20 years since Britney Spears first topped the Billboard pop chart
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
Britney Spears' "...Baby One More Time" was number one on the Billboard pop chart 20 years ago today.
Spears was 16 when she recorded the song, about a girl hoping to hear from a former boyfriend. The song's refrain of "hit me baby one more time" was criticized for its seeming allusion to domestic violence — but as music historian John Seabrook explains, Swedish songwriter Max Martin thought "hit me" was American slang for "call me."
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.