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Femme Fatale (Britney Spears album)
Femme Fatale (Britney Spears album)
Femme Fatale (Britney Spears album)
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Femme Fatale
Standard edition & 2025 re-issue deluxe edition cover; deluxe edition cover features the text in a gold typeface.
Studio album by
Britney Spears
ReleasedMarch 25, 2011 (2011-03-25)
RecordedJuly 12, 2009 – February 8, 2011
Studio
[1]
Genre
Length44:00
LabelJive
Producer
Britney Spears chronology
The Singles Collection
(2009) 		Femme Fatale
(2011) 		B in the Mix: The Remixes Vol. 2
(2011)
Singles from Femme Fatale
  1. "Hold It Against Me"
    Released: January 10, 2011
  2. "Till the World Ends"
    Released: March 4, 2011
  3. "I Wanna Go"
    Released: June 14, 2011
  4. "Criminal"
    Released: September 30, 2011

Femme Fatale is the seventh studio album by American singer Britney Spears. It was released on March 25, 2011, by Jive Records, and was her last album with the label before they dissolved in October of the same year, and she was moved to RCA Records. Musically, Spears wanted to make a "fresh-sounding" and "fierce dance album", thus incorporating dance-pop, electropop, EDM and synth-pop styles with elements of dubstep, techno and electro in its sound. Spears began working on the album during the second leg of her tour The Circus Starring Britney Spears (2009), while also contributing to her second greatest hits album The Singles Collection (2009). Spears collaborated with various producers including Max Martin, Dr. Luke, Fraser T. Smith, Rodney Jerkins, Bloodshy, will.i.am, Stargate, and Travis Barker.

Upon its release, the album received generally favorable reviews from music critics, who complimented its production and dance-pop style. The album debuted atop the charts in Australia, Canada, Mexico, Russia, South Korea and the United States, and peaked inside the top ten in 24 countries. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and as of February 2014, has sold 2.4 million copies worldwide.

Femme Fatale became Spears's most successful era on the US charts, being her first album to score three top ten singles on the US Billboard Hot 100, with "Hold It Against Me", "Till the World Ends" and "I Wanna Go" peaking at numbers one, three and seven, respectively. The fourth and final single, "Criminal", peaked at number one in Brazil and within the top 20 in five countries. A resurgence in popularity for "Criminal" occurred when it went viral on TikTok in 2020, becoming one of her most streamed songs and fourth most liked music video on YouTube.[2]

To promote the album, Spears gave various television performances and embarked on her eighth concert tour, the Femme Fatale Tour.

Background and development

[edit]
Spears performing "S&M" during the Femme Fatale Tour, 2011

On July 12, 2009, Spears confirmed through her Twitter account that she had begun recording new material, stating she was going into the studio with Swedish songwriter and producer Max Martin,[3] while she was in Stockholm during the European leg of The Circus Starring Britney Spears. The recording sessions resulted in several album cuts as well as the song "3", which would be released as a single from Spears's second greatest hits album The Singles Collection (2009).

In June 2010, during an interview with Rap-Up, Danja commented that he was working with Spears in the pre-production of Femme Fatale.[4] Darkchild, who was also reportedly working with her, said during a Ustream session in August 2010, "Britney fans are gonna be so happy in a few weeks", hinting about the release of new music. However, this was denied by Spears's manager Adam Leber, who stated, "No new music news right now....Wish people wouldn't mislead you guys with info. Not cool! PS- The guys that ARE working on Brit's next album ARE NOT talking about it..."[5] Leber later spoke with Entertainment Weekly, calling the sound of the record "progressive" and "a departure from what you've heard."[6] In November 2010, Dr. Luke announced that he would be the executive producer of the album, along with Max Martin.[7] Spears explained in an interview with Rolling Stone that she had worked with Luke during the production of Blackout (2007), stating that he was "incredible" during that time and that his skills have improved.[8] She also said that Martin was with her since the beginning of her career and that there is "nobody [she] feel[s] more comfortable collaborating with in the studio".[8] On December 2, 2010, the day of her 29th birthday, Spears thanked her fans for the birthday wishes and announced, "I'm almost done with my new album and it will be coming out this March."[9]

Recording and production

[edit]

In July 2009, Spears had begun recording new material with longtime collaborator Max Martin.[10] Spears stated her desire to make the album "fresh-sounding [...] for the clubs or something that you play in your car when you're going out at night that gets you excited, but I wanted it to sound different from everything else out right now." Spears also stated that she wanted to make sure Femme Fatale was completely different from her previous studio album Circus (2008).[8] After "Hold It Against Me" was written, originally, Luke and Martin wanted to give the track to Katy Perry, but they later decided that it wasn't the right fit for her. They continued to work on the song with Billboard, and Luke commented that before giving the song to Spears he wanted to make sure it sounded different from his previous recordings.[11] Darkchild stated that while working with him, Spears was very "hands-on" and "had a lot of ideas for [him]."[12] He later commented he had produced two songs for the album, with one of them featuring Travis Barker. Darkchild added that the song "[has] this rock feel which is out of the box, out of my norm, and I think it's out of her norm as well."[13] Executive producer Dr. Luke stated that "[I feel like] Britney kind of has her own genre: If you look at songs like "Toxic" and "Piece of Me" and "Oops!... I Did It Again", they all were sort of influential and led the way [...] She wanted to keep on with that and do stuff that was 'forward-thinking', So we put some dubstep stuff in there, in bridges; snuck it in different places."[14]

Spears performing "Hold It Against Me" during the Femme Fatale Tour, 2011

Dr. Luke revealed in February 2011 that a final track listing had not yet been chosen.[11] Later that month, Spears worked with will.i.am.[15] Spears later commented that she is a fan of the Black Eyed Peas, and would love to work with will.i.am again the future.[8] She also said that she discovered Sabi through a friend recommendation, and had always wanted to feature a new artist in one of her albums, hence they recorded "(Drop Dead) Beautiful".[8] British producer Fraser T Smith worked with Spears on three tracks and complimented her work ethic, saying that her voice was powerful and that she focused on the music.[16] William Orbit confirmed he had co-written a track for Spears with Klas Åhlund, but it was left off the final track listing.[15] Orbit stated that he was displeased with the decision, and commented, "[T]he Britney thing. Look, I went to a writing camp at Teresa's. Had lovely time. Word got out. Assumptions were made. Dr Luke is exec[utive] prod[ucer] and he locks in locks out whoever he likes. And (do [I] hear [you] ask) where B's at in all this? I surely don't know. [D]id a song [with] Klas Ahlund, who wrote 'Piece of Me'. And is killa. But not on [Femme Fatale] apparently. But a good song is a good song regardless."[17]

Music and lyrics

[edit]

