Britney Spears
Album: In The Zone
Song: Toxic
Reviewed by: Krystal Burns
The Band
An internet search for Britney Spears pulls up thousands of websites—some almost worshipful and shrine-like, while others spiteful and loathsome. There are few stars who elicit such strong opinions—it seems like everybody has a thought or two about Britney Spears. Believe it or not, she got her start in a church choir back home in Louisiana. Since the age of six, she has pursued stardom relentlessly. She was only 11 when she was first featured on the Mickey Mouse Club. But her real debut came in 1999 with the album “… Baby One More Time.” Since then she has managed to stay in the headlines with the release of three other albums, each more provocative than the last in an effort to shed her teen pop image. In addition to the albums, a series of scandals from the Justin Timberlake break-up to the “opps-I-got-married-in-Vegas” incident have made her a tabloid favorite.
The Music
Spears has always pushed the limits of tact and decency, but her latest release “In the Zone” is by far the most sexually explorative to put it mildly. Some of the most suggestive songs include, “Toxic,” “Breath On Me,” and “Touch of My Hand.” She is currently on the “Onyx Hotel Tour 2004” promoting her album. In concert, where the pop star is reported to have even outdone Madonna in sexual promiscuity, the entire production is devoted to sexual stimulation. It’s not so much an artistic musical expression, as it is a really long, semi-pornographic commercial for Britney Spears. As Spears lip-syncs her new tunes, she and her performers dance out elements of homosexuality, masturbation, and three-somes. Just in case the album itself didn’t get the message across, Spears and company made sure her lustful message was loud and clear on tour.
The Song
“Toxic” is one of the most frequently played Spears songs as of late. True to Britney Spear’s style, there is not a lot of depth or mystery in the song. It’s simply about sexual attraction, again true to her theme. “There’s no escape/ I can’t hide/ I need a hit/ Baby, give me it/ You’re dangerous/ I’m lovin’ it…” The lyrics suggest that she has no control of her feelings and she is inflamed with lust, glorifying sexual addiction. There is nothing mentioned about the personal qualities of the object of her supposed affection, ruling out any notion the song is about real love. Rather the entire song is based on the feeling the person provokes in her primarily by means of physical intimacy (a.k.a. lust).
While the Bible is clear again and again that sexual immorality is loathsome to a Holy God, Spears makes a mockery of his commandments by turning it into something playful and innocent “I took a sip from my devil cup…” But there is nothing innocent and beautiful about this song—it is aggressively sexual. She goes on, “With a taste of your lips/ I’m on a ride/ You’re toxic/ I’m slipping under/ With a taste of poison paradise….” Ironically the Bible also has something to say about the poisonous lips of the unrighteous in Romans 3:13-17, “The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
While the feelings Spears sings about certainly stem from something real, our society often confuses lust and love—it’s like we want so badly to be in love, but it’s so much work (1 Corinthians 13 is a good description). Lust is a quick fix. Furthermore, while sexuality is also real, it is to be carefully protected and controlled. For our own benefit God created sex to be between one man and one woman within the context of marriage. Anything outside of that is wrong. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-6 says, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God… The Lord will punish all men for such sins.” God desires for us to respect our own bodies and respect others, so that we can be in right relationship with him and those around us. It is for our benefit. Too many fall into “intoxication” and destroy their marriages, families, and themselves.
So What Do You Think?
1. Why do you think people are so divided when it comes to Britney Spears?
2. What is she selling and why does it work?
3. In your opinion, how far is too far for an artist to go?
4. How can we control sexual cravings and obsessive thoughts?
5. Do you think albums should be rated for sexual content in the same
way movies are?