Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know
Encyclopedia
"Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" is a song by American recording artist Britney Spears
, taken from her second studio album, Oops!... I Did It Again
(2000). It was released on January 17, 2001, by Jive Records
as the fourth and final single from the album. After meeting up with Robert Lange
in Switzerland, the singer started to record several songs for the album, including "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know", co-written by Lange, Shania Twain
, and Keith Scott
. The teen-pop ballad
, speaks of a woman wanting to hear her boyfriend say that he needs her all the way and that he loves her, and features a similar sound to David Bowie
and Iggy Pop
's song "China Girl
" (1983). It received positive reviews from music critics, with some considering the song a sweet ballad where Spears showcase her vocals.
"Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" attained commercial success, reaching number one in Romania, and peaking inside the top-ten in Austria, Europe and Switzerland, while reaching top-twenty positions in many European countries. However, the song failed to chart in the United States' Hot 100
, peaking at number twelve on the Billboard
Bubbling Under Hot 100. An accompanying music video, directed by Herb Ritts
, portrays Spears in love scenes with her fictional boyfriend, played by French model Brice Durand. The singer's real-life boyfriend at the time Justin Timberlake
, however, was said to be miffed at the kissing scenes, while the original video was considered too racy at the time by Spears mother, Lynne
, because it contained sexually explicit material. Parts of the video were edited before its release to the public on March 2, 2001.
Spears has performed "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" in a number of live appearances, including at TRL
, Saturday Night Live
, The View, and in four of her concert tours. It was first performed on Crazy 2k Tour
(2000), where Spears appeared onstage sitting on a magic carpet and flew over the audience while singing the song. Spears also performed song at the Oops!... I Did It Again World Tour
(2000), at Dream Within a Dream Tour
(2001), and, most recently, at the Femme Fatale Tour
(2011). Spears has named "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" as one of her favourite songs from her career several times. The song was nominated at Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards
in the category of "Best Song" in 2002.
and Switzerland
. After meeting up with Robert Lange
in Switzerland, the singer started to record several songs for the album, including "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know". After finishing the track, Spears revealed in an interview with Billboard
that "with the first album, I didn't get to show my voice off. The songs were great, but they weren't very challenging. This song is incredible. It's going to surprise people in the best way." "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" was written and produced by Lange, while additional writing was done by his then-wife Shania Twain
and Keith Scott
. Spears recorded her vocals for the song between November and December 1999 at Mutt Lange's and Shania Twain's chateau in La-Tour-de Peilz, Switzerland
, and it was later mixed by Nigel Green and programmed by Cory Churko, Kevin Churko and Richard Meyer
. During a live concert at Hawaii
, included on her second home video release Live and More! (2000), Spears claimed the song as one of her favourites on Oops!... I Did It Again. "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" was released on January 17, 2001 as the final single from the album.
ballad that lasts for three minutes and fifty seconds. The song is composed in the key
of E major
and is set in time signature
of common time
with a tempo
of 76 beats per minute. Spears vocal range spans from F3 to D5. The song's lyrics talk about how Spears wants to hear her boyfriend say he needs her all the way and that he loves her. Spears considered it a "pure and delicate" song. "It's just one of those songs that pull you in. That's why I like it, and I like singing it as well," she continued. "I think they wrote it 'specially for me, because the lyrics of the song, if you really listen... they're more of what I can relate to, 'cause they're kind of young lyrics, I think. I don't think Shania would probably sing some of the words that I'm saying." A review of NME
compared the song to David Bowie
and Iggy Pop
's "China Girl
", while Stephanie McGrath of Jam!
said the song is "a nice break from the 'baby babys', 'yeah yeahs' and insistent drum beats that pepper the other songs" of Oops!. David Veitch of Calgary Sun
compared the backing vocals "with nicely old-fashioned shoo-be-doo-doos". Tom Terrell of MTV
said Lange worked with a similar riff to A Taste of Honey
's cover of "Sukiyaki
" and fingersnaps in the song, commenting that the "Eagles-esque chorus" features "an '80s hair band power ballad groove" where "Britney soul-maxes with a vocal that channels both Stevie Wonder
(via "Knocks Me Off My Feet") and Shania herself."
