Britney Spears: Ranking Her Lead Singles From Best To Semi-Best — Because There Is No ‘Worst’ Britney Spears Song

Today is a big day for Britney Spears and her dedicated fan base. “Make Me…,” the first offering from the 34-year-old’s upcoming ninth studio album (hereinafter referred to as #B9), is currently being replayed over and over again on radio stations around the country and in the homes of those who adore the entertainer.

As a way to properly celebrate the tune, here’s a ranking of where it, and all of her first teases from her previous releases, rank, from best to the rest (because as most Spears fans will tell you, there is no such thing as a “bad” Britney Spears song.)

A note: the song “And Then We Kiss” from Spears’ 2005 remix album, B In The Mix, is not included here due to it being a promotional release and not a full-fledged one.

Honorable Mention: “3” | The Singles Collection (2009)

One of the things many people love about Britney Jean Spears is the fact that she never needs to force her sexiness to people — it’s just something she’s always been, and it’s something we all bow down to. Perhaps that’s why this offering from a box set to celebrate her then-decade-long career was so odd. Alas, the song isn’t super horrible, so we will give it a mention.

10. “Work B*tch!” | Britney Jean (2013)

Let’s face it: even the most die-hard Spears fan isn’t afraid to admit that the pop diva’s eighth studio offering was a complete mess, but nothing more so than its lead single, the clearly-geared-for-gays “Work B**tch!” Granted, Britney probably wouldn’t have been able to maintain her pop dominance without the love of her queer fan base, so we can somewhat respect this tongue-in-cheek nod to them.

9. “My Prerogative” | Greatest Hits: My Prerogative (2004)

Britney’s take on the classic Bobby Brown hit would be, as of 2016, the last time she released a cover to the public (a redone version of Ace of Base’s “All That She Wants” would leak several years later), and the first time she did so as a proper single. Interestingly, the tune is rarely brought up as one of her greats — most likely due to it being tied to a “greatest hits” compilation — which is pretty unfortunate.

8. “Hold It Against Me” | Femme Fatale (2011)

“Hold It Against Me” marked the start of an end for Britney, at least from a professional standpoint. Released as the first single from her last album for Jive Records; an imprint she had been a part of since her 1998 debut, the dubstep-influenced tune would go on to become her third No. 1 Billboard hit. It would also be connected to a monumentally personal music video, one that is still lauded as being one of the best Spears has ever filmed.

7. “Me Against The Music” (feat. Madonna) | In The Zone (2003)

Spears was already on top of the world well before her duet with the queen of pop, but this jam, a continuance of the lip-locking collaboration that took place at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, allowed her to take over the entire stratosphere. Surprisingly, for all of its hype, “Me Against the Music” failed the break past No. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100, but it still managed to make its mark of being one of the most sensational and memorable duets in the history of modern music.

6. “Womanizer” | Circus (2008)

Touted as being Britney’s “comeback single” from her well-publicized problems in 2007, this bouncy kiss-off track dedicated to a lover with wandering eyes (and other body parts) probably wasn’t the strongest show of her talents. Nonetheless, it still succeeded in reaffirming her presence in music, and even better, it gave her a much-delayed, second No. 1 Billboard accolade.

5. “Oops!… I Did It Again” | Oops!… I Did It Again (2000)

Admit it. You still know every single bit of the choreography, and you still wish you could look half as good, and not as innocent as she very much didn’t in that red jumpsuit.

4. “I’m A Slave 4 U” | Britney (2003)

Sweaty and seductive in both visual and aural forms, this Neptunes-produced R&B banger still has the power to make us pant and groove more than 12 years after its initial release.

3. “Make Me…” (feat. G-Eazy) | #B9 (2016)

After the failure of “Pretty Girls” with Iggy Azalea, Spears undoubtedly knew that her next offering; the one that would officially begin the #B9 era, would have to be something fresh, strong and unforgettable — and she’s definitely succeeded in doing that.

The mid-tempo tune is something no one ever would have expected as the first offering of a Britney Spears album, and considering the love it’s currently receiving from her fans on social media, as well as it skyrocketing to No. 1 on iTunes in just a matter of hours, don’t be surprised if this ends up becoming her fourth No. 1 Billboard hit. Yes, it’s that spectacular.

2. “…Baby One More Time” | …Baby One More Time (1999)

Most Spears fans aren’t aware just how much circumstance was attached in making her first single the juggernaut that it was. For starters, had girl group TLC decided to follow through on recording it for their Fanmail album (it was initially offered to them), we might not be celebrating the start of her ninth album today.

Furthermore, had she not spoken up about changing the video’s theme from a school setting to a space setting (Jive originally wanted her to play a lovesick alien in the clip), she might have been laughed off as nothing more than pop fluff.

1. “Gimme More” | Blackout (2007)

Any artist will tell you that they create their best work when their personal lives are a mess, and Britney, as sad as things were for her during the Blackout era, was no different.

“Gimme More” was the song that changed non-Spears fans to outright obsessed ones with an introductory line that eventually became part of our everyday lexicon (“It’s Britney, b***h!”), and its overall not-one-iota-of-a-word-that-can’t-be-used-here feel. It was raw, it was uncensored, and it was the best thing Britney Spears has ever created. Give us, give us more with the rest of the new album, Britney!

So, Britney Army, what do you think? Do you agree with the ranking? How would you line up her first single releases? Hit up the comments with your thoughts!

[Photo by David Becker/Stringer/Getty Images]