As a gift to us on the holiest of days, pop queen Britney Spears‘ 39th birthday on December 2, the singer has released her first new music since 2016.
But while we’re pleased to have Britney back, the release of new music contradicts her previously stated intention not to work for so long as her father remains the sole conservator of her estate.
In November, Britney Spears lost her case to remove Jamie Spears as sole conservator. In court, her lawyer, Samuel Ingham, said she would not perform or release any new music while the conservatorship remained in her father’s hands. He also added that Britney was “afraid” of her father and the pair do not have a “viable working relationship”.
Control of Britney’s financial assets, music, performances and overall career were placed under Jamie’s control in 2008, after she suffered a very public mental health crisis.
The ongoing dispute over the conservatorship has fuelled the resurgence of the #FreeBritney movement, with fans growing concerned about the pop star’s wellbeing and independence. Some believe that Britney has been sending secret messages/cries for help through her Instagram posts, with Britney herself saying through her lawyer that she “welcomes the informed support of her many fans”.
Britney Spears wrote nothing on Instagram about her new single, but did update her Instagram bio to promote the track. Instead, to celebrate her birthday yesterday, she posted photos with her boyfriend, fitness trainer Sam Asghari.
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“Happy b-day to me!!!!,” she captioned the photo with a swarm of emojis, where Sam’s hands are very awkwardly placed near the front of her neck and at the back of her head.
Britney’s new electro-pop single Swimming In The Stars is a previously unreleased bonus track for the deluxe vinyl edition of 2016 album, Glory. The vinyl is due for release on December 4.
We just want Britney to be OK. No new Britney banger is worth her not being OK.