called the song "the best showcase of Spears' talents," while NME
considered the song "absolutely frightening," after comparing it to Iggy and Bowie's "China Girl
". Tracy E. Hopkins of Barnes and Noble considered the song a "polished ballad", and praised Shania Twain for the songwriting. While reviewing 2011's Femme Fatale Tour
, Jocelyn Vena of MTV
considered the song, along with "Toxic
", "old-school jams". A Rhapsody
review also considered the ballads from Oops!, including "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know", "perfectly constructed ballads". Michael Paoletta of Billboard
commented, "Spears may not be a vocal acrobat à la colleagues Jessica Simpson
and Christina Aguilera
, but she does have an instantly recognizable style-and Oops!... indicates that she's developing a soulful edge and emotional depth that can't be conjured with a glass-shattering not", nothing that "[t]his is particularly apparent on the hitworthy, Shania Twain-penned ballad 'Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know'." The song was nominated at Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards
in the category of "Best Song" in 2002.
chart, due to its weak airplay, peaking at number twelve on Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
chart. Spears scored her eighth top ten hit on the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles
when it peaked at number nine. The single also reached the top ten in Austria
, Europe
and Switzerland
. "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" was a moderate success in the United Kingdom
, entering the UK Singles Chart
on April 7, 2001 at the twelfth position. The song spent eight weeks on the chart. In Romania, the song was commercially successful, debuting at the top position of Romania Top 100
. It also peaked at number three on the year-end chart for 2001. In Denmark, the song reached number fourteen, and was later certified Gold by International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), for selling over 5,000 units of the single. As a way of promotion, the single was included as bonus second disc of the limited edition of Oops!... I Did It Again.
, and shot at Key Biscane in Miami, Florida
on the last week of January 2001. According to Ritts, Spears "wanted to do something fresh. There was one outfit, no dancing, and that meant that it boiled down to her. She really had to act the song, and she was very impressive." He also revealed the setting of the video was built as "a funky beach shack" similar to Madonna
's "Cherish
" (1989) and Chris Isaak
's "Wicked Game
" (1989). "The story is, pretty much, Britney longing for him to tell her the words", said Ritts, who was impressed with the chemistry between the singer and her fictional boyfriend, played by French model Brice Durand. Spears' real-life boyfriend at the time Justin Timberlake
, however, "was said to be miffed at Spears' kissing scenes with French model," according to Jennifer Vineyard of MTV
. Spears mother, Lynne
, also criticized considered the original music video for being too racy at the time, because it contained sexually explicit material. Parts of the video were edited before its release to the public.
The music video debuted at number one on MTV
's TRL
on March 2, 2001. The video begins with Spears and her boyfriend in a hammock. Cuts of her cuddling with her love interest beside a fire are also included. We also see her and her boyfriend on the seashore doing a love scene. Inside a tiki hut, Spears exclaims the words she wants her boyfriend to know. In the second half of the video, she is seen on a tree
where her boyfriend reaches for her. There are also scenes where she is running on the beach and her boyfriend is chasing after her. Spears wears only a bikini top
and a pair of cutoff shorts
during the whole video. The music video was considered by Spears as "the funnest video I've ever done." An alternate footage of the video can be found on the DVD of Spears first compilation album Greatest Hits: My Prerogative
. Vineyard considered the footage as the one that "makes the most use of Britney's body of work, with the spaceman from "Oops!... I Did It Again
", an opening door from "My Prerogative" and a guy from "Toxic
" all making cameos".
in Pensacola, Florida
, where Spears appeared onstage sitting on a magic carpet and flew over the audience while singing the song. After releasing her second studio album, Oops!... I Did It Again, Spears performed the song on the American music show TRL
, on Saturday Night Live
and on The View. She also performed the song live on 2000's Oops!... I Did It Again World Tour
. After performing "Sometimes
", she climbed the staircase and briefly spoke to the audience before moving into the performance of the song, for which she wore a long white dress trimmed with boa feathers. "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" was performed also on 2001's Dream Within a Dream Tour
. The performance consisted on Spears singing the song on an elevated platform wearing an evening gown with artificial snow falling from the ceiling, while two of her dancers performed a routine.
Almost ten years later, "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" was peformed by Spears on her 2011's Femme Fatale Tour
. The performance consists of Spears sitting on a swing singing the song, whilst a male dancer dances beneath her, at one point attaching himself by his feet to the swing whilst midair. Shirley Halperin of The Hollywood Reporter
named it one of the best performances of the show along with "Piece of Me
" and "3
", stating that "ironically enough, [they] were the ones with fewest frills." In a review of the special broadcasting done by American premium television channel Epix of the tour, Jocelyn Vena of MTV summarized her thoughts about the performance saying, "It's rare these days to see Britney Spears show her soft side, but she takes a break from the nonstop, fist-pumping music during the spectacle that is the Femme Fatale Tour and kicks it old-school, showing us she still has the heart and soul to bust out a power ballad."
liner notes.
