It’s been interesting to watch how the media has handled the flap over the latest Britney Spears single.

The song is called “If U Seek Amy.” By reading some reports, you’d think it’s an innocent song about someone looking for a girl named Amy, and social conservatives are just reading too much into it–like when they claimed Kiss stood for “Knights in Satan’s Service.”

For example, here’s the Daily News:

Britney Spears is back, annoying parent groups with a new song they say is a crude lyrical trick that doesn’t belong on the airwaves.
The song’s title, “If U Seek Amy,” is sung in such a way as to sound like a crass entreaty instead of advice for finding a girl, according to the Parents Television Council.

The thing is, it isn’t just something the Parents Television Council “says” is a double entendre–it’s quite clearly intended. The chorus lyrics are “all of the boys and all of the girls are begging to if you seek Amy,” which doesn’t make any sense, unless it spells out the ultimate expletive, followed by “me.” It really shouldn’t be getting radio play without severe editing.

Fox News is less misleading, but even it does not give the chorus lyrics that make it clear what the words are supposed to mean. Since “if” doesn’t quite sound like “F,” and the report doesn’t mention anything about “me” being tacked on to the end, it’s easy to be confused about what’s being said. Some other outlets have done a better job, providing more of the song’s context or even outright transcribing the profane come-on.