- Someday (I Will Understand)
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"Someday (I Will Understand)" Single by Britney Spears from the album Britney & Kevin: Chaotic Released August 21, 2005 Format CD single, digital download Recorded 2005 Genre Soft rock Length 3:38 Label Jive Writer(s) Britney Spears Producer Guy Sigsworth Britney Spears singles chronology "Do Somethin'"
(2005)"Someday (I Will Understand)"
(2005)"And Then We Kiss"
(2005)"Someday (I Will Understand)" is a song by American recording artist Britney Spears, from the bonus CD of Britney & Kevin: Chaotic. It was released in Europe as a single on August 21, 2005, by Jive Records. In July 2004, Spears announced her engagement to American dancer Kevin Federline, later revealing she would be taking another career break to start a family. Spears wrote the song two weeks before knowing she was pregnant with her first child, Sean Preston Federline. A pop ballad, "Someday (I Will Understand)" lyrics refer to a feeling of empowerment as a pregnant woman. A remixed version of the song was included on the 2005 remix compilation, B in the Mix: The Remixes.
"Someday (I Will Understand)" has received mixed to negative reviews from music critics, who considered it a horrible ballad and a "flop single". The song reached the top ten in Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland and also charted in a number of European countries. An accompanying music video, directed by Michael Haussman, premiered on the finale of Britney & Kevin: Chaotic. Entirely shot in black-and-white, the music video features Spears as a pregnant woman and portrays a transformation of her character. Contemporary critics noted the video as a depature from Spears' previous music videos, while comparing the imagery of it to American entertainer Madonna's Kabbalah makeover.
Contents
Background
In July 2004, Spears announced her engagement to American dancer Kevin Federline, whom she had met three months before. The romance received intense attention from the media, since Federline had recently broken up with actress Shar Jackson, who was still pregnant with their second child at the time.[1] The initial stages of their relationship were chronicled in Spears's first reality show Britney & Kevin: Chaotic. They held a wedding ceremony on September 18, 2004, but were not legally married until three weeks later on October 6 due to a delay finalizing the couple's prenuptial agreement.[2] In October 2004, the singer announced she would be taking another career break to start a family.[3] Spears gave birth to her first child, Sean Preston Federline, on September 14, 2005.[4]
"Someday (I Will Understand)" was composed by Spears on the piano at her house, two weeks before she learned of her pregnancy with Sean Preston. She explained the song came "like a prophecy... when you're pregnant, you're empowered".[5] It was produced by Guy Sigsworth, who previously worked with the singer on "Everytime" (2003). Spears recorded her vocals for the song at Conway Studios in Los Angeles, California, and at Frou Frou Central in London. The piano was played by Spears herself, while all other instruments and mixing were done by Sigsworth. Background vocals for the song were provided by Kate Havnevik.[6] Musically, "Someday (I Will Understand) is a pop ballad. "Someday (I Will Understand)" was released as the first and only single from Britney & Kevin: Chaotic on August 21, 2005.[7] The Hi Bias Signature Radio Remix was included on her 2005 remix compilation, B in the Mix: The Remixes.[8]
Reception
Critical response
"Someday (I Will Understand)" received mixed to negative reviews from music critics. While reviewing Britney & Kevin: Chaotic, Mike McGuirk of Rhapsody noted, "Britney now sings about either the husband or the kid. (Sorry, people. It's a sad day for the middle-aged American male sicko.) For everyone else, these bonus tracks further Spears' upward path of totally bangin' production and almost uncanny Prince-channeling."[9] On the review of B in the Mix: The Remixes, Kurt Kirton of About.com said "And Then We Kiss" and other remixes of songs like "Toxic" and "Someday (I Will Understand)" "hold their own,"[10] while IGN writer Spence D. noted the Hi-Bias Signature Radio Remix "reverberates with all the clichés that often stifle the music that rustles through the late night/early morning club scenes around the world."[11] Rolling Stone's Barry Walters gave the song's remix a negative review, saying that "nothing can rescue Spears' freakishly sappy flop single "Someday (I Will Understand)"."[12] Gil Kaufman of MTV considered the song a "horrible Britney ballad with the black-and-white video that began her descent into madness",[13] while Bradley Stern also of MTV praised the Leama & Moor Remix, saying it "transforms the tearjerker of a ballad into a full-on trance anthem. Big beats, stuttering vocals -- it's heartbreak on the dance floor."[14]
