Official EP Cover
Some basic stuff: Released on September 27th, 2005 originally just as a bonus disc included with the DVD of her reality show filmed with Kevin Federline, all the tracks were released as a limited-run EP in Japan only when “Someday (I Will Understand)” was released as a single, and even then, the single was international only.
Tracklisting as it appears on the Japanese “Someday (I Will Understand)” EP
1. Chaotic – Written by Michelle Bell, Henrik Johnback and Bloodshy & Avant duo Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnburg, the song’s jazzy-synth production is signature of B&A’s work at the time, and it’s quite a thumper. Used as the theme song and title of Britney’s television series, the song isn’t really about anything in particular besides being chaotic and giving attitude, and it’s a little hard to discern what she’s rapping on the verses, but the chorus is clear enough to sing along to “do you like the way I rock it, boy it’s chaotic”. There are a few changes of pace in the song, the first is a short bridge where Britney raps over a filtered beat, and the second is during the final 20 seconds of the song where it turns into elevator music, but that was probably used as a transition during the TV show, I wouldn’t know, I never watched it. – 8/10
2. Someday (I Will Understand) – Guy Sigsworth and Britney reunite on this track, one of the few written solely by Britney. This is a ballad done right, in the vein of their previous collaboration “Everytime”, however the tone of this song is less somber and more hopeful as she sings about her unborn baby over a flitting guitar melody, dreamy synths and humming strings; “no moment will be more true than the moment I look at you”. This song is nothing short of beautiful and is one that encompasses all you need to shut Britney-haters up; great singing, great writing and wholesome lyrics. Her singing on this song is in her top-notch-Britney-ballad-voice, I strongly encourage you to listen to the official acapella here. – 10/10
3. Mona Lisa – Before I say anything about this track, I need to make it clear that if you are listening to the mastered version found on iTunes, you aren’t getting the full effect of this song, the production is sharper, but the lyrics are changed, for the worse, and it’s maybe the most important song in her career. Back on her “Greatest Hits” album, she pushed for the release of “Do Somethin’” as a single and co-directed the video under the pseudonym ‘Mona Lisa’, clearly a personal thing for her. The track was written by Britney alongside Teddy Campbell and David Kochanski. Britney recorded this song while on tour and the original mix was not produced, it was all recorded live, with the later version being produced by Bloodshy & Avant. She surprised a radio station by calling their request line, asking to premiere the track, which she did after arriving in their studio. This is where the important stuff happens, she also said that she was halfway done recording her new album “Original Doll”, which is thought to be a play on words meaning she was the last pre-fabricated pop act from the teen-pop era left standing. She had also stated that she only wanted to work with one producer for this album, which was almost certainly Bloodshy & Avant as they worked with her extensively during the recording sessions for “In The Zone” and “Greatest Hits”. When asked a few days later about the track and her upcoming album, she said that an album wasn’t in the works and that the song wouldn’t be included on any album coming up. It’s speculated by the media that Jive stalled all work on her album because she did not have permission to play the unfinished demo on the radio. It’s important to note that this song is the only song from the “Original Doll”-sessions to be released, fan-made albums of unreleased material circulate the internet, but the tracks are from all eras or recording.
The song is in-line with the vocal style she uses on “In The Zone” and “Greatest Hits”, particularly “Do Somethin’”, and background vocal layers combined with her delivery make this song almost comical, though it takes on a darker tone when you think that it was another one of those songs written about how she felt at the time “she was a legend though, it’s kind of pitiful that she’s gone”. The song is written about Mona Lisa, which would appear to be somewhat of an alter-ego for Britney; “see everyone knew her, they knew her oh so well, now I am taking over to release her from her spell”. As a song, it’s nothing jaw-dropping, but it’s one of the only instances where Britney took complete control, even going against her label’s wished. – 8/10
4. Over To You Now – This track is so out of left field for Britney, it’s bemusing. This song is the only uptempo Guy Sigsworth song she’s done, written alongside Alexander Kronlund and international singers Robyn and Imogen Heap, the latter being part of the group “Frou Frou” alongside Sigsworth, and their material has an electro element to it so it’s not that surprising. The song is Bollywood inspired, opening with a yodel-y melody and quickly moving into a rapid electro-trance beat, it sounds like a remixed song that belongs on her following “B In the Mix” album. It’s a little hard to tell what the song is about, even she asks “can you see what I’m thinking”, made more confusing by the opening spoken-word verses that imply some sort of sexual undertone to the song. This song is truly unique to Britney’s library. – 7/10
5. Someday (I Will Understand)" (Hi-Bias Signature Radio Remix) – I normally don’t review remixes that are included with an album for a few reasons, one of them being that I am fickle about remixes, but this EP is only 5 tracks so it’s worth reviewing. In my mind, remixes should do 1 of 2 things; improve the original or take the original and make it a totally different song. This does a combination of the two, not making an entirely new song as the structure and chord progression remain intact, and not necessarily improving the original, but it does make it an upbeat song, a hard task to accomplish with a ballad. Much like the “(You Drive Me) Crazy [The Stop! Remix]”, the beat drops when she says “why don’t you stop?”, which is one of my favorite parts. – 9/10
Overall: This EP was a sneaky affair, receiving little to no promotion, especially not in the U.S., and only releasing a single internationally. Thankfully, it was recognized in her “Singles Collection” release as “Someday” is one of her better songs. In the short span of this EP is so much of Britney’s artistic vision, and the only real evidence of her unrealized “Original Doll” project. In the span between her 4th and 5th studio album, she released 2 compilation album and this EP, so if her “Greatest Hits” didn’t truly mark the end of an era, then this is the final nail in the coffin. - 8/10
Highlights: Mona Lisa, Someday (I Will Understand)
Fun Facts: With the exception of “Someday”, the EP’s songs were all previously unreleased material, most likely intended for “In The Zone” or “Greatest Hits: My Prerogative”.
Sources: DVD back cover, single back cover, and Unreleased Britney Spears.
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