
Britney Spears is once again back with another banging music video, this time around sans dance moves, but rather with a thrilling mini movie filled with lots of humour and symbolism. Let’s be honest Britney often appears cold, unanimated and absent in most of her music videos, especially in recent years, but with the “I Wanna Go” video you can tell that she’s fully present and actually enjoying herself.
The video kicks off at a press conference, where reporters are asking Britney foolish yet funny questions such as “is it true you banned junk food, smiles, candy, sunshine and laughter from your Femme Fatale Tour?” and “Britney, can you confirm reports that you are pregnant with Brad Pitt’s love child?”. The 29-year-old finally decides that she’s fed-up with all their trivial questions, and literally tells them to “fuck off”.
Subsequently, the singer emerge from a building sporting an Avril Lavigne-esque look, that consist of a studded biker jacket, combat boots and pink-striped hair. Britney decides to let loose and just live her life the way she wants to. Thus she starts behaving outrageously — groping a fan, flashing an underage boy and seducing a cop, while at the same time battling lurking paparazzi. It all proves to be too much for our dear Brit Brit, as her knight in shining armor (played by actor Guillermo Díaz) arrives in a car and rescues her from it all. But are his motives really pure and innocent?
As Britney is escaping it all with her prince charming, she snaps out of it. It turns out it was all just a dream and Britney comes back to reality. We are taken back to the scene of the chaotic press conference, where reporters are still asking Britney silly questions like “Britney why is my wife cheating on me?”. An innocent looking Brit Brit then points out to a sleazy looking Guillermo — who is unclear if he’s now portraying Britney’s manager, boyfriend or bodyguard — that she just had the weirdest dream ever. Guillermo patronizingly replies “I love dreams and seashells” as he takes her away from the crazed press conference.
Directed by Chris Marrs Piliero, who is also responsible for Ke$ha’s jesting ‘Blow’ music video, this is by far the best Britney video from the Femme Fatale era. Sure a lot of the scenarios in the video are greatly exaggerated for theatrical thrill, but Britney is wittingly showing us what she encounters on a daily basis. Even though the video has a lot of underlying messages, for instance that people close to her always seem to have ulterior motives, Britney is really making one big bold statement with the video. Perhaps that while she’s back and better than ever from her down period, she still can’t fully live her life the way she wants to, due to the public’s over scrutiny. It’s very important to also point out that girl is looking mighty fine lately.