Greatest Hits: My Prerogative

Spears performing during the Onyx Hotel Tour (2004); she recorded "My Prerogative" and "Do Somethin'" while on the tour.

In 1997, 15-year-old Spears signed a record deal with Jive Records after plans for her to join the girl group Innosense fell through.[8] Her debut single "...Baby One More Time" was released in September 1998, peaking atop the US Billboard Hot 100 and almost everywhere it charted. Her debut studio album of the same title was released in January 1999, and made Spears the first artist in history to have their debut single and debut album simultaneously atop the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200, respectively.[9] It was followed by Oops!... I Did It Again in May 2000, which debuted atop the US Billboard 200 and registered the highest first-week sales for a female artist at the time, selling 1,319,000 copies in its first week.[10] Both albums were eventually certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and became two of the best-selling albums of all time.[11] Spears' subsequent studio albums Britney (2001) and In the Zone (2003) both debuted atop the US Billboard 200, albeit selling slower than their predecessors. Regardless, both received multi-platinum certifications from the RIAA,[11] and made Spears the second female artist after Janet Jackson to have four consecutive US number-one albums.[12] The latter produced "Toxic", Spears' most commercially-successful single since "Oops!... I Did It Again" (2000); it won Spears her first Grammy Award, for Best Dance Recording in 2005.[13]

The Onyx Hotel Tour, on which Spears embarked in support of In the Zone, was abruptly cancelled in June 2004, following Spears' knee injury while filming the accompanying music video for "Outrageous", the final single from In the Zone.[14] During the tour, Spears had recorded two new songs, which would appear on Greatest Hits: My Prerogative, and began a relationship with American dancer Kevin Federline.[15] The couple became engaged in July and got married on September 18.[lower-alpha 14] Within that period, Spears embarked on a prolonged hiatus from performing, both due to the injury and to start a family;[17] she wouldn't release another studio album until Blackout (2007). Retrospectively, Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic noted that Spears "hadn't been out of the pop culture headlines since she released her debut album, ...Baby One More Time, in January 1999. In the nearly six years separating that debut album and the release of Greatest Hits in November 2004, Britney was omnipresent, representing both the entire teen pop phenomenon of the turn of the millennium, plus the teasing, Maxim-fueled sexuality of the time".[18]

Greatest Hits: My Prerogative included three previously unreleased tracks–"My Prerogative", "I've Just Begun (Having My Fun)" and "Do Somethin'"–all of which were produced by Bloodshy & Avant.[1][19] "My Prerogative" is a cover of Bobby Brown's 1988 song of the same title, with the original version's lyrics altered to fit a woman's perspective: "They say I'm nasty, but I don't give a damn / Getting boys is how I live / Some ask me questions, why am I so real? / But they don't understand me, or really don't know the deal / About a sista trying hard to make it right."[20] Spears recorded the cover during the European leg of the Onyx Hotel Tour in May 2004, at the Murlyn Studios in Stockholm, Sweden, and the Teldex Studio in Berlin, Germany.[1] The cover is musically different from the bass-infused new jack swing original, showcasing a more contemporary synthpop sound, driven by synthesizers and elements typical of Bloodshy & Avant productions.[20][21] Jennifer Vineyard of MTV commented the cover could be interpreted as a statement on Spears' life and the media reactions to some of her decisions at the time, including her engagement to Kevin Federline.[22]

"I've Just Begun (Having My Fun)" was originally recorded for Spears' fourth studio album In the Zone (2003), but was left unused until the release of the video album of the same title in April 2004; the DVD+CD set included an extended play (EP), whose international editions included "I've Just Begun (Having My Fun)".[23] In the United States, the song was made available as a free digital download on the Walmart-exclusive edition of In the Zone, due to an exclusive deal with Walmart and Sony Connect.[23] A dance and electro track, "I've Just Begun (Having My Fun)" was noted for its resemblance to No Doubt's 2001 song "Hella Good".[23][18] Lyrically, it describes a "make-believe encounter with a boy at a party that made her feel a little wild but leaves her falling asleep in a chair".[23] Like "My Prerogative", Spears recorded "Do Somethin'" during the Onyx Hotel Tour, at the Battery Studios in New York City and the Murlyn Studios in Stockholm.[1] "Do Somethin'" is an electric guitar-driven dance-rock track, "filled with faux string bursts and mock-'70s synth gurgle (think Zapp/Gap Band era) and plenty of treated guitar and bass".[24] Lyrically, the track refers to having fun while being watched by other people, encouraging them to "do something".[24]

