While we can never know for sure, when Britney Spears released “Oops I Did It Again” in 2000, it’s doubtful she ever thought the single would be used to scare away Somali Pirates. But, this is in fact how her music is being used according to navy officer Rachel Owens.
“Her songs were chosen by the security team because they thought the pirates would hate them most,” Owens said. “These guys can’t stand Western culture or music, making Britney’s hits perfect.”
Other tracks proven effective in scaring away Somali pirates from approaching supertankers along the east coast of Africa include Spears’ “Baby One More Time” and “Toxic.”