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BRITNEY SPEARS

Britney Spears is a cultural phenomenon. Though there have been pop music princesses before, none have had the impact, success and influence of Britney Spears (though the Spice Girls gave it a good shot before imploding spectacularly).

She has spawned a new era in music in which the audience in control of record companies' multi-million dollar profits are teenage girls. Britney has also drawn a host of imitators into pop music that include: Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson and Mandy Moore.

Britney Spears seems to have been destined to be in showbiz, but few could have predicted the impact that the former Mickey Mouse Club member would have. From Africa to Asia, her posters, CDs, and fashion styles can be seen in almost all teenage bedrooms.

Teenage girls strive to be her, and though we admire her success and find ourselves dumbfounded at her spectacular figure, it is more image than substance, but what a fantastic job of imaging it is. There will be books written about the "Britney phenomenon." It's hard to imagine such a successful, rich and famous person being born after Ronald Reagan took office.

The record label behind Britney Spears recognizes that sex sells, and planned a brilliant marketing plan that has tapped into the American infatuation with pretty little things. She has re-tooled her image from an innocent girl, into a sexy vixen. Her image drips with sexual connotations, flirting with us, mocking us, teasing us, and leaving us wanting more.

Though image is a huge part of her success, she does have catchy songs, if an unremarkable voice. Even Madonna counts herself as a fan (and plans to record a duet with her), and those most critical of her are also the ones most jealous of her success.  

 

personality & talent
 77

If you don't like her singing or dancing, admit this; she is a businesswoman (or at least her mom is a businesswoman, and Britney's smart enough to listen to her). Her voice is weak (especially in comparison to Aguilera), her dancing skills are equally lacking (though her strip tease/lap-dance at the 2000 MTV Awards was spectacular). But that doesn't matter, when you have the right look, the right sound, at the right time.

As for her personality, she is far removed from the virginal, squeaky clean image she projects. Reports are everywhere of her smoking, partying, alcohol drinking, and general rowdiness. And it is very hard to imagine that Britney and her boyfriend Justin have never explored the passions of lust and love. She'll sell just as many records whether she is a virgin or not.

The best known example of Britney's true private side came with the famous "Rio rant" in which Britney was recorded cursing, insulting, etc., before going on for a concert in Rio de Janeiro. There are also widely reported stories of Britney getting drunk during a stay in Germany, of telling off fans in New York nightclubs, and of being holed up with Timberlake in Las Vegas and Rio.

We don't mind the stories, in fact we embrace them, because they gives Britney that sprinkle of reality she seems to be missing, but when she does interviews preaching about her holier-than-thou principles, she is just blatantly deceiving impressionable young girls. Do your thing, but don't go public contradicting your actions and acting hypocritically.

That being said, we genuinely like Britney Spears. Don't misconstrue a critique for loathing. She's sexy, young, energetic and a whole lot nicer to look at than Marilyn Manson (or any boy band for that matter).

sexiness
95

There is no denying Britney's sex appeal. What started her rise to the stratosphere of popdom was her video for "Baby, One More Time," in which Britney was dressed in a little private school outfit, with pigtails and knee socks. That imagery is easily categorized under men's "Catholic School Girl" fantasies.

The Louisiana born beauty has sexiness. Not in a classy or perverted way, but in thay very flirtatious way that she plays with her audience (and I'm talking about 50% of the people who buy her records; men and boys). Our voting panel might have been jaded by the Catholic school girl look because they gave her one of the highest marks ever for sexiness.  

 
accomplishments & fame
96

Britney Spears' record sales are already high enough to have enter her in the music Hall of Fame. She has sold well over 15 million records worldwide, and her most recent album Oops!... I Did It Again stills hold the record for most sales during a first week of release by a female artist at 1.3 million copies. As a 17-year-old, she had a No.1 album, along with several Billboard chart toppers.

Though she doesn't have a Grammy under her belt, her most prestigious award wins came at the 1999 Billboard Awards where Britney won 4 awards: Female Artist of the Year, New Artist of the Year, Female Hot 100 Singles Artist, and Female Album Artist of the Year.

