Britney Spears – Criminal Lyrics - Genius

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Criminal Lyrics

“Criminal” is a song by Britney Spears from her seventh studio album, Femme Fatale. The song was released as the fourth and final single from the album. Britney sings about being in love with a bad boy and… Read More [Verse 1]He is a hustler, he's no good at allHe is a loser, he's a bum, bum, bum, bumHe lies, he bluffs, he's unreliableHe is a sucker with a gun, gun, gun, gunI know you told me I should stay awayI know you said he's just a dog astrayHe's a bad boy with a tainted heartAnd even I know this ain't smart[Chorus]But, mama, I'm in love with a criminalAnd this type of love isn't rational, it's physicalMama, please don't cry, I will be alrightAll reason aside, I just can't deny, love the guy[Verse 2]He is a villain by the devil's lawHe is a killer just for fun, fun, fun, funThe man's a snitch and unpredictableHe's got no conscience, he got none, none, none, noneOh-oh, I know, ohShould've let go, but no'Cause he's a bad boy with a tainted heartAnd even I know this ain't smartYou might also like[Chorus]But, mama, I'm in love with a criminalAnd this type of love isn't rational, it's physicalMama, please don't cry, I will be alrightAll reason aside, I just can't deny, love the guy[Bridge]And he's got my nameTattooed on his arm, his lucky charmSo I guess it's okayHe's with meAnd I hear people talk (People talk)Try to make remarks, keep us apartBut I don't even hearI don't care[Chorus]'Cause, mama, I'm in love with a criminalAnd this type of love isn't rational, it's physicalMama, please don't cry, I will be alrightAll reason aside, I just can't deny, love the guy (I love the guy)(Oh-oh, I know, oh) Mama, I'm in love with a criminal(Should've let go, but no) And this type of love isn't rational, it's physical(Oh-oh, I know, oh) Mama, please don't cry, I will be alright(Should've let go, but no) All reason aside, I just can't deny, love the guy220EmbedCancel

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AboutSong Bio1 contributor

“Criminal” is a song by Britney Spears from her seventh studio album, Femme Fatale. The song was released as the fourth and final single from the album.

Britney sings about being in love with a bad boy and outlaw, and pleads to her mother to not worry about their relationship.

“Criminal” received mostly critical acclaim, with reviewers praising its organic and refreshing feel in comparison with the rest of the album.

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Ask a questionWhat did Britney Spears say about "Criminal"?Genius Answer1 contributor

According to SongFacts, Britney confirmed at the MTV VMAs that “Criminal” has won a Facebook poll for the next Femme Fatale single:

Actually the song, when I first heard it, [I thought] ‘It’s really different and [there’s] not anything I’ve heard like this before’. So I really wanted to deliver this song."

+14Official Lyric VideoGenius Answer1 contributor +8How did "Criminal" perform on the charts?Genius Answer1 contributor

“Criminal” reached the top 50 in several European countries. In the United States, it peaked at #55 spot in the Billboard Hot 100. In Malaysia, “Criminal” reached the charts once more in 2020, peaking at #20.

+1Is there a behind the scenes look at the making of the music video?Who produced “Criminal” by Britney Spears?When did Britney Spears release “Criminal”?Who wrote “Criminal” by Britney Spears?The Collection (7 Complete Albums) (2011)Britney Spears

1. 1. ...Baby One More Time
2. 2. (You Drive Me) Crazy
3. 3. Sometimes
4. 4. Soda Pop
5. 5. Born to Make You Happy
6. 6. From the Bottom of My Broken Heart
7. 7. I Will Be There
8. 8. I Will Still Love You
9. 9. Thinkin’ About You
10. 10. E-Mail My Heart
11. 11. The Beat Goes On
12. 12. Oops!...I Did It Again
13. 13. Stronger
14. 14. Don’t Go Knockin’ on My Door
15. 15. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
16. 16. Don’t Let Me Be the Last to Know
17. 17. What U See (Is What U Get)
18. 18. Lucky
19. 19. One Kiss from You
20. 20. Where Are You Now
21. 21. Can’t Make You Love Me
22. 22. When Your Eyes Say It
23. 23. Dear Diary
24. 24. I’m a Slave 4 U
25. 25. Overprotected
26. 26. Lonely
27. 27. I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman
28. 28. Boys
29. 29. Anticipating
30. 30. I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll
31. 31. Cinderella
32. 32. Let Me Be
33. 33. Bombastic Love
34. 34. That’s Where You Take Me
35. 35. What It’s Like to Be Me
36. 37. I Got That (Boom Boom)
37. 38. Showdown
38. 39. Breathe on Me
39. 40. Early Mornin’
40. 41. Toxic
41. 42. Outrageous
42. 43. Touch of My Hand
43. 44. The Hook Up
44. 45. Shadow
45. 46. Brave New Girl
46. 47. Everytime
47. 48. Me Against the Music (Rishi Rich’s Desi Kulcha Remix)
48. 49. Gimme More
49. 50. Piece of Me
50. 52. Break the Ice
51. 53. Heaven on Earth
52. 54. Get Naked (I Got a Plan)
53. 55. Freakshow
54. 56. Toy Soldier
55. 57. Hot as Ice
56. 58. Ooh Ooh Baby
57. 59. Perfect Lover
58. 60. Why Should I Be Sad
59. 61. Womanizer
60. 62. Circus
61. 63. Out from Under
62. 64. Kill the Lights
63. 65. Shattered Glass
64. 66. If U Seek Amy
65. 67. Unusual You
66. 68. Blur
67. 69. Mmm Papi
68. 70. Mannequin
69. 71. Lace and Leather
70. 72. My Baby
71. 73. Radar
72. 74. Till the World Ends
73. 75. Hold It Against Me
74. 76. Inside Out
75. 77. I Wanna Go
76. 78. How I Roll
77. 79. (Drop Dead) Beautiful
78. 80. Seal It with a Kiss
79. 81. Big Fat Bass
80. 82. Trouble for Me
81. 83. Trip to Your Heart
82. 84. Gasoline
83. 85. Criminal

Femme Fatale (2011)Britney SpearsFemme Fatale (Deluxe Version) (2011)Britney SpearsFemme Fatale (Japan Deluxe Version) (2011)Britney SpearsThe Essential Britney Spears (2013)Britney SpearsFemme Fatale / Circus (2012)Britney SpearsFemme Fatale / Britney Jean (2015)Britney SpearsMr Music Hits 2011 12 (2011)Various Artists+ De Hits & Dance 2012 (2012)Various ArtistsAbsolute Music 68 [SWE] (2011)Various ArtistsLes Hits 2012 (2012)Various ArtistsCriminal - Single (2011)Britney SpearsExpand CreditsReleased onSeptember 30, 2011ProducersShellback & Max MartinWritersShellback, Max Martin & Sophia SomajoMastered AtSterling SoundMixed AtMixStar StudiosLyricistShellback, Max Martin & Sophia SomajoComposerShellback, Max Martin & Sophia SomajoKeyboardsShellback & Max MartinBackground VocalsChau PhanMixing EngineerȘerban Ghenea & John HanesMastering EngineerTom CoyneAssistant Mixing EngineerTim RobertsGuitarShellbackLabelRCA Records & Jive RecordsRecorded AtMaratone Studios (Stockholm, Sweden)Songs That Sample CriminalUNFORGIVABLE by EPITXME & Criminal by predo (Ft. YUNG LIXO)Criminal InterpolationsCriminal by Chau PhanSongs That Interpolate CriminalNanana by Fuub (Ft. Lil Deni) & Criminal (Radio Mix) by Britney SpearsCriminal CoversCriminal, originally by Britney Spears by underscores & Criminal by BØRNSCriminal RemixesCriminal (Varsity Team Radio Remix) by Britney Spears, Criminal (Varsity Team Mixshow) by Britney Spears, Criminal (DJ Laszlo Club Mix) by Britney Spears, Criminal (dai.ver) by Jiafei.dai, Criminal (DJ Laszlo Mixshow Edit) by Britney Spears, Criminal (Varsity Team Extended Remix) by Britney Spears & Criminal (Tom Piper & Riddler Remix Radio Edit) by Britney SpearsCriminal TranslationsBritney Spears - Criminal by Genius Makedonski Prevodi, Britney Spears - Criminal (Tradução em Português) by Genius Brasil Traduções, Britney Spears - Criminal (Český překlad) by Genius České překlady, Britney Spears - Criminal (Deutsche Übersetzung) by Genius Deutsche Übersetzungen & Britney Spears - Criminal (Türkçe Çeviri) by Genius Türkçe ÇevirilerView Criminal samplesTagsElectronicPopDubstepBubblegum PopTeen PopEDMMidtempoPop R&BAcousticFolktronicaFolk PopSynth-PopElectropopIn EnglishUSAExpand CommentsAdd a commentSign Up And Drop Knowledge 🤓Genius is the ultimate source of music knowledge, created by scholars like you who share facts and insight about the songs and artists they love.Sign Up