"Hold It Against Me" has received positive reviews from most critics. Such as, Rick Florino of Artistdirect gave the song four and half stars, calling it "one of Britney's catchiest club bangers yet" and saying "[it] proudly stands alongside Britney classics like 'Womanizer,' 'Gimme More,' and 'Toxic,' but there's a refined ethereal elegance to it that sees Britney stepping into new territory and pushing the boundaries of dance pop once more."
After its release, "Hold It Against Me" set the record for most radio plays in one day in the United States, registering 619 plays on Mediabase and 595 plays on Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems (BDS). It also broke Mediabase's one-week play's record, with 3,866 spins. The following week, "Hold It Against Me" debuted at number sixteen on Billboard's Pop Songs chart with 4,071 plays, the highest detections total by a new entry in the chart's history. It was also tied with Madonna's "Frozen" for the second highest debut. Billboard reported that "Hold It Against Me" was likely to debut at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, due to the strong airplay and sales, which were expected to exceed 400,000 copies. On the issue dated January 29, 2011, "Hold It Against Me" debuted at number one on the Hot 100, making Spears the second artist in history to debut multiple songs at the top of the chart, only behind Mariah Carey. The single is also the eighteenth song to debut at number one, and Spears' fourth chart-topper. "Hold It Against Me" also debuted atop of the Hot Digital Songs chart, with 411,000 copies sold. The sum marks the highest debut sales by a female artist, surpassing the record previously held by Taylor Swift's "Today Was a Fairytale". It is also Spears' biggest one-week digital sales total, as well as the fourth biggest first-week sales tally in digital history.
Britney's career technically now spans over three decades (debut single '...Baby One More Time' was released back in 1999!), and she's just racked up her twenty-sixth UK top twenty success with 'Hold It Against Me'. The lead single from Britney's seventh studio album Femme Fatale debuted at No.6 in the UK chart in January 2011.
Hold It Against Me
Britney Spears Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Please, forgive me
If I'm comin' on too strong
Hate to stare
But, you're winnin'
And they're playin' my favorite song
So, come here
A little closer
Wanna whisper in your ear
Make it clear
A little question
Wanna know just how you feel
If I said my heart was beating loud
If we could escape the crowd somehow
If I said I want your body now
Would you hold it against me?
'Cause, you feel like paradise
And I need a vacation tonight
So, if I said I want your body now
Would you hold it against me?
Hey, you might think
That I'm crazy
But, you know I'm just your type
I might be
Little hazy
But, you just cannot deny
There's a spark
In between us
When we're dancin' on the floor
I want more
Wanna see it
So, I'm askin' you tonight
If I said my heart was beating loud
If we could escape the crowd somehow
If I said I want your body now
Would you hold it against me?
'Cause, you feel like paradise
And I need a vacation tonight
So, if I said I want your body now
Would you hold it against me?
If I said I want your body
Would you hold it against me?
Yeah, uh-huh, oh
Give me somethin' good
Don't wanna wait
I want it now
Pop it like a hood
And show me how you work it out
Alright
If I said my heart was beating loud
If I said I want your body now
Would you hold it against me?
If I said my heart was beating loud
If we could escape the crowd somehow
If I said I want your body now
Would you hold it against me?
'Cause, you feel like paradise
And I need a vacation tonight
So, if I said I want your body now
Would you hold it against me?
The lyrics of Britney Spears' song "Hold It Against Me" speak to a desire to let loose and engage with someone, fueled by the excitement of the moment. The singer is caught up in the thrill of the music and the chemistry between herself and someone else. She acknowledges that she may be coming on too strong, but she can't help the way she feels. The chorus is a direct question to the other person, asking if they'll hold it against her if she expresses her desire for them. The singer is willing to take a chance on this connection, even if it means potentially putting herself out there and being vulnerable. There is a sense of urgency and immediacy in the lyrics, as if the singer is experiencing a rush of emotion and is just trying to keep up with it all.
Overall, "Hold It Against Me" is a song about pursuing connection with another person, even if it means risking rejection or judgment. It's a celebration of attraction and the thrill of the moment, but also a recognition that these feelings can be fleeting and not always reciprocated. The singer is willing to seize the chance for a deep connection, but also recognizes the transience of the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, over there
Britney sees someone across the room
Please, forgive me
Britney is apologizing in advance for coming on strong
If I'm comin' on too strong
Britney is wondering if she's being too forward
Hate to stare
Britney is checking out the person she's interested in while trying not to be obvious about it
But, you're winnin'
The person Britney is interested in is doing something impressive or captivating
And they're playin' my favorite song
The fact that Britney's favorite song is playing makes the situation even better
So, come here
Britney wants to get closer to the person she's interested in
A little closer
Britney wants to be physically closer to the person she's interested in
Wanna whisper in your ear
Britney wants to say something private to the person she's interested in
Make it clear
Britney wants to communicate her intentions clearly
A little question
Britney wants to ask a question
Wanna know just how you feel
Britney wants to know if the person she's interested in feels the same way she does
If I said my heart was beating loud
Britney is expressing her intense feelings for the person she's interested in
If we could escape the crowd somehow
Britney is suggesting that they leave together
If I said I want your body now
Britney is being very forward in expressing her desire for the person she's interested in
Would you hold it against me?
