Everytime

by

Britney Spears

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"Everytime" is a song by American recording artist Britney Spears from her fourth album, In the Zone. It was released on May 17, 2004, by Jive Records as the third single from the album. After Spears ended her relationship with pop singer Justin Timberlake, she made friends with her backing vocalist Annet Artani. They both started writing songs together at Spears's house in Los Angeles, and then traveled to Lombardy, Italy, where "Everytime" was written. Spears composed the music on her piano, and she developed the lyrics with Artani. The song was written as a response to Timberlake's 2002 single "Cry Me a River" as well as various radio interviews, according to Artani. However, Spears has neither confirmed or denied this allegations.

"Everytime" is considered an adult pop ballad with breathy vocals. Its lyrics are a plea for forgiveness for inadvertently hurting a former lover. "Everytime" was positively received by critics, who complimented its simple lyrics and the organic feel of the song in comparison with most of the tracks of In the Zone. "Everytime" was a big success, peaking inside the top five in most countries, while reaching the top of the charts in Australia, Hungary, Ireland and the United Kingdom. Spears performed "Everytime" in a series of live appearances such as television shows Saturday Night Live and Top of the Pops. She has also performed the song on piano in a flowered-themed setting at The Onyx Hotel Tour (2004) and while suspended on a giant umbrella at The Circus Starring Britney Spears (2009). "Everytime" has been covered by artists such as Glen Hansard and Jackie Evancho.

Inspired by the cinematography of Leaving Las Vegas, the music video for "Everytime" portrays Spears as a star hounded by paparazzi, who drowns in her bathtub when she starts bleeding from a wound in her head. In the hospital, doctors fail to resuscitate her while a child is born in the next room, implying she reincarnated. The original treatment would have had Spears killing herself from a drug overdose, but the plot was removed after it received criticism by organizations such as Kidscape, who perceived it as a glamorization of suicide. Critics noted the video for its religious references to The Passion of the Christ, Kaballah and stigmata, and for predicting Spears's future struggles with fame.