Technical
Personnel
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
, taken from her second studio album, Oops!... I Did It Again
Oops!... I Did It Again
Oops!...I Did It Again is the second studio album by American pop singer Britney Spears. The album was released on May 16, 2000 by Jive Records. The album became a commercial success after debuting at top position on the U.S. Billboard 200 selling over 1,319,193 units during its first week...
(2000). It was released on January 17, 2001, by Jive Records
Jive Records
Jive Records was a record label based in New York City, operating under RCA Music Group. Jive was primarily known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s, and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 1990s. The word "jive" was inspired by Township Jive, a form of South African...
as the fourth and final single from the album. After meeting up with Robert Lange
Robert Lange
Robert John "Mutt" Lange is a Zambian-born British record producer and songwriter, usually known by his nickname "Mutt". Lange is one of the most successful producers in rock history. He has produced albums for artists such as AC/DC, Nickelback, Def Leppard, Outlaws, Foreigner, The Cars, Bryan...
in Switzerland, the singer started to record several songs for the album, including "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know", co-written by Lange, Shania Twain
Shania Twain
Shania Twain, OC is a Canadian country pop singer-songwriter. Her album The Woman in Me , brought her fame and her 1997 album Come On Over, became the best-selling album of all time by a female musician in any genre, and the best-selling country album of all time. It has sold over 40 million...
, and Keith Scott
Keith Scott
Keith Douglas Scott is a Canadian guitar player. He is best known for his long-term collaboration with the singer-songwriter Bryan Adams...
. The teen-pop ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
, speaks of a woman wanting to hear her boyfriend say that he needs her all the way and that he loves her, and features a similar sound to David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
and Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
's song "China Girl
China Girl (song)
"China Girl" is a song co-written by David Bowie and Iggy Pop during their years in Berlin, first appearing on Pop's album The Idiot...
" (1983). It received positive reviews from music critics, with some considering the song a sweet ballad where Spears showcase her vocals.
"Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" attained commercial success, reaching number one in Romania, and peaking inside the top-ten in Austria, Europe and Switzerland, while reaching top-twenty positions in many European countries. However, the song failed to chart in the United States' Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, peaking at number twelve on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Bubbling Under Hot 100. An accompanying music video, directed by Herb Ritts
Herb Ritts
Herbert "Herb" Ritts was an American fashion photographer who concentrated on black-and-white photography and portraits, often in the style of classical Greek sculpture.-Early life and career:...
, portrays Spears in love scenes with her fictional boyfriend, played by French model Brice Durand. The singer's real-life boyfriend at the time Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
, however, was said to be miffed at the kissing scenes, while the original video was considered too racy at the time by Spears mother, Lynne
Lynne Spears
Lynne Irene Spears is an American author and the mother of pop singer Britney Spears and teen actress Jamie Lynn Spears.-Early life and family:...
, because it contained sexually explicit material. Parts of the video were edited before its release to the public on March 2, 2001.
Spears has performed "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" in a number of live appearances, including at TRL
Total Request Live
Total Request Live is a television series on MTV that featured popular music videos. TRL was MTV's prime outlet for music videos as the network continues to concentrate on reality-based programming. In addition to music videos, TRL featured daily guests...
, Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
, The View, and in four of her concert tours. It was first performed on Crazy 2k Tour
...Baby One More Time Tour
The ...Baby One More Time Tour was the debut concert tour by American recording artist Britney Spears. It supported her debut studio album, ...Baby One More Time and visited United States and Canada. The tour was announced in March 1999, with dates released a month later. Tommy Hilfiger was chosen...
(2000), where Spears appeared onstage sitting on a magic carpet and flew over the audience while singing the song. Spears also performed song at the Oops!... I Did It Again World Tour
Oops!... I Did It Again World Tour
The Oops!... I Did It Again World Tour was the second concert tour by American recording artist Britney Spears. It supported her second studio album Oops!... I Did It Again and visited North America, Europe and Brazil. It marked the first time Spears toured outside North America...
