While it's safe to call the dance floor-ready, said to be written for the gays, "Work Bitch", an unsuccessful first attempt to get buzz swirling for Britney Spears' eight studio album... ridiculously titled Britney Jean... the pop princess now unleashes the personal, heartbreaking second offering "Perfume". Shocking fans and critics alike, Spears' new single is in fact... a haunting ballad. Let the tears start to fall.
Not since 2004's epic, underrated "Everytime", have we heard the pop starlet so vulnerable, so vocally present, looking past heavy production to focus on heartfelt lyrics which hint at the claim Spears was cheated on by one of her former flames. "Perfume" is certainly a step up from the previous Britney Jean single, but even though her heart is in this new song, even though it is written by new go-to-girl Sia, there is still something missing from the ballad. It could be that Spears still does not have the vocal chops to pull off a mid-tempo creation, maybe the lyrics are a bit disjointed. I don't know. Listen for yourself.
What we first notice from second single, could just be a promotional tactic, "Perfume", is that Spears is certainly no vocal powerhouse, those days have long past her by. She does not go for the huge Christina Aguilera-sounding notes, she does not stretch her voice to thin like Miss Perry either though. Spears coasts in a way that plays it relatively safe, but thankfully real emotion and heartache can still be heard behind the microphone. "I hide it well, hope you can tell, that I hope she smells my perfume," the "Gimme More" songstress confesses to her jilted lover. It's tough to hear the singer in this state of mind, but it does provide for one of her most convincing, almost believable, performances in nearly a decade.
"Perfume" is good, however, it does not reach top ten hit potential because of the lackluster songwriting. Sorry Sia, I still love you. The progression of the new track, the deliciously revengeful, yet slightly boring, chorus and certain lines sprinkled throughout take away from Spears' shining moment. This is the artist we have been dying to hear, forget the electro trash such as "Ooh La La" and "Work Bitch", it's just that hopes were so high for a Britney ballad, that maybe we were all praying for a bit too much. You have to commend the girl for trying, for sounding as if she is pouring her heart out, and even though it is an improvement, "Perfume" does nothing exciting to boost my confidence in the upcoming album. Fingers still crossed!
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