"I'm a Slave 4 U" | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Britney Spears | ||||||||
from the album Britney | ||||||||
A-side | "Overprotected" | |||||||
B-side | "Intimidated" | |||||||
Released | September 24, 2001 | |||||||
Format | ||||||||
Recorded | 2001; MSR Studios (formerly known as Right Track Studios) (New York City), Master Sound Studios (Virginia Beach) | |||||||
Genre | ||||||||
Length | 3:24 | |||||||
Label | JIVE | |||||||
Writer(s) | ||||||||
Producer(s) | The Neptunes | |||||||
Britney Spears singles chronology | ||||||||
|
||||||||
|
"I'm a Slave 4 U" is a song recorded by American singer Britney Spears for her third and eponymous studio album, Britney (2001). It was released on September 24, 2001 through Jive Records as the lead single off the record. The track was written and produced by Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams, known collectively as The Neptunes. The urban song, has a similar soundscape to Vanity 6's 1982's song "Nasty Girl", while its lyrics talks about being a slave to the music.
"I'm a Slave 4 U" garnered mixed reception from music critics. Some critics argued it was the singer's most mature sound at the time compared to her previous singles, while other noticed the song's attempt to leave behind Spears' girl next door image and said her vocals were unnatural. "I'm a Slave 4 U" achieved commercial success, peaking inside the top-ten in almost every country that it charted on. However, the song peaked at number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number 85 in Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, both being the lowest chart positions of the single worldwide.
A music video for the single, which was directed by Francis Lawrence, was released along with the single released. It features Spears dancing in a sauna. Spears' performance of the song at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards in New York City was highly criticized by animal rights group PETA for the inclusion of exotic animals. Spears performed the song on every tour since its release, including the promotional The M+M's Tour. The song was also featured on the 2002 compilation album Now That's What I Call Music! 9.