(2000), at Dream Within a Dream Tour
Dream Within a Dream Tour
The Dream Within a Dream Tour was the third concert tour by American recording artist Britney Spears. It promoted her third studio album Britney in North America and Japan. The Dream Within a Dream Tour was promoted by Concerts West, marking the first time Spears did not tour with Clear Channel...
(2001), and, most recently, at the Femme Fatale Tour
Femme Fatale Tour
The Femme Fatale Tour is the seventh concert tour by American singer Britney Spears, in support of her seventh studio album, Femme Fatale. It was officially announced in March 2011, with dates for North American venues revealed. The tour was initially planned as a co-headlining tour with Enrique...
(2011). Spears has named "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" as one of her favourite songs from her career several times. The song was nominated at Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards
2002 Kids' Choice Awards
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards 2002 featured a musical performance from double platinum recording artist Pink. The theme music for the awards was a Nickelodeon instrumental version of She Blinded Me With Science by Thomas Dolby...
in the category of "Best Song" in 2002.
Background
In 1999, Spears began work on her second studio album, Oops!...I Did It Again (2000), in SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. After meeting up with Robert Lange
Robert Lange
Robert John "Mutt" Lange is a Zambian-born British record producer and songwriter, usually known by his nickname "Mutt". Lange is one of the most successful producers in rock history. He has produced albums for artists such as AC/DC, Nickelback, Def Leppard, Outlaws, Foreigner, The Cars, Bryan...
in Switzerland, the singer started to record several songs for the album, including "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know". After finishing the track, Spears revealed in an interview with Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
that "with the first album, I didn't get to show my voice off. The songs were great, but they weren't very challenging. This song is incredible. It's going to surprise people in the best way." "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" was written and produced by Lange, while additional writing was done by his then-wife Shania Twain
Shania Twain
Shania Twain, OC is a Canadian country pop singer-songwriter. Her album The Woman in Me , brought her fame and her 1997 album Come On Over, became the best-selling album of all time by a female musician in any genre, and the best-selling country album of all time. It has sold over 40 million...
and Keith Scott
Keith Scott
Keith Douglas Scott is a Canadian guitar player. He is best known for his long-term collaboration with the singer-songwriter Bryan Adams...
. Spears recorded her vocals for the song between November and December 1999 at Mutt Lange's and Shania Twain's chateau in La-Tour-de Peilz, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, and it was later mixed by Nigel Green and programmed by Cory Churko, Kevin Churko and Richard Meyer
Richard Meyer (producer)
Richard Meyer , is a record producer and songwriter of pop music and electronic music....
. During a live concert at Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, included on her second home video release Live and More! (2000), Spears claimed the song as one of her favourites on Oops!... I Did It Again. "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" was released on January 17, 2001 as the final single from the album.
Composition
"Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" is a teen popTeen pop
Teen pop is a subgenre of pop music that is created, marketed and oriented towards teenagers. Teen pop copies genres and styles such as pop, dance, R&B, hip hop, country and rock....
ballad that lasts for three minutes and fifty seconds. The song is composed in the key
Key (music)
In music theory, the term key is used in many different and sometimes contradictory ways. A common use is to speak of music as being "in" a specific key, such as in the key of C major or in the key of F-sharp. Sometimes the terms "major" or "minor" are appended, as in the key of A minor or in the...
of E major
E major
E major is a major scale based on E, with the pitches E, F, G, A, B, C, and D. Its key signature has four sharps .Its relative minor is C-sharp minor, and its parallel minor is E minor....
and is set in time signature
Time signature
The time signature is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat....
of common time
Common Time
"Common Time" is a science fiction short story written by James Blish. It first appeared in the August 1953 issue of Science Fiction Quarterly and has been reprinted several times: in the 1959 short-story collection Galactic Cluster; in The Testament of Andros ; in The Penguin Science Fiction...
with a tempo
Tempo
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
of 76 beats per minute. Spears vocal range spans from F3 to D5. The song's lyrics talk about how Spears wants to hear her boyfriend say he needs her all the way and that he loves her. Spears considered it a "pure and delicate" song. "It's just one of those songs that pull you in. That's why I like it, and I like singing it as well," she continued. "I think they wrote it 'specially for me, because the lyrics of the song, if you really listen... they're more of what I can relate to, 'cause they're kind of young lyrics, I think. I don't think Shania would probably sing some of the words that I'm saying." A review of NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
compared the song to David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
and Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
's "China Girl
China Girl (song)
"China Girl" is a song co-written by David Bowie and Iggy Pop during their years in Berlin, first appearing on Pop's album The Idiot...