Music writers noted electropop, dance-pop, EDM, and synth-pop styles on Femme Fatale.[18][19][20][21][22][23] Music journalist Jody Rosen wrote of the album, "Conceptually it's straightforward: a party record packed with sex and sadness".[24] The album was compared to Spears's previous albums, In the Zone (2003), Blackout (2007) and Circus (2008).[25][26] Although Spears was criticized for her lack of involvement from the album's production and writing, she wrote the song "Scary", produced by Fraser T Smith, which was included on the Japanese deluxe edition of the album.[27] The album opens with "Till the World Ends", co-written by Kesha, was described as an uptempo dance-pop and electropop song, with an electro beat and elements of techno and Eurodance.[18][28][29][30] The song opens with sirens and a "sizzling" bassline.[31][32] Critics complimented the song's "anthemic nature" and "chant-like chorus".[33] The second track and lead single "Hold It Against Me" is a dance-pop song which features industrial beats, a dubstep-influenced breakdown and employing elements of grime[34] and a final chorus with elements of rave. The lyrics portray the singer seducing someone on the dancefloor, while the chorus revolves around pick-up lines, with Spears singing: "If I said I want your body now, would you hold it against me?"[35] "Hold It Against Me" and Spears were complimented by Rick Florino of Artistdirect for "stepping into new territory and pushing the boundaries of dance-pop once more."[36] The third track "Inside Out" is an electropop song. It features themes of dubstep and R&B, complemented with "earth-shattering synths".[37][38] The song was praised for its intricate production and has been compared to her earlier work on albums In the Zone and Circus, and also to Janet Jackson and Madonna's album Ray of Light (1998) and song Music (2000).[25][39] Spears crescendos: "Baby shut your mouth and turn me inside out" during the chorus section,[40] and then goes on to "Hit me one more time it's so amazing" and "You're the only one who's ever drove me crazy", referencing her songs "...Baby One More Time" and "(You Drive Me) Crazy".[41] "I Wanna Go", the fourth track, is a dance-pop and Hi-NRG song, that includes elements of techno and a heavy bassline.[42][43] The song contains a whistled melody. In the chorus, she stutters: "I-I-I wanna go-o-o / All the wa-a-ay / Taking out my freak tonight".[44] The "builds and breaks" were compared to her album Blackout.[26]

"How I Roll" is the fifth track, produced by Bloodshy, Henrik Jonback and Magnus, where Spears "pirouettes from a gulping in-and-out breath effect", and was described as a "bubbly, playful pop song".[45] Spears's voice is heavily altered, with her voice being put through many distorters, filters, and blenders. The song uses constant rushed handclaps, with elements which were compared to Janet Jackson's "Strawberry Bounce".[46] The sixth and seventh tracks "(Drop Dead) Beautiful" and "Seal It With a Kiss" were commented as "fillers" by Christopher Kostakis of Samesame.com.au.[25] However, Keith Caulfield of Billboard states that "with giggly lyrical couplings like 'your body looks so sick, I think I caught the flu' and 'you must be B.I.G. because you got me hypnotized' -- '[Drop Dead] Beautiful' doesn't take itself too seriously."[47] "Big Fat Bass" is Femme Fatale's eighth track, and it was said that it "sticks to dancefloor essentials".[21] The song was further noted as being catchy, but repetitive by Idolator.[48] "Trouble for Me", the ninth song on the album, features a pre-chorus filled with "melting, wheezing synths" likened to a "Wiley grime wobble," segueing into a "Janet Jackson vocal."[49] Spears's voice had been Auto-Tuned, but her voice was described as "raw" and the tones and wines as "sexy" and "one of a kind".[46] "Criminal", the last track on the album's standard edition, is a guitar-driven midtempo song, which incorporates a folk-style flute melody.[21][25] Erin Thompson of the Seattle Weekly said the song "takes a breather from aggressive, wall-to-wall synths, driven instead by a steady guitar rhythm and an oddly Asian folky-sounding flute melody."[50] In the verses, Spears sings about being in love with a bad boy and outlaw, in lyrics such as "He is a hustler / He's no good at all / He is a loser, he's a bum, bum, bum, bum" and "He is a bad boy with a tainted heart / And even I know this ain't smart". During the chorus, she pleads to her mother not to worry in lines such as "But mama I'm in love with a criminal" and "Mama please don't cry / I will be alright."[46]

According to Billboard, "Up n' Down" "heads back to the dance floor, where we find ourselves picturing an aggressive Spears going 'Up N' Down.'" [47] The fourteenth track, "He About to Lose Me" is a pop rock-influenced ballad stated as "[packing] a serious emotional punch. Spears sings about being at the club, entranced by a new man she's made contact with -- all the while thinking of her current beau, who's at home. Will she leave the club with the new guy? Or will she go home to her man -- a guy she's not even all that sure loves her anymore?"[47] The final track on the deluxe version, "Don't Keep Me Waiting", has been described as "a new wavey rock moment for Spears, where fuzzzed-out guitars are paired with what sound like live drums on the ready-for-the-arena track."[47] The seventeenth and final track on the Japanese deluxe edition of the album "Scary" is another up-tempo dance song that finds Spears on the prowl. 'I just want your body, and I know that you want mine,' she sings. As the chorus opens up, Britney reveals the extent of her lust: "It's scary, yeah / I think I need some hypnotherapy / I want you so bad it's scary."[51]

Title and artwork

[edit]

On February 2, 2011, Spears announced the album's title through her Twitter account, and also posted an image of the album cover.[52] Spears stated:

I've poured my heart and soul into this album over the last 2 years. I've put everything I have into it. This album is for you, my fans, who have always supported me and have stuck by me every step of the way! I love you all! Sexy and Strong. Dangerous yet mysterious. Cool yet confident! FEMME FATALE.[52]

Following the announcement, the title became a trending topic on Twitter, and then went on to become the tenth longest-running trend on the site, as well as the first music related trend to break the top ten.[53]

The cover artwork was shot by Randee St. Nicholas and features a close-up shot of Spears, wearing a white dress with white fur on her shoulders.

In a retrospective article about "the sexist, empowering history of the femme fatale", Scott Meslow wrote from The Week, "And as the femme fatale archetype shifted toward female empowerment, some women [like Britney] began owning it outright."[54]

Release and promotion

[edit]
Spears performing "Till the World Ends" during the Femme Fatale Tour, 2011

Femme Fatale was released on March 25, 2011 in Europe and Oceania and four days later in the United States through Jive Records; both standard and deluxe editions were released. The first set of promotion included an interview from Ryan Seacrest, then promotion for the album began on March 25, 2011, in a performance that included "Hold It Against Me", "Till the World Ends" and "Big Fat Bass". The performance was filmed at Rain Nightclub inside the Palms Casino Resort and was included in a MTV special titled Britney Spears: I Am the Femme Fatale, which aired on April 3, 2011.[55] Spears manager Larry Rudolph explained the choice of the location for the performances in an interview with MTV, saying, "we chose the Palms because the Palms is where Britney has so much history. We performed here with the Britney album, we did a similar thing. We're doing this eight years later now and we're doing it for the fans." Rudolph also explained that the singer's main goal was to entertain her fans in the Femme Fatale era, and added, "I want them to know — when the fans watch this — I want them to know that Britney is back and better than ever, not that she's ever gone anywhere. But she's back and she's better than ever."[56] The original airing of the special in the United States was viewed by 0.665 million viewers and received a Nielsen rating of 0.3/1 in the key adults 18–49 demographic.[57]

On March 27, Spears performed the same set of songs in the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium to a crowd of 5,000 people for a special episode of Good Morning America that aired on March 29.[58] The singer also performed the same three-song set and participated in two skits on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on March 29,[59] and made a special appearance at the 2011 Kids' Choice Awards.[60] She was scheduled to make several appearances on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on the week of the album's release, but these were later canceled.[61][62] In April 2011, Spears appeared in a remix to the song "S&M" by Rihanna, after Rihanna asked her fans via Twitter who they wanted her to collaborate with.[63] The song reached number one in the US in mid-April 2011, giving Spears her fifth number one on the chart.[64] She also served as a guest host at the 2011 Wango Tango concert series alongside Ryan Seacrest on May 14, 2011.[65] Spears made a brief appearance at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards, performing the "S&M" remix with Rihanna and a short version of "Till the World Ends" alongside Femme Fatale tourmate Nicki Minaj.[66] "(Drop Dead) Beautiful" was available for free download on the Freeform website until the premiere of their made-for-television film Teen Spirit on August 5, 2011.[67] "Trouble for Me" was also featured on the main page of BMG's website.[68] Spears also appeared at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, where she was awarded the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.[69] "Gasoline" was used in a November 2012 commercial for Spears's perfume Fantasy Twist.[70]

