"Someday (I Will Understand)"
Upper bust of a blond woman. She is standing in front of a mirror, with her hand against it. She is looking above through the mirror. The picture is covered in flourished white drawings. In the middle, the words "BRITNEY SPEARS" are written in flourished white letters. Below, the words "SOMEDAY (I WILL UNDERSTAND)" are written in smaller capital letters.
Single by Britney Spears
from the EP Britney & Kevin: Chaotic
B-side
  • "Chaotic"
  • "Mona Lisa"
  • "Over to You Now"
ReleasedAugust 18, 2005 (2005-08-18)
Studio
  • Conway (Los Angeles)
  • Frou Frou Central (London)
GenrePop
Length3:37
LabelJive
Songwriter(s)Britney Spears
Producer(s)
Britney Spears singles chronology
"Do Somethin'"
(2005)		 "Someday (I Will Understand)"
(2005)		 "Gimme More"
(2007)
Music video
"Someday (I Will Understand)" on YouTube

"Someday (I Will Understand)" is a song by American singer Britney Spears. It was written by Spears and produced by Guy Sigsworth. The song was released on August 18, 2005, by Jive Records as the sole single from Spears' first extended play, Britney & Kevin: Chaotic (2005), outside the United States.[1] In July 2004, Spears announced her engagement to American dancer Kevin Federline, later revealing she would be taking another career break to start a family. Spears wrote the song two weeks before knowing she was pregnant with her first child, Sean Preston Federline. A pop ballad, its lyrics refer to a feeling of empowerment as a pregnant woman. A remixed version of the song was included on the 2005 remix compilation, B in the Mix: The Remixes.

"Someday (I Will Understand)" has received mixed to positive reviews from music critics. The song reached the top ten in Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland and also charted in a number of European countries. An accompanying music video, directed by Michael Haussman, premiered on the finale of Spears' reality show Britney and Kevin: Chaotic (2005). Entirely shot in black-and-white, the music video features Spears as a pregnant woman and follows her reflecting along with the songs lyrics in a large empty house.

Background

In July 2004, Spears announced her engagement to American dancer Kevin Federline, whom she had met three months before. The romance received intense attention from the media, since Federline had recently broken up with actress Shar Jackson, who was still pregnant with their second child at the time.[2] The initial stages of their relationship were chronicled in Spears's first reality show Britney and Kevin: Chaotic. They held a wedding ceremony on September 18, 2004, but were not legally married until three weeks later on October 6 due to a delay finalizing the couple's prenuptial agreement.[3] In October 2004, the singer announced she would be taking another career break to start a family.[4] Spears gave birth to her first child, Sean Preston Federline, on September 14, 2005.[5]

"Someday (I Will Understand)" was composed by Spears on the piano at her house, two weeks before she learned of her pregnancy with Sean Preston. She explained the song came "like a prophecy... when you're pregnant, you're empowered".[6] It was produced by Guy Sigsworth, who previously worked with the singer on "Everytime" (2004). Spears recorded her vocals for the song at Conway Studios in Los Angeles, California, and at Frou Frou Central in London. The piano was played by Spears herself, while all other instruments (including the drums) and mixing were done by Sigsworth. Background vocals for the song were provided by Kate Havnevik.[7]

Critical response

"Someday (I Will Understand)" initially received mixed reviews from music critics. While reviewing Britney & Kevin: Chaotic, Mike McGuirk of Rhapsody noted, "Britney now sings about either the husband or the kid."[8] Gil Kaufman of MTV called the song a "horrible Britney ballad with the black-and-white video that began her descent into madness."[9] Leo Ebersole of the Chicago Tribune considered it "a fictional piece",[10] while another reviewer from the same newspaper noted that "as a matter of fact, the song is more or less a lesson in Britney history."[11] Becky Bain of Idolator praised the track, stating that "Britney goes genuine for this ode to her unborn baby."[12] Kurt Kirton of About.com said that "And Then We Kiss" and other remixes of songs like "Toxic" and "Someday (I Will Understand)" on the remix album B in the Mix: The Remixes "hold their own".[13] IGN writer Spence D. noted the Hi-Bias Signature Radio Remix "reverberates with all the clichés that often stifle the music that rustles through the late night/early morning club scenes around the world."[14] Rolling Stone contributor Barry Walters gave the song's remix a negative review, saying that "nothing can rescue Spears' freakishly sappy flop single "Someday (I Will Understand)".[15] Bradley Stern also of MTV, however, praised the Leama & Moor Remix, saying it "transforms the tearjerker of a ballad into a full-on trance anthem. Big beats, stuttering vocals – it's heartbreak on the dance floor."[16]

Over the years following its release, attitude toward the song began to change for the positive. Ten years after its release, a reviewer for AXS called the song "serene" and the "most sincere single of her career."[17] A writer for MuuMuse said that while the song was not career-defining, it was "interesting, and certainly personal."[18]