", while Stephanie McGrath of Jam!
Jam!
Jam! is a Canadian website, which covers entertainment news. It is part of the CANOE online portal, owned and operated by Quebecor through its Sun Media division....
said the song is "a nice break from the 'baby babys', 'yeah yeahs' and insistent drum beats that pepper the other songs" of Oops!. David Veitch of Calgary Sun
Calgary Sun
The Calgary Sun is a daily newspaper published in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is a division of Sun Media, a Quebecor company.First published in 1980, the tabloid-format daily replaced the long-running broadsheet newspaper, The Albertan soon after it was acquired by the publishers of the Toronto...
compared the backing vocals "with nicely old-fashioned shoo-be-doo-doos". Tom Terrell of MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
said Lange worked with a similar riff to A Taste of Honey
A Taste of Honey
A Taste of Honey is the first play by the British dramatist Shelagh Delaney, written when she was 18. It was initially intended as a novel, but she turned it into a play because she hoped to revitalize British theatre and to address social issues that she felt were not being presented...
's cover of "Sukiyaki
Sukiyaki (song)
The cover version by A Taste of Honey reached number three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also went to number 1 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart and Soul chart)....
" and fingersnaps in the song, commenting that the "Eagles-esque chorus" features "an '80s hair band power ballad groove" where "Britney soul-maxes with a vocal that channels both Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
(via "Knocks Me Off My Feet") and Shania herself."
Critical response
"Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" received mixed reviews from music critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine from Allmusic named the song a "sweetly sentimental ballad" along with the other ballads on Oops!... I Did It Again. Stephanie McGrath of Jam!Jam!
Jam! is a Canadian website, which covers entertainment news. It is part of the CANOE online portal, owned and operated by Quebecor through its Sun Media division....
called the song "the best showcase of Spears' talents," while NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
considered the song "absolutely frightening," after comparing it to Iggy and Bowie's "China Girl
China Girl (song)
"China Girl" is a song co-written by David Bowie and Iggy Pop during their years in Berlin, first appearing on Pop's album The Idiot...
". Tracy E. Hopkins of Barnes and Noble considered the song a "polished ballad", and praised Shania Twain for the songwriting. While reviewing 2011's Femme Fatale Tour
Femme Fatale Tour
The Femme Fatale Tour is the seventh concert tour by American singer Britney Spears, in support of her seventh studio album, Femme Fatale. It was officially announced in March 2011, with dates for North American venues revealed. The tour was initially planned as a co-headlining tour with Enrique...
, Jocelyn Vena of MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
considered the song, along with "Toxic
Toxic (song)
"Toxic" is a song by American recording artist Britney Spears, co-written and produced by Bloodshy & Avant, from her fourth album, In the Zone. It was released on January 12, 2004, by Jive Records as the second single from the album. After trying to choose between " Boom Boom" and "Outrageous" to...
", "old-school jams". A Rhapsody
Rhapsody
Rhapsody may refer to:* Rhapsody , an enthusiastic instrumental composition of indefinite form* A work of epic poetry, or part of one, that is suitable for recitation at one time...
review also considered the ballads from Oops!, including "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know", "perfectly constructed ballads". Michael Paoletta of Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
commented, "Spears may not be a vocal acrobat à la colleagues Jessica Simpson
Jessica Simpson
Jessica Ann Simpson is an American recording artist, actress, television personality, and fashion designer whose rise to fame began in 1999. Since that time, Simpson has achieved many recording milestones, starred in several television shows, movies, and commercials, launched a line of hair and...
and Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994...
, but she does have an instantly recognizable style-and Oops!... indicates that she's developing a soulful edge and emotional depth that can't be conjured with a glass-shattering not", nothing that "[t]his is particularly apparent on the hitworthy, Shania Twain-penned ballad 'Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know'." The song was nominated at Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards
2002 Kids' Choice Awards
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards 2002 featured a musical performance from double platinum recording artist Pink. The theme music for the awards was a Nickelodeon instrumental version of She Blinded Me With Science by Thomas Dolby...
in the category of "Best Song" in 2002.
