You may know her as the Legendary Miss Britney Spears or find yourself repeating her signature line, “It’s Britney, B*tch!”, but Britney Spears is one of the most well-known pop superstars on the planet. From dolls to perfume and lingerie, the Britney brand is a household name.

Rising to stardom at the infancy of internet consumption, Britney, like most 90s and 00s artists, has had to adapt to the digital world of music. As a result, most people have only heard her music through singles released for airplay on the radio, hits topping the Billboard Top 100 charts, or a music video release on YouTube.

Since her meteoric rise to stardom, Britney became a victim of the most aggressive press photographers looking for the next big scoop: the paparazzi. On a daily basis, so much of her life is on display for the world to observe, judge, and ridicule, and often without her consent. However, in recent years, public backlash and support for mental health measures has provided favorable changes towards the general public perception of her.

Top 10 Greatest Songs You’ve Never Heard Of

In this Top 10 Greatest Songs You’ve Never Heard Of review, we breakdown Britney’s most iconic studio albums and their hidden gems, or what could have been chart-topping singles around the globe.

#10. “Passenger”, Britney Jean (2013)

“Passenger” is the eighth track on her eighth studio album, Britney Jean.

Veering between EDM impulses and “brooding” pop-rock, Britney sings of finding happiness after letting go of control. Of the entire song, the beginning melodic introduction is the most addictive… but when her vocals drop? It’s like a …Baby One More Time revival all over again.

Our favorite lyrics:

I know we’re finally falling
‘Cause I was giving you half now I’m all in
My hands in the air while you’re driving
This is living
This is living
This is living, yeah

“Passenger” was written by Britney Spears, Thomas Pentz, Sia Furler, Andrew Swanson, and Katy Perry. The track is 3:41 minutes long and was produced by Diplo and Anthony Preston. It was released as a non-single track on the album by RCA Records on November 29, 2013.

#9. “Thinkin’ About You”, …Baby One More Time (1999)

“Thinkin’ About You” is the ninth track on her first studio album, …Baby One More Time.

Britney Spears recorded thirteen (13) songs with Eric Foster White, including “Autumn Goodbye”, “E-Mail My Heart”, “From the Bottom of My Broken Heart”, “I’m So Curious”, “I Will Still Love You”, “Luv the Hurt Away”, “Let Me Take You There”, “Soda Pop”, “Thinkin’ About You”, “Nothing Less than Real”, “Wishing on a Falling Star”, and “You Got It All,” of which only five (5) made it to the original album release.

Our favorite lyrics:

Each day that I spend around you
Passes by too fast
Each night that I spend without you
Is longer than the last

“Thinkin’ About You” was written by Mikey Bassie and Eric Foster White, just as they collaborated on the fourth track, “Soda Pop”. The track is 3:35 minutes long and was produced by Eric Foster White. It was released as a non-single album track by Jive Records on January 12, 1999.

#8. “What U See (Is What U Get)”, Oops!… I Did It Again (2000)

“What U See (Is What U Get)” is the sixth track on her second studio album, Oops!… I Did It Again.

The overwhelming theme of the song is about acceptance, trust, and freedom in a relationship, where the singer demands respect by rebuking a jealous partner.

“What U See (Is What U Get)”, and “Don’t Go Knockin’ on My Door” were the first to be recorded at Max Martin’s Cheiron Studios in the first week of November 1999; followed by “Stronger” and “Lucky”, which were finalized in January 2000 with the title track, Oops!… I Did It Again.

Our favorite lyrics:

I can’t have no chains around me
Baby, can’t you see
I could be anything you dream of
But, I gotta feel free
You should never try to change me
I can be nobody else
And I like the way I am

Musicians Michael Cottril and Lawrence Wnukowski filed a copyright case against Spears, Zomba Recording Corporation, Jive Records, Wright Entertainment Group and BMG Music Publishing, claiming “What U See (Is What U Get)” and “Can’t Make You Love Me” are “virtually identical” to one of their songs. Cottrill and Wnukowski claimed that they authored, recorded and copyrighted a song called “What You See Is What You Get” in 1999 to one of her representatives for consideration on a future album, though it was rejected. The case was later dismissed after it was ruled that they lacked sufficient evidence and that there “weren’t enough similarities between the two songs to prove copyright infringement.”

“What U See (Is What U Get)” was written by Per Magnusson, David Kreuger, Jorgen Elofsson, and Rami Yacoub. The track is 3:36 minutes long, and was produced by Per Magnusson, David Kreuger, and Rami Yacoub. It was released as a non-single album track by Jive Records on May 3, 2000.

#7. “Lonely”, Britney (2001)

“Lonely” is the third track on her third studio album, Britney.