Commercial performance

On September 1, 2005, "Someday (I Will Understand)" debuted at number 46 on the Swedish Singles Chart.[19] It peaked at number 10 the following week.[20] In Switzerland, the song debuted at number eight on the week of September 4, 2005.[21] On September 9, 2005, the song debuted in the Danish Singles Chart at number 11.[22] The following week, it peaked at the eight position.[23] "Someday (I Will Understand)" also reached the top 20 in Belgium (Flanders and Wallonia), Finland and Norway and charted in Austria and the Netherlands.[24] "Someday (I Will Understand)" has sold 60,000 paid digital downloads in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.[25]

Music video

A pregnant Spears in the music video

The music video for "Someday (I Will Understand)" was directed by Michael Haussman. Spears commented that he "[did] a great job capturing the song, the essence and the emotion" and added that the video had "a different feeling" from any of her previous videos.[26] It was shot entirely in black-and-white.[27] Spears asserted that her life had "come full circle" and implied that in the process she underwent changes in her soul and body, as shown in the video.[28] It premiered on June 14, 2005, during the fifth and last episode of Spears's reality show Britney and Kevin: Chaotic, titled "Veil of Secrecy".[29] The music video features a pregnant Spears lying in bed and walking around a house while singing to her unborn child. She also gazes through the window at the Roman sculptures in the garden.[27]

Hayley Butler of Jam! said "the video is a far cry from the snake handling, sweating and skimpy Britney videos of the past. Dressed in a classy silk dress, she runs through gardens, lies in bed and walks through the grass, all with a burgeoning belly."[30] John Mitchell of MTV included the video on the list "Beyonce, Britney And Madonna: What To Expect When You're Expecting — Music Video Edition" in 2011.[31] Despite praising the track, Idolator blogger Becky Bain stated that "at this point she still looks like a teenager herself, so it's a little disconcerting seeing her with that huge belly, singing about motherhood."[12]

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the Britney & Kevin: Chaotic DVD liner notes.[7]

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Someday (I Will Understand)"
Chart (2005) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[35] 32
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[36] 17
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[37] 11
CIS (TopHit)[38] 166
Denmark (Tracklisten)[39] 8
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[40] 15
Germany (Official German Charts)[41] 22
Greece (IFPI)[42] 8
Hungary (Single Top 40)[43] 6
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[44] 3
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[45] 36
Norway (VG-lista)[46] 18
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[47] 10
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[48] 8

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Someday (I Will Understand)"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
France August 18, 2005 Digital download Sony BMG [49]
Denmark August 22, 2005 CD [50]
Germany
[51][52]
Luxembourg Digital download [53]
Netherlands [54]
United Kingdom RCA [55][56]
France August 29, 2005 Maxi CD Sony BMG
Japan September 21, 2005 [58]