On August 13, 2004, Spears announced through Jive Records the release of her first greatest hits album, titled Greatest Hits: My Prerogative for November 16.[22] "I've Just Begun (Having My Fun)" was released as a promotional single via iTunes Store on August 17, following the end of the deal between Jive, Walmart and Sony Connect, which kept the song exclusive to Walmart.[23] The track listing for the album was officially revealed on September 13, including "I've Just Begun (Having My Fun)" alongside two previously unreleased songs as the album's new tracks.[19] The album's release would later be moved up a week in the United States.[19] A video album of the same title was simultaneously released, featuring all of Spears' music videos.[22] A limited edition of the album was also released, which included a bonus disc with remixes of Spears' songs by different producers, as well as a Chris Cox-produced megamix of Spears' hits.[24]

Spears performing "Do Somethin'" during the Circus Starring Britney Spears in 2009

Due to a knee injury, which had occurred during the music video shoot for "Outrageous" on June 8, 2004, Spears cancelled the remainder of the Onyx Hotel Tour and embarked on a prolonged hiatus from performing.[14] Consequently, she made no televised appearances upon the release of Greatest Hits: My Prerogative, much unlike her heavily-promoted previous albums. She wouldn't perform live again until the M+M's Tour in May 2007, during which she performed "Do Somethin'" live for the first time, wearing a hot pink bra, a white fur coat and a jean skirt and mimicking the music video's choreography.[25][lower-alpha 15] Following the cancellation of Spears' concert residency Britney: Domination, which was planned for 2019, its creative directors Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo revealed that Spears would have performed "My Prerogative" live for the first time during the residency.[30] As of 2023, she has never performed the song live.

"My Prerogative" was released as the lead single from Greatest Hits: My Prerogative on September 21, 2004.[31] Prior to its official release, it leaked via the Real Tapemasters Inc.'s mixtape The Future of R&B on September 10.[20] It received mixed to negative reviews from music critics,[24][18] but went on to achieve international commercial success, topping the charts in Finland, Ireland, Italy and Norway, and reaching the top ten in additional 14 countries.[32][33] In the United States, it peaked at number 22 on the Mainstream Top 40 and atop the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles, failing to enter the Billboard Hot 100, hence becoming Spears' first lead single not to enter the chart.[34] The song's Jake Nava-directed accompanying music video was described by Spears' mother Lynne as being "about capturing gorgeous close-ups and very subtle movement" since Spears could not do any choreography due to her knee injury two months prior to its filming, and as having "an element of old Hollywood glamour and mystery", featuring Spears' then-fiancé Kevin Federline.[35]

Although no more singles were planned, Spears wanted to film an accompanying music video for "Do Somethin'" and pushed for it to be released. The song was released as the second and final single from Greatest Hits: My Prerogative outside North America on February 14, 2005.[36] It received critical acclaim,[18][37] and reached the top ten in Australia, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, Romania, Sweden and the United Kingdom.[38][39] Although the song was not released as a single in the US, it entered the Billboard Hot 100 due to digital downloads, peaking at number 100.[40] The accompanying music video was directed by Spears herself, who was credited as her alter ego Mona Lisa, and Bille Woodruff. Spears was also the stylist and choreographer for the video.[36] The video follows the song's lyrical theme, with Spears and her entourage dancing at a nightclub whilst being stared at by other attendees.[41]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[18]
Blender	[37]
Christgau's Consumer Guide	[42]
IGN	6.9/10[24]
New Straits Times	[43]
NME	6/10[44]
Uncut	[45]

Greatest Hits: My Prerogative received mixed to positive reviews from music critics. Mary Awosika of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune selected "I've Just Begun (Having My Fun)" as the best of the new tracks, and added that "The rest of the album is a romp down memory lane of when Spears was the 'It' girl of popular culture, ruling the pop charts as a multi-million dollar entertainment should. [...] In all honesty, no one can deny Spears has recorded some great dance songs, and this album is the best way to get all the songs in one swoop".[46] Faridul Anwar Farinordin of the New Straits Times said "rest assured, fans will surely grab this one" and selected "Oops!... I Did It Again" and "Overprotected" as the best tracks.[43] Annabel Leathes of BBC Online deemed it "calorific as the KFC burgers dished up at her chav-style wedding; twenty finger lickin' tracks that mirror her trajectory from pretty pop puff to lusty strumpet".[47] Christy Lemire of the Associated Press stated that it was premature for Spears to release a greatest hits album after only five years, but highlighted "I'm a Slave 4 U", "Toxic" and "Everytime".[48] Andy Petch-Jex of MusicOMH highlighted the first four tracks and commented "true some of the tunes are complete pony plops, but beneath the occasional reek there beats a solid gold pop heart".[49] Kitty Empire from The Guardian described the album as "an aural history of the past five years. It leaves you knowing nothing about the woman herself, but plenty about the absurd and joyous strut and fret of contemporary sound confectionery."[50]

