Teen Pop's Princess Makes Her Debut
...Baby One More Time (1999)
1. "...Baby One More Time"
This late 90's #1 hit single that catapulted Britney to superstardom is still a classic pop song to this day. Becoming just as iconic as Britney's naughty catholic school girl outfit dominated video, Britney sings about being literally knocked out by love but regrettably letting it go. I love the lyrics and Britney really owns this song. A great opener to the album and one of many memorable tracks from the album.
(A+)
This late 90's #1 hit single that catapulted Britney to superstardom is still a classic pop song to this day. Becoming just as iconic as Britney's naughty catholic school girl outfit dominated video, Britney sings about being literally knocked out by love but regrettably letting it go. I love the lyrics and Britney really owns this song. A great opener to the album and one of many memorable tracks from the album.
(A+)
2. "(You Drive Me) Crazy"
You know, I really don't like the album version of this song. The remixed version she did for the "Drive Me Crazy" sound track was so much better. This song is pretty decent with nice lyrics about how love drives one crazy of course, but I really wish the single version was on the album as this version is a bit underwhelming.
(C)
You know, I really don't like the album version of this song. The remixed version she did for the "Drive Me Crazy" sound track was so much better. This song is pretty decent with nice lyrics about how love drives one crazy of course, but I really wish the single version was on the album as this version is a bit underwhelming.
(C)
3. "Sometimes"
This sugary sweet pop dance track just brings me back to the innocent teen pop days that Britney use to dominate. "Sometimes" is a bit cheesy sounding but the lyrics are so romantic and the melody is quite irresistible and make me miss the softer side that the music industry use to have. A superb pop tune if you ask me!
(A)
This sugary sweet pop dance track just brings me back to the innocent teen pop days that Britney use to dominate. "Sometimes" is a bit cheesy sounding but the lyrics are so romantic and the melody is quite irresistible and make me miss the softer side that the music industry use to have. A superb pop tune if you ask me!
(A)
4. "Soda Pop"
When I was reviewing Rihanna's earlier albums, I put those albums in a category I call "bubblegum reggae", which is what this track reminds me of. But I'd say it's more "bubblegum reggae-lite" or "bubblegum reggae-pop". Britney sounds good here with the nice reggae beat and never feels out of place against the Jamaican chants that are being sung in the background. Overall, a pretty nice track and enjoyable with Britney giving a pretty good vocal performance.
(B)
When I was reviewing Rihanna's earlier albums, I put those albums in a category I call "bubblegum reggae", which is what this track reminds me of. But I'd say it's more "bubblegum reggae-lite" or "bubblegum reggae-pop". Britney sounds good here with the nice reggae beat and never feels out of place against the Jamaican chants that are being sung in the background. Overall, a pretty nice track and enjoyable with Britney giving a pretty good vocal performance.
(B)
5. "Born To Make You Happy"
This European released single is another solid pop tune with romantic lyrics that are pretty heartwarming. I also love the melody and chorus, it's pretty catchy and one again reminds me of a simpler time in pop music. Why can't music be this sensitive and sweet again. [sad]
(B+)
This European released single is another solid pop tune with romantic lyrics that are pretty heartwarming. I also love the melody and chorus, it's pretty catchy and one again reminds me of a simpler time in pop music. Why can't music be this sensitive and sweet again. [sad]
(B+)
6. "From the Bottom of My Broken Heart"
Oh Britney! She sure tries vocally here. Though her vocal range is limited, she does manage to capture some emotion to sell the song. It's a nice ballad, but nothing spectacular or to write home about. But you can understand why it didn't become a big single.
(C+)
Oh Britney! She sure tries vocally here. Though her vocal range is limited, she does manage to capture some emotion to sell the song. It's a nice ballad, but nothing spectacular or to write home about. But you can understand why it didn't become a big single.
(C+)
7. "I Will Be There"
This is a decent teen pop track with a nice guitar laced melody. I like the lyrics, with Britney reassuring a friend...or even lover that she will be there for them. It's a sweet tune and a step up from the last track.
(B-)
This is a decent teen pop track with a nice guitar laced melody. I like the lyrics, with Britney reassuring a friend...or even lover that she will be there for them. It's a sweet tune and a step up from the last track.
(B-)
8. "I Will Still Love You" (Featuring Don Philip)
More bubblegum pop, this time in the form of a duet between the soul vocals from Don Philip and the not so stellar vocal delivery from Britney. Not that it's bad, it just doesn't compare to Don's stronger voice. He kind overshadows Britney and steals the song from her. Sure, Britney tries but her vocal just doesn't have the power to carry a song like this. But Don did his thing on this one. It's pretty good, if not sappy.
(B-)
More bubblegum pop, this time in the form of a duet between the soul vocals from Don Philip and the not so stellar vocal delivery from Britney. Not that it's bad, it just doesn't compare to Don's stronger voice. He kind overshadows Britney and steals the song from her. Sure, Britney tries but her vocal just doesn't have the power to carry a song like this. But Don did his thing on this one. It's pretty good, if not sappy.
