"Mannequin" is a song by American recording artist Britney Spears, taken from her sixth studio album, Circus. It was released on November 28, 2008, appearing as the tenth track on every edition of the album.
Background[]
"Mannequin" was written and produced by Rob Knox and Harvey Mason Jr., with additional writing from James Fauntleroy and Spears herself.
The song is listed in the BMI repertoire, crediting Spears as both a co-writer and performer.[1]
Composition[]
"Mannequin" is a pop song with electronic and hip hop influences, running four minutes and six seconds in length. It is composed in the key of A♯ minor with 130 beats per minute, corresponding to 3A in the Camelot system.
Lyrical theme[]
"Mannequin" is about Spears asserting control over her life and image while remaining emotionally detached from others' expectations. It uses the "mannequin" metaphor to reflect her feeling like a beautiful, controlled, untouchable figure, navigating fame, materialism, and personal autonomy without letting outside pressures move her.
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
Home late, it's okay
I run this, he wants me
I get things, everything
I want it my own way
Your time, goldmines
Blue skies, all mine
Necklace, dresses
Excess
[Pre-Chorus]
I can't help myself, I'm just doin' what I do
Help myself to anything that I want, so thank you
I like it and I do what I like it
And you do what I like and you like it
[Chorus]
If you wanna just scream (Scream your lungs out)
If you wanna just cry (Cry your eyes out)
I'ma do my thing (That's what I'm about)
You can cry your eyes out of your head
[Post-Chorus]
Baby, baby, I don't care, I don't care, I don't care, I don't
You can cry-cry-cry again-gain-gain
My face like a mannequin (Scream)
Mannequin, yeah, I did it again and a—
You can cry-cry-cry again-gain-gain
My face like a mannequin
[Verse 2]
You told me you lonely
Can't hear you, can't feel you
I'm frozen, I'm posing
There's no way you move me
Watch me, dress me
Can't impress me
I'm not changing
I just
[Bridge]
I can't help myself, I'm just doin' what I do
Help myself to anything that I want, so thank you
I like it and I do what I like it
And you do what I like and you like it
[Chorus]
If you wanna just scream (Scream your lungs out)
If you wanna just cry (Cry your eyes out)
I'ma do my thing (That's what I'm about)
You can cry your eyes out of your head
[Post-Chorus]
Baby, baby, I don't care, I don't care, I don't care, I don't
You can cry-cry-cry again-gain-gain
My face like a mannequin (Scream)
Mannequin, yeah, I did it again and a—
You can cry-cry-cry again-gain-gain
My face like a mannequin
[Bridge]
My face like a mannequin
My face like a mannequin
My face like a mannequin
My face like a mannequin
(Watch me, watch me, watch me, watch me)
(Watch me, watch me, watch me, watch me)
(Watch me, watch me, watch me, watch me)
(Watch me, watch me, watch me)
[Chorus]
If you wanna just scream (Scream your lungs out)
If you wanna just cry (Cry your eyes out)
I'ma do my thing (That's what I'm about)
You can cry your eyes out of your head
[Post-Chorus]
Baby, baby, I don't care, I don't care, I don't care, I don't
You can cry-cry-cry again-gain-gain
My face like a mannequin (Scream)
Mannequin, yeah, I did it again and a—
You can cry-cry-cry again-gain-gain
My face like a mannequin
[Outro]
My face like a mannequin
My face like a mannequin
My face like a mannequin
My face like a mannequin
My face like a mannequin
My face like a mannequin
My face like a mannequin
My face like a mannequin
Credits[]
Credit list for "Mannequin":
- Britney Spears - lead vocals, songwriter
- Harvey Mason Jr. - producer, songwriter, mixing engineer
- Rob Knox - producer, songwriter
- James Fauntleroy - songwriter, additional vocals
- Andrew Hey - recording engineer
- Dabling Harward - recording engineer
- Tom Coyne - mastering engineer
- David Wright "Touch" - production coordinator
- Angela Golightly - production coordinator
- David Boyd - additional recording
Recorded at and mixed at The Underlab in Los Angeles, California, United States. Published by Almo Music Corp., Britney Spears Music, Cleopatra's Sons Music, EMI April Music Inc., Fauntleroy Music, T&Me Music Publishing, Underdog West Songs and Universal Music–MGB Songs.
Availability[]
A demo version of "Mannequin" performed by Spears leaked online. A reference demo by Fauntleroy is known to exist.
Audio[]
- Demo version by Spears - (
listen)
Trivia[]
- In August 2008, Spears performed intense choreography to the song in a rehearsal video, but the routine was never used again for unknown reasons. A simpler routine was later performed when added to her Circus Tour.