Britney is worried that the person she's interested in will judge her for being so direct
'Cause, you feel like paradise
Britney is saying that being with the person she's interested in would be like paradise
And I need a vacation tonight
Britney is feeling stressed and wants to escape reality by being with the person she's interested in
Hey, you might think
Britney is acknowledging that the person she's interested in might think she's crazy
That I'm crazy
Britney thinks that the person she's interested in might think she's crazy
But, you know I'm just your type
Britney thinks that the person she's interested in is attracted to her and that they have a connection
I might be
Britney is acknowledging that she might not be making the most sense
Little hazy
Britney's thoughts might be a little unclear or foggy
But, you just cannot deny
Britney thinks that the person she's interested in has a strong attraction to her
There's a spark
There is a connection or chemistry between Britney and the person she's interested in
In between us
The connection or chemistry is between Britney and the person she's interested in
When we're dancin' on the floor
The connection or chemistry is particularly strong when they're dancing
I want more
Britney wants to explore the connection or chemistry further
Wanna see it
Britney wants to see if the connection or chemistry between her and the person she's interested in is real
So, I'm askin' you tonight
Britney is asking the person she's interested in to give her a chance
Give me somethin' good
Britney wants the person she's interested in to satisfy her desires
Don't wanna wait
Britney is not interested in waiting for what she wants
I want it now
Britney wants what she wants immediately
Pop it like a hood
Britney wants the person she's interested in to show her what they've got
And show me how you work it out
Britney wants the person she's interested in to prove themselves to her
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Lukasz Gottwald, Mathieu Jomphe, Max Martin, Bonnie Leigh Mckee
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@huongdoan4415
The story behind #FreeBritney and why you should care:
In February of 2008, Britney Spears was placed under a conservatorship by her father which gives him complete control over her life including food, clothing, finance and shelter.
It all started on January 4th, 2008 when Britney Spears was involuntary held under a 5150 hold following a custody dispute with Kevin Federline. That's when we saw the horrific videos of Britney being taken from her home in an ambulance chased by the paparazzi.
She was released from the hospital the next day and was not required to remain for 72-hours.
On January 31st, Britney Spears was placed under a second involuntary 5150 hold. However, extra precautions were taken that suggest this hold was planned well in advance. This is when the court agreed to place the pop star under a conservatorship.
Not two months after being deemed too incapable of making decisions about herself, Britney Spears would guest star on How I Met Your Mother.
By September, a woman who the court said can't make her own life decisions became be the most awarded woman of the night at the 2008 VMAs.
That same month, the court put Britney Spears under permanent conservatorship even though she was denied her right to retain a lawyer.
Since then, Britney has spoken about her life being too controlled. She even compared her situation to jail and said she “never wanted to become one of those prisoner people.” One of things Britney said she misses the most is being able to freely drive her car.
Under conservatorship, she needs permission. A documentary called “For the Record” follows Britney Spears through her Circus Tour and includes deleted footage where she speaks out about her situation.
By 2011, Britney Spears was embarking on her Femme Fatale Tour during which fans have predicted that she was being heavily medicated.
Legal experts began questioning the conservatorship in 2012 when Britney was chosen as an XFactor judge but was still deemed unable to care for herself.
During the Glory era, Britney Spears spoke out about the conservatorship on the Jonathan Ross Show. Fans in the audience confirmed this happened, but that part was cut out of the interview by the time it aired.
During the 2016 election, Britney was forced to remove the hashtag #ImWithHer from her post supporting Hillary Clinton because she is allegedly not allowed to vote while she is under a conservatorship
On Instagram, Britney Spears has hinted at wanting freedom from the conservatorship as well.
On January 4th, 2019, Britney Spears mysteriously cancelled her Las Vegas residency “Domination” citing her father’s health issues.
3 days later, Britney was seen driving through In-N-Out for the last time.
She would then go missing from the public for 3 months because her father allegedly put her into a mental health facility against her will. This would be Britney’s third involuntary hold.
In April, news broke that Britney Spears was indeed in a mental health facility and her team said at the time she entered voluntarily.
But Britney Spears allegedly told the court that she was forced into the facility by her father and that she was forced to take drugs.
Britney’s co-conservator Andrew Wallet also resigned because “substantial detriment, irreparable harm and immediate danger will result to the conservatee and her estate if the relief requested herein is not granted.”
He was asking for a raise not 5 months earlier. Fans began protesting in May during Britney’s court hearing.
In September, Kevin Federline filed charges against Jamie Spears for allegedly abusing one of their kids. Because he remains Britney's conservator, she now only has 30% visitation with her kids.
Later that month, Britney fans took the streets again at her next court hearing. People in the courtroom said a 730 investigation into the conservatorship was brought up by Britney’s mom before the public was asked to leave.
