Britney Spears reveals the true meaning of "…Baby One More Time"

Jive RecordsBritney Spears‘ “…Baby One More Time” will mark its 20th anniversary in October. While everyone remembers the iconic video of Britney in a schoolgirl outfit, and the controversy over the song’s lyrics, Britney says the song itself has simple, universal message.

“The whole song is about that stress that we all go through as teens,” Britney tells the U.K. paper The Guardian. The paper agrees, citing lyrics like “My loneliness is killing me” as examples of “gloriously [over-the-top] teen girl longing.”

“I knew it was a great song. It was different and I loved it,” Britney tells the paper. “[But] I don’t think you can anticipate how a song is going to be received.”

Nobody could have anticipated the reaction to “…Baby One More Time.” According to the Guardian, the Max Martin-penned track sold 500,000 copies its first day of release in the U.S., reached #1, and went on to become one of the best-selling singles of all time.

“I think Max is a genius. It all just came together and felt right,” Britney tells the paper. “In my opinion, Max is the greatest songwriter of all time.”

After his success with “…Baby One More Time,” Martin went on to write or co-write more than 20 Billboard #1 hits, by the likes of Pink, ‘N SYNC, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Kelly Clarkson and Britney’s ex, Justin Timberlake.

Britney, of course, went on to become the undisputed Princess of Pop. Asked how she feels about the song nearly 20 years later, she tells the paper, “Wow, that went quick. It was such a fun and crazy time, it was a bit of a blur.”

Britney is currently on the European leg of her Piece of Me tour, which wraps up September 1 in Blackpool, England.