(B-)
9. "Deep In My Heart"
This is a dance-pop lite track which has Britney singing about a lover that is still deep in her heart. It's an okay track with a pretty decent, if not ultimately forgettable melody. Which doesn't make it that good I guess lol.
(C-)
This is a dance-pop lite track which has Britney singing about a lover that is still deep in her heart. It's an okay track with a pretty decent, if not ultimately forgettable melody. Which doesn't make it that good I guess lol.
(C-)
10. "Thinkin' Bout You"
This has a jazz/R&B feel to it that is kinda cool. Nice to see Britney experimenting this early in her career with different genres. First, dancehall, now this. It's a nice change from the rest of the album!(B-)
This has a jazz/R&B feel to it that is kinda cool. Nice to see Britney experimenting this early in her career with different genres. First, dancehall, now this. It's a nice change from the rest of the album!(B-)
11. "E-Mail My Heart"
Oh this is some cheesiness! Using the then new form of sending mail electronically at the time, "E-Mail My Heart" is a bit dated with it's reference but I guess it could have been worse I suppose. It's more sappy balladry from Britney and it's starting to bore with these tracks not really standing out and starting to sound the same.
(C+)
Oh this is some cheesiness! Using the then new form of sending mail electronically at the time, "E-Mail My Heart" is a bit dated with it's reference but I guess it could have been worse I suppose. It's more sappy balladry from Britney and it's starting to bore with these tracks not really standing out and starting to sound the same.
(C+)
12. "The Beat Goes On"
Covering one of Sonny & Cher's classic duet tunes, "The Beat Goes On" is an updated version with Britney's producers going for an electronica-lite tone with the song. It's kind of an odd yet inspired choice. I kind of like it for that reason as it sounds different from the rest of the album and is really unique. The rest of the album could have used more of the experimentation and originality.
(B+)had the moves
Covering one of Sonny & Cher's classic duet tunes, "The Beat Goes On" is an updated version with Britney's producers going for an electronica-lite tone with the song. It's kind of an odd yet inspired choice. I kind of like it for that reason as it sounds different from the rest of the album and is really unique. The rest of the album could have used more of the experimentation and originality.
(B+)had the moves
13. "I'll Never Stop Loving You"
Ehw, I'm getting sick of these sappy ballads!! I mean I know I said I miss the softer side of pop music from back in the day but this album is over saturated with it and it's getting really repetitive. There's nothing lyrically or musically that makes it stand out from the other songs. Pretty lame if you ask me. But nice try by Britney again.
(C)
Ehw, I'm getting sick of these sappy ballads!! I mean I know I said I miss the softer side of pop music from back in the day but this album is over saturated with it and it's getting really repetitive. There's nothing lyrically or musically that makes it stand out from the other songs. Pretty lame if you ask me. But nice try by Britney again.
(C)
14. "Autumn Goodbye"
The album ender is kind of a slow burn. I mean it tries to be this upbeat dance track but it's pretty weak. I guess the chorus is pretty catchy but I just don't really like the song. Not to best way to conclude the album but an admirable effort I suppose.
(C)
The album ender is kind of a slow burn. I mean it tries to be this upbeat dance track but it's pretty weak. I guess the chorus is pretty catchy but I just don't really like the song. Not to best way to conclude the album but an admirable effort I suppose.
(C)
Considering how huge this album was, following a great hit single and going on to sell 30 million copies worldwide to become one of the best selling albums of all time, it's hard to see "why?" it did. Not that "...Baby One More Time" is a bad album, it's just most of it sounds pretty generic and simple. There is no theme to it or concept besides the highs and lows of teen love apparently. At 17, Britney does an adequate job with the material but her writers and producers don't do her any favors really. Outside of the singles, most of the album's tracks fizzle out and aren't really memorable. Songs like "E-Mail My Heart" just have not stood the test of time and drag the album down. The album seemed to be more about promoting the image Britney's team at the time wanted. Nothing sums that up more than that risque 1999 Rolling Stone cover with Britney looking very provocative at such a young age. There was just something about Britney's look and style that resonated with audiences more than her other contemporaries at the time like Christina Aguilera. Sure Britney didn't have the strong vocal chops, but she certainly the moves to back it up. No matter the quality of the album Britney not only became a household name in music but became quite the phenomenon in her own right. Even with the likes of the Backstreet Boys, N'Sync, etc. her star seemed to sign brighter than the rest. But if only the album could escape the typical confines of the teen pop sound of that era and explored her artistry a bit but than again, she was so young and this was clearly only a very small taste of what Britney could do as an artist.
"For an album that helped usher in a new era of teen pop, "...Baby One More Time" is modest first opening for the southern singing sensation. Apart from the strong singles and a few other gems, the album quickly succumbs to generic bubblegum pop and weak productions at best."
(B-)
"For an album that helped usher in a new era of teen pop, "...Baby One More Time" is modest first opening for the southern singing sensation. Apart from the strong singles and a few other gems, the album quickly succumbs to generic bubblegum pop and weak productions at best."
(B-)
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