{{about|the Britney Spears song|the Motels song|Motels (album)||Anticipation (disambiguation)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}} {{Infobox song | name = Anticipating | cover = Anticipating cover.jpg | alt = Image of a blond woman. She sits on the right side of the image. She wears low-cut jeans, boots and a white top. She is looking over her shoulder into the camera. On the left, the words "BRITNEY SPEARS ANTICIPATING" are written in big blue capital letters. | border = yes | type = single | artist = Britney Spears | album = Britney | released = {{start date|2002|06|25}} | recorded = 2001 | studio = * Rusk Sound Studios (Los Angeles, CA)<ref name=liner>''Britney'' liner notes. Jive Records (2001)</ref> * The DOJO (Jackson, NJ)<ref name=liner>''Britney'' liner notes. Jive Records (2001)</ref> * Sound on Sound Studios (New York, NY)<ref name=liner>''Britney'' liner notes. Jive Records (2001)</ref> * Battery Studios (New York, NY)<ref name=liner>''Britney'' liner notes. Jive Records (2001)</ref> | genre = *Disco *dance-pop | length = {{duration|m=3|s=16}} | label = Jive | writer = *Britney Spears *Josh Schwartz *Brian Kierulf | producer = *Brian Kierulf *Josh Schwartz | prev_title = Boys | prev_year = 2002 | next_title = Me Against the Music | next_year = 2003 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|Qu-j1T3fza4|"Anticipating"}}|header=Audio video}} }} "'''Anticipating'''" is a song by American singer Britney Spears from her eponymous third studio album (2001). It was written by Spears alongside the song's producers Brian Kierulf and Josh Schwartz. The song was released on June 25, 2002, by Jive Records, as the sixth and final single from the album, exclusive to France. "Anticipating" is a disco and dance-pop song, influenced by R&B. Lyrically, the song is about friendship and camaraderie between women. It was met with critical praise, with reviewers complimenting its lyrics and comparing it to the 1980s compositions of Madonna, Rick Astley and Janet Jackson's "All for You".

"Anticipating" achieved minor commercial success, peaking at number 38 on the French Singles Chart. The song was promoted with a performance in the Dream Within a Dream Tour (2001–2002), where Spears wore a patched denim skirt and danced in front of giant crayon drawings. An accompanying music video, directed by Marty Callner, consisted of the performance from ''Britney Spears Live from Las Vegas''. "Anticipating" was also promoted in a commercial Spears filmed for Toyota Vios.

==Background== During the Oops!... I Did It Again Tour (2000), Spears revealed she felt inspired by hip hop artists such as Jay-Z and the Neptunes and wanted to create a record with a funkier sound.<ref name=inspired>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1450334/britney-says-britney-reflects-who-britney-is/|title=Britney Says Britney Reflects Who Britney Is|date=October 25, 2001|access-date=December 21, 2021|last=Moss|first=Corey|work=MTV News|archive-date=October 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101006025323/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1450334/20011024/spears_britney.jhtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> In February 2001, Spears signed a $7–8 million promotional deal with Pepsi, and released another book co-written with her mother, entitled ''A Mother's Gift''.<ref name=foxnews>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/britney-spears-biography|title=Britney Spears' Biography|work=Fox News|date=July 31, 2008|access-date=December 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329163253/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,195283,00.html|archive-date=March 29, 2012}}</ref> On the same month, Spears started to record material for her third studio album,<ref name=liner>''Britney'' liner notes. Jive Records (2001)</ref> with "Anticipating" being recorded at Rusk Sound Studios in Los Angeles, California, the DOJO in Jackson, New Jersey, Sound on Sound Studios and Battery Studios in New York City. The song was written by Spears, Brian Kierulf and Josh Schwartz while produced by Kierulf and Schwartz. It was also mixed at Battery Studios by Stephen George. Audio engineering was done by Aaron Kaplan, Rich Tapper, Jill Tengan and Charles McCrorey. Nile Rodgers played the guitar. Bass guitar and programming was done by Kierulf. Background vocals were provided by Spears and Jennifer Karr.<ref name=liner/> Her third studio album, ''Britney'', was released in November 2001.<ref name=inspired/> In an interview with the ''Daily Record'', Spears commented on the track, saying, "It's just a fun song that I wrote. It's just like being with your girlfriends and just dancing. I think this track also has a very Seventies' feel to it."<ref>{{cite news|last=Dingwall|first=John|access-date=December 27, 2011|title=OTR..Off the Record: Your Time Is Up, Jacko; Britney Wants Album Top Slot|newspaper=Daily Record|publication-place=Scotland|date=November 15, 2001|page=19|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/otr..Off+the+record%3A+YOUR+TIME+IS+UP%2C+JACKO%3B+Britney+wants+albums+top...-a079729749|archive-date=May 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509175259/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/otr..Off+the+record%3a+YOUR+TIME+IS+UP%2c+JACKO%3b+Britney+wants+albums+top...-a079729749|url-status=live}}</ref> It was released as the fourth single from the album on June 25, 2002, in France only.<ref name="Fnac">{{Cite web |url=https://www.fnac.com/a1324357/Britney-Spears-Anticipating-CD-single |title=Anticipating|access-date=2021-04-12 |archive-date=2021-04-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412113226/https://www.fnac.com/a1324357/Britney-Spears-Anticipating-CD-single |url-status=live }}</ref> In other European countries, Spears' cover of "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" was released as the fourth single.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2002/MM-2002-06-29.pdf|title=Power Players|magazine=Music & Media|volume=20|issue=27|page=13|date=June 29, 2002|access-date=March 6, 2022}}</ref>

