Britney scores back-to-back chart-toppers for the second time in her career, with a track that’s the polar opposite to the throbbing ‘Toxic’.
Everytime, by Britney Spears (her 5th of six #1s)
1 week, 20th – 27th June 2004
Brit was never one for pure ballads. Her slower numbers – ‘Sometimes’, ‘Lucky’ – still had lots of poppy, Max Martin touches. ‘Everytime’ stands alone in her discography for how sparse it is. It’s held together by a music box riff, which is beautiful, and which deconstructs itself towards the end, just as if the box needed to be wound-up again. The song does build, slowly, with ominous strings, but it never feels cluttered.
Stripping the production back like that leaves the slightly scary proposition of Britney’s voice being front and centre. No, she’s not the best singer. And no, her voice is not in its element here (you can hear lines in the chorus where she has been, shall we say, digitally supported.) But I think it adds vulnerability, the fact that she holds back, doesn’t over sing, and is allowed to be imperfect.
It’s also helped now by what we know of Britney’s mental state over the past couple of decades. The inspiration for the song was her break-up with Justin Timberlake, an alleged abortion, and her anger at his #2 hit ‘Cry Me a River’ (which I guess makes ‘Everytime’ another answer song!) Tawdry speculation was rife – proving her point, really – and controversy ensued when the video appeared to show Britney killing herself in a bathtub, being rushed to hospital, and being reborn as a baby in the ward next door.
Let’s be bold, and call this a jewel in Britney’s discographic crown. But let’s also admit that it’s not among my very favourites of hers, because upbeat almost always trumps weepy for me, and because it’s hard to compete with a trio of all-timers like ‘…Baby One More Time’, ‘Oops…! I Did It Again’, and ‘Toxic’.
Let’s keep up the hyperbole though, and claim that Britney’s breathy delivery here invented the modern ‘cursive’ singing trend. Maybe the new-born baby in the video was actually Billie Eilish? And in the slightly odd falsetto parts, can I claim to hear Kate Bush…? Or is that hyperbolism taken too far?
‘Everytime’ was Britney Spears’ tenth UK Top 10 hit, and looked for a while like it might have been her last #1. She has one more to come, in eight years’ time, and a lot will happen to her between 2004 and then. And yet, she will keep churning out the hits – seven more Top 10s before that 2012 postscript, to be exact – and keep being, for better or worse, probably the most famous woman on the planet.
The UK Number Ones Blog 
I never had a problem with Britney Spears voice as a kid during the 2000s, and don’t have a problem with it now. I don’t remember a lot of people my age or even the older teenagers complaining about her voice. Most girls loved her and most boys thought she was cute even if we didn’t want to admit it. Maybe it was more college kids and above. She’s not an amazing singer, but she has a perfectly fine voice. There are way worse popular singers. I think her voice not being technically perfect actually adds to the emotion and genuineness of the track.
I don’t think I’ve heard this song. It was a #1 hit in Australia, but I don’t remember hearing it and I don’t hear it out and about (though tbf I was more attentive towards Pokemon and Yu Gi Oh and Dragon Ball Z and Naruto and cartoons and video-games at this time than music). It’s a fine song. Not the best thing in the world, but it’s decent. Her vocal performance on it is solid. I believe her vocals on this. For me, so far, the weakest of her No. 1s, but still fine.
Yeah Britney is an easy target for comments on her vocally ability. What pop stars at the same time weren’t getting digitally enhanced? And her imperfections suit this particular song well.
I think though, Britney’s producers took it to extremes compared to other big stars like Christina, Beyonce, Rihanna etc. And they can also sing live. I’ve seen Britney in concert, and am not convinced I heard her sing a single note all night.
Yes I agree, I think her limited range works to her advantage on this – it’s pure emotion and that music box setting is amazing. Technically great singers dont always know how to “sell” a song as opposed to literally sell it – see Whitney’s early stuff – and I will take sincerity over showing off any day. And the ability to know when less is more. See Lana Del Ray, Billie Eilish, and further back Peggy Lee, Nancy Sinatra, Dusty Springfield. They can all sing but choose to hold back sometimes or in general. Dusty is the greatest because she can do powerful, gentle, and everything in between and make it all count.
Ive never heard this, its pretty.