Chart performance
On September 1, 2005, "Someday (I Will Understand)" debuted at number forty-six on the Swedish Singles Chart.[15] It peaked at number ten the following week.[16] In Switzerland, the song debuted at number eight on the week of September 4, 2005.[17] On September 9, 2005, the song debuted in the Danish Singles Chart at number eleven.[18] The following week, it peaked at the eight position.[19] "Someday (I Will Understand)" also reached the top twenty in Belgium (Flanders and Wallonia), Finland and Norway and charted in Austria and the Netherlands.[7] "Someday (I Will Understand)" has sold 60,000 paid digital downloads in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.[20]
Music video
The music video for "Someday (I Will Understand)" was directed by Michael Haussman. Spears commented that he "[did] a great job capturing the song, the essence and the emotion" and added that the video had "a different feeling" from any of her previous videos.[21] It was shot entirely in black-and-white.[22] Spears asserted that her life had "come full circle" and implied that in the process she underwent changes in her soul and body, as shown in the video.[23] It premiered on June 14, 2005 during the fifth and last episode of Spears's reality show Britney & Kevin: Chaotic, titled "Veil of Secrecy".[24] The music video features a pregnant Spears laying in bed and walking around a house while singing to her unborn child. She also gazes through the window at the Roman sculptures in the garden.[22]
Dana Alice Heller noted that her provocative costuming and dancing are replaced in the video with a solitary, fabric-draped Spears that evokes an ethereal calmness. Heller compared the imagery to Madonna's Kabbalah makeover, but added that while Madonna was "in her thirties after a tabloid head-lining first marriage and a few other misguided relationships", Spears was only twenty-two, making her transformation seem forced.[23] Hayley Butler of Jam! said "the video is a far cry from the snake handling, sweating and skimpy Britney videos of the past. Dressed in a classy silk dress, she runs through gardens, lies in bed and walks through the grass, all with a burgeoning belly."[25]
Track listings
- Europe CD Single[26]
- "Someday (I Will Understand)" — 3:37
- "Someday (I Will Understand)" (Hi Bias Signature Radio Remix) — 3:46
- Europe CD Maxi-Single[27]
- "Someday (I Will Understand)" — 3:37
- "Someday (I Will Understand)" (Instrumental) — 3:37
- "Someday (I Will Understand)" (Hi Bias Signature Radio Remix) — 3:46
- "Someday (I Will Understand)" (Leama & Moor Remix) — 9:18
- Japan EP[28]
- "Someday (I Will Understand)" — 3:37
- "Chaotic" — 3:33
- "Mona Lisa" — 3:25
- "Over to You Now" — 3:42
- "Someday (I Will Understand)" (Hi Bias Signature Radio Remix) — 3:46
- "Someday (I Will Understand)" — 3:38
- "Mona Lisa" — 3:26
Credits and personnel
- Britney Spears – lead vocals, songwriting, piano
- Guy Sigsworth - production
- Sean McGhee – mixing, engineering, programming
- Chris Hawkes – mixing, engineering, programming
- Tom Coyne – mastering
- Kate Havnevik – background vocals
Source: [6]
Charts
Chart (2005) Peak
positionAustria (Ö3 Austria Top 75)[31] 32 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[32] 17 Belgium (Ultratop 40 Wallonia)[33] 11 Denmark (Tracklisten)[34] 8 Italy (FIMI)[35] 7 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[36] 15 Germany (Media Control AG)[37] 22 Hungary (Mahasz)[38] 6 Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)[39] 36 Norway (VG-lista)[40] 18 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[41] 10 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[42] 8 Notes
- ^ Reporter, Staff (2008-07-31). "Britney Spears' Biography ". Fox News. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,195283,00.html. Retrieved 2010-06-06.
