Daily B: “Hold It Against Me” (Single Review)

by Bradley Stern
filed under: Britney Spears, Daily B, Dr. Luke, Katy Perry, Kesha, Max Martin, MuuMuse Excluusive, Single Review

221096523 Daily B: Hold It Against Me (Single Review)

SHUT THE FUCK UP AND TURN OFF THE SHUFFLE BECAUSE LITERALLY NO OTHER MUSIC MATTERS RIGHT NOW.

“Hold It Against Me”–Britney‘s highly anticipated (what’s the word for understatement of the fucking century?) new single from her as-of-yet untitled seventh studio album due out in March–has officially premiered.

The paramedics have just grudgingly allowed me access to a computer for fifteen minutes, so I’ve decided to hurriedly draft this review. It is nonsense, but here goes:

“Hold It Against Me” is many things, but above all, it is as perfect as the flawless iconic beauty singing on the track.

While it’s not nearly as radically different as Camp Britney suggested it would be as compared to the demo we heard on Friday, Britney’s final version is still vastly superior and entirely amazing.

“Hold It Against Me” is by no means an obvious Dr. Luke or Max Martin affair (aside from Martin’s penchant for producing sex jams), and it doesn’t sound too similar to anything on the radio (aside from Ke$ha‘s “Take It Off,” which is only a compliment in my book.)

I guess what I’m really trying to say here is that it doesn’t sound like a Katy Perry song, which was kind of the major concern after hearing Dr. Luke was at the helm of this project. (AKA: THANK. FUCKING. GODNEY.)

Now, let’s review in-depth:

SONG BEAT: The beat of “Hold It Against Me” deserves an appreciation post of its own.

Unstoppable. Disgustingly filthy. It is, as my friend Shan described when he sent me a link to the song early this morning, nothing short of an “ass-raping beat.” It’s probably the closest aural representation of literal fucking that exists to date–the kind of beat that will get all of the boys in trouble at the club and all of the girls really, really pregnant.

VERSES: The song’s verses are these amazing, cool moments of surging Grand Theft Auto adrenaline-pop in which Britney attempts to woo us. It is an effective wooing. She also says “A LITTLE HAY-ZAY” in a really silly voice during the second verse and it’s kind of the best thing ever.

CHORUS: The chorus of “Hold It Against Me” is a really genius, gorgeous moment a la “Shattered Glass” in which the song’s beat completely drops out and allows B to shine with a MASSIVE, chant-worthy chorus. It’s the kind of chorus that says, “Hey over there, the beat is about to fucking DROP, so kindly hold onto your B-Girl panties because this shit is bananas.” AND THEN IT DOES.

BREAKDOWN:

OH MY GOD. THE BREAKDOWN.

I had to stand up and walk around after hearing for the first time because I SIMPLY COULD NOT.

“If I said I want your body, would you hold it against me?” Godney purrs in a semi-British, semi-Blackoutney crazy accent, before the track launches into the most UNHOLY series of grinding dubstep/grime beats Brit Brit’s ever had the pleasure of moaning against.

“Pop it like a hood, and show me how you work it out,” she whines. And then the trance pulsations that lead back into the song? Coffin.

VOCALS: While nothing too vocally impressive (not why we’re here folks), “Hold It Against Me” is still a refreshing presentation of B’s natural vocals–none of that tired dance-pop Auto Tune shit clogging up the radio stations at the moment. I lurve her voice on this.

IN CONCLUSION: “Hold It Against Me” is more immediate and exciting than “Womanizer,” and undoubtedly her hardest hitting lead single since “Gimme More.”

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS: Listen on repeat until forever, bow the fuck down, take a big whiff, etc. etc.

Dubstepney. Grimeney. Holditagainstney.

And now, I die.

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  • http://www.edenzapple.com Jamie

    amen well said in the most calm way possible lol The breakdown is epic and shits on all the songs on radio right now by itself lol

  • Nicky

    “Holditagainstney” lmfao

    I disagree with “most hard hitting lead single since MATM” Um, Gimme More?? GM was epic. But I def prefer this to Womanizer. It’s so great

  • manu

    Muumuse you really need to calm down. lool

    But you`re right the song is fuckin amazing…

    I was hoping for something good, but not this good…

    Holly Spearit all over the place

  • http://www.muumuse.com Bradley Stern

    @Nicky

    Oh my God. I can’t believe I skipped over “Gimme More.” EDITING APPROPRIATELY.

