circus song circus song recorded american singer britney_spears sixth studio album released december second single album written luke circus metaphor public perception spears life listened track time felt inspired create album tour circus theme circus uptempo electropop dance pop song elements pop rock half vocals song lyrics talk entertainer putting shows circus received contemporary critics reviewers complimenting spears confident persona praising song electronic production circus commercial success peaking inside australia canada denmark new_zealand sweden reaching positions european countries united_states circus reached number billboard hot number pop songs second best selling digital song country having sold million copies music video directed released december portrays spears circus accompanied different performers interspersed scenes spears different circus settings video received positive reviews critics criticized featuring trained animals denied claims spears performed song good morning america december opening number dressed outfit designed represent spears performed song residency concert britney piece song appear dance background circus written luke produced luke luke kelly initially commissioned work new track spears entered studio concept prepared kelly explained knowing style knowing luke came music based song public perception life time spears explained listening circus time felt inspired imagined story stated circus album far wanted like play circus different ways circus recorded recording studios los_angeles california burbank california background vocals provided kelly marie main instrumentation luke song mixed virginia circus announced october second single album officially serviced american radio stations december music lyrics circus uptempo electropop dance pop song box beat elements pop rock song opens sound drum builds spears starts singing types people world ones entertain ones observe spears delivers confident half vocals verses having usage synthesizers lyrically song talks entertainer putting shows explains emotions performing lines feel adrenaline moving veins spotlight ready break chorus begins electronic sound compares performing center circus ring according sheet music published circus composed key minor beats minute album song beats minute spears vocal range spans kelly commented circus cool way people dancing having fun slight message critical reception nick_levine digital spy described monster song chorus kicks praised production song compared break ice added lot stopping starting including built mtv style dance breakdown segment billboard single review appreciated song surrounding spears electronic landscape album review billboard criticized lyrics theme fame compared lucky piece sputnikmusic said sounded like track circus reflective album general mood sunday_times named standout tracks album entertainment_weekly writer noted despite album titled circus title track life prowess whip cracking sexual poppy sun said spears bad girl image album infectious second single thought singer loves attention directly sings adrenaline flowing veins time considered song true triumphant britney_spears pop song verse particular executed hook said performance circus medium paced big power topped orbit esque guitar commented song lyrics highlight spears fuck attitude despite regardless personal destruction hell haunted fictional space music woman couldn damn world sounding utterly defiant place apology humble musicomh praised lyrics describing confident encouraging return form circus nominated teen choice awards category lost climb commercial performance december circus debuted number billboard hot digital sales units debut chart week march song reached number pop songs chart number hot_dance_club_songs chart march circus sold million digital downloads united_states according nielsen_soundscan second best selling digital single country canada track debuted number based solely digital downloads blocked ascending spot lady_gaga poker face december circus entered australian_singles_chart number highest debut week december song peaked number certified platinum australian_recording_industry_association aria sales units new_zealand circus peaked number certified gold recording_industry_association_of_new_zealand rianz selling copies song successful europe peaking number european hot singles march circus reached sweden austria czech_republic finland norway netherlands united_kingdom according official_charts_company song sold copies united_kingdom thirteenth best selling single country tenth best selling digital single selling million copies worldwide music video development release music video circus filmed october november los_angeles california directed previously worked spears music video single slave spears chose lawrence person capture twisted eccentric different november exclusive second clip premiered promo documentary britney record video set released december entertainment tonight moved minute december synopsis video begins spears putting curious seen holding hat face fly hat spears starts singing stands puts jacket walks aisle dancing circus dancers video interspersed scenes different circus performers including ribbon dancers scenes spears singing hat wearing nude body red curtain spotlight followed group dance scene middle circus ring spears wears jacket hot pants hat second verse dances chair whip wearing nude bra covered leaves video continues series intercut scenes spears slow motion shower sparks surrounded pair lions elephant bridge spears dancers perform routine flames chorus spears returns circus ring surrounded elephants circus performers dancers fire video ends spears spotlight laughing hat head reception digital spy described music video seductive little bit ridiculous said spears delivers killer dance routines entertainment_weekly compared dance chair music video stronger added best actually looks animated video appears having fun mtv said watching video overcome sudden urge pick curious know possibly music video won category nominated awards categories best choreography best cinematography best editing lost nominated lost beyoncé single ladies video won best video making spears artist win years row december animal rights organization people issued press release condemning spears trained lions elephants demanding stop exotic animals videos concerts spears previously received criticism organization tiger performance slave mtv_video_music_awards trunk travel responded saying company issued written endorsement electrical devices discipline control elephants situations elephant human safety risk monitors animal action film television representative set circus video elephants ensure safety welfare britney director producers entire crew respectful elephants needs comfort pleasure work circus got certified digital platform vevo reach million views youtube live performances circus performed december american morning talk wore shirt leather pants jacket hat circus major opening number costumes performance selected began video introduction featuring welcoming audience circus middle video cylinder screen surrounding stage started rise spears appeared video shot causing fall backwards floor video ended spears started descend ceiling suspended platform wearing jacket black shorts high boots carrying whip represented animal reached stage took represent lion circus started featured taking stage spinning giant rings air performance ended spears taking jacket reveal crystal representing slave ran center main stage surrounded jets smoke enter golden cage perform piece people writer wrote spears descending red meets outfit sing song showed body tight dancing wasn mtv considered circus radar performances great spears included song current residency las_vegas britney piece performance spears appears stage center fiery ring resembling circus track listings credits personnel britney_spears lead vocals songwriting production drums keyboards programming guitar songwriting background vocals songwriting production drums keyboards programming mixing editing background vocals marie background vocals charts certifications release history
Circus (song)