Everytime

"Everytime" is a song by American recording artist Britney Spears from her fourth album, In the Zone. It was released on May 17, 2004, by Jive Records as the third single from the album. The song was written by Spears in 2002. After Spears ended her relationship with pop singer Justin Timberlake, she made friends with her backing vocalist Annet Artani. They both started writing songs together at Spears's house in Los Angeles, and then traveled to Lombardy, Italy, where "Everytime" was written. Spears composed the music on her piano, and she developed the lyrics with Artani. According to Artani, the song was written as a response to Timberlake's 2002 single "Cry Me a River" as well as various radio interviews. However, Spears has neither confirmed nor denied these allegations.

"Everytime" is considered a pop ballad with breathy vocals. Its lyrics are a plea for forgiveness for inadvertently hurting a former lover. The song received universal critical acclaim, with critics complimenting its haunting lyrics and the organic feel of the song in comparison with most of the tracks on its host album. Spears maturity in the production and her songwriting abilities were also complimented. The song has been named one of Spears best ballads. "Everytime" was a commercial success, peaking inside the top five in most countries, while reaching the top of the charts in Australia, Hungary, Ireland and the United Kingdom. In the U.S. it was a top twenty hit, peaking at number fifteen on Billboard Hot 100. Spears performed "Everytime" in a series of live appearances such as television shows Saturday Night Live and Top of the Pops. She has also performed the song on piano in a flowered-themed setting at The Onyx Hotel Tour (2004) and while suspended on a giant umbrella at The Circus Starring Britney Spears (2009). "Everytime" has been covered by artists such as S.H.E, Glen Hansard, Jackie Evancho, Kelly Clarkson and Cher Lloyd

Inspired by the cinematography of Leaving Las Vegas, the music video for "Everytime" portrays Spears as a star hounded by paparazzi, who drowns in her bathtub when she starts bleeding from a wound in her head. In the hospital, doctors fail to resuscitate her while a child is born in the next room, implying she reincarnated. The original treatment would have had Spears killing herself from a drug overdose, but the plot was removed after it received criticism by organizations such as Kidscape, who perceived it as a glamorization of suicide. Critics noted the video for its religious references to The Passion of the Christ, Kaballah and stigmata, and for predicting Spears's future struggles with fame.