Britney Spears' 'Hold it Against Me' Leaked, Plus Top Comeback Songs

Britney Spears' highly anticipated comeback single "Hold It Against Me" leaked a day early, hitting the Internet on Jan. 10, 2011. By afternoon, the media frenzy had hit Twitter, with the overall reaction appearing generally positive. Perez Hilton (@prezehilton) broke the news at 8 a.m. EST with his tweet: "Got it early! Listen to @britneyspears singing the finished version of her new single, 'Hold It Against Me', on http://PerezHilton.com NOW!" People Magazine (@peoplemag) joined the trend just a few hours later, asking "have you heard Britney's new single yet?" with a link.

Spears (@britneyspears) responded with a tweet of her own: "Don't #HOLDITAGAINSTME for coming out early. I couldn't wait any longer. Hope you don't mind..... - Britney."

Top Comeback Songs: Will "Hold It Against Me" Be One?

Spears is often regarded as one of the most comeback-oriented musicians of her generation; every few years, it seems that another single is dropping which will herald Spears' return to Top 40 fame. Perhaps the biggest surprise is that it usually succeeds, and "Hold It Against Me" is a superb example of Spears' ability to generate hype.

The single has the throbbing, driving tempo which has made Spears' music so popular in the club scene, and the catchy lyrics beg the question "If I said I want your body now/would you hold it against me?" In what could be a tribute to horrible pick-up lines everywhere, Spears manages to ignite her comeback with the dance-inducing frenzy which made her the princess of pop with previous albums. Unfortunately, she's now the latest singer to succumb to the baffling allure of Auto-Tuned vocals, despite her capacity to truly belt-out tunes.

But does Britney Spears really need a comeback album? Despite all the negative media stories which have followed Spears throughout her career, her ability to produce top albums and hit singles is unquestionable. Surely an entire episode of "Glee" devoted to the star suggests a continued presence in pop culture; odds are Spears' fans will love "Hold It Against Me."

Top Comeback Songs: Three Prime Examples

Many musicians have had a second chance at success, thanks in part to a well-timed comeback single. These resurrection singles and albums span all genres, and often followed a lengthy period of anticipation from fans, critics and the music industry as a whole.

Mariah Carey seemed to have hit the pinnacle of her career-and started the inevitable decline-after the lackluster reaction to her film "Glitter" in 2001. Fortunately, when "The Emancipation of Mimi" dropped and the single "We Belong Together" took over the airwaves, coming in at #1 on the Billboard "Hot 100" list in June of 2005, Carey seemed to be once again secure in her Diva status.

Meat Loaf may have drifted into oblivion despite the success of "Bat Out of Hell" if it weren't for the unexpected, but phenomenal, single "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" in 1993. The single remains one of the most popular romantic rock ballads from the '90s, and the subsequent music video is a classic.

In the wake of his death in June of 2009, fans rallied around the fallen "King of Pop" to show their support of Michael Jackson. When "Hold My Hand," a duet with Akon, debuted just before the release of the posthumous album "Michael" and the hit video game "Michael Jackson: The Experience" hit the shelves and (got fans off the couch and dancing), Jackson's comeback was finalized.

Sources:
Billboard Hot 100,"Week of June 4th, 2005"