(Lundin, Carlsson)
Album: Born to Make You Happy – Single / …Baby One More Time
In late 1999, European markets saw a release of this minor-keyed, piano-driven pop track that struck that sweet spot in terms of tempo for a Britney love song: slow enough to be considered a ballad, but fast enough to allow for some of her trademark choreography. One of the strongest tracks on her debut album, a lovelorn Britney exudes vulnerability in a way that convinced teens across the world that they knew exactly the heartache she was going through. …Baby One More Time as whole is not known for its empowering lyrics, but “Born to Make You Happy” takes submissive language to a whole new level and likely makes some listeners cringe. Apparently Spears herself found the original lyrics too adult and asked for a re-write, and I suspect they went too far in the other direction. That said, teen pop ballads have always tended toward overdramatizing adolescent loves, and this song is no different. Where it really shines is the late key change that brings the final chorus to the stratosphere. An alternate vocal mix with a prominent acoustic guitar has also been released that is worth a listen to hear slightly different interpretations by Spears.
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