- ^ Heller 2007, p. 80
- ^ Vineyard, Jennifer (2004-10-16). "Britney Spears Announces She's Taking A Break From Her Career". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1492692/20041016/spears_britney.jhtml. Retrieved 2010-06-10.
- ^ "Britney Welcomes Home Sean Preston". People. 2005-09-21. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1039012_1107631,00.html. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
- ^ Maxwell, Alison (2005-06-14). "'Chaotic': Britney's happily-ever-after". USA Today (Gannett Company, Inc.). http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2005-06-14-chaotic-recap_x.htm. Retrieved 2010-03-05.
- ^ a b (2005) Album notes for Britney & Kevin: Chaotic (DVD) by Britney Spears [Liner notes]. Jive Records.
- ^ a b "Someday (I Will Understand) on world charts". Ultratop. Hung Medien. 2005. http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?interpret=Britney+Spears&titel=Someday+%28I+Will+Understand%29&cat=s. Retrieved 2010-03-05.
- ^ B in the Mix: The Remixes liner notes. Jive Records (2005)
- ^ McGuirk, Mike (2005-09-27). "Britney & Kevin: Chaotic by Britney Spears". Rhapsody Music. http://www.rhapsody.com/#/album/Alb.7637248. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ Kirton, Kurt (2005). "Britney Spears - B In the Mix (The Remixes)". About.com. The New York Times Company. http://dancemusic.about.com/od/reviews/fr/BritneyIntheMix.htm. Retrieved 2010-04-17.
- ^ D., Spence (2005-11-23). "Britney Spears B in the Mix: The Remixes". IGN. News Corporation. http://music.ign.com/articles/670/670585p1.html. Retrieved 2011-09-18.
- ^ Walters, Barry (2005-11-28). "Rolling Stone : B In The Mix, The Remixes (Deluxe Version) : Review". Rolling Stone (Jann Wenner). ISSN 0035-791X. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/b-in-the-mix-the-remixes-deluxe-version-20091216. Retrieved 2010-01-01.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil (2008-03-26). "Idol's David Archuleta Stumps Our Resident Pop Music Nerd". MTV. MTV Networks. http://newsroom.mtv.com/2008/03/26/idols-david-archuleta-stumps-one-of-our-resident-pop-music-nerds/. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
- ^ Stern, Bradley (2011-10-10). "The 5 Best Britney Spears Remixes Ever!". MTV. MTV Networks. http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2011/10/10/britney-spears-remixes/. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
- ^ "Sweden Singles Chart". Sverigetopplistan. swedishcharts.com. 2005-09-01. http://swedishcharts.com/weekchart.asp?cat=s&year=2005&date=20050901. Retrieved 2010-03-05.
- ^ "Sweden Singles Chart". Sverigetopplistan. swedishcharts.com. 2005-09-08. http://swedishcharts.com/weekchart.asp?cat=s&year=2005&date=20050908. Retrieved 2010-03-05.
- ^ "Swiss Singles Chart". Swiss Singles Chart. swisscharts.com. 2005-09-04. http://swisscharts.com/weekchart.asp?cat=s&year=2005&date=20050904. Retrieved 2010-03-05.
- ^ "Danish Singles Chart". Tracklisten. danishcharts.com. 2005-09-09. http://danishcharts.com/archive.asp?todo=show&day=12&month=09&year=2005&cat=s. Retrieved 2010-03-05.
- ^ "Danish Singles Chart". Tracklisten. danishcharts.com. 2005-09-16. http://danishcharts.com/archive.asp?todo=show&day=16&month=09&year=2005&cat=s. Retrieved 2010-03-05.
- ^ Grein, Paul (2010-08-01). "Week Ending Aug. 1, 2010: The Downloading Of Eminem - Chart Watch". Yahoo! Music. Yahoo!. http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/59953/week-ending-aug-1-2010-the-downloading-of-eminem/. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
- ^ Britney Spears (2005). Britney & Kevin: Chaotic (DVD). Jive Records.
