Britney Spears’ “Toxic” became one of the defining pop songs of the 2000s, but the track was never originally planned for her.
The song was written in Sweden with Janet Jackson in mind, according to co-writer Cathy Dennis. It later reached Australian singer Kylie Minogue, who turned it down. Spears eventually recorded the song for her fourth studio album, In the Zone, changing the course of what would become one of her best-known hits.
Released as the album’s second single, “Toxic” reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed on the chart for 20 weeks. It also became a No. 1 hit in several countries.
Its reputation continued to grow after its chart run. Rolling Stone placed “Toxic” at No. 114 on its 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list, a ranking selected with help from more than 250 artists, writers and music-industry figures.
Singer Britney Spears performs during the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California.Photo by HECTOR MATA/AFP via Getty Images
The song also gave Spears her only Grammy win. “Toxic” won Best Dance Recording at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards in 2005.
How ‘Toxic’ Reached Britney Spears
The song came from Cathy Dennis, Henrik Jonback, Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg, with Karlsson and Winnberg producing it as Bloodshy & Avant.
Dennis explained the song’s early history to Rolling Stone. “That was written in Sweden,” she said. “I went over there to write with Janet Jackson in mind.”
The track did not end up with Jackson. It was then offered to Minogue, who also passed on it.
Minogue described the decision in simple terms. She said she heard a short part of the song at a record-company office and decided against it. After Spears recorded it, Minogue referred to the missed opportunity as “the fish that got away.”
For Spears, the song arrived at a useful moment in her career. “Toxic” was part of In the Zone, an album that explored dance-pop and electronic sounds while giving Spears a different musical direction.
The recording stood out because of its unusual mix of sounds. It combines dance-pop and techno-pop with strings, synthesizers, drums and surf guitar. Its hook also uses material from the 1981 Bollywood song “Tere Mere Beech Mein.”
The song performed even better in several international markets. It reached No. 1 in countries including Australia, Canada, Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Scotland and the United Kingdom.
At the 2005 Grammy Awards, “Toxic” won Best Dance Recording, marking Spears’ first and, to date, only Grammy victory.
The music video also became an important part of the song’s identity. Directed by Joseph Kahn, it follows Spears through a spy-style story in which she takes on several disguises and targets a cheating boyfriend.
Among its most recognizable scenes is Spears covered in diamonds. The video also features her as a flight attendant and later in a black outfit while riding a motorcycle with model Tyson Beckford.
The video was eventually recognized as a major part of the song’s lasting appeal. It also received multiple award nominations and wins, including recognition for its visual effects.
Spears continued performing “Toxic” during several major shows and tours. It appeared in the set lists for the Onyx Hotel Tour, The Circus Starring Britney Spears, the Femme Fatale Tour and Britney: Piece of Me.
Other artists have recorded covers, while “Toxic” has appeared in films and television shows, including Pitch Perfect 3, Doctor Who and Glee.
For a song that began as a track intended for someone else, “Toxic” ultimately became strongly connected to Britney Spears. Its journey from a Swedish songwriting session to a Billboard top-10 hit and Grammy-winning recording remains one of the more unusual stories behind a major pop song.
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