The title track was released as the lead single from ...Baby One More Time and Spears' debut single on September 28, 1998. It received generally favorable critical reviews, which mostly praised its composition. After its accompanying music video premiered in late November, the single attained worldwide success in early 1999, peaking atop the US Billboard Hot 100 and in most countries it charted in.
The lead single from Britney Spears' debut album, "Baby One More Time," achieved global recognition in early 1999 after its release as a single on September 28, 1998. The song received positive reviews for its composition and the accompanying music video further boosted its popularity.