Tour

[edit]
See also: Femme Fatale Tour

On June 16, 2011, Spears embarked on her eight concert tour to further promote Femme Fatale. It was announced on March 29, 2011, and included forty-five shows in North America and twenty-six in Europe.[71] In an interview on Ryan Seacrest's radio show on March 4, 2011, Spears stated she would tour the United States in the "early summer" in support of Femme Fatale.[72] On March 29, 2011, following her performances on Good Morning America, she announced a co-headlining tour with Enrique Iglesias, starting in June 2011. Hours after the announcement, it was reported by Billboard that Iglesias had pulled out of the tour. Ray Wedell of Billboard speculated that the reason may have been that Spears was deemed by news outlets as the headliner, while Iglesias was considered the opening act.[73] The first twenty-six North American dates were also announced on March 29, 2011.[74] The opening acts were announced on April 12, 2011. Spears stated: "This is the Femme Fatale tour and I'm thrilled to have Nicki Minaj, Jessie and the Toy Boys, and Nervo join me and get everyone on the dance floor. Can't wait to take the Femme Fatales on the road." Tickets for select markets go on sale beginning April 30 at Ticketmaster and Live Nation's websites.[75] In March 2011, Spears's manager Larry Rudolph told MTV News that the tour would have a "post-apocalyptic vibe", while commenting that "Till the World Ends" keeps becoming a theme for us." He also announced Jamie King as the tour director.[76] The tour opened to positive reviews, with some calling it her best tour in her entire career.[77]

Singles

[edit]

"Hold It Against Me" was released as the album's lead single on January 10, 2011.[78] The music video for the song premiered on February 17, 2011 on MTV following a two-week teaser campaign and featured Spears as an alien who finds fame on Earth but becomes overwhelmed with her celebrity and breaks down.[79] "Hold It Against Me" became Spears's fourth number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 and second to debut at that position, making Spears the second artist in the chart's history to have multiple singles debut at number one.[80] The song also went to number one in Belgium (Wallonia), Canada, Denmark, Finland, New Zealand and South Korea.[81][82]

"Till the World Ends" was released as the second single, making its premiere on Ryan Seacrest's radio show On Air with Ryan Seacrest.[83] The song received positive reviews from critics, complimenting its catchy appeal and anthemic nature.[84] The music video for "Till the World Ends" was released on April 6, 2011, on Vevo and showcased Spears in an underground dance party.[85] A remix featuring Minaj and Kesha was also released.[86] "Till the World Ends" was commercially successful worldwide, peaking at number three in the United States and topped the charts in Poland, Russia, Slovakia and South Korea, reaching the top ten in Australia, Belgium (Wallonia), Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Scotland, Sweden and Switzerland.[81][87] The song also became Spears' biggest radio hit in the United States at the time, reaching a radio audience of ninety-eight million, the highest weekly audience of her career before "I Wanna Go" was released.[88]

"I Wanna Go" was announced as the third single on May 13, 2011.[89] It was officially released to radio in the United States on June 14, 2011.[90] The song received positive reviews from critics who praised the song's hook. The music video for "I Wanna Go" was released on June 22, 2011, and featured Spears daydreaming about different scenarios during a press conference.[91] After the video premiere, the song reached number twenty-nine on the Billboard Hot 100.[92] After "I Wanna Go" reached number seven in the United States, Femme Fatale became Spears's first album to produce three top ten hits on the chart.[93]

"Criminal" was announced as the album's fourth and final single following the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards on August 28, 2011.[94] Earlier that month, a poll on Spears's official Facebook page appeared, asking the fans to vote for the fourth official single from Femme Fatale, the choices being "Criminal", "(Drop Dead) Beautiful" and "Inside Out".[95] "Criminal" was later released on September 30, 2011, as the final single from the album.[96] The accompanying music video was filmed in Stoke Newington, a district of London, England.[97] It peaked at number fifty-five in the United States.[98]

Despite not being released as a single, the deluxe edition track "Selfish" peaked at number five and 12 on the Billboard component charts, Digital Song Sales and Dance/Electronic Songs, respectively, in February 2024, following a fan campaign aimed to overtake Justin Timberlake's single of the same name.[99][100]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?6.1/10[101]
Metacritic67/100[102]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarHalf star[103]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[20]
The GuardianStarStarStar[104]
The IndependentStarStar[21]
MSN Music (Expert Witness)B+[105]
NME7/10[106]
The ObserverStarStarStarStar[43]
Rolling StoneStarStarStarStar[24]
Slant MagazineStarStarStar[107]
Spin7/10[108]

Femme Fatale received generally mostly positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, Femme Fatale holds an average score of 67 out of 100 (indicating "generally favorable reviews") based on 25 reviews from mainstream music critics.[109] Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone commented that it "may be Britney's best album; certainly it's her strangest".[24] AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine viewed that Spears's presence on the album is overshadowed by its "high-class" production, calling the album "essentially a cleaner, classier remake of the gaudily dark Blackout [...] a producer's paradise".[103] Robert Everett-Green of The Globe and Mail gave the album three-and-a-half out of four stars and complimented its "grainy, glistening electronic sound", calling it "one of the major guilty pleasures in pop this year".[110] Kitty Empire of The Observer commented that Spears "has turned out the "fierce dance record" she promised".[43] Ailbhe Malone of NME viewed it as her "best work" and wrote that it "brims with the laidback confidence of someone who knows she's back on top."[106]

MSN Music's Robert Christgau gave the album a B+ rating,[105] indicating "remarkable one way or another, yet also flirts with the humdrum or the half-assed".[111] Slant Magazine's Sal Cinquemani commented that Spears's lack of involvement makes "the success of a Britney song rest almost entirely on the quality of other people's songwriting and production, and almost every track on Femme Fatale succeeds or fails on that basis".[107] Los Angeles Times writer Carl Wilson felt that the album "finds unity of subject, style and sound by imagining scenarios in which vanishing into anonymity can be comfort and liberation".[112] Tom Gockelen-Kozlowski of The Daily Telegraph felt that, "despite her weak voice and empty lyrics, [Spears] has placed herself at the avant-garde of pop with this masterful mixture of über-cool dubstep and sugary pop".[113] The A.V. Club's Genevieve Koski wrote that Spears "settles into [the production], game for whatever and confident in the hands of trusted professionals who know how to best utilize her".[114]

In a mixed review, Andy Gill of The Independent criticized its "single-minded dedication to dancefloor utility" and observed "only the tiniest of rhythmic variants or differences in electronic tones distinguishing one producer's work from another's".[21] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times commented that "much of the music on this album feels flat and redundant, no more invigorating than the average European dance-pop album of five years ago".[115] The Guardian's Alexis Petridis wrote that Spears's "voice is as anonymous as ever, a state of affairs amplified by the lavishing of Auto-Tune".[104] Evan Sawdey of PopMatters wrote that "Spears' worldview is completely self-contained" and described Femme Fatale as "just a big dumb club album".[116] Rich Juzwiak of The Village Voice wrote that her "voice doesn't add much to the conversation", writing that her lack of presence is "problematic for an album whose subject matter is hedonism and how being hot facilitates it".[117]