There was quite a bit of buzz at her signing a deal with Pepsi worth nearly $2 million a year (though she reportedly has Coke delivered to her dressing room before concerts). We don't understand all the commotion, since she also has had deals with Clairol, McDonald's, Got Milk?, and Polaroid.

natural beauty
80

The big question here is obvious; Does Britney Spears have implants or not? She cries when she's asked, and blames her sudden burst on growing up and gaining some weight (though their perfect form still hasn't been explained by Britney). We get asked this question all the time, and in our opinion (based on the fact that her persona is more marketing hype than sincere) is that yes, she did get implants.

As much as we'd like to believe she grew into her C-cup, the swiftness of their appearance on the scene along with the kind of support they seem to have (only seen on the Eiffel Tower's legs), convince us that someone with a PhD had some involvement in her development.

Her use of hair extensions is also off-putting, but now we are only being picky. She is cute, but without the extra hair, make-up and sexy outfits, you'd be hard pressed to notice her in South Beach.

personal style
83

Mr. Blackwell (the fashion critic who comes out with his Worst Dressed List) hates Britney Spears' style. He thinks that unless she changes, she will be headed to his Hall of Fame. We think he is a little loco. She isn't a glamour queen, and her outfits sometimes push the envelope of good taste, but she is young with a great body and she should show it off.

Her outfits usually have holes that show her pierced navel and plenty of cleavage. Lately, she has adopted an older look, that appeals to an older audience, and though few of her outfits fit together, she still pulls it off.

Biography

Jean Spears was born on the 2nd of December 1981, in Kentwood, Louisiana. As a young girl growing up, she always knew she wanted to pursue a musical career and took her talents to her local church, where she performed "What Child Is This," and even on national television, with her appearance as a Star Search contestant.

At the age of 8, Britney auditioned for the popular children's variety show, Mickey Mouse Club, but was refused because of her young age. Luckily for Britney, one of the show's producers saw the young singer's talent, and helped her find an agent in New York City.

Britney spent the next three summers in New York, where she studied at the famous Off-Broadway Dance Center and at the Professional Performing Arts School. To add to the formation of a future international star, Britney appeared in commercials and Off-Broadway shows, one of which showcased Britney as an innocent 10-year-old who is really an evil bad girl.

put your ears on
Three years after her first Mickey Mouse Club rejection, Britney finally landed a spot as a "Mouseketeer" at the age of 11. Joining a cast of talented teens on the show, Britney showed off her acting, dancing and singing talents on the show that also spawned the careers of fellow beauties Keri Russell and Christina Aguilera. After 2 years of living in Orlando with her family while doing the show, Britney moved back home to Kentwood after the show was cancelled, and returned to high school.

Her one normal year as a fourteen-year-old high school student would be the last bit of normalcy in Britney's life. With a dream of pursuing a career as a singer and a desire to leave her small hometown, Britney set off to New York City yet again, this time destined to sign with a major record label.

Britney finally signed with Jive Records, after an executive was fully impressed with the talent he heard on the demo tape. Working with Eric Foster White, a producer who had previously worked with artists such as Boyzone and Whitney Houston, Britney's debut album was finally ready for its January 12, 1999 release date.

hit us baby!
...Baby, One More Time spawned such hits as "Crazy," "Sometimes" and of course the title track, the infectious "Baby, One More Time." The album held the number one spot on the Billboard charts, was certified RIAA 12 x platinum (it has gone on to sell more than 20 million copies), and won Britney awards such as the 1999 MTV Europe Awards for Best Female Artist, Best Pop Artist and Best Breakthrough Artist. Between recording her second album, Britney co-wrote a book with mom Lynne Spears, entitled Heart to Heart, and went on an extensive worldwide tour.

A huge Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson and Madonna fan, Britney has been scrutinized by the media with reports of a breast augmentation, and a love affair with England's most eligible bachelor, Prince William.

With the Britney Spears hype nowhere near over, she returned to the music scene in 2000 with her follow-up album, entitled Oops!... I Did It Again. With a hit video accompanying the hit title track (in which Ms. Spears has