Spence D. of IGN said: "If Britney Spears' Greatest Hits: My Prerogative illuminates anything it's that Spears is a fairly proficient sonic chameleon, able to mimic and adopt the stylings of those who have come before her with enough panache and verve to convince younger generations that she's a bona fide pop revelation. [...] This is the kind of kitschy album that you can get away with having because Spears is such a prevalent component of pop culture."[24] James Gashinski of The Gazette said: "As a time capsule, My Prerogative does its job well", but "Added together, the pop hits on this album are somewhat less than the sum of their parts". He explained, "Even if it isn't as great a listen as a cohesive album, My Prerogative does work as a portrait of the time when Britney Spears was the defining figure of American pop culture".[51] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic agreed with Gashinski, but added "if you compare it to The Immaculate Collection, which captured the time when Madonna was the defining figure of American pop culture and does work as an album, it's clear that a cultural artifact isn't necessarily the same thing as great music".[18] Ann Powers of Blender said: "The hits collected on My Prerogative are as sticky as soda and almost as easy to rinse out. Spears will go down in history books, but not for anything she's created, besides a world-class stir". She named "...Baby One More Time" "the song that defined her legacy" and also added: "In less than five minutes, it contains an emotional storm that is both widely public and deeply personal. If only she had continued to prove worthy of that heroic task."[37] Kelefa Sanneh of The New York Times said: "Listening to her hits all at once, you may be struck by the seductive severity of Ms. Spears's music: the beats are sharp as tines, the lyrics are filled with evocations of fear and control, the voice projects nothing you might mistake for warmth".[52]

In the United States, Greatest Hits: My Prerogative debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 chart dated November 27, 2004, with first-week sales exceeding 255,000 copies, becoming her first album not to debut at the summit.[56] In its second week, it descended to number 12,[57] and went on to spend a total of 34 weeks on the chart.[58] In December, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of one million copies.[59] On the Billboard 200 year-end chart for 2005, the album placed at number 74.[60] As of January 2019, it has sold over 1.8 million copies in the US.[61] In Canada, the album debuted at number three on the Canadian Albums Chart, with first-week sales of 20,400 copies.[62]

In the United Kingdom, Greatest Hits: My Prerogative debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart, behind Eminem's Encore, with first-week sales of 115,341 units.[63] It was certified triple platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on July 22, 2013,[64] and has sold over one million copies in the UK as of 2016.[65] The album debuted atop the charts in Ireland and Scotland.[66][67] Across mainland Europe, it debuted at number three on the European Top 100 Albums,[68] and within the top ten in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland,[69] also peaking at number one in Greece.[70] In November 2004, the album was certified platinum by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) for sales of one million copies across Europe.[71]

In Australia, Greatest Hits: My Prerogative debuted and peaked at number four on the ARIA Top 100 Albums, spending its first three weeks within the top ten.[72] It was certified double platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) on January 23, 2005, indicating shipments of 140,000 units.[73] In New Zealand, the album debuted and peaked at number 17,[74] later being certified gold by the Recorded Music NZ (RMNZ).[75] In Japan, it became her first number-one album on the Oricon Albums Chart, selling 173,145 copies in its first week.[76] It was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan in March, for shipments of over 750,000 copies,[77] and remains her best-selling album in the country with sales of over one million copies.[78][79] As of 2019, Greatest Hits: My Prerogative has sold over five million copies worldwide.[80]

Notes

• "My Prerogative" is a cover of the 1988 song of the same title by Bobby Brown.
• ^{^a} signifies a co-producer
• ^{^b} signifies a remix producer
• ^{^c} signifies a vocal producer

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Greatest Hits: My Prerogative.[1]

• Greatest Hits: My Prerogative (video)
• The Singles Collection
• Britney Spears discography
• List of number-one albums of 2004 (Ireland)
• List of Oricon number-one albums of 2004

• Official website
• Greatest Hits: My Prerogative at Discogs (list of releases)