock 'n' Roll" (2002) "Anticipating" (2002) "Boys" (2002)

"Anticipating" is a song by American recording artist Britney Spears. The song was written by Spears while co-written and produced by Brian Kierulf and Josh Schwartz for her third studio album, Britney (2001). It was released on June 24, 2002 by Jive Records, as the fifth single from the album in France. Lyrically, the disco song, is about friendship and camaradie between women. It was met with critical praise, with reviewers complimenting its empowering lyrics and comparing it to 1980s compositions of Madonna and Rick Astley.

"Anticipating" achieved minor commercial success, peaking at number thirty-eight on the French Singles Chart. The song was promoted with a performance in the Dream Within a Dream Tour (2001–2002), where Spears wore a patched denim skirt and danced in front of giant crayon drawings. An accompanying music video, directed by Marty Callner, consisted of the performance from Live from Las Vegas. "Anticipating" was also promoted in a commercial Spears filmed for Toyota Vios.

Background

During the Oops!... I Did It Again World Tour (2000), Spears revealed she felt inspired by hip hop artists such as Jay-Z and The Neptunes and wanted to create a record with a funkier sound.^[1] In February 2001, Spears signed a $7–8 million promotional deal with Pepsi, and released another book co-written with her mother, entitled A Mother's Gift.^[2] On the same month, Spears started to record material for her third studio album,^[3] with "Anticipating" being recorded at Rusk Sound Studios in Los Angeles, California, the DOJO in Jackson, New Jersey, Sound on Sound Studios and Battery Studios in New York City. The song was written by Spears, Brian Kierulf and Josh Schwartz while produced by Kierulf and Schwartz. It was also mixed at Battery Studios by Stephen George. Audio engineering was done by Aaron Kaplan, Rich Tapper, Jill Tengan and Charles McCrorey. Nile Rodgers played the guitar. Bass guitar and programming was done by Kierulf. Background vocals were provided by Spears and Jennifer Karr.^[3] Her third studio album, Britney, was released in November 2001.^[1] In an interview with the Daily Record, Spears commented on the track, saying, "It's just a fun song that I wrote. It's just like being with your girlfriends and just dancing. I think this track also has a very Seventies' feel to it."^[4] It was released as the fifth single from the album in France on June 26, 2002.^[5]

Compostion

	"Anticipating" A 21-second sample of the 1970s disco influenced chorus.
Problems listening to this file? See media help.

"Anticipating" is a teen pop and dance-pop that lasts for three minutes and sixteen seconds.^[6] Corey Moss of MTV noted the song also has a 1970s disco sound,^[7] while Joan Anderman of The Boston Globe compared it to early Madonna tracks such as "Holiday" (1983).^[8] According to the sheetmusic published at musicnotes.com by Universal Music Publishing Group, the song is composed in the key of F major and is set in time signature of common time with a tempo of 112 beats per minute. Spears vocal range spans from the low-key of F₃ to the high-note of A₄. The song has a basic sequence of B♯(9)–C–Dm7–B♯(9) as its chord progression.^[6] Lyrically, it talks about friendship and camaradie between women.^[9] During the bridge, Spears sings, "Gotta really let me know if you want me / You gotta turn me on and make me feel sexy".^[10] During the time of the album's release, her official site stated that "the girl-power anthem 'Anticipating' proves that Britney is, now more than ever, a force to be reckoned with."^[11]

Reception

Jane Stevenson of Jam! called "Anticipating" the strongest track in the album.^[12] Yale Daily News writer Catherine Halaby called it a "fun, cutesy disco ballad".^[13] Nikki Tranker of PopMatters said it "offers Britney’s fans something a little different with a simple tune beautifully underlined by a well-executed ‘70s disco sound".^[14] Jim Farber of the Daily News while reviewing the Dream Within a Dream Tour named it along with "Stronger", "[two] girl-power anthems".^[9] Katie Perone of the Loyola Greyhound said "[it] is a fun, bubbly song that probably would have had great success on Oops!".^[15] Barry Walters of Rolling Stone stated the song is "a euphoric Rick Astley flashback, [where] she emotes without framing her vocals in Nickelodeon-schooled theatricality".^[16] In a list compiled by Sam Lanksy of Pop Crush, "Anticipating" was ranked eight in a list of Spears' best songs.^[10] In the album review, David Browne of Entertainment Weekly criticized "Anticipating" along with "Bombastic Love" for "[relying] on enervated formulas".^[17] On July 26, 2002, the song entered at number forty-six in the French Singles Chart. The following week, it peaked at number thirty-eight.^[18] "Anticipating" spent a total of 13 weeks on the chart.^[19]

Promotion

The song was performed at the Dream Within a Dream Tour. The performance began with a video interlude of Spears talking to her dancers. She then appeared onstage, wearing a patched denim skirt. The set was made of giant coloring book drawings of houses and cars.^[20] After the second chorus, she invited the audience to sing along with her. At the end of the song, she briefly talked to the audience before taking off the skirt and top to perform "I'm a Slave 4 U".^[7] Shaheem Reid of MTV noted that during the opening night of the tour in Columbus, Ohio, "Britney must've forgotten that the disco-era throwback cut was brand spanking new, because she kept encouraging everyone to sing along to the chorus [...] Although the crowd clapped and bobbed to the beat, Britney had to go this one alone vocally".^[7] The music video, directed by Marty Callner, consisted of footage of the tour performance from Live from Las Vegas. Several effects were added, including a glittering ball and the name of the song appearing on the screen.^[21] The song was also promoted in a commercial Spears filmed for Toyota Vios.^[22]

Track listings

• French CD single^[23]

1. "Anticipating" – 3:16
2. "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman" (Metro Mix) – 5:25
3. "Overprotected" (Darkchild Remix) – 3:20

• 12" vinyl^[24]

1. "Anticipating" (Alan Braxe Remix A) – 4:07
2. "Anticipating" (Alan Braxe Remix B) – 1:27
3. "Anticipating" (Antoine Clamaran Club Mix) – 6:25
4. "Anticipating" (Antoine Clamaran Instrumental Mix) – 6:25
5. "Anticipating" (PK'Chu and RLS' Sweet & Sour Mix) – 5:58
6. "Anticipating" (PK'Chu and RLS' Hard & Sexy Mix) – 5:43
7. "Anticipating" (PK'Chy and RLS' Hard & Sexy Dub Mix) – 5:43

Credits and personnel

Technical

• Recorded at Rusk Sound Studios in Los Angeles, California, the DOJO in Jackson, New Jersey, Sound on Sound Studios and Battery Studios in New York City, New York.
• Mixed at Battery Studios in New York City, New York.

Personnel

Source:^[3]

References