Music critics, despite giving favorable reviews, noted Spears's apparent lack of input on Femme Fatale.[103] Singer-songwriter Ryan Tedder defended her, stating that "[Frank] Sinatra didn't write a song, Garth Brooks barely wrote anything, George Strait has had I think 51 No. 1's and he has yet to write a song. Rascal Flatts are one of the biggest country acts in the world, and all of their hits are written by other people."[118] Spears responded to further criticism of her performing abilities,[119] "I don’t really have anything to prove at this point. I just do it for fun and see what happens."[120]

Jocelyn Vena of MTV noted that "for the first time in a while, she seemed comfortable being the pop megastar that she is."[121] Spin named Femme Fatale the 50th best album of 2011[122] and also placed it at number 3 in their "20 Best Pop Albums of 2011" list.[123] Digital Spy ranked the album at number 11 at their year ends list.[124] "Till the World Ends" was named the third best song of 2011 by Rolling Stone[125] and the third best single of 2011 by Billboard, who described it as "Britney's most immediate single since 'Toxic'."[126] Sam Lansky of PopCrush considered "Till the World Ends" the best pop song of 2011.[127] Digital Spy also considered the track as the best song of 2011, naming it "Britney's best track since 'Toxic'" and "her most underrated hit."[128]

Accolades

[edit]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Awards and nominations
Year Category Award Result Ref.
2011 Album of the Year PopCrush Fan Choice Awards Nominated [129]
2011 Favorite Billboard 200 No. 1 Album Billboard's Mid-Year Music Award Won [130]
2012 Favorite Album People's Choice Award Nominated [131]

Despite receiving mostly favorable reviews from the music critics, Femme Fatale did not receive any nominations at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards (2012). John Mitchell of MTV criticized the award show and stated that "Till the World Ends" should have won a nomination for Best Dance Recording.[132] Robbie Daw of Idolator also stated that Spears should have been nominated, commenting: "She had a No. 1 album that yielded a trio of hits. So what gives?"[133] Ed Christman of Billboard noted that Femme Fatale was "overlooked" by the Grammy Award voters.[134] James Montgomery, also of MTV, however, noted that Spears has "never been considered a Grammy artist, and has won just once during her entire career."[135]

Commercial performance

[edit]
Spears performing "(Drop Dead) Beautiful" during the Femme Fatale Tour, 2011

Femme Fatale debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 276,000 copies.[136] This gave Spears her sixth debut at the top of the chart and leaves her in a four-way tie for third most number-one albums for a female artist, along with Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson and Beyoncé.[136][137] In its second week, the album fell one slot to number two, with sales of 75,000 units, giving it a two-week total of 351,000 sold in the United States.[138] The album spent five consecutive weeks within the Billboard 200 top ten.[139] The album was certified platinum in April 2011 by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA),[140] and has sold 805,000 copies in the country as of May 2020.[141] In Mexico, the album debuted at number one upon its release, spending three weeks inside the top ten before falling to number thirteen.[142] Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas (AMPROFON) has certified the album gold and according to Sony Music México, the album has gone on to sell over 40,000 copies in the country.[143]

The album debuted at number eight on the UK Albums Chart, selling 31,650 copies in its first week,[144][145] becoming her lowest-charting studio album in the United Kingdom since In the Zone (2003), which peaked at number thirteen in July 2004. In Germany, the album debuted at number ten, making it her seventh consecutive top-ten studio album, and her eighth top-ten album with the inclusion of the greatest hits album Greatest Hits: My Prerogative (2004), which peaked at number four.[146][147] Femme Fatale debuted at number eight in Denmark, selling 1,009 copies in its first week.[148] On April 4, 2011, Femme Fatale debuted at number one in Australia, making it Spears's first number-one album in the country. It was also certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) during its debut week for shipments over 35,000 copies.[149]

On 2011 Billboard's mid-year sales list, Spears appeared twice: Femme Fatale reached number twelve with 590,000 sold units and its second single "Till the World Ends" number eighteen with 1,989,000 sold units.[130] As of February 2014, the album had sold 2.4 million copies worldwide.[150]

Track listing

[edit]
Femme Fatale – Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Till the World Ends"
3:57
2."Hold It Against Me"
  • Dr. Luke
  • Martin
  • Billboard[b]
3:48
3."Inside Out"
  • Dr. Luke
  • Martin
  • Billboard
  • Wright[a]
3:38
4."I Wanna Go"
  • Martin
  • Shellback
3:30
5."How I Roll"
3:36
6."(Drop Dead) Beautiful" (featuring Sabi)
3:36
7."Seal It with a Kiss"
3:26
8."Big Fat Bass" (featuring will.i.am)William Adamswill.i.am4:44
9."Trouble for Me"
Smith3:19
10."Trip to Your Heart"
  • Karlsson
  • Jonback
  • Lidehäll
  • Winnberg
  • Morier
  • Sophie Stern
  • Bloodshy
  • Jonback
  • Magnus
  • Wright[a]
3:33
11."Gasoline"
  • Dr. Luke
  • Blanco
  • Wright[a]
3:08
12."Criminal"
  • Martin
  • Shellback
3:45
Total length:44:00
Femme Fatale – Deluxe edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
13."Up n' Down"
  • Shellback
  • Martin
  • Kotecha
  • Martin
  • Shellback
  • Oligee
3:42
14."He About to Lose Me"
Jerkins3:48
15."Selfish"
3:43
16."Don't Keep Me Waiting"
Jerkins3:21
Total length:58:34
Femme Fatale – Japanese deluxe edition and 2025 deluxe edition digital reissue (bonus track)
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
17."Scary"
Smith3:39
Total length:62:13

Notes

  • ^a signifies a vocal producer
  • ^b signifies a co-producer

Personnel

[edit]

Credits for Femme Fatale adapted from AllMusic.[151]

  • Ammo – instrumentation, producer, programming, background vocals
  • Beatriz Artola – engineer
  • Stacey Barnett – background vocals
  • Billboard – instrumentation, producer, programming
  • Benny Blanco – instrumentation, producer, programming, background vocals
  • Sophia Black – background vocals
  • Christian Karlsson – instrumentation, producer, programming, vocal producer
  • Heather Bright – background vocals
  • Tom Coyne – mastering
  • Ester Dean – background vocals
  • Megan Dennis – production coordination
  • DJ Ammo – drum programming, synthesizer
  • Dr. Luke – executive producer, instrumentation, producer, programming, background vocals
  • Dream Machine – instrumentation, producer, programming
  • Dylan Dresdow – mixing
  • Eric Eylands – assistant engineer
  • Ashton Foster – background vocals
  • Livvi Franc – background vocals
  • Fraser T Smith – drum programming, keyboards, producer
  • Clint Gibbs – production coordination
  • Aniela Gottwald – assistant
  • Tatiana Gottwald – assistant
  • Venza Gottwald – assistant
  • John Hanes – engineer, mixing
  • Jeri Heiden – art direction
  • Jacob Kasher Hindlin
  • Sam Holland – engineer, background vocals
  • J-MIKE – instrumentation, producer, programming, background vocals
  • Cristyle Johnson – background vocals
  • Henrik Jonback – instrumentation, producer, programming, vocal producer
  • Claude Kelly – background vocals
  • Padraic Kerin – engineer
  • Alexander Kronlund – instrumentation, programming
  • Adam Leber – A&R
  • Jeremy "J Boogs" Levin – assistant
  • Magnus – instrumentation, producer, programming, vocal producer
  • Myah Marie – background vocals
  • Max Martin – engineer, executive producer, instrumentation, keyboards, producer, programming, background vocals
  • Bonnie McKee – background vocals, guest vocals
  • Nicole Morier – background vocals
  • Jackie Murphy – creative director
  • Rob Murray – assistant
  • Chris "Tek" O'Ryan – engineer
  • Chau Phan – background vocals
  • Irene Richter – production coordination
  • Tim Roberts – assistant engineer, mixing assistant
  • Patrizia Rogosch – background vocals
  • Larry Rudolph – A&R
  • Britney Spears – lead vocals, concept, background vocals
  • Shellback – bass, engineer, guitar, keyboards, producer
  • Nick Steinhardt – art direction, design
  • Ryan Supple – photo production
  • Peter Thea – A&R
  • Dave Thomas – stylist
  • will.i.am – drum programming, engineer, piano, producer, synthesizer, guest vocals
  • Emily Wright – engineer, vocal producer
  • Randee St. Nicholas – photography
  • Şerban Ghenea – mixing

