The Original Doll (lost unreleased Britney Spears album; 2005)
Fan-made cover art for the unreleased album.
Status: Lost
The Original Doll (or Original Doll) is an unfinished unreleased album by Britney Spears. It was to be released between the studio albums In the Zone and Blackout.[1] It was slated for release in 2005 after being announced under this potential title during an interview in late 2004, but it's unknown if it exists aside from a few demos.[2]
On December 30th 2004, Spears called staff at KIIS-FM (Burbank, CA) and explained that she had new music she wanted them to play live.[3] They assumed it was a prank call. An hour later, Spears arrived at the studio with her bodyguard, carrying a chihuahua and barefoot. She asked the staff to play the CD, which contained an early demo of a song titled "Mona Lisa." There was a very short, impromptu interview with Britney afterward, which revealed the album's currently-assumed title:[4]
INTERVIEWER: Well thanks for hanging tonight. Good luck with your album. It’s untitled.
BRITNEY SPEARS: It’s probably going to be called Original Doll, so…
I: And it’s half done?
S: Yeah. It’s halfway done right now.
I: Alright, so maybe by the summer? Maybe by the fall?
S: Yeah, yeah maybe a little bit earlier.
After the song and interview aired, Britney's label Jive Records issued a statement to Billboard stating that “No album is scheduled at the moment, but Britney is in the studio working on some material. There are no plans to service “Mona Lisa” to the radio."[5]
Several weeks later, Britney said she wasn't working on an album but a show.[6] The few songs possibly recorded were likely originally meant to be used for a tour documentary series Spears was intended to film in 2004, which later became the show Britney & Kevin: Chaotic the next year.
“Mona Lisa” was eventually rerecorded and released as a B-side on the Britney & Kevin: Chaotic EP in September 2005. “Toxic” producers Bloodshy & Avant polished the track with a dark electronic edge. The lyrics were seen as an attempt for Britney to "cut the strings on the pop puppet" she was criticized as being.[7]
Although Britney said the project was halfway done, it's thought to only be a few demos or ideas. It's likely the songs will never be released considering Jive Records' attempts to discredit the project and complications around Spears' contract under their label, and also due to the possibility that other songs might not exist and were only announced in rebellion to her label and former manager.
However, producer Doug Elkins confirmed that an entirely different and finished unreleased R&B and hip-hop influenced album was later recorded by Spears in early-mid 2006.[8] This included the leaked songs "Rebellion", "Red Hot Lipstick", and the Otis Redding cover "I've Been Loving You Too Long".
Doug Elkins: One of the most exciting moments of my professional career was the day Britney handed in this song ["Red Hot Lipstick"] as part of her finished record to her label Jive Records... [her fifth album] included none of the songs she had turned in to the label originally.
Presumed Songs
The only confirmed song is "Mona Lisa" and possibly "The Fugitive", which was written on a demo CD Spears was seen holding. Fans have created various fake rumors using leaked songs intended for her "In the Zone" or "Blackout" albums, but no other songs for this project have been confirmed to exist.[9]
Gallery
References
- ↑ Britney Spears discography. Retrieved 18 Mar '17.
- ↑ Michelle Bell & Angela Hunte (Britney's songwriters) Talk Original Doll Retrieved 14 Jul '16.
- ↑ Britney Spears on KIIS-FM in 2004. Retrieved 14 Jul '16.
- ↑ Buzzfeed article where the interview text came from. Retrieved 14 Jul '16.
- ↑ "Spears gives L.A. radio station ‘Mona Lisa,’" NBCNews.com
- ↑ "Britney Spears On The Phone With ‘TRL’"
- ↑ AXS - The Curious Case of Mona Lisa, Britney Spears' Telling B-Side Turns 10 Retrieved 14 Jul '16.
- ↑ "A Just-Discovered “Blackout”-Era Britney Single You’ve Never Heard: “Red Hot Lipstick”" Retrieved 21 Nov '22.
- ↑ Unreleased Britney Spears