As Britney Spears’ pillaging never knows any bounds, it’s been barely a month into the New Year, and another violation has occurred: the leak of a previously unreleased song from Glory called “Exaholic.” Considering Britney just reissued a deluxe edition of her 2016 album, if she had wanted to include this track on it, she probably would have. The reason for its absence, it seems, is that it is still in a rough cut sort of stage. Yet in the chorus are signs of a bop–if just a bit more work was put into it.
Written by Brad Francis Tursi, Joseph Michael Spargur and Stephenie Nicole Jones, the demo offers Kesha-esque sentiments like, “Your love was like a drug/I couldn’t get enough.” Of course, Britney is an OG of discussing the pleasure/pain dichotomy of “toxic” amour–as she did on her hit single of the same name (released in ’04 from 2003’s In the Zone) and many other songs as well, including 2011’s “Inside Out” from the Femme Fatale album.
Spears, who has plenty of experience with fraught breakups and illustrious cases of the ex, speaks with earnestness when she says, “But now, since we’re not together/My life is black and white, I’d pay any price/For just one night together.” It doesn’t take her long to establish–and admit with candid gusto–“I’m an exaholic/Call it what you call it/All I know’s I want it/I, I, I can’t help it.” As she talks of shooting up love with the intent to equate its dangerous and hazardous properties to the likes of heroin (also deemed the most wonderful feeling in the world), Britney makes addiction danceable as only she can.
Whether she was calling upon images of Justin Timberlake, Kevin Federline or Jason Trawick, Brit had no shortage of material with which to inspire such a heartfelt delivery as, “I can’t help it/I’m an exaholic/I just need a fix/Just want my fix.”
At the same time, she has the strength to acknowledge she needs help with the statement, “Oh no, here I go/I think I need an intervention.” At the same time, there he is, looking so good–beckoning to her with his sleazy D. Thus, Britney croons helplessly, “Boy, you got me now/I’m turned around/You got me under your spell” in between having shame spirals that entail, “Every time I start craving/All my friends start praying.”
If you aren’t dancing to it already, an ultra 80s-inspired bassline kicks in at the two minute, forty-six second mark, reminding us why Spears has so often been compared to Kylie Minogue (when she’s not being likened to Janet Jackson). Produced by Rock Mafia (a duo comprised of Tim James and Antonina Armato)–who, yes, has worked with Kesha, among other pop titans–the winking/self-flagellating track finds Spears surrendering to her biggest Achilles’ heel: wanting her ex back despite knowing 1) he’s a twat and 2) they’re only going to break up again.
And since they say insanity is the definition of repeating the same thing over and over and expecting different results, the term “Exaholic” can most certainly fit right into the next edition of the DSM. Thank you, Dr. Spears.