Charts

[edit]

Certifications and sales

[edit]
Certifications and sales
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[202] Gold 35,000^
Brazil — 80,000[203]
Canada (Music Canada)[204] 2× Platinum 160,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[205] Gold 10,000‡
France (SNEP)[207] Gold 80,000[206]
Ireland (IRMA)[208] Gold 7,500^
Japan — 28,704[209]
Mexico (AMPROFON)[211] Gold 40,000[210]
New Zealand (RMNZ)[212] Gold 7,500‡
Poland (ZPAV)[213] Gold 10,000‡
Russia (NFPF)[214] Platinum 10,000*
Spain — 4,621[a]
Sweden (GLF)[216] Gold 20,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[217] Gold 100,000‡
United States (RIAA)[140] Platinum 1,000,000^
Summaries
Worldwide — 2,400,000[150]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Release history
Region Date Format(s) Edition(s) Label Ref.
Australia March 25, 2011 CD Deluxe Sony [218][219]
Austria
  • Standard
  • deluxe
 [220][221]
Denmark [222][223]
Finland Standard [224]
Germany
  • Standard
  • deluxe
 [220][221][225][226]
Netherlands CD Deluxe [227]
Norway [228]
Sweden
  • CD
  • digital download
 Standard [229][230]
Switzerland CD
  • Standard
  • deluxe
 [220][221]
France March 28, 2011
  • CD
  • digital download
 [231][232][233][234]
Hong Kong CD Deluxe [235]
Poland
  • Eco
  • standard
  • deluxe
 [236]
South Africa Deluxe [237]
Taiwan March 29, 2011 [238]
United States
  • CD
  • digital download
  • Standard
  • deluxe
 Jive [239][240]
Japan April 6, 2011 Sony Japan [241][242][243]
United Kingdom June 17, 2011 CD Deluxe RCA [244]
United States February 14, 2020 Vinyl (Urban Outfitters exclusive) Standard Legacy [245]
February 4, 2021 Cassette (Urban Outfitters exclusive) [246]
March 31, 2023 Vinyl [247]
Australia May 26, 2023 White/black marbled vinyl Sony [248]
Germany [249]
Poland [250]
United Kingdom [251]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Femme Fatale (Britney Spears album)

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Femme Fatale is the seventh studio album by American singer , released on March 25, 2011, through . The record is characterized by its and sound, featuring electronic beats and club-oriented production. It was primarily executive produced by and , with additional contributions from producers such as , , and . The album's lead single, "," debuted at number one on the in January 2011. Subsequent singles included "" (peaking at number three), "" (number seven), and "Criminal." Femme Fatale debuted at number one on the chart, selling 276,000 copies in its first week and marking Spears's sixth number-one album in the United States. The project has amassed over one billion streams across audio and video platforms as of recent estimates. Critically, was praised for its energetic production and hook-filled tracks, with reviewers noting its role as a vibrant party album blending sensuality and melancholy. Publications such as hailed it as potentially Spears's strongest and most unconventional work to date, while described it as an unrelenting triumph overstuffed with sensations. acknowledged its quality but critiqued Spears's vocal presence as secondary to the songwriting and beats. Overall, the album solidified Spears's position in the evolving landscape of early .

Background and Conception

Development

Following the release of her sixth studio album, Circus, in December 2008, Britney Spears began pre-production planning for her next project in 2009, aiming to shift toward a lighter, more dance-oriented sound after the more introspective tones of Blackout (2007) and Circus. In July 2009, Spears confirmed she had begun recording new material. By October 2010, Spears had completed three new songs for the album, signaling early progress in the conceptual phase amid her ongoing , during which she teased collaborations and a focus on electronic influences in interviews. Early discussions with executives in late 2009 helped pivot the direction away from the pop-rock elements of prior releases toward a fun, club-focused record. Spears expressed a desire for an "edgier" aesthetic without deep personal themes, drawing from contemporary electronic trends to create a "future-pop" vibe.

Title and Artwork

The title Femme Fatale for ' seventh studio album was announced by the artist on February 2, 2011, via her account. In an accompanying press statement, she described it as a tribute to her "bold, empowered, confident, elusive, fun, flirty" fans. Spears emphasized the title's nod to strong, seductive female figures, aligning with the album's themes of and allure. The choice reflects a deliberate shift toward celebrating and mystique, drawing from the classic of the as a captivating yet perilous . The album's visual identity was created through a photoshoot conducted by renowned photographer Randee St. Nicholas in late 2010, specifically for the artwork and packaging. Spears was actively involved in the conceptual direction, aiming to embody the title's essence of danger and seduction. The standard edition cover features her reclining on a bed in a form-fitting black ensemble with bold red lipstick, her gaze directed coyly over her shoulder to evoke mystery and temptation—core elements of the trope. This imagery symbolizes allure intertwined with risk, reinforcing the album's narrative of empowered sensuality. Alternate versions of the artwork were released alongside special editions to enhance collector appeal. The deluxe edition maintains the primary cover image but updates the title text to a metallic typeface, adding a luxurious contrast against the dark tones. A limited fan edition, packaged as a premium hardbound , incorporates exclusive outtakes from the St. Nicholas session, including additional poses of Spears in varied sultry attire, providing deeper insight into the photoshoot's thematic exploration of feminine power and enigma.

Recording and Production

Sessions and Locations

The recording sessions for Femme Fatale took place from July 2009 to February 2011, with interruptions due to ' personal commitments. Sessions were held at multiple studios across the and internationally, including in , ; Roc the Mic Studios in ; and MyAudiotronic Studios in London, England. Due to the involvement of international producers such as those based in and the , remote collaboration was utilized for several tracks, allowing for and virtual contributions before Spears' vocals were laid down in person. Final mixing was completed in March 2011, just ahead of the album's release later that month.

