Two Year Anniversary of Circus

Download
Today, 2 years ago, on December 2nd, 2008, "Circus," Britney's sixth album, was released - on her birthday. It was hailed as Britney's official comeback, with her being in a much better place, personally, enabling her to promote the album worldwide. Reuniting her with Danja, who produced the #1 smashes, "Gimme More," Bloodshy & Avant ("Toxic," "Piece Of Me"), Guy Sigsworth ("Everytime") and Max Martin ("...Baby One More Time," "Oops!... I Did It Again"), the album also sees her working with Dr. Luke & Benny Blanco on the title track, and also up-and-coming producers, The Outsyders, on the lead single, the #1 smash hit single, "Womanizer." It had opened at #1 in the US making her the only act in Nielsen SoundScan history to have four albums debut with 500,000 or more, the youngest female artist in history to have five #1 albums and the only woman to see her first six studio albums debut in the top two slots on the chart. It has sold more than 4 million copies worldwide, while the singles have sold more than 8 million copies in the US alone.

Download

Britney's third single in 2008, after a six month gap, in which she recuperated from her health issues, the first from her sixth studio album, was the infectious, "Womanizer," written and produced by two relatively unknown Atlanta producers, Nikesha Briscoe & Rafael Akinyemi, better known as The Outsyders. The track was premiered on Z100 in late September, and was released to many iTunes stores on 7th October, with the video premiere that week. The track, with a stunning video from Joseph Kahn, became Britney's seventh #1 worldwide hit, topping the worldwide top 40 chart.

 The second single from Britney's sixth album was the title track, "Circus," written and produced by Dr. Luke, friend and collaborator of Max Martin, who has worked with Britney throughout her career. The track sets things out as Britney sees them, with her as the ringleader of the circus, as well as slyly acknowledging that she is the center attraction of the media circus that surrounds her, but putting her in control. The stunning video, directed by Francis Lawrence, features Britney with a whip, getting ready for her circus. The single was the 10th best-selling single of 2009 with over 5.5 million copies sold.

Download
Britney reunited with Max Martin, after parting for seven years, for her sixth studio album, resulting in the album's fourth single, "If U Seek Amy." The controversial track was highlighted on the album, becoming the third most downloaded song from the album on its release, and winning fan polls, so was an obvious choice for third single, despite the controversial lyrics (the chorus line 'if you seek Amy' sounds like something else, when sung aloud), and the threats from various American family groups to boycott Britney. It went on to sell over 3 million copies worldwide.

Britney's fourth single from "Circus" was also the planned fourth single from previous album, "Blackout," in the form of the Bloodshy & Avant production, "Radar." Originally due for release in mid-2008, the single was canceled and promotional CDs recalled, with the announcement that Britney was back in the studio, happier and healthier, working on a new album. Having already charted in many small markets, the track was included on "Circus" as an international bonus track, and was featured on her world tour, being released as the fourth single from "Circus" in May 2009, to cross-promote her Candies endorsement deal. The single has sold over 1 million copies worldwide.

  When Britney Spears made her 'comeback' (although she never went away) in late 2008, she began filming For the Record and detailing her day-to-day life, starting with her first proper public appearance in over a year at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, and culminating in the release of her album, "Circus." In between, Britney talks candidly, addressing the rumors and speculation that surrounds her, answering questions from acclaimed British director, Phil Griffin, defiantly and strongly proclaiming she is a karate kid in life.

The Circus Starring Britney Spears is Britney's first concert tour since 2004's The Onyx Hotel Tour, taking the theme of a circus, named after her sixth studio album, "Circus." The tour features flying, pyrotechnics, three 'rings' of a circus, magic tricks and illusion effects, and five separate 'acts' dividing each section. Slowing down just once in the hour and a half show, Britney performs "Everytime" and a cover of Duffy's album track, "I'm Scared," focusing mainly on uptempo tracks from her past three CDs. The tour was a major success becoming the fifth highest grossing tour ever by a female artist, grossing $131.8 million from tickets alone with the merchandise gross estimates standing at more than $53 million.

SET LIST:

CIRCUS
Perez/Parade Intro
"Circus" Funky Remix
"Piece Of Me"
Thunderstorm Segue
"Radar"
HOUSE OF FUN (Anything Goes)
Martial Arts Segue (Featuring "Gimme More")
"Ooh Ooh Baby/"Hot As Ice"
"Boys"
"If U Seek Amy"
"Me Against The Music" Bollywood Remix
"Everytime"
"I'm Scared" (Duffy cover - Opening night only)
FREAKSHOW/PEEPSHOW
Everybody's Looking For Something Segue (Featuring Marilyn Manson's "Sweet Dreams")
"Freakshow"
"Get Naked"
Britney's Hotline
"Breathe On Me"/"Touch Of My Hand"
ELECTRO CIRC
"Break The Ice" Segue
"Do Somethin'"
"I'm A Slave 4 U"
Dancer Solo Segue/Heartbeat Segue
"Toxic"
"...Baby One More Time" Remix
ENCORE
"Womanizer" Extended Remix
"Circus" Reprise: The Bow