==Composition== {{Listen | filename = Britney Spears - Anticipating.ogg | title = "Anticipating" | description = A 21-second sample of the 1970s disco-influenced chorus. | pos = left }}

"Anticipating" is a dance-pop song that lasts for three minutes and 16 seconds.<ref name=sheet/> Corey Moss of MTV noted the song also has a 1970s disco sound,<ref name=dwadreview>{{cite news|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1450487/britney-goes-bald-plays-tiny-dancer-gets-caught-in-the-rain-at-tour-kickoff/|title=Britney Goes Bald, Plays Tiny Dancer, Gets Caught In The Rain At Tour Kickoff |last1=Reid |first1=Shaheem |last2=Moss |first2=Corey |date=November 2, 2001 |work=MTV News |access-date=December 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418101925/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1450487/20011102/spears_britney.jhtml |archive-date=April 18, 2008 }}</ref> while Joan Anderman of ''The Boston Globe'' compared it to early Madonna tracks such as "Holiday" (1983).<ref>{{cite news|title=Britney's identity crisis|date=November 10, 2001|newspaper=The Boston Globe|last=Anderman|first=Joan|issn=0743-1791}}</ref> Glenn Gamboa of ''Newsday'' compared the song to Janet Jackson's "All for You", calling it "pleasant, shimmering R&B-styled pop".<ref name=janet>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/fanfare/pop-music-sugar-spice-on-her-new-album-teen-pop-star-britney-spears-like-her-idol-janet-jackson-is-out-to-prove-she-s-in-control-1.772706|title=POP MUSIC / Sugar & Spice / On her new album, teen pop star Britney Spears — like her idol Janet Jackson — is out to prove she's in control|last=Gamboa|first=Glenn|date=November 3, 2001|work=Newsday|publisher=Newsday|access-date=January 6, 2010|archive-date=January 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106040528/http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/fanfare/pop-music-sugar-spice-on-her-new-album-teen-pop-star-britney-spears-like-her-idol-janet-jackson-is-out-to-prove-she-s-in-control-1.772706|url-status=dead}}</ref> According to the sheet music published at musicnotes.com by Universal Music Publishing Group, the song is composed in the key of F major and is set in time signature of common time with a tempo of 112 beats per minute. Spears vocal range spans from the low-key of F<sub>3</sub> to the high-note of A<sub>4</sub>. The song has a basic sequence of B{{music|sharp}}(9)–C–Dm7–B{{music|sharp}}(9) as its chord progression.<ref name="sheet">{{cite web|title=Britney Spears Anticipating – Digital Sheet Music|url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0044756|publisher=Universal Music Publishing Group|work=Music Notes|date=21 July 2003|access-date=6 February 2010|archive-date=21 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090921084444/http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0044756|url-status=live}}</ref> Lyrically, it talks about friendship and camaraderie between women.<ref name="dn">{{cite news |last=Farber |first=Jim |date=November 9, 2001 |title=Britney – The night of the living doll |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2001/11/09/britney-the-night-of-the-living-doll/ |access-date=2025-04-14 |work=New York Daily News}}</ref> During the bridge, Spears sings, "Gotta really let me know if you want me / You gotta turn me on and make me feel sexy".<ref name="popcrush">{{cite web|url=http://popcrush.com/britney-spears-singles/|title=Top 10 Britney Spears Songs|last=Lansky|first=Sam|date=25 December 2011|website=PopCrush|access-date=4 March 2012|archive-date=22 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222203644/https://popcrush.com/britney-spears-singles/|url-status=live}}</ref> During the time of the album's release, her official site stated that "the girl-power anthem 'Anticipating' proves that Britney is, now more than ever, a force to be reckoned with."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britneyspears.com/album/review.php|title=Britney The Album|work=Britneyspears.com|access-date=February 12, 2011|publisher=NVU Productions|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020803075143/http://www.britneyspears.com/album/review.php|archive-date=August 3, 2002}}</ref>