Producers and Collaborators

The production of Femme Fatale was spearheaded by executive producers and , who collaborated closely to shape the album's electro-pop direction. , a frequent collaborator with Spears, co-produced several tracks alongside , including the lead single "," which Martin also co-wrote. Their work emphasized uptempo dance tracks designed to capture contemporary club sounds. Max Martin, renowned for his songwriting prowess in pop music, contributed to key hits like "Till the World Ends" and "I Wanna Go," blending catchy hooks with electronic elements. Other notable producers included on "Big Fat Bass," on "Up 'n' Down," on "Inside Out," on "How I Roll," and , who added ambient textures to the bonus track "Seal It with a Kiss," providing a more atmospheric contrast to the album's high-energy vibe. Songwriting and additional production came from collaborators such as , who co-wrote multiple tracks including "" and "(Drop Dead) Beautiful," infusing personal and provocative lyrics. Shellback handled guitar and production duties on songs like "," enhancing the rhythmic drive. contributed vocal arrangements and background vocals across several cuts, supporting Spears' delivery in the dense production layers. Spears herself played a role in selecting these producers to ensure a unified electro-pop aesthetic, with input from ' A&R team including manager . The team navigated challenges in blending pop structures with emerging EDM influences to create cohesion over the album's 12 tracks.

Composition

Musical Style

Femme Fatale is predominantly an electro-pop and album, featuring heavy reliance on synthesizers, effects, and dramatic EDM drops that create a club-ready aesthetic, marking a deliberate evolution in ' sound toward more electronic, high-energy production. The record incorporates influences from and , exemplified by the wobbling bassline in the lead single "," while evoking through layered electronic textures; most tracks operate at tempos of 120-130 BPM, optimizing them for dance floors and radio rotation. Departing slightly from the uniform electronic palette, the includes variations like the guitar-driven mid-tempo track "Criminal," which introduces rock-infused elements with its prominent guitar riffs and folk-style melody, and the ambient "Seal It with a Kiss," infused with trip-hop nuances via producer William Orbit's atmospheric synth work. The overall production achieves a glossy polish, prioritizing infectious hooks and structural replayability to ensure the songs resonate in both mainstream pop contexts and settings.

Lyrics and Themes

The lyrics of Femme Fatale center on themes of , romance, and , often portraying Spears as an alluring figure who embodies the classic "" archetype of a dangerously captivating . Tracks like "(Drop Dead) Beautiful" highlight irresistible attraction through vivid imagery of beauty and flirtation, with lines such as "Diamond, diamond, shining, shining / Ooh boy, you so fine" and "You can be my black tonight / Drop dead gorgeous, drop dead beautiful," emphasizing the power of physical allure to ensnare a lover. Similarly, "Criminal" delves into forbidden romance and moral ambiguity, where the narrator confesses to being the true "criminal" for loving a hustler despite his flaws, singing "He is a bad boy with a tainted heart / And even I know this ain't smart / But when he touches me / I get a rush," which underscores the 's self-destructive yet empowering draw to danger. Hedonism and escapism permeate the album's songwriting, with many songs focusing on partying, breakups, and fleeting pleasures as a means of release. "Till the World Ends" stands out as an apocalyptic party anthem, urging listeners to "keep on dancing till the world ends" amid themes of end-times revelry and romantic abandon, co-written by , , and to capture a euphoric defiance against chaos. Metaphors of , poison, and danger further illustrate this irresistible allure, as seen in "Gasoline," where Spears likens passion to an addictive substance: "Here's the / You set me on fire," portraying as a hazardous, intoxicating force. Compared to the more introspective and turmoil-revealing lyrics of earlier albums like Blackout, Femme Fatale adopts a shift to playful, confident personas centered on surface-level fun and flirtation, avoiding deeper personal revelations. This change aligns with Spears' conservatorship, during which she received no songwriting credits on the standard edition tracks, although collaborators such as Heather Bright noted her involvement in the creative process. Spears is credited as a co-writer only on the bonus track "Scary," produced by Fraser T Smith, marking a departure from her more hands-on contributions in prior releases.

Release and Promotion

Marketing and Formats

The album Femme Fatale was officially titled and announced by on February 2, 2011, via a post on , where she shared the cover artwork and confirmed a release date. Pre-orders for the album became available in mid-January 2011, coinciding with the digital release of the lead single on January 11. issued the album internationally on March 25, 2011, with the U.S. release following on March 29; this marked Spears' final project with the label before its dissolution later that year. The rollout was delayed from an initial late-2010 target to allow additional time for production refinements. Femme Fatale was released in multiple formats to cater to different markets and fan preferences. The standard edition featured 12 tracks on CD and digital download, emphasizing the core material. The deluxe edition expanded to 16 tracks, incorporating four bonus songs—"Don't Keep Me Waiting," "Selfish," "He About to Lose Me," and an exclusive remix—along with enhanced packaging such as a fold-out digisleeve in select regions. The Japanese edition, released on April 6, 2011, included all deluxe content plus the additional bonus track "Scary," produced by and co-written by Spears. In October 2025, "Scary" was released on digital platforms worldwide. Digital bundles on offered the deluxe version with immediate access to select tracks upon pre-order, alongside exclusive digital booklets featuring behind-the-scenes photos. Marketing efforts focused on and digital platforms to generate pre-release buzz, leveraging Spears' large following. On February 11, 2011, Spears hosted a live Q&A session, answering fan questions about the album's "moody, edgy pop" direction and sharing production insights. Hype was further built through a series of 14 teaser clips for the "" music video, released daily starting February 4, 2011, which amassed millions of views and trended globally on for over six days. exclusives, including early track unlocks and bundled remixes, were promoted as incentives for digital pre-orders, aligning with the era's shift toward streaming and sales.

Singles

The lead single from Femme Fatale, "", was released on January 11, 2011, and produced by alongside . It debuted at number one on the US , marking Spears' fifth chart-topper and the first debut at the summit for a female artist since 2008. Internationally, the track reached number six on the UK Singles Chart and number eight on the Canadian Hot 100, while peaking at number four in . The accompanying , directed by and premiered on February 17, 2011, featured a marionette-inspired with Spears portrayed as a in an apocalyptic setting, emphasizing themes of control and . Radio promotion focused on top 40 stations, where it garnered over 100 million audience impressions in its first full week, contributing to its rapid ascent. The second single, "Till the World Ends", followed on March 4, 2011, amid album pre-release buzz after an early leak prompted a rush digital rollout. Produced by , , and Billboard, it peaked at number three on the US , bolstered by a featuring and Ke$ha that amplified its club appeal. On international charts, it hit number three in the UK, number four in , and number eight in , with strong driving its performance on European radio formats. The music video, directed by Ray Kay and released on April 6, 2011, depicted an underground apocalyptic party, showcasing Spears amid urban destruction and ensemble choreography to evoke end-times escapism. Promotion emphasized rhythmic pop radio rotation, where it accumulated 146 million all-format impressions, helping sustain momentum into the album's launch. "(Drop Dead) Beautiful", featuring Sabi, served as a promotional single in June 2011, aimed at building album anticipation without a full commercial push or . Co-written and produced by , , and Priscilla Renea, the track highlighted a playful electro-pop vibe but saw limited chart impact, bubbling under the Hot 100 and peaking at number 19 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100. It received targeted radio play on select stations as a digital promo, focusing on urban contemporary formats to introduce Sabi's contribution and tease the album's collaborative energy. "I Wanna Go" was issued as the third official single on June 14, 2011, produced by and Shellback, blending with electronic elements. It climbed to number seven on the , supported by steady digital sales and that topped the Pop Songs chart. Internationally, it achieved number six in the UK, number five in , and number seven in , with radio strategies prioritizing crossover appeal to both pop and rhythmic outlets for broader reach. The music video, directed by and premiered on June 22, 2011, adopted an urban pop aesthetic with Spears navigating chaotic city streets and fantasy sequences, symbolizing a desire for uninhibited freedom. efforts yielded over 130 million impressions in key markets, solidifying its role in sustaining Femme Fatale's post-release visibility. The fourth and final single, "Criminal", arrived in September 2011, produced by and produced with a softer, rock-infused sound. It underperformed on the US , peaking at number 55, but fared better abroad, reaching number one in and the top 20 in countries including and . In the , it debuted at number 67, with limited radio traction due to its ballad-like shift from the album's dance focus. The music video, directed by Chris Marrs Piliero and released on October 17, 2011, stirred controversy for its depiction of a spree involving Spears and her then-fiancé Jason Trawick, including simulated violence and a shower scene that drew criticism from authorities for glamorizing gangs. Promotion leaned on adult contemporary and international radio to highlight its romantic narrative, though it marked a subdued close to the singles campaign. Collectively, the singles from drove significant radio exposure, with employing a strategy of staggered releases and variants to maximize cross-format play, resulting in over 500 million combined airplay impressions across the and key global markets during 2011. This approach underscored the album's identity while extending its commercial lifespan through visual storytelling and targeted promotion.

