 " ... Baby One More Time " was released as Spears ' debut single on October 23 , 1998 . The song received generally favorable critical reviews , mostly praising its composition . " ... Baby One More Time " attained worldwide success , reaching number one in every European country where it charted . It received numerous certifications around the world , and is one of the best @-@ selling singles of all time , at over ten million copies . An accompanying music video , directed by Nigel Dick , portrays Spears as a student from a Catholic high school , who starts to daydream that she is singing and dancing around the school , while watching her love interest from afar . In 2010 , the music video for " ... Baby One More Time " was voted the third @-@ most influential video in the history of pop music . 
