Life Lessons From Britney Spears' Debut Album

It's crazy to think that it's been over 16 years since the release of Britney Spears' first album, ...Baby One More Time. I was all over that album when it hit the shelves at Sam Goody (oh my God, remember Sam Goody?!?) and listened to all 11 tracks on repeat for months. Honestly, I'm still inclined to blast the radio whenever I hear a track from that first album, even though the tracks are sadly played much less frequently than some of Spears' later work. Sure, songs like "'Till The World Ends" and the just-released track "Pretty Girls" may be slick and modern, but their catchy beats can never replace the feeling of nostalgia I get whenever I put on "...Baby One More Time" or "Born To Make You Happy." I grew up on that stuff, and that album taught me some pretty important life lessons.

If you revisit Spears' debut album (and I implore you to do so, if only to feel transported back to 1999) then you might find a few common themes threaded through each track. Spears definitely had a vision for this album, and it taught listeners a thing or two. Here are some of the life lessons you could pick up from Spears' first album:

Just Because A Phrase Doesn't Make Sense Doesn't Mean You Can't Use It

So, what does "hit me baby one more time" actually mean? I have absolutely no idea, but I know that it became a phenomenon really quickly.

It's Perfectly Acceptable To Stalk Your Crush

The evidence is in her song "I Will Be There" (with lyrics that include "you just turn around/and I will be there) and the entire video for "Sometimes," which basically involves Spears stalking some dude on the beach.

Spears Refers To Soda As "Pop"

Her song is called "Soda Pop," not "Cola Pop" or the truncated "Soda." Maybe it's a Southern thing?

Ballads Are The Way To Win A Man

About 90% of the songs on Spears' debut album are professing love for a guy or apologizing for something that she did.

E-Mailing Someone's Heart Is A Thing

Literal lyrics from "E-Mail My Heart": "E-mail my heart and say our love will never die." The '90s were weird. What did she put as an attachment?!

Crop Tops Are A Necessary Part Of Every Music Video

It's crucial for the world to see your belly button when you're singing love ballads about e-mailing your boyfriend for validation.

Take it as more proof: ...Baby One More Time was truly one of the most important albums of the 20th century.

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