  • Christopher

    “It’s probably the closest aural representation of literal fucking that exists to date–the kind of beat that will get all of the boys in trouble at the club and all of the girls really, really pregnant.”

    YOU ARE NOT WRONG.

  • Me

    I seriously can’t breathe, it is so good! God bless ya Britney!

  • Mikey

    STANDING OVATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Raul

    Wow love your review!!! Breakdown is amazing!!! Heres my review, will you guys mind reading? http://snakesayan.blogspot.com/2011/01/britney-spears-hold-it-against-me_10.html

  • scott

    the breakdown it’s amazing. it’s a good song… but no toxic part2. it makes me really excited for the album! go britney! just hoping it reflects on her stage presence.

  • Nies

    Great great great I’m awed when I first listened to it!!!!!Love love Britney!!!

  • LaraHIAM

    BOW BOW BOW TO GODNEY!!! BEST SONG EVER!!!!!!! SONG OF THE YEAR BITCHES!!!!

  • Tillology

    I AM SO WET RIGHT NOW. PRAISE HER HOLY SPEARIT!

  • http://www.shanparker.com Shan

    Yay! I got a mention!! I would like to point out that Justin (http://www.justinyourmind.com) originally penned the ARB, or “Ass Raping Beat” originally.

  • Kev

    Brad … interesting review, this is probably the first time I’ve completely disagreed with one of your reviews.

  • http://nilerunsdeep.bandcamp.com Nile

    Dear God!….. Do you know how many songs in the next year are going to have dub breakdowns now??? Tons! Britney, steering pop music since the late 90′s

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  • Tay

    Amazing review, epic song!

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  • Luis

    Every second of waiting has a meaning now

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  • Ich

    I don’t like it. I’m worried about the album, the single sounds way too generic for me, minus the breakdown.

  • Terry

    Loving the dubstep bit. I can hardly wait for the remixes.

  • http://www.twitter.com/Seeser209 Seeser209

    Everything said here is on point as usual! At the 2:17 mark is where this song gives me chills and makes it for me. DAMN I LOVE BRITNEY!

  • dang

    Are you deaf? This is the same disco-sex-shit that she’s been releasing for years. Nowhere near as good as Blackout/Circus era.
    Step over Britney- BORN THIS WAY

  • britnified

    WOOOOOOOOOOOOO
    A-MAZE-ING!!!!!!!!!

  • kirbyknipp

    omg. your reviews are the best. agreed on all counts. i die.

  • Coty

    LOVE IT! And I am playing it on repeat!

  • Kayla

    You hit it spot on! UH-FUCKING-MAZINGGGG! I can’t listen to another song again. EVER. (until more new godney comes out that is)

  • http://dabblie.tumblr.com/ Edi

    It’s meh to me. Maybe it’s a grower. Aside from the awesome breakdown, everything else sounds like what’s been on the radio for the past year.

  • Vertigo

    I’m disappointed. I love “old” Britney, when her song were just a pure POP DYNAMITES. Well, even her latest songs were good, if not very good, but this sounds just like every other dance song out there. I don’t see anything special about the beat and the bass. And the most important thing – where the hell is MELODY? Her songs were always amazingly catchy, but this? Meh.

  • anon!

    i love your review but only like the song. i was expecting more, something different, a little darker even (a la “gimme more”)… this is fun, and catchy enough, but i really hope this isn’t the best her album has to offer… not sure it’ll hold me over until march.

  • Adam

    Meh. It’s alright… I don’t hate it, but it is kind of generic. I have to say that the chorus is a clever rip off of Rihanna’s “Unfaithful” from well back in the day.

    And I can’t be the only one that wanted to shout out “Dirrrrty pop!” a la some Celebrity-era Justin Timberlake during the breakdown.

    Aaaaaand…. I just talked myself out of liking it.

  • http://guymeetsworld.wordpress.com/ BeirutBoy

    FEIRCE review! Luv it.

  • Junior

    I can’t believe people are overating this awful song so much when there are a lot of other artists with interesting albuns that for no reason didn’t make it in 2010, like: Sia and her great dance/pop/indie album We Are Born, Natasha Bedinfield and her perfect and polished best album to date Strip Me, or also Christina’s Bionic which is far way better than anything Britney did so far.

  • Floptina

    “Bionic” is absolute shit. Xtina is over. Both “Bionic” and “Burlesque” were spectacular flops for a reason.



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