Though it was a moderate hit upon release, "Criminal" has seen several waves of renewed popularity:
The music video for "Criminal" became more famous—and controversial—than the song itself. Filmed in Dalston, London, it featured Britney and her then-real-life boyfriend, Jason Trawick, as a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde. britney_spears_criminal_lyrics
She argues that his flaws don't matter because "mama, I’m in love with a criminal." Though it was a moderate hit upon release,
The filming occurred shortly after the 2011 London Riots, leading officials to claim the video "glamorized" gun violence in a community still recovering from unrest. britney_spears_criminal_lyrics
The protagonist acknowledges her mother’s warnings but admits she is helplessly drawn to a man who is a "hustler" and a "killer for fun."
A (like Max Martin and Shellback) who shaped this sound. Other Britney Spears songs that tell a narrative story.