- ^ a b Reporter, Rolling Stone (2009). "The Complete Video Guide: "Someday (I Will Understand)"". Rolling Stone (Jann Wenner). ISSN 0035-791X.
- ^ a b Heller 2007, p. 92
- ^ Staff, Associated Press (2005-06-12). "Britney to debut music video on ‘Chaotic’ finale". msnbc.com. NBC Universal / Microsoft. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8193036/. Retrieved 2010-03-05.
- ^ Butler, Hayley (2005-06-14). "Britney's 'Chaotic' series wraps up". Jam!. http://jam.canoe.ca/Television/TV_Shows/B/Britney_And_Kevin_Chaotic/2005/06/16/1091361-ca.html. Retrieved 2011-09-11.
- ^ (2005) Release notes for "Someday (I Will Understand)" by Britney Spears (Europe CD Single liner notes). Jive Records (82876 72614 2).
- ^ (2005) Release notes for "Someday (I Will Understand)" by Britney Spears (Europe CD Maxi-Single liner notes). Jive Records (82876 71428 2).
- ^ (2005) Release notes for "Someday (I Will Understand)" by Britney Spears (Japan EP liner notes). Jive Records (4988017635421).
- ^ "Someday (I Will Understand) [Digital 45 by Britney Spears"]. iTunes Store. Apple Inc. 2005-10-11. http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/someday-i-will-understand/id337851879. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ (2009) Release notes for The Singles Collection by Britney Spears (Box Set liner notes). Jive Records (886975967629).
- ^ "Britney Spears – Someday (I Will Understand) – Austriancharts.at" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Britney Spears – Someday (I Will Understand)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Britney Spears – Someday (I Will Understand)" (in French). Ultratop 40. Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
- ^ "Danishcharts.com – Britney Spears – Someday (I Will Understand)". Tracklisten. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
- ^ "Italiancharts.com – Britney Spears – Someday (I Will Understand)". Top Digital Download. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
- ^ "Finnishcharts.com – Britney Spears – Someday (I Will Understand)". Suomen virallinen lista. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
- ^ "Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts, News, Neuerscheinungen, Tickets, Genres, Genresuche, Genrelexikon, Künstler-Suche, Musik-Suche, Track-Suche, Ticket-Suche - musicline.de" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
- ^ "Hungarian Singles Chart" (in Hungarian). Mahasz. http://www.mahasz.hu/?menu=slagerlistak&menu2=archivum. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Britney Spears – Someday (I Will Understand)" (in Dutch). Mega Single Top 100. Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Britney Spears – Someday (I Will Understand)". VG-lista. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Britney Spears – Someday (I Will Understand)". Singles Top 60. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
- ^ "Britney Spears – Someday (I Will Understand) – swisscharts.com". Swiss Singles Chart. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
References
- Heller, Dana Alice (2007), Makeover television: realities remodelled, I.B.Tauris, ISBN 1845113306
Britney Spears singles ...Baby One More Time Oops!... I Did It Again Britney "I'm a Slave 4 U" · "Overprotected" · "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman" · "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" · "Anticipating" · "Boys"In the Zone Greatest Hits: My Prerogative B in the Mix: The Remixes Blackout Circus The Singles Collection "3"Femme Fatale Other singles "What's Going On" · "Someday (I Will Understand)"Promotional singles Other songs "You Got It All" · "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" · "My Only Wish (This Year)" · "Out from Under" · "Kill the Lights" · "Shattered Glass" · "Mmm Papi" · "Inside Out" · "(Drop Dead) Beautiful" · "Big Fat Bass" · "S&M (Remix)" · "Whiplash"Categories:- 2005 singles
- Britney Spears songs
- Pop ballads
- Music videos directed by Michael Haussman
- Songs written by Britney Spears
- Songs produced by Guy Sigsworth
- English-language songs
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