Released: 2009
“3” by Britney Spears delves deep into the territory of non-monogamous relationships, with catchy pop beats masking the taboo underlying message of the song. Ostensibly about a ‘three-way’ relationship, the track pushes boundaries and expectation by subverting the traditional idea of a couple, and instead celebrating an alternative kind of arrangement.
Right off the bat, Britney makes it clear that this song isn’t confined to a singular scope – “One, two, three, not only you and me / Got 180 degrees, and I’m caught in between“. The count from one to three suggests the involvement of an additional person in a relationship, while “180 degrees” could refer to Britney’s shift from the traditional view of monogamy. She’s not siding with any one person; she’s “caught in between.”
Moreover, when Britney belts “Peter, Paul, and Mary / Gettin’ down with 3P, everybody loves“, she spices up the biblical references of Peter and Paul with a sexual innuendo. ‘3P’ is a coded term for a threesome, thus Britney here sheds light on her own bedroom adventures.
The line “Three is a charm, two is not the same” further amplifies that refrain, asserting that adding an extra person in the mix can bring a lot more fun. She doesn’t see any harm in it and questions, “so are you game?”. Britney invites and challenges the listener to step outside their comfort zone.
“Livin’ in sin is the new thing“, she proclaims, effectively throwing the societal rules out the window. The term “sin” is often associated with breaking religious or social norms. Here, Britney embraces her rebellious side, living by her own rules, and signalling that there’s nothing wrong in doing so.
The bridge, “What we do is innocent / Just for fun and nothin’ meant / If you don’t like the company / Let’s just do it, you and me / You and me / Or three“, lays it all out. Britney advocates for the unconventional while still leaving room for the conventional to exist, asserting that it’s not harmful and only meant for harmless fun.
So there you have it, folks. “3” by the real pop diva Britney Spears gloriously highlights a parallel universe of relationships that exists beyond the traditional boundaries, slyly wrapped in sugar-coated beats and harmonic choruses. She teaches her audience a valuable lesson – that there’s no rule book when it comes to love, and it’s okay to seek pleasure outside the societal norms. Now that’s a sign of a true pop rebel and this is why we adore our Britney!