Tour

The Femme Fatale Tour was ' eighth , launched on June 16, 2011, at the Power Balance Pavilion in , to promote her seventh studio album, Femme Fatale. The tour concluded on November 18, 2011, in , , after 79 shows across , , and . The setlist featured 24 songs, with eight tracks drawn from Femme Fatale, including "Hold It Against Me," "Up N' Down," "Big Fat Bass," "How I Roll," "Lace and Leather," "Till the World Ends," and "(Drop Dead) Beautiful," emphasizing the album's electro-pop sound. Costume changes were frequent, totaling over a dozen per show, and drew inspiration from the theme with elements like leather outfits, chain accessories, and metallic ensembles evoking seduction and danger. Spears performed singles such as "Hold It Against Me" and "Till the World Ends" live during the tour. Directed by , the production incorporated elaborate staging with aerial acrobatics during segments like the Egyptian-themed "Circus" interlude, large LED screens displaying dynamic visuals, and pyrotechnics to enhance the high-energy dance routines. The tour grossed $68.7 million worldwide. The tour faced controversies, including accusations of lip-syncing from critics who noted pre-recorded vocals during several performances, though audiences largely overlooked it in favor of the spectacle. Spears also experienced minor wardrobe malfunctions, such as a strap breaking during a show in October 2011, which she handled without interrupting the performance.

Reception

Critical Reviews

Upon its release in 2011, Femme Fatale received generally favorable reviews from music critics, earning a Metacritic score of 67 out of 100 based on 25 reviews, indicating mixed or average reviews. Critics frequently praised the album's high-energy sound and club-ready production, which captured Spears' return to her signature upbeat style amid ongoing media scrutiny of her . However, many noted its formulaic approach, with repetitive electronic beats and a perceived lack of artistic evolution following the more experimental Blackout (2007). Positive assessments highlighted the album's infectious hooks and suitability as a party soundtrack. Rolling Stone awarded it 3.5 out of 5 stars, describing it as a "party record packed with sex and sadness" and Spears' strangest yet most effective effort to that point. Similarly, Entertainment Weekly gave it a B+, commending its "irresistible hooks" and the way Spears served as a "confidently corrupt guide" through a world of escapist pop. Reviewers often lauded the catchiness of lead singles like "Hold It Against Me" and "Till the World Ends," which exemplified the record's sleek, influences and anthemic choruses designed for radio and dance floors. Criticism centered on the album's perceived emotional detachment and overreliance on studio effects. The Guardian rated it 3 out of 5 stars, arguing that while the production provided a "cutting-edge pop soundtrack," Spears' vocal delivery felt disengaged, making her the "least interesting thing" about the project. Outlets like The New York Times were harsher, assigning a score of 40 out of 100 and calling the album "blank," with Spears functioning more as a "celebrity spokeswoman" than an expressive artist, exacerbated by heavy auto-tune that masked any vocal nuance. These reviews underscored a divide: while the tracks excelled in immediacy and replay value, they often lacked depth or innovation, positioning Femme Fatale as a solid but unadventurous entry in Spears' discography.

Accolades

Femme Fatale garnered several notable awards and nominations in the year following its release, reflecting its commercial impact and Spears' enduring influence in . The album topped the upon release, earning it the Favorite Billboard 200 No. 1 Album honor at Billboard's 2011 Mid-Year Music Awards, a fan-voted recognition of its chart dominance. Despite positive reception from some critics, the and its singles received no nominations at the in 2012, continuing Spears' pattern of limited recognition from despite her commercial achievements. At the , Spears was presented with the prestigious for her contributions to music videos, presented during the height of the album's promotion; additionally, the single "" won Best Pop Video, highlighting the visual appeal of the project. The album also secured a nomination for Favorite Pop Album at the in 2012, a fan-voted category where it competed against releases like Lady Gaga's Born This Way. Internationally, Spears' success with led to her nomination as the North American finalist for Worldwide Act at the , pitting her against global artists like Lena from and BIGBANG from . These honors underscored the album's role in solidifying Spears' position as a amid her ongoing career resurgence.

Commercial Performance

Charts

Femme Fatale debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 276,000 copies in its first week, marking Britney Spears's sixth album to reach the summit. The album also topped the charts in on the ARIA Albums Chart, on the Billboard Canadian Albums Chart, , , , and the . It reached the top ten in a total of 24 countries worldwide. In the , the album peaked at number two on the and spent 25 weeks on the listing. On the in , it attained a peak position of number three. The album achieved its longest chart run in , where it peaked at number four on the Albums Chart and remained on the tally for 58 weeks. For year-end rankings, Femme Fatale placed at number 31 on the 2011 Billboard 200.

Sales and Certifications

Femme Fatale has sold 2.4 million copies worldwide as of February 2014, with over 1 billion streams across audio and video platforms as of September 2025, including nearly 1 billion on for the deluxe version alone. In the United States, it achieved approximately 800,000 pure album sales as of 2019. The album's strong initial sales contributed to its debut at number one on the , where it moved 276,000 equivalent units in its first week. Regional breakdowns indicate performance in key markets, with reported sales contributing to global totals. No major new certifications were issued as of November 2025. The album received platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in the United States for 1 million units, encompassing sales and streaming equivalents. In the United Kingdom, it earned gold status from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for 100,000 units. Australia awarded gold certification by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for shipments exceeding 35,000 copies.
CountryCertifying BodyCertificationUnits
ArgentinaCAPIFGold20,000
Gold35,000
Gold40,000
2× Platinum160,000
BPIGold100,000
RIAA1,000,000

Track Listing and Credits

Track Listing

The standard edition of Femme Fatale features twelve tracks, primarily produced by a team including , , and Shellback, with songwriting contributions from , , and others. The deluxe edition adds four bonus tracks, bringing the total to sixteen. Durations and songwriters are as follows:
No.TitleDurationSongwriter(s)
1"Till the World Ends"3:57 Sebert, Lukasz Gottwald,
2"Hold It Against Me"3:49, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Lukasz Gottwald, Mathieu Jomphe, Joshua Coleman
3"Inside Out"3:37, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Lukasz Gottwald, , Mathieu Jomphe
4"I Wanna Go"3:30, Johan Schuster,
5"How I Roll"3:36, Nicole Morier, Pontus Winnberg, Christian Karlsson,
6"(Drop Dead) Beautiful" (featuring Sabi)3:37Benjamin Levin, Joshua Coleman, , Mathieu Jomphe, Jeremy Coleman
7"Seal It with a Kiss" (featuring )3:30William Adams, , Keith Harris
8"Big Fat Bass" (featuring )4:44William Adams, Adam Messinger
9"Trouble for Me"3:19Heather Bright,
10"Trip to Your Heart"3:33, Johan Schuster, Tiffany Amber
11"Gasoline"3:14, Lukasz Gottwald, , Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor
12"Criminal"3:45, Johan Schuster, Tiffany Amber
Deluxe edition bonus tracks
The bonus tracks were recorded during the album's sessions but excluded from the standard edition due to space constraints and thematic focus.
No.TitleDurationSongwriter(s)
13"Up n' Down"3:42, Johan Schuster,
14"He About to Lose Me"3:48Johan Schuster, ,
15"Selfish"3:43Priscilla Renea, Jeremy Skaller
16"Don't Keep Me Waiting"3:21Nathaniel Hills, II
A companion remix album, Femme Fatale Remixed, was released in June 2011 exclusively in certain markets, compiling 14 remixes of album tracks by various DJs and producers. Notable inclusions feature club-oriented reworkings, such as "" (Veronica Electronic Autumnliner Remix) and "" (Femme Fatale Remix featuring and Ke$ha).