Chart performance
"Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" failed to make an appearance on the United States Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart, due to its weak airplay, peaking at number twelve on Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
The Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100...
chart. Spears scored her eighth top ten hit on the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles
Eurochart Hot 100 Singles
The European Hot 100 Singles has been compiled by Billboard and Music & Media magazine since March, 1984. The chart is based on national singles sales charts in 15 European countries: Austria, Belgium , Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden,...
when it peaked at number nine. The single also reached the top ten in Austria
Ö3 Austria Top 40
Ö3 Austria Top 40 is the name of the official Austrian singles chart, as well as the radio show which presents it, aired Fridays on Hitradio Ö3. The show presents the Austrian singles, ringtones and downloads chart. It premiered on 26 November 1968 as Disc Parade and was presented by Ernst Grissemann...
, Europe
Eurochart Hot 100 Singles
The European Hot 100 Singles has been compiled by Billboard and Music & Media magazine since March, 1984. The chart is based on national singles sales charts in 15 European countries: Austria, Belgium , Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden,...
and Switzerland
Swiss Music Charts
The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75...
. "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" was a moderate success in the United Kingdom
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, entering the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
on April 7, 2001 at the twelfth position. The song spent eight weeks on the chart. In Romania, the song was commercially successful, debuting at the top position of Romania Top 100
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. It also peaked at number three on the year-end chart for 2001. In Denmark, the song reached number fourteen, and was later certified Gold by International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), for selling over 5,000 units of the single. As a way of promotion, the single was included as bonus second disc of the limited edition of Oops!... I Did It Again.
Music video
The music video for "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" was directed by the American photographer Herb RittsHerb Ritts
Herbert "Herb" Ritts was an American fashion photographer who concentrated on black-and-white photography and portraits, often in the style of classical Greek sculpture.-Early life and career:...
, and shot at Key Biscane in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
on the last week of January 2001. According to Ritts, Spears "wanted to do something fresh. There was one outfit, no dancing, and that meant that it boiled down to her. She really had to act the song, and she was very impressive." He also revealed the setting of the video was built as "a funky beach shack" similar to Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
's "Cherish
Cherish (Madonna song)
"Cherish" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna. It was released as the third single from her fourth studio album Like a Prayer on August 1, 1989, by Sire Records. The song was also included on the 1990 compilation album The Immaculate Collection and the two-disc edition of her 2009...
" (1989) and Chris Isaak
Chris Isaak
Christopher Joseph "Chris" Isaak is an American rock musician and occasional actor.-Early life:Isaak was born in Stockton, California, the son of Dorothy , a potato chip factory worker, and Joe Isaak, a forklift driver. Isaak's mother is Italian American, originating from Genoa...
's "Wicked Game
Wicked Game
"Wicked Game" is a 1989 song by Chris Isaak from his third studio album Heart Shaped World. Despite being released as a single in 1989, it did not become a hit until it was later featured in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart...
" (1989). "The story is, pretty much, Britney longing for him to tell her the words", said Ritts, who was impressed with the chemistry between the singer and her fictional boyfriend, played by French model Brice Durand. Spears' real-life boyfriend at the time Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
, however, "was said to be miffed at Spears' kissing scenes with French model," according to Jennifer Vineyard of MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
. Spears mother, Lynne
Lynne Spears
Lynne Irene Spears is an American author and the mother of pop singer Britney Spears and teen actress Jamie Lynn Spears.-Early life and family:...
, also criticized considered the original music video for being too racy at the time, because it contained sexually explicit material. Parts of the video were edited before its release to the public.
The music video debuted at number one on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's TRL
Total Request Live
Total Request Live is a television series on MTV that featured popular music videos. TRL was MTV's prime outlet for music videos as the network continues to concentrate on reality-based programming. In addition to music videos, TRL featured daily guests...
on March 2, 2001. The video begins with Spears and her boyfriend in a hammock. Cuts of her cuddling with her love interest beside a fire are also included. We also see her and her boyfriend on the seashore doing a love scene. Inside a tiki hut, Spears exclaims the words she wants her boyfriend to know. In the second half of the video, she is seen on a tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
where her boyfriend reaches for her. There are also scenes where she is running on the beach and her boyfriend is chasing after her. Spears wears only a bikini top
Bikini
The bikini is typically a women's two-piece swimsuit. One part of the attire covers the breasts and the other part covers the crotch and part of or the entire buttocks, leaving an uncovered area between the two. Merriam–Webster describes the bikini as "a woman's scanty two-piece bathing suit" or "a...
and a pair of cutoff shorts
Shorts
Shorts are a bifurcated garment worn by both men and women over their pelvic area, circling the waist, and covering the upper part of the legs, sometimes extending down to or even below the knee, but not covering the entire length of the leg. They are called "shorts" because they are a shortened...
during the whole video. The music video was considered by Spears as "the funnest video I've ever done." An alternate footage of the video can be found on the DVD of Spears first compilation album Greatest Hits: My Prerogative
Greatest Hits: My Prerogative (DVD)
Greatest Hits: My Prerogative is a greatest videos DVD compilation by singer Britney Spears. Released by Jive Records on November 9, 2004, it accompanied the greatest hits of the same name. The collection contained all of Spears's music videos from 1998 to 2004, including unreleased material from...
