Britney Spears: 'Hold It Against Me'

Hazay. That's how Britney Spears sings the synonym for "bleary" or "bemused" that traditionally rhymes with "lazy" on this rush-released comeback single. It's a brilliant moment because it neatly taps into the 12 years of tunes, vids and sundry starry shenanigans that we've now shared with the woman who was once the defining pop artist of her generation.

That crown's long since passed - and been decorated with God knows what by GaGa, of course - but 'Hold It Against Me' serves as a welcome reminder that, with the right song, Brit's still among the most pant-tighteningly exciting popstars on the planet. Produced by Max Martin and Dr Luke, this is her toughest club cut ever, a trancey dance-pop throbber with a chorus that winks at her early-noughties imperial phase, an Ibiza-ready breakdown that Calvin Harris wouldn't cock a snook at, and a cheesy-as-Edam double entendre that actually works. "If I said I want your body now, would you hold it against me?" she inquires. The answer(s)? Oh, plenty of red-blooded sorts would still jump at the chance, and, well, if we can forgive you The X Factor, we can forgive you anything. Disagree? Call us crazay.