Womanizer

Britney Spears returned to the spotlight in 2008 with Circus, a sixth studio album released by Jive Records that signaled a shift toward darker, more assertive themes. The lead single, "Womanizer," arrived on September 26 after producers The Outsyders re-recorded the track following an internet leak. This up-tempo electropop and dance-pop track features twelve songs total, with lyrics that flip the script on infidelity by having the protagonist call out a cheating partner rather than beg for attention. Critics immediately praised the song's infectious hook and empowering message, noting it as a standout moment that helped revive her career momentum.

The track achieved massive commercial success, topping charts in twelve countries including the United States, where it became her first number-one hit since 1999. It set a record for the largest jump to the top of the Billboard Hot 100, a feat later surpassed by Kelly Clarkson. The accompanying music video directed by Joseph Kahn served as a sequel to her earlier work on "Toxic," depicting Spears in various disguises to expose her boyfriend while also featuring steam room scenes that addressed past body image criticism. The video won Best Pop Video at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, and the song earned a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Recording. [edit]