OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD.
Pause.
Breathe.
Muusers: This is an ACTUAL demo from Britney, reportedly found on a 2001 demo reel by Riprock ‘n’ Alex G which recently made its way onto eBay.
It is ALL shades of 2001 Britney-era B, alternating between the hard-hitting pop smack of album tracks like “Lonely” and the more sophisticated electronic vibes explored on cuts like the wildly-brilliant-but-overlooked “I Run Away.”
But there are elements that are entirely new: The middle eight around the 2:45 mark brings Pet Shop Boys-like ’80’s synth play; the spoken word intro a touch of Janet Jackson‘s “That’s The Way Love Goes.” In short, this is way more complex and musically interesting than what we were hearing come from Britney at the time.
Above all, the track seemingly provides a glimpse into the future: The lyrics that tempt the flames of religion and sexuality in one go (very “Like A Prayer,” I know) bring to mind the moodier cuts (“Mona Lisa”; “Guilty”; “Rebellion”) that came pouring out during–err, the beginning of the darker era.
“I confess if I’ve done wrong / But in your eyes, I see I’m guilty.”
I AM ABSOLUTELY FLIPPING THE FUCK OUT RIGHT NOW.