Britney also spoke out on Instagram explaining how important her freedom is during this time. It’s worth noting that Britney Spears has been speaking out since this conservatorship began.
One of Britney’s music video directors said the only direction she gave him was to film her in a cage. This has been a consistent theme since she was put under a conservatorship.
This letter that Britney Spears allegedly wrote in third person also leaked to the public. She said she was “lied to” and “set up.” Britney’s doctor also mysteriously died.
Fans have organized protests and a #FreeBritney trending hour starting at 10:00 am PST.
Do we ever think Britney Spears wears 2000s clothes still because she has nothing else. She’s forced to wear them because she’s never allowed any of her money. And it keeps the narrative that’s she’s crazy
She worked all those years, was the epitome of pop music in the 2000s, all for what???? She should be enjoying her earnings and not having parasites live off her and control her life!!
*Britney Spears is under a corrupt conservatorship and
her father controls her food, her medicine, her finances, controls who enters her life, she can't vote, she cannot have children, she cannot have custody of her children, she can't hire a laywer for this, etc.*
February 2008, after claiming Britney Spears had dementia, she was placed in a conservatorship.
March 2009, Britney starts her Circus World Tour, where she dangles from the air and walks through fire rings. Normal activities for a dementia patient, right?
Britney Spears’ father claimed she had DEMENTIA and was “unable to properly provide for herself”, to lock her in the conservatorship in 2008.
A couple months after this, that supposedly disabled woman was sent back to a rigorous work routine, including a world tour.
Britney has NO rights under her conservatorship and has been trying to let us know for years that she is in need of.
Britney's song "Lucky" and "Everytime" is like a premonition of how sad Britney's life has become. Listening to the song today is very sad.
Ya'll think Britney Spears is just another pop machine who makes millions of dollars and think she's generic. But ya'll are forgeting that she's HUMAN and she's been a money maker for her team for over 20 years now.
Britney Spears has made nearly $1 BILLION in the past 20 years. Since the start of her conservatorship, her net worth is reported as $58 million. She is given an allowance of only $70,000 per year while her shady conservator father makes double that amount.
Reminder that Britney Spears has been under a conservatorship for years. She has no control over her career it professional life. She even lost custodial time with her sons because her father was abusive towards them.
From all that I've seen this is utterly terrifying that an fully functioning woman, BRITNEY SPEARS, is under a conservatorship. She did tours, practiced hrs of choreography and is being controlled like a puppet. She can make her own choices. Free her. I'm disgusted.
Britney Spears is clearly having manic episodes on tik tok and everyone is just laughing? This is the reason we need mental health awareness weeks that aren’t just people sharing pics of a short list of common symptoms of depression/anxiety.
She deserves nothing but happiness. She has been treated as a money machine since she was born and went through the atrocities experienced, she never had a bad word about anyone in the industry, even towards the one who shames her.
Britney Spears has been under a conservatorship for more than a decade. Conservatorships are not meant for able minded and hard working individuals like Britney, and the fact that her conservators all heavily benefit financially from the conservatorship is wrong.
Britney Spears is a money making machine for her entire “team”, her whole family, and her ex husband. If she doesn’t comply with her fathers rules, he threatens to take her kids away from her.
*Even so-called jokes about Britney Spears being a robot or clone or govt experiment perpetuate the denigration of her humanity.
Britney is not a fictional character.
Britney is an actual live human being w/the same full capacity for thoughts & emotions as you.*
Since 2008 Britney Spears has been held in a conservatorship, this gives her conservator (Jamie Spears) full control over her life, body and finances/estate. Conservatorships are typically used for SEVERELY mentally ill individuals or people in comas.
Having been on 4 world tours with dangerous flying and fire stunts, it’s safe to say she is sane enough to feed and clothe herself.
With this conservatorship she is unable to properly fight for her freedom as she isn’t legally allowed to hire her own lawyer. We need this petition so that Britney can hire her own lawyer and live a normal life as a 38 year old woman with two kids.
The petition to let Britney Spears hire her own lawyer already has 52k signatures. Add your name to help #FreeBritney
https://www.change.org/p/britney-spears-let-britney-spears-hire-her-own-lawyer?fbclid=IwAR1tmBaXnx1iCsTb9-gmRmO701VHw-fhhovEYAm_t3tno0QDJv6z-lcq5TI
@AubreyKennedyx
Britney Spears marathon anyone
@Reno9461
Yes!!!
@bloomscape_studio_designs
yessss
@fabiosarra7030
Yes! Waiting for the new album and feeling very nostalgic about the good old times ;)
@mdr5685
mee
@stefaniecontreras8710
meee
@josedaniel1670
No song today could ever have this same unique sound. Britney is truly the Queen of Pop.
@swecol1992
You can also thank Max Martin
@levenrambin4583
I can’t believe she put out this masterpiece in the midst of total suffering!!!!! No one could do it like her
@DosSantos.V
Yes yes 🙌