Lyrically, “Lonely” sees a girl moving on from a troublesome romance after being lied to and manipulated. It was considered “a teenage version” of Janet Jackson’s “What About?”

Our favorite lyrics:

I think of all the times you made me sick
I used to think I couldn’t handle it
What you think, I’m just another chick?
Messed with Brit, boy, you must have tripped
What were you thinking when you lost my trust?
You had it all, now you’re left with nothing
Oh baby, now I know you want my touch
And now you’re lonely and you still want me

“Lonely” was written by Britney Spears, Josh Schwartz, Brian Kierulf, and Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins. The track is 3:19 minutes long and was produced by Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, Josh Schwartz, and Brian Kierulf. It was released as a non-single album track by Jive Records on October 31, 2001.

#6. “Shadow”, In The Zone (2003)

“Shadow” is the tenth track on her fourth studio album, In The Zone.

Lauren Christy of The Matrix, who helped write and produce the song, once claimed to be impressed with her vocal ability during the recording of “Shadow”. Of all the tracks on the album, the chemical makeup of “Shadow” is arguably most similar to the hyper-sexualized “Touch of My Hand”, which was an Onyx Hotel Tour performance fan favorite.

It’s a powerful, seductive song about a love that has run its course and doesn’t sate the appetites for either partner anymore, touting, “Your body gives but then, pulls back / The sun is bright, the sky is black / Could only be another sign / I cannot keep what isn’t mine.” It’s haunting, captivating melody may confuse the listener for a love song about a ghost, but the only ghost is the love that lingers on between two lovers in the shadows.

Our favorite lyrics:

Your body gives but then, pulls back
The sun is, bright the sky is black
Could only be another sign
I cannot keep what isn’t mine
Your love still lingers on
But you, you are almost gone

“Shadow” was written by Britney Spears, Lauren Christy (The Matrix), Scott Spock (The Matrix), Graham Edwards (The Matrix), and Charlie Midnight. The track is 3:45 minutes long and was produced by The Matrix. It was released as a non-single album track by Jive Records on November 12, 2003.

#5. “Ooh Ooh Baby”, Blackout (2007)

“Ooh Ooh Baby” is the tenth track on her fifth studio album, Blackout.

It contains a flamenco guitar and blends the beat from “Rock and Roll” by Gary Glitter (1972) and the melody of “Happy Together” by The Turtles (1967). The romantic guitar riff in the intro reminds us of “Maria, Maria” by Carlos Santana, carrying us into a melodic trance as Britney’s voice soothes us into submission.

Kara DioGuardi, who also worked on “Heaven on Earth”, co-produced and co-wrote “Ooh Ooh Baby” with Britney while she was pregnant with her second child. DioGuardi said she was inspired by the relationship between Spears and her first son in the studio, saying, “I would look at the two of them, the way they looked at each other and the way she would hold the baby. It kind of struck me as interesting. At times it’d be about a kid at times about a lover.” DioGuardi later stated that Britney “worked really hard” and called her “unstoppable”.

Our favorite lyrics:

Your voice is like music to my ears,
Whisper softly and the world just disappears
Take me higher and just wipe away my fears
When you’re with me, oh boy
It’s my heartbeat that I hear

“Ooh Ooh Baby” was written by Britney Spears, Kara DioGuardi, “Fredwreck” Farid Nasser, and Eric Coomes. The track is 3:28 minutes long and was produced by Kara DioGuardi and “Fredwreck” Farid Nasser. It was released as a non-single album track by Jive Records on October 25, 2007.

#4. “Lace and Leather”, Circus (2008)

“Lace and Leather” is the eleventh track on her sixth studio album, Circus.

Notably, “Lace and Leather” is an electro-funk track which gained comparisons to “Control-era Janet Jackson”, Prince, and Vanity 6’s works from the 1980s.

It featured a then-unknown Ke$ha as a backing vocalist, who later went on to release her debut single, “TiK ToK”, on August 7, 2009 less than a year later. Although it was not intended to be released as a single, “Lace and Leather” ultimately peaked at #84 on the US Pop 100 chart.

Our favorite lyrics:

Baby take a seat
Eyes on me this is my show
Your one and only pleasure
All decked in lace and leather
Fantasy, courtesy of me
Baby let’s go
Watch me apply the pressure
All decked in lace and leather

“Lace and Leather” was written by Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald, Benjamin Levin, Frankie Storm, and Ronnie Jackson. The track is 2:48 minutes long and was produced by Dr. Luke and Benny Blanco. It was released as a non-single album track by Jive Records on November 28, 2008.

#3. “Seal It With A Kiss”, Femme Fatale (2011)

“Seal It With A Kiss” is the seventh track on her seventh studio album, Femme Fatale.

