Matches (Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys song)

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"Matches"
Single by Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys
from the album Glory (2020 deluxe reissue)
ReleasedDecember 18, 2020 (2020-12-18)
Recorded2017
Genre
Length2:52
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Wise
  • Kirkpatrick
Britney Spears singles chronology
"Swimming in the Stars"
(2020) 		"Matches"
(2020) 		"Hold Me Closer"
(2022)
Backstreet Boys singles chronology
"No Place"
(2019) 		"Matches"
(2020) 		"Last Christmas"
(2022)
Audio video
"Matches" on YouTube

"Matches" is a song recorded by American singer Britney Spears and American boy band Backstreet Boys for the deluxe reissue edition of Spears' ninth studio album, Glory (2016). It was written by Asia Whiteacre, Justin Tranter, and the song's producers Michael Wise and Ian Kirkpatrick. It is a dance, electropop, and glitch pop song consisting of the lyrics describing a dangerous relationship. The single met with positive reception, with critics pointing out the "90's vibe" that the song gives off.

"Matches" was initially intended for Backstreet Boys' ninth studio album DNA (2019), however it did not appear on the album. It was later repurposed to be a collaboration between Spears and the boy band. The track appears on the deluxe reissue of Glory, which was released on December 4, 2020. Additionally, Sony Music sent to radio airplay in Italy two weeks later, as the fifth and final single promoting the album. Commercially, it appeared at digital charts of Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States, peaking within top five on Malaysian RIM singles chart.

Background and composition[edit]

"Matches" was produced by Michael Wise and Ian Kirkpatrick and co-written by Asia Whiteacre and Justin Tranter.[1] "Matches" marks the very first collaboration between Spears and the Backstreet Boys, even though both were at their prime in the late 1990s and early 2000s.[2] However, both artists previously contributed their vocals to the cover of "What's Going On" in 2001 as a part of the Artists Against AIDS Worldwide campaign.[3] The song was recorded early in 2017 solely by Backstreet Boys for their ninth studio album DNA (2019), but did not make the cut.[4] However, Spears heard the track and loved it, and chose to re-record it, but keeping Backstreet Boys vocals in it.[4]

"Matches" is a fast dance,[2][5][6] electropop[7][8] and glitch pop[9] song containing glitchy and electronic sound effects and heavily treated vocals.[9] Its lyrics describe dangerous love[7][10] and they have been described as "sultry" by USA Today's Sara Moniuszko.[2] It also contains many reversals; in the pre-chorus, the Backstreet Boys are singing "Our fire is killing me / The good kind of killing me", when Spears starts her verse with the line "I like the way you dress", later adding "And the way you undress".[6][11]

Release[edit]

Following the #JusticeForGlory campaign that was launched by Spears's fans on social media during the COVID-19 pandemic, the singer unveiled a new cover art for Glory on May 8, 2020, nearly four years after its release.[12] Three weeks later, Spears announced that "Mood Ring" would be released worldwide on all streaming and download platforms.[13][14] The deluxe reissue of Glory was released on December 4, 2020, featuring previously released "Mood Ring", its remixes, and two new songs: "Swimming in the Stars" and "Matches".[15] On December 11, the reissue was released to digital download and streaming media.[16] "Matches" impacted Italian radio airplay on December 18, 2020, making it Glory's fifth single.[17] One of the boy band members, AJ McLean, was positive about the song's release and feeling it gives off, and he said he would like to record a music video in "quarantine style."[4]

Critical reception[edit]

The song received generally favorable reviews. Writing for Rolling Stone, Jon Blisten called "Matches" a "delightful hit of contemporary club pop" with strings that are "reminiscent of the Max Martin-style songs that made Spears and BSB superstars".[18] Tom Breihan from Stereogum called the track "catchy" and "fast, glitchy pop".[9] He also added that "'It's Backstreet back, bitch' on the intro feels like a missed opportunity".[9] In opposite to Rolling Stone's Blisten, Wren Graves of Consequence of Sound stated that "Matches" "isn't a callback to the glory days of denim dresses and Max Martin productions; instead, it's a trip through the last decade of horny EDM".[6] Idolator's Mike Wass called collaboration "sexy" and said that it "doesn't quite reach those heights [as "Swimming in the Stars"]," but still being a "worthy addition to both discographies".[11] Writing for ABC News Radio, Andrea Dresdale called the song a "hot banger".[10]