Personnel

provided lead vocals on all tracks of Femme Fatale. Background vocals were contributed by Myah Marie and Nicole Morier. Key instrumentation credits include keyboards and programming by (Łukasz Gottwald), guitar and bass by Shellback (Johan Schuster), and additional synthesizers on select tracks by various collaborators such as . The album's engineering was handled primarily by , who mixed all tracks at MixStar Studios in , with assistance from John Hanes. Mastering was performed by at Sterling Sound in . A&R direction was overseen by Adam Leber, , and Peter Theo for . Artwork credits include art direction by Jeri Heiden and Nick Steinhardt, design by Nick Steinhardt, and photography by Luis Rafael. Creative direction was led by Jackie Murphy.

Release History

Femme Fatale was initially released in various international markets on March 25, 2011, through Sony Music subsidiaries, in both standard and deluxe editions on and digital formats. In the , the album came out the following day, March 28, 2011, via and , available in and digital versions. The release followed on March 29, 2011, distributed by and Zomba Label Group in and digital formats. In , a special deluxe edition featuring the exclusive bonus track "Scary" was issued on April 6, 2011, by in format. "Scary" was released digitally worldwide on October 16, 2025. A remixed version of the album, titled B in the Mix: The Remixes Vol. 2, compiling dance remixes of tracks from Femme Fatale along with prior albums, was released worldwide on October 18, 2011, primarily in digital format by , with select physical editions. Digital-only releases of the original album were available in several markets, including parts of and , coinciding with the physical launches in 2011. To commemorate the album's tenth anniversary, a limited-edition vinyl reissue on clear vinyl with gold and white splatter was made available exclusively through in the on January 22, 2021, via .
RegionDateLabel(s)Format(s)
, March 25, 2011CD, digital
March 28, 2011Jive, CD, digital
March 29, 2011Jive, ZombaCD, digital
JapanApril 6, 2011CD (with bonus track "Scary")
WorldwideOctober 18, 2011JiveDigital (), select CD
January 22, 2021Vinyl (limited edition)

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  15. https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/britney-spears-picks-album-title-reveals-cover-x99964
  16. https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=51175818&itype=CMSID
  17. https://theweek.com/articles/609836/sexist-empowering-history-femme-fatale
  18. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/britney-spears-on-her-new-album-her-favorite-music-and-working-with-will-i-am-236054/
  19. https://www.randeestnicholas.com/britney-spears-femme-fatale
  20. https://www.discogs.com/master/321973-Britney-Spears-Femme-Fatale
  21. https://www.ebay.com/itm/286776599389
  22. https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/britney-spears-conservatorship-music-timeline/
  23. https://www.discogs.com/release/2797131-Britney-Spears-Femme-Fatale
  24. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/britney-spears-femme-fatale-track-by-track-472310/
  25. https://www.pulserecordings.com/clients/bonnie-mckee/
  26. https://pagesix.com/2011/02/22/what-we-know-so-far-about-britneys-femme-fatale/
  27. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/femme-fatale-britney-spears/39496884
  28. https://tuftsdaily.com/arts/2021/03/25/weekender-ten-years-later-analyzing-femme-fatale-as-britney-spears-zenith/
  29. https://www.allmusic.com/album/femme-fatale-mw0002110484
  30. https://www.baltimoresun.com/2012/01/23/dubsteps-mainstream-takeover-2/
  31. https://getsongbpm.com/album/femme-fatale/VlnZO
  32. https://genius.com/Britney-spears-drop-dead-beautiful-lyrics
  33. https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2016/aug/24/britney-spears-10-of-the-best
  34. https://www.muumuse.com/2011/12/muumuse-presents-the-top-50-singles-of-2011.html/
  35. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/music/music-news/songwriter-defends-britney-spears-174966/
  36. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/britney-spears-hold-it-against-me-debuts-atop-hot-100-473574/
  37. https://music.apple.com/us/song/hold-it-against-me/581775110
  38. https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/britney-spears-hold-it-against-me/
  39. https://imvdb.com/video/britney-spears/hold-it-against-me
  40. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/britney-spears-till-the-world-ends-leaks-online-listen-472748/
  41. https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/britney-spears-till-the-world-ends/
  42. https://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-hot-100/2011-05-14/
  43. https://imvdb.com/video/britney-spears/till-the-world-ends
  44. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/britney-spears-third-femme-fatale-single-hits-hot-100-top-10-lmfao-still-1176820/
  45. https://maxopedia.co/2016/07/05/britney-spears-i-wanna-go/
  46. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/britney-spears-bounds-into-hot-100s-top-10-lmfao-still-no-1-468222/
  47. https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/britney-spears-i-wanna-go/
  48. https://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-hot-100/2011-08-20/
  49. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-sxSd1uwoU
  50. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/britney-spears-criminal-video-jason-trawick-249663/
  51. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/web-trends-watch-controversial-new-britney-spears-criminal-video-1163019/
  52. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/video-britney-spears-kicks-off-femme-fatale-tour-in-sacramento-470503/
  53. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/britney-spears-femme-fatale-tour-197099/
  54. https://www.setlist.fm/stats/concert-map/britney-spears-23d6bc5f.html?tour=1bd6ad10
  55. https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/britney-spears-risque-costumes-in-pictures-276158
  56. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/britney-spears-sparkles-at-femme-fatale-tours-los-angeles-stop-470200/
  57. https://www.etonline.com/music/111436_Britney_Spears_Choreographer_Jamie_King_Leaks_Stage_Secrets
  58. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/britney-spears-femme-fatale-tour-203716/
  59. https://www.metacritic.com/music/femme-fatale/britney-spears
  60. https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/britney-spears-femme-fatale/
  61. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/britney-spears-lady-gaga-rule-billboardcoms-2011-mid-year-music-awards-469332/
  62. https://www.grammy.com/news/britney-spears-facts-new-song-hold-me-closer-elton-john-collaboration-family-influences-albums-vegas-biggest-hit
  63. https://www.billboard.com/lists/mtv-vmas-video-vanguard-award-winners-list/
  64. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/peoples-choice-awards-winners-list-kayle-cuoco-280817/
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  66. https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/britney-spears-femme-fatale/
  67. https://www.ukmix.org/forum/chart-discussion/artist-chart-analysis/106542-britney-spears-charts-sales-history/page20
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  69. https://bestsellingalbums.org/year-end/Billboard_Top_Albums_2011
  70. https://twitter.com/chartdata/status/1085212516999925761
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