(Video) Britney Spears - I Wanna Go

There comes a point in every major popstar's career where their fame and engagement with the press is in danger of eclipsing their music itself. And in situations like this, a timely reminded of why they reached this esteemed position in the first place is always handy - and what better way to do that than having a laugh at fame and the press itself?

Britney's always been one to throw a dash of comedy across her music videos - who can forget the immortal Titanic references of 'I thought the old lady dropped it in the ocean?' in Oops!... I Did It Again. It's moments like these that serve to prove why Britney deserves every bit of the remarkable longevity her career has enjoyed.

To think that it's getting on for 15 years now since her first single out, you can only marvel that she's still here, still breaking boundaries, still sending herself up in videos like this - and most importantly, we're still loving it. The sign of a truly great popstar.

As part of the Femme Fatale album, I Wanna Go was just a strong cut from what remains one of Britney's most consistent records. But now, with full video in tow (and what a video it is!), it genuinely feels like an event in its own right - something every single should ideally do. A single is a page in the book that is every musician's career, and with I Wanna Go, Britney is making sure as hell that we remember this page.

The opening scenes of the press conference where Britney dismisses rumours from the press are hilarious, and it's refreshing to see Britney capable of having a laugh at the level of mass hysteria that still surrounds her. If we think that only a few years ago this was the same woman who was driven to shaving off her hair by this same intrusion into her life, it makes for a strong symbol of defiance.

Equally, the action shots of Britney astride a car, knocking evil Terminator-style paps down with a microphone are brilliant. Better still, Britney looks absolutely incredible in every shot - every bit of this video is a taster for what we can expect on her tour, so consider our appetites well and truly whetted.

In a nutshell, I Wanna Go is an exercise in fun - something at which it gets spot on. Britney is the popstar we go to when we let our inhibitions down and just want to dance. When the end of the week comes and we hit the town, drinks in hand, Britney is there, soundtracking our journey into a world beyond the humdrum of ordinary-ness that surrounds us. And in I Wanna Go, we have the visual equivalent - the freedom to break the boundaries and defeat those obstacles that forever throwthemselves in our path.

I Wanna Go is released on the 7th August.