. Vineyard considered the footage as the one that "makes the most use of Britney's body of work, with the spaceman from "Oops!... I Did It Again
Oops!... I Did It Again (song)
"Oops!... I Did It Again" is a song by American recording artist Britney Spears. The song was written and produced by Max Martin and Rami for Spears' second studio album, Oops!... I Did It Again . It was released on March 27, 2000 by Jive Records, as the first single from the album. "Oops!.....
", an opening door from "My Prerogative" and a guy from "Toxic
Toxic (song)
"Toxic" is a song by American recording artist Britney Spears, co-written and produced by Bloodshy & Avant, from her fourth album, In the Zone. It was released on January 12, 2004, by Jive Records as the second single from the album. After trying to choose between " Boom Boom" and "Outrageous" to...
" all making cameos".
Live performances
The first performance of "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" was on March 8, 2000, during the Crazy 2k Tour...Baby One More Time Tour
The ...Baby One More Time Tour was the debut concert tour by American recording artist Britney Spears. It supported her debut studio album, ...Baby One More Time and visited United States and Canada. The tour was announced in March 1999, with dates released a month later. Tommy Hilfiger was chosen...
in Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
, where Spears appeared onstage sitting on a magic carpet and flew over the audience while singing the song. After releasing her second studio album, Oops!... I Did It Again, Spears performed the song on the American music show TRL
Total Request Live
Total Request Live is a television series on MTV that featured popular music videos. TRL was MTV's prime outlet for music videos as the network continues to concentrate on reality-based programming. In addition to music videos, TRL featured daily guests...
, on Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
and on The View. She also performed the song live on 2000's Oops!... I Did It Again World Tour
Oops!... I Did It Again World Tour
The Oops!... I Did It Again World Tour was the second concert tour by American recording artist Britney Spears. It supported her second studio album Oops!... I Did It Again and visited North America, Europe and Brazil. It marked the first time Spears toured outside North America...
. After performing "Sometimes
Sometimes (Britney Spears song)
"Sometimes" is a song by American recording artist Britney Spears, taken from her debut studio album ...Baby One More Time . Written by Jörgen Elofsson and produced by Per Magnusson and David Krueger, the song was released as Spears' second single on April 30, 1999 by Jive Records...
", she climbed the staircase and briefly spoke to the audience before moving into the performance of the song, for which she wore a long white dress trimmed with boa feathers. "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" was performed also on 2001's Dream Within a Dream Tour
Dream Within a Dream Tour
The Dream Within a Dream Tour was the third concert tour by American recording artist Britney Spears. It promoted her third studio album Britney in North America and Japan. The Dream Within a Dream Tour was promoted by Concerts West, marking the first time Spears did not tour with Clear Channel...
. The performance consisted on Spears singing the song on an elevated platform wearing an evening gown with artificial snow falling from the ceiling, while two of her dancers performed a routine.
Almost ten years later, "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" was peformed by Spears on her 2011's Femme Fatale Tour
Femme Fatale Tour
The Femme Fatale Tour is the seventh concert tour by American singer Britney Spears, in support of her seventh studio album, Femme Fatale. It was officially announced in March 2011, with dates for North American venues revealed. The tour was initially planned as a co-headlining tour with Enrique...
. The performance consists of Spears sitting on a swing singing the song, whilst a male dancer dances beneath her, at one point attaching himself by his feet to the swing whilst midair. Shirley Halperin of The Hollywood Reporter
The Hollywood Reporter
Formerly a daily trade magazine, The Hollywood Reporter re-launched in late 2010 as a unique hybrid publication serving the entertainment industry and a consumer audience...
named it one of the best performances of the show along with "Piece of Me
Piece of Me
"Piece of Me" is a song by American recording artist Britney Spears from her fifth studio album, Blackout. It was released on November 27, 2007 by Jive Records as the second single from the album...