Commercial performance[edit]

"Matches" charted on the US and Canada Digital Song Sales charts, placing at numbers 11 and 7, respectively.[19] In Europe, the song peaked at number 22 on Germany Digital Song Sales chart and Hungary Singles chart and 48 on UK Download Chart.[20] The song also reached number 40 on New Zealand Hot Single Sales chart and managed to peak at number five on Malaysia's RIM chart in its eleventh week of charting.[21][22]

Credits and personnel[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[23]

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for "Matches"
Chart (2020–2021) Peak
position
Canada Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[19] 7
France Singles Sales (SNEP)[24] 40
Germany Digital Song Sales (Official German Charts)[20] 22
Hungary (Single Top 40)[25] 22
Malaysia (RIM)[26] 5
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[21] 40
Russia Airplay (TopHit)[27] 170
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[28] 48
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[29] 11

References[edit]

  1. ^ Aswad, Jem (December 11, 2020). "Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys Team up for New Song, 'Matches'". Variety. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Moniuszko, Sara (December 11, 2020). "Britney Spears drops 'Matches' collaboration with the Backstreet Boys". USA Today. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  3. ^ Deeb, Aisha (March 14, 2019). "You've definitely forgotten all about this 'all-star' song collab". Mashable. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "AJ McLean on Instagram: "Also, make sure you get your @avadeanbeauty pre-orders in this week! Some of you may be getting a surprise at the end of the week!"". December 14, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2021 – via Instagram.
  5. ^ Yang, Rachel (December 11, 2020). "Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys join up to spark 'Matches' in new song". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c Graves, Wren (December 11, 2020). "Britney Spears Links with Backstreet Boys for New Song "Matches": Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Rice, Nicholas (December 11, 2020). "Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys Drop New Collaboration 'Matches'". People. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  8. ^ Calvario, Liz (December 10, 2020). "Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys Drop New Collab 'Matches': Listen!". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  9. ^ a b c d Breihan, Tom (December 11, 2020). "Britney Spears & Backstreet Boys – "Matches"". Stereogum. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  10. ^ a b Dresdale, Andrea (December 11, 2020). "It's 2001 all over again: Britney X Backstreet Boys collab "Matches" is out now". ABC News Radio. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  11. ^ a b Wass, Mike (December 11, 2020). "Britney Spears Teams Up With Backstreet Boys For "Matches"". Idolator. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  12. ^ Jones, Marcus (May 8, 2020). "Britney Spears surprises fans with new Glory album cover almost four years after its release". Yahoo. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  13. ^ Murphy, Chris (May 28, 2020). "Britney Spears Releases Mood Ring (By Demand) New Music". Vulture. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  14. ^ Calvario, Liz (May 29, 2020). "Britney Spears Rereleases Rare Song You Probably Haven't Heard: Listen!". ET Online. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  15. ^ Rocha, Leonardo (December 1, 2020). "Britney Spears: Contracapa do relançamento de "Glory" cai na rede e confirma música inédita e parceria com Backstreet Boys. Confira!". PortalPOPline (in Portuguese). Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  16. ^ Murphy, Chris (December 11, 2020). "Britney Spears Collabs With Backstreet Boys on Matches,' Drops Deluxe Edition of Glory". Vulture.com. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  17. ^ Pagura, Chiara (December 18, 2020). "Britney Spears 'Matches' | (Radio Date: 18/12/2020)". radiodate.it (in Italian). Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  18. ^ Blisten, Jon (December 11, 2020). "Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys Gift Nineties Pop Fans New Song 'Matches'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  19. ^ a b "Britney Spears Chart History (Canada Digital)". Billboard. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  20. ^ a b "Offizielle Download Charts Single". Official German Charts. Archived from the original on 2020-12-14. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  21. ^ a b "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. December 21, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  22. ^ "Top 20 Most Streamed International & Domestic Singles In Malaysia". Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  23. ^ "Credits / Glory (Deluxe) / Britney Spears". Retrieved December 28, 2020 – via Tidal.
  24. ^ "MATCHES" (in French). PureMédias. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  25. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  26. ^ "Top 20 Most Streamed International & Domestic Singles In Malaysia". Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  27. ^ "Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart". TopHit. Archived from the original on 17 December 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  28. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  29. ^ "Britney Spears Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
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