Most artists have mid-career crises. A time when they ask themselves ‘am I still relevant?’, ‘where am I going musically and artistically?’, ‘what do my fans want?’. Kylie Minogue did, hence Impossible Princess and Light Years, although the former is her best work. Madonna did, and still is having one, hence Music. One could argue that even Kristin Hersh is in one at present, hence the need for 50 Foot Wave. Some artists are in perpetual crisis (um, anything by David Bowie since the awful Tin Machine). Some artists have crises before they’ve really had a career, q.v. Iggy Pop. Other artists are either astute or in blissful ignorance and never have one.

Dear old Britney Spears is in one right now. This is why I’m a Slave 4 U was released and pretty much everything since tries a new few tricks, e.g. Toxic and this new single. Each time the Britney envelope is pushed a little further out to try and retain a fan base or snare new listeners.

Do Something’ is just one big long tease. It could be a triumph in other artists’ hands. For example, make it a little more teutonic and make the percussion more crisp and you end up with a classic Electro backing track. Take out Britney’s vocals and replace them with the icy cool of Miss Kittin. Instant underground classic. But probably no sales. Give me the master tapes and I could probably spend one hundred years remixing this track. There is so much potential here. Unfortunately, in it’s current state, it’s just a track written to get people to buy Britney’s Greatest Hits.

Just call me Patrick.