" and "3
3 (song)
"3" is a song by American recording artist Britney Spears, from her second greatest hits compilation The Singles Collection. It was released on September 29, 2009, as the only single of the album by Jive Records. The song was produced by long-time collaborator Max Martin and Shellback, and recorded...
", stating that "ironically enough, [they] were the ones with fewest frills." In a review of the special broadcasting done by American premium television channel Epix of the tour, Jocelyn Vena of MTV summarized her thoughts about the performance saying, "It's rare these days to see Britney Spears show her soft side, but she takes a break from the nonstop, fist-pumping music during the spectacle that is the Femme Fatale Tour and kicks it old-school, showing us she still has the heart and soul to bust out a power ballad."
Track listings
- European CD single 1
- "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" – 3:50
- "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" (Hex Hector Radio Mix) – 4:01
- "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" (Hex Hector Club Mix) – 10:12
- "Stronger" (Mac Quayle Mixshow Edit) – 5:21
- "Stronger" (Pablo La Rosa's Transformation) – 7:21
- European CD single 2
- "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" – 3:50
- "Oops!... I Did It Again" (Riprock 'n' Alex G. Radio Mix) – 3:56
- "Stronger" (Mac Quayle Mixshow Edit) – 5:21
- Japanese CD single
- "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" – 3:50
- "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" (Hex Hector Radio Mix) – 4:01
- "Oops!... I Did It Again" (Rodney Jerkins Remix) – 3:07
- "Lucky" (Jack D. Elliott Radio Mix) – 3:27
- "Stronger" (Miguel 'Migs' Vocal Edit) – 3:42
- "Oops!... I Did It Again" (Ospina's Deep Edit) – 3:24
- "Oops!... I Did It Again" (Instrumental) – 3:30
- The Singles Collection Boxset Single
- "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" – 3:50
- "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" (Hex Hector Radio Mix) – 4:01
Credits and personnel
Credits for "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" adapted from Oops!... I Did It AgainOops!... I Did It Again
Oops!...I Did It Again is the second studio album by American pop singer Britney Spears. The album was released on May 16, 2000 by Jive Records. The album became a commercial success after debuting at top position on the U.S. Billboard 200 selling over 1,319,193 units during its first week...
liner notes.
Technical
- Recorded at Mutt Lange's and Shania Twain's chateau in La-Tour-de Peilz, SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. - MixedAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
by Nigel Green for Out Of Pocket Productions, Ltd.
Personnel
- Britney Spears – vocalsLead vocalistThe lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
- Robert Lange – songwriting, productionRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
- Shania TwainShania TwainShania Twain, OC is a Canadian country pop singer-songwriter. Her album The Woman in Me , brought her fame and her 1997 album Come On Over, became the best-selling album of all time by a female musician in any genre, and the best-selling country album of all time. It has sold over 40 million...
– songwriting - Keith Scott – songwriting
- Kevin ChurkoKevin ChurkoKevin Gregory Churko , is a Canadian musician, sound engineer, songwriter and record producer best known for his work with artists such as Ozzy Osbourne, Modern Science, Five Finger Death Punch, Hinder, In This Moment and Shania Twain.-Awards:He has been nominated for five Juno Awards and has won...
– programmingProgramming (music)Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices, often sequencers or computer programs, to generate music. Programming is used in nearly all forms of electronic music and in most hip hop music since the 1990s. It is also frequently used in modern pop and rock...
- Cory Churko – programming
- Richard MeyerRichard Meyer (producer)Richard Meyer , is a record producer and songwriter of pop music and electronic music....
– programming - Michel Gallone – assistant recording, mix engineer
- Chris Trevett – vocal engineer
- Paul Oliveira – assistant vocal engineer
Weekly charts
| Chart (2001) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Europe (Music & Media) | 9 |
| Italy (FIMI Federation of the Italian Music Industry The Federation of the Italian Music Industry is an umbrella organization that keeps track of virtually all aspects of the music recording industry in Italy.... ) |
22 |
| Romania (Romanian Top 100 Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea... ) |
1 |
| US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 | 12 |
Year-end charts
| Country | Position |
|---|---|
| Romanian Top 100 Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea... |
3 |
Certifications
External links
- Official music video on "Vevo" — VevoVevoVevo is a music video website. It is a joint venture among Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Abu Dhabi Media with EMI licensing its content to the group without taking an ownership stake. The service was launched officially on December 8, 2009...
.