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| Last album = ''B in the Mix: The Remixes'' (2005) | This album = ''Blackout'' (2007) | Next album = ''Circus'' (2008) | Misc = }} ''Blackout'' is the fifth studio album by American recording artist Britney Spears. It was released on October 25, 2007, by Jive Records and the Zomba Music Group. Opting to re-establish her music career after her fourth studio album, ''In the Zone'' (2003), she began planning the project in 2006. Work continued into 2007, during which time Spears' much-publicized personal struggles, including several instances of erratic behavior and her divorce from Kevin Federline, overshadowed her professional endeavors. ''Blackout'' represents a musical departure from Spears' earlier work, featuring a foreboding and atmospheric tone in terms of musical and lyrical direction. She collaborated with producers including Danja, Bloodshy & Avant, Sean Garrett, and The Neptunes in several recording studios around the United States, including Spears' home in Los Angeles, with the intention of creating uptempo, high-energy music. Their efforts resulted in a primarily electropop, dance-pop, and R&B record, which sees additional influences from euro disco, dubstep, and funk. The lyrical themes revolve around fame, media scrutiny, sex, and clubbing. Upon its release, ''Blackout'' received positive reviews from music critics, who complimented it as Spears' most progressive and consistent album. However, some suggested that its quality should have been attributed to the producers rather than Spears, and criticized her vocals for being overly-processed. The album has appeared on many end-of-the-year and decade lists, including reader polls by ''Billboard'' and ''Rolling Stone''; ''The Times'' named it as the fifth best pop album of the decade. ''Rolling Stone'' described it as one of the most influential albums in modern pop. In 2012, the album was added to the library and archives of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. ''Blackout'' was originally scheduled to be released on November 13 in the United States, though it was ultimately rush-released after several unauthorized internet leaks. It was expected to debut at number one on the US ''Billboard'' 200, but debuted at number two with first-week sales of 290,000 copies after a last-minute rule change. Consequently, ''Blackout'' is distinguished as Spears' first studio album not to debut in the number-one position in the United States, although it was later certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for exceeding one million shipments. The record charted in the top-ten of several national charts internationally, and has attained several certifications worldwide. By the end of 2011, ''Blackout'' had sold 3.5 million copies worldwide. Three singles were released from ''Blackout''. Its lead single "Gimme More" peaked at number three on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100, and charted strongly internationally. Follow-up singles "Piece of Me" and "Break the Ice" respectively peaked at numbers 18 and 43 in the United States, and experienced moderate success worldwide. Unlike her previous records, Spears did not heavily promote ''Blackout''; her only televised appearance for ''Blackout'' was a universally-panned performance of "Gimme More" at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards. ==Background and development== In November 2003, while promoting her fourth studio album ''In the Zone'', Spears told ''Entertainment Weekly'' that she was already writing songs for her next album and was also hoping to start her own record label in 2004. Henrik Jonback confirmed that he had written songs with her during the European leg of The Onyx Hotel Tour, "in the bus and in her hotel room between the concerts." Following her marriage with Kevin Federline in October 2004, Spears announced through a letter on her official website that she was going to "take some time off to enjoy life." However, on December 30, 2004, she made a surprise appearance at Los Angeles radio station KIIS-FM to premiere a rough mix of a new midtempo track, "Mona Lisa". Spears had recorded the song live with her band while on tour, and dedicated it to all the "legends and icons out there." The lyrics lament the fall of Mona Lisa, calling her "unforgettable" and "unpredictable," and cautions listeners not to have a "breakdown". She also revealed she wanted the song to be the first single of her upcoming album, tentatively titled ''The Original Doll'', and hoped to release it "probably before summertime (), or maybe a little sooner than that." In January 2005, Spears posted another letter on her website, saying,〔
A representative for Jive Records stated that although Spears was working in the studio, "no album is scheduled at the moment" and "there are no plans to service 'Mona Lisa' to radio." "Mona Lisa" was released in a bonus CD included in the DVD of ''Britney & Kevin: Chaotic''. (2005). Spears gave birth to her first son, Sean Preston, on September 14, 2005. In an interview with ''People'' in February 2006, Spears explained that she was anxious to resume her career, commenting she missed "traveling () the road, seeing different places and being with the dancers and having fun. That feeling of being on the stage, knowing it's your best – I love that. I needed a break. I needed to be hungry again." When asked about her next album, she said she had been experimenting in her home studio with live musicians, stripping down her sound and playing the piano. Spears wanted the album to represent her Louisiana roots, explaining that she grew up listening to blues. "When I was little, I would listen to myself () But the record label signs you, and you're just thankful to get a hit song. You can't really show off your voice and where you came from. I would like to try to have more influences of that sound. Not that I'm going to be like frickin' Tina Turner. But you never know," she stated. She also said that she hoped the album would reinvigorate the current pop scene, adding that "It's been boring. Nothing's been wow to me."〔 On May 9, 2006, Spears announced she was pregnant with her second son. A few days later, producers such as J. R. Rotem and Sean Garrett told MTV News they were working with Spears. On September 12, 2006, Spears gave birth to her second child, Jayden James. She filed for divorce from Federline on November 7, 2006, citing irreconcilable differences. After the divorce, her partying and public behaviour drew attention from the worldwide media, and ended with two separate stints at rehab facility Promises in February 2007. Her manager Larry Rudolph released a statement on March 20, 2007, saying that she "successfully complet() their program." 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Blackout (Britney Spears album)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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