4 March 2004
A 2004 number one called ‘Toxic’ is distilled essence of 2004. The early ’00s were high times for lads mags, zoo radio, upskirt paparazzi, skeezy music videos, and an all-round unpleasant pop-cultural vibe: a virtual Temple Bar of crassness, sexism, homophobia and misogyny. Ironically, ‘Toxic’ isn’t the worst offender: the video isn’t as leery as ‘Milkshake’, the song doesn’t have the aggressive male entitlement of an upcoming 2004 number one, and its quaint use of ‘toxic’ as ‘horny-making’ recalls the similarly innocent “hit me baby one more time”. Still, though, that word’s new meaning captures a spirit of the age.
What of the song itself? The combination of market-leading post-Cheiron writer-producers (Bloodshy & Avant; Cathy Dennis) and the world’s biggest pop star promises a lot, and in fairness ‘Toxic’ occasionally delivers: the glitchy beats and warped effects pack a zing, the chorus has the lush swoop of Dennis’s other big hits, and Britters brings her A-game. Also, the urban myth that ‘Toxic’ is about Irish TV vet Noel Fitzpatrick, with whom Cathy Dennis is said to have broken up in 2003, gives us some spicy local intrigue. However, the verses are a bit flat and dragging. And it wouldn’t be an early-’00s pop video if it didn’t have Britney as a mini-dressed flight attendant rubbing a man’s crotch before joining the mile-high club, then later wearing only diamonds stuck on her skin. I don’t miss 2004 one little bit, though I can’t speak for Britney – or the Supervet.
Irish Number Ones 