The hook in the beginning, “Ooh wee ooh,” beckons to attention the return of the legendary Miss Britney Spears, who at that point in her career had heralded unsolicited opinions from critics and fans alike for supposedly “abandoning” her original coveted vocal and performance art standards.

“Come here, closer, don’t be shy / Cross my heart and hope to die / Keep my secret, me and you / And seal it with a kiss, oh oh oh,” reminds us of the summer camp music of our youth and the witty, youthful angst of Oops!…I Did It Again.

On March 14, 2011, “(Drop Dead) Beautiful” and “Seal It With a Kiss” were commented as being “fillers” by Christopher Kostakis of SameSame.com.au, now-defunct, as it should be!

Our favorite lyrics:

Ultraviolet light, burning hot like you do
Can we synchronize?
Meet me in the back room
Cause I like it like that
Yeah, I like it like that
Yeah, I like it
Yeah, I like it
Yeah, I like it like that

“Seal It With A Kiss” was written by Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald, Max Martin, Bonnie McKee, and Henry Walter. The original album track is 3:26 in length and was produced by Dr. Luke, Max Martin, Cirkut, and Emily Wright. It was released as a non-single album track by Jive Records on March 25, 2011.

#2. “Change Your Mind (No Seas Cortes)”, Glory (2016)

“Change Your Mind (No Seas Cortes)” is the fourteenth track on the deluxe version of her ninth studio album, Glory.

Glory is hands-down the most mature album by measurable rhythm, context, and vocal ability we have heard released by Britney to date, and “Change Your Mind (No Seas Cortes)” delivers on every level.

Our favorite lyrics:

Say you don’t wanna cross the line
But I’ma make you change your mind

“Change Your Mind (No Seas Cortes)” is was written by Mattias Larsson, Julia Michaels, Justin Tranter, and Robin Fredriksson. The track is 2:59 in length and was produced by Mattman & Robin and Mischke. It was released as a non-single deluxe edition album bonus track by RCA Records on August 26, 2016.

#1. “What It’s Like To Be Me”, Britney (2001)

“What It’s Like To Be Me” is the twelfth and final track on her third studio album, Britney.

This song should have been a major single release, but it never made it, more than likely due to the tumultuous ending of her three-year relationship with Justin Timberlake during the summer of 2002. For years after their breakup, it was rumored that there may have been an affair with choreographer and dancer, Wade Robson, who had worked with both Britney and Justin independently throughout their careers.

In November 2002, Justin released the song “Cry Me a River” as the second single from his solo debut album, Justified. The music video notoriously featured a Britney look-alike, fueling the rumors that she had been unfaithful to him, and even featuring a clip of Justin kicking a picture frame with what was rumored to be a portrait of Wade and Britney together. As a response, Britney wrote the ballad “Everytime” with her backing vocalist and friend Annet Artani.

Our favorite lyrics:

Baby, tell me
Do I look like the kinda girl that you wanna take home?
Wanna make me your own?
Do you even know what I like?
Just what I’m living for, what I adore?

“What It’s Like to Be Me” was co-written and co-produced by Wade Robson and Justin Timberlake, who also recorded background vocals for the track. It is the only known studio music collaboration recording of both Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake released to the public. The original recording is 2:50 in length and was released as a non-single album track by Jive Records on October 31, 2001.

The Playlist

About Britney Spears

Britney Spears, the legendary American superstar singer and dancer, is often referred to as the “Princess of Pop” and is credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

At the tender age of 15, Spears earned a record deal with Jive Records after performing in plays and TV shows, such as Disney’s The Mickey Mouse Club. Spears became the best-selling adolescent artist of all time due to the success of her first two studio albums, …Baby One More Time (1999) and Oops!… I Did It Again (2000), which are among the best-selling records of all time.

Oops!… I Did It Again held the record for the fastest-selling album by a female artist in the US for fifteen (15) years, with first-week sales of nearly 1.3 million copies. In the early 2000s, Spears developed a more sophisticated and provocative style, as demonstrated on her albums, Britney (2001) and In the Zone (2003). She also starred in the 2002 movie Crossroads.

Often referred to as her best work, Britney was executive producer of her fifth studio album, Blackout (2007). After a string of highly publicized personal issues, the record received no marketing, and Spears was forcibly placed in a conservatorship.

Since then, she has recorded two albums that reached the top of the charts, including Circus (2008) and Femme Fatale (2011), which yielded the most successful run on US charts. To promote her albums Britney Jean (2013) and Glory (2016), she started a four-year concert residency called Britney: Piece of Me at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas (2016).

The #FreeBritney movement was started in 2019 as a result of the increased public attention given to Spears’ legal dispute about her conservatorship. Following her public statement in which she accused her management team and family of abuse, the conservatorship was ended in 2021.