==Reception== "Anticipating" received general acclaim from music critics. Jane Stevenson of Jam! called "Anticipating" the strongest track in the album.<ref name=jam>{{cite news|url=http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Artists/S/Spears_Britney/AlbumReviews/2001/11/04/771909.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150616032453/http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Artists/S/Spears_Britney/AlbumReviews/2001/11/04/771909.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 16, 2015|title=Britney – Britney Spears – (Jive–Zomba) |last=Stevenson|first=Jane|date=November 4, 2001|work=Jam!|publisher=Quebecor|access-date=January 6, 2010}}</ref> ''Yale Daily News'' writer Catherine Halaby called it a "fun, cutesy disco ballad".<ref name=yalereview>{{cite news|url=https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2001/11/09/for-spears-maturity-is-like-cool/ |title=For Spears, maturity is, like, cool |last=Halaby |first=Catherine |date=November 9, 2001 |work=Yale Daily News |access-date=December 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606234813/http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2001/nov/09/for-spears-maturity-is-like-cool/ |archive-date=June 6, 2011 }}</ref> Nikki Tranker of ''PopMatters'' said it "offers Britney's fans something a little different with a simple tune beautifully underlined by a well-executed '70s disco sound".<ref name=popmatters>{{cite news|url=https://www.popmatters.com/spearsbritney-britney-2496080585.html|title=Britney Spears: Britney|last=Tranter|first=Nikki|date=November 5, 2001|work=PopMatters|access-date=December 21, 2021|archive-date=December 12, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212142503/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/spearsbritney-britney/|url-status=live}}</ref> Jim Farber of the New York ''Daily News'' while reviewing the Dream Within a Dream Tour named it along with "Stronger", "[two] girl-power anthems".<ref name=dn/> Katie Perone of the ''Loyola Greyhound'' said "[it] is a fun, bubbly song that probably would have had great success on ''Oops!''".<ref name=loyola>{{cite news|url=http://media.www.loyolagreyhound.com/media/storage/paper665/news/2001/12/04/ArtsSociety/Britney.Busts.Out.New.Album-812517.shtml |title=Britney busts out new album |last=Perone |first=Katie |date=December 4, 2001 |work=Loyola Greyhound |publisher=Loyola University Maryland |access-date=January 6, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816001748/http://www.loyolagreyhound.com/2.9492/britney-busts-out-new-album-1.1357762 |archive-date=August 16, 2011 }}</ref> Barry Walters of ''Rolling Stone'' stated the song is "a euphoric Rick Astley flashback, [where] she emotes without framing her vocals in Nickelodeon-schooled theatricality".<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Britney Spears – Britney (2001)|date=November 3, 2001|magazine=Rolling Stone|last=Walters|first=Barry|issn=0035-791X|url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/britney-252189/|access-date=December 21, 2021}}</ref> In a list compiled by Sam Lanksy of ''PopCrush'', "Anticipating" was ranked eight in a list of Spears' best songs.<ref name=popcrush/> In the album review, David Browne of ''Entertainment Weekly'' criticized "Anticipating" along with "Bombastic Love" for "[relying] on enervated formulas".<ref name=ewreview>{{cite magazine|url= https://ew.com/article/2001/11/12/britney/ |title=Britney |last=Browne |first=David |date=November 16, 2001 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=December 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102202842/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C253474%2C00.html |archive-date=January 2, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> On July 26, 2002, the song entered at number 46 in the French Singles Chart. The following week, it peaked at number 38. "Anticipating" spent a total of 13 weeks on the chart.<ref name="frenchchart" />

