"Break the Ice" is a song written by Nate "Danja" Hills, Marcella "Ms. Lago" Araica, Keri Hilson and James Washington, and recorded by American singer Britney Spears. It was produced by Danja for Spears' fifth studio album Blackout (2007). It was officially confirmed as the third single on her official website, and will be sent to the U.S. mainstream radio format on March 3, 2008.
| “Break the Ice” | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Britney Spears from the album Blackout | |||||
| Released | March 3, 2008 (U.S. radio) | ||||
| Genre | Electropop, urban pop | ||||
| Length | 3:16 (Album/Main version) 3:01 (Radio Edit) | ||||
| Label | Jive | ||||
| Writer(s) | Marcella Araica, Nate "Danja" Hills, Keri Hilson, James Washington | ||||
| Producer | Danja | ||||
| Britney Spears singles chronology | |||||
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//Background
Spears collaborated with Hills, Araica, Hilson and Washington who were behind her comeback single "Gimme More" (2007). The production team worked on the track when Spears was pregnant with her second child. They arranged the vocals in Spears' house at Beverly Hills, California, three weeks before she gave birth. It was recorded at the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was mixed by Araica in Chalice Recording Studios in Los Angeles. A demo of the song leaked as "Been a While" onto the internet, but it later appeared with its official title on Blackout's final tracklisting.
Composition
"Break the Ice" is an uptempo-oriented electro track that runs for three minutes and sixteen seconds. It is constructed in the common verse-chorus form. The spoken intro contains a dual meaning. She whispers "It's been a while. I know I shouldn't have kept you waiting. But I'm here now," which serves as an apology for being gone so long in the music industry, as well as away from her love interest in the song. The song speaks about a girl and a boy, with the former saying: "You're a little cold. Let me warm things up and break the ice." Spears' breathy vocals are layered when she sings "Hot Hot Hot - ahh" in the choruses and sound similar to that of her 2001 single "I'm a Slave 4 U." She sings of the intensity of "breaking the ice", lyrically stating "You've got my heart beating like an 808". Midway through the song, she halts, "I like this part...", mimicking Janet Jackson's style. The heavy drum line drops and the song finalizes in a repeated chorus, with ad-libs included by Spears.
Reception
Critical response to "Break the Ice" has been glowing. Like "Gimme More" and "Piece of Me", the song garnered rave reviews from music critics and was one of the most recommended songs of the album. Kelefa Sanneh of The New York Times described it as a "rave-inspired flirtation." All Music Guide's Stephen Thomas Erlewine referred to the song as a "stuttering electro-clip." Darryl Sterdan noted in Canadian-based website Jamcanoe.ca: "...she [Spears] brought a choir and one of Madonna's old synth-pop leftovers with her." Spears mouthing of "I like this part" was described by Tom Ewing of Pitchfork Media that it "sounds like spacehoppers bouncing is slow motion round in a padded cell" and concluded that the track is the "most individual of Britney records" and that "her constant surrender of identity from track to track comes over as a tactic to make individual songs more disorienting and thrilling."
Music video
Spears has been practicing dance moves at Millenium Dance complex in Los Angeles, for her next music video. MTV recently announced they would be showing a sneak preview of Britney's upcoming video for their Spankin' New Ladies Week, but was later cancelled.
Chart performance
Due to strong digital sales, the single charted on the Billboard Pop 100 at number seventy-two and on the Billboard Hot Digital Songs at number seventy-five in the week in which Blackout was released. It also charted on Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart at number nine that week.
"Break the Ice" currently sits at number forty-eight on the Pop 100, mainly due to radio airplay and climbed up to number two on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles.
Formats and track listings
Promo CD
- "Break the Ice" (Main) – 3:16
- "Break the Ice" (Instrumental) – 3:08
Official Versions and Remixes
- Album Version – 3:18
- Instrumental – 3:08
- Demo Version (Been a While) – 3:16
- Mike Rizzo & Chico Funk Generation Radio Mix – 3:52
- Tracy Young's Hot Club Mix
- Jason Nevins Remix (Clip Leaked)
Charts
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Hot 100 | 60 |
| U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Pop 100 | 48 |
Personnel and credits
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References
- FMQB confirmation Retrieved February 8, 2008
- Radio Mix
- Vineyard, Jennifer. "Britney Spears' New Album, Blackout: A Track-By-Track Report", MTV Canada, CTV Globe Media, October 12, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-20.
- Friedman, Roger. "Britney Spears' 'Blackout' Hits Internet", FOX News Network, LLC., (October 11, 2007). Retrieved on 2008-01-20.
- Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Album review: Blackout. All Music Guide. Macrovision Corporation. Retrieved on 2008-01-20.
- Sanneh, Kelefa. "‘Miss Bad Media Karma’ Sings, Too", The New York Times, The New York Times Company, October 29, Retrieved on 2008-01-20.
- ^ Sterdan, Darryl. BLACKOUT Britney's back with a thud. Jam Canoe. Canoe Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-01-20.
- Ewing, Tom (November 20, 2007). Britney in the Black Lodge (Damn Fine Album). Pitchfork Media. Pitchfork Media Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-01-20.
- ^ Premiere
- Editors from All Music Guide. Britney Spears: Billboard Singles. All Music Guide. Macrovision Corporation. Retrieved on 2008-01-20.
- Billboard Magazine. Britney Spears: Billboard Chart. Billboard. Billboard Magazine. Retrieved on 2008-01-19.
- Tracy Young Site
External links
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