References

Footnotes
  1. ↑ The Singles Collection (Liner notes). Britney Spears. Jive Records. 2008. 88697-40775-2.
  2. ↑ "Britney Spears' Biography". Fox News. July 31, 2008. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  3. ↑ Heller 2007, p. 80
  4. ↑ Vineyard, Jennifer (October 16, 2004). "Britney Spears Announces She's Taking A Break From Her Career". MTV. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Britney Welcomes Home Sean Preston". People. September 21, 2005. Archived from the original on January 16, 2007. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  6. ↑ Maxwell, Alison (June 14, 2005). "'Chaotic': Britney's happily-ever-after". USA Today. Retrieved March 5, 2010.
  7. 1 2 Britney & Kevin: Chaotic (DVD) (Liner notes). Britney Spears. Jive Records. 2005.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ↑ McGuirk, Mike (September 27, 2005). "Britney & Kevin: Chaotic DVD Bonus Audio". Napster. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  9. ↑ Kaufman, Gil (March 26, 2008). "Idol's David Archuleta Stumps Our Resident Pop Music Nerd". MTV. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  10. ↑ Ebersole, Leo (June 13, 2005). "Downpour Muggy enough for you last weekend?". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Making baby Federlne". Chicago Tribune. September 15, 2005. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  12. 1 2 Bain, Becky (February 17, 2011). "Every Britney Spears Video: A Nostalgic Look Back". Celebuzz. Archived from the original on April 23, 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  13. ↑ Kirton, Kurt (2005). "Britney Spears — B In the Mix (The Remixes)". About.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  14. ↑ D., Spence (November 23, 2005). "Britney Spears B in the Mix: The Remixes". IGN. Archived from the original on February 8, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  15. ↑ Walters, Barry (November 28, 2005). "B In The Mix, The Remixes [Deluxe Version]". Rolling Stone. ISSN 0035-791X. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  16. ↑ Stern, Bradley (October 10, 2011). "The 5 Best Britney Spears Remixes Ever!". MTV. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Britney Spears' baby ballad 'Someday (I Will Understand)' turns 10". AXS.
  18. ↑ "'Someday (I Will Understand)': A Look Back at Britney's Personal Pregnancy Ode A Decade Later". MuuMuse. August 18, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Sweden Singles Chart". Sverigetopplistan. September 1, 2005. Retrieved March 5, 2010.
  20. ↑ "Sweden Singles Chart". Sverigetopplistan. September 8, 2005. Retrieved March 5, 2010.
  21. ↑ "Swiss Singles Chart". Swiss Singles Chart. September 4, 2005. Retrieved March 5, 2010.
  22. ↑ "Danish Singles Chart". Tracklisten. September 9, 2005. Retrieved March 5, 2010.
  23. ↑ "Danish Singles Chart". Tracklisten. September 16, 2005. Retrieved March 5, 2010.
  24. ↑ "Someday (I Will Understand) on world charts". Ultratop. Hung Medien. 2005. Retrieved March 5, 2010.
  25. ↑ Grein, Paul (August 1, 2010). "Week Ending Aug. 1, 2010: The Downloading Of Eminem — Chart Watch". Yahoo! Music. Yahoo!. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
  26. ↑ Britney Spears (2005). Britney & Kevin: Chaotic (DVD). Jive Records.
  27. 1 2 "The Complete Video Guide: "Someday (I Will Understand)"". Rolling Stone. 2009. ISSN 0035-791X.
  28. ↑ Heller 2007, p. 92
  29. ↑ "Britney to debut music video on 'Chaotic' finale". Today.com. Associated Press. June 12, 2005. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  30. ↑ Butler, Hayley (June 14, 2005). "Britney's 'Chaotic' series wraps up". Jam!. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved September 11, 2011.
  31. ↑ Mitchell, John (October 4, 2011). "Beyonce, Britney And Madonna: What To Expect When You're Expecting — Music Video Edition". MTV. Archived from the original on May 3, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  32. ↑ Someday (I Will Understand) (European CD single liner notes). Britney Spears. Jive Records. 2005. 82876 72614 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  33. ↑ Someday (I Will Understand) (European limited edition maxi single liner notes). Britney Spears. Jive Records. 2005. 82876 71428 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  34. ↑ Someday (I Will Understand) (Japanese maxi single liner notes). Britney Spears. Jive Records. 2005. 4988017635421.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  35. ↑ "Britney Spears – Someday (I Will Understand)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  36. ↑ "Britney Spears – Someday (I Will Understand)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  37. ↑ "Britney Spears – Someday (I Will Understand)" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  38. ↑ Britney Spears — Someday (I Will Understand). TopHit. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  39. ↑ "Britney Spears – Someday (I Will Understand)". Tracklisten. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  40. ↑ "Britney Spears: Someday (I Will Understand)" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  41. ↑ "Britney Spears – Someday (I Will Understand)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  42. ↑ "Top 50 Singles Eβδομάδα 30/10–6/11" (in Greek). IFPI. Archived from the original on November 6, 2005. Retrieved November 6, 2005.
  43. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  44. ↑ "Tipparade-lijst van week 38, 2005". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  45. ↑ "Britney Spears – Someday (I Will Understand)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  46. ↑ "Britney Spears – Someday (I Will Understand)". VG-lista. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  47. ↑ "Britney Spears – Someday (I Will Understand)". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  48. ↑ "Britney Spears – Someday (I Will Understand)". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  49. ↑ "Someday (I Will Understand)". 7digital France. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  50. ↑ "15. august 2005 – 18. september 2005" (PDF) (in Danish). Sony Music Denmark. p. 14. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 27, 2005. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  51. ↑ "'Someday (I Will Understand)' - Britney Spears". Amazon.de.
  52. ↑ "Someday (I Will Understand)". 7digital Germany. Archived from the original on April 15, 2015. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  53. ↑ "Someday (I Will Understand)". 7digital Luxembourg. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  54. ↑ "Someday (I Will Understand)". 7digital Netherlands. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  55. ↑ "Someday (I Will Understand) (2005) | Britney Spears | MP3 Downloads". 7digital United Kingdom. Archived from the original on August 29, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  56. ↑ "'Someday (I Will Understand)' | Britney Spears | MP3 Downloads". 7digital United Kingdom. Archived from the original on December 7, 2013. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  57. ↑ "Someday – Britney Spears – CD maxi single" (in French). France: Fnac. August 29, 2005. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  58. ↑ "サムデイ EP | ブリトニー・スピアーズ" [Someday EP | Britney Spears] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
Bibliography
  • Heller, Dana Alice (2007). Makeover television: realities remodelled. I.B.Tauris. ISBN 978-1-84511-330-8.
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