==Promotion== The song was performed at the Dream Within a Dream Tour. The performance began with a video interlude of Spears talking to her dancers. She then appeared onstage, wearing a patched denim skirt. The set was made of giant coloring book drawings of houses and cars.<ref name=sfc>{{cite news|url=https://www.sfgate.com/music/article/Dancing-chameleon-Britney-Spears-toyed-with-2814363.php|title=Dancing chameleon|last=Chonin|first=Neva|date=June 7, 2002|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=April 16, 2022|archive-date=June 13, 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020613170812/http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2002%2F06%2F03%2FDD3089.DTL|url-status=live}}</ref> After the second chorus, she invited the audience to sing along with her. At the end of the song, she briefly talked to the audience before taking off the skirt and top to perform "I'm a Slave 4 U".<ref name=dwadreview/> Shaheem Reid of MTV noted that during the opening night of the tour in Columbus, Ohio, "Britney must've forgotten that the disco-era throwback cut was brand spanking new, because she kept encouraging everyone to sing along to the chorus [...] Although the crowd clapped and bobbed to the beat, Britney had to go this one alone vocally".<ref name=dwadreview/> The music video, directed by Marty Callner, consisted of footage of the tour performance from ''Britney Spears Live from Las Vegas''. Several effects were added, including a glittering ball and the name of the song appearing on the screen.<ref name=pmvideo>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LlU1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=fCUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=508,2422565|title=Teendom's New Music|last=Sablan|first=Mark M.|date=February 5, 2003|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer|access-date=January 7, 2010|archive-date=June 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604011811/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LlU1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=fCUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=508,2422565|url-status=live}}</ref> The song was also promoted in a commercial Spears filmed for Toyota Vios.<ref name=toyota>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CVo1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZCUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2101,39998149|title=What's Britney Spears got to do with Vios?|last=Mendoza|first=Al|date=May 15, 2003|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer|access-date=January 7, 2010|archive-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029192000/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CVo1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZCUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2101%2C39998149|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Track listings== *'''CD maxi single''' #"Anticipating"&nbsp; – 3:16 #"I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman" (Metro remix)&nbsp; – 5:25 #"Overprotected" (Darkchild remix)&nbsp; – 3:20

*'''12" vinyl (the French remixes)''' #"Anticipating" (remix by Alan Braxe)&nbsp; – 4:07 #"Anticipating" (remix by Alan Braxe)&nbsp; – 1:27 #"Anticipating" (Antoine Clamaran club mix)&nbsp; – 6:25 #"Anticipating" (Antoine Clamaran instru mix)&nbsp; – 6:25 #"Anticipating" (PK'Chu & RLS' sweet & sour mix)&nbsp; – 5:58 #"Anticipating" (PK'Chu & RLS' hard & sexy mix)&nbsp; – 5:43 #"Anticipating" (PK'Chy & RLS' hard & sexy dub mix)&nbsp; – 5:43

==Credits and personnel== Credits adapted from ''Britney''{{'}}s liner notes.<ref name=liner/>

'''Technical''' *Recorded at Rusk Sound Studios in Los Angeles, California, the DOJO in Jackson, New Jersey, Sound on Sound Studios and Battery Studios in New York City, New York. *Mixed at Battery Studios in New York City, New York.

'''Personnel''' {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} *Britney Spears – lead vocals, songwriting, background vocals *Brian Kierulf – songwriting, producer, bass guitar, bass, guitar, programming *Josh Schwartz – songwriting, producer *Jennifer Karr – background vocals *Stephen George – mixing {{col-2}} *Nile Rodgers – guitar *James Biondolillo – string arrangement *Aaron Kaplan – audio engineering *Rich Tapper – audio engineering *Jill Tengan – audio engineering *Charles McCrorey – audio engineering {{col-end}}

==Charts== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Chart performance for "Anticipating" ! scope="col"| Chart (2002) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{single chart|France|38|artist=Britney Spears|song=Anticipating|rowheader=true|access-date=January 16, 2014|refname=frenchchart}} |}

== Sales == {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=France|nocert=true|salesamount=23,721|salesref=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.infodisc.fr/Ventes_Sing_10Ans.php|title=Les Singles les plus Vendus de la Décennie (2000–2009)|publisher=Infodisc|access-date=January 27, 2025|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120610031320/http://www.infodisc.fr/Ventes_Sing_10Ans.php |archive-date=June 10, 2012|language=fr}}</ref>}} {{Table end}}

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

{{Britney Spears songs}} {{good article}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anticipating}} Category:2001 songs Category:2002 singles Category:Britney Spears songs Category:American disco songs Category:Jive Records singles Category:Music videos directed by Marty Callner Category:Song recordings produced by Brian Kierulf Category:Song recordings produced by Josh Schwartz Category:Songs written by Brian Kierulf Category:Songs written by Britney Spears Category:Songs written by Josh Schwartz