Britney Spearsв Criminal Albгјm -

The song follows a classic "good girl loves bad boy" narrative, with Britney pleading to her mother, "Mama, I’m in love with a criminal," arguing that the love is physical and irrational.

Britney allowed her fans to choose the final single via a Facebook poll , where "Criminal" beat out "(Drop Dead) Beautiful" and "Inside Out". Britney SpearsВ Criminal AlbГјm

The music video is often cited as one of Britney's most cinematic and controversial works. The song follows a classic "good girl loves

Produced by Max Martin and Shellback , the track is a mid-tempo folk-pop song featuring a "Renaissance fair" style flute and acoustic guitar. Produced by Max Martin and Shellback , the

Critics praised it as one of the most "organic" and refreshing tracks on the album, though some found the lyrics slightly clunky. 🎥 The Music Video: A "Badass Fairy Tale"

"Criminal" is the fourth and final single from Britney Spears' seventh studio album, , released in 2011. While the album is largely known for its aggressive dance-pop and dubstep influences, "Criminal" stands out as its only true ballad , blending folk-pop with a distinctive flute melody that many critics compared to the works of ABBA and Supertramp . 💿 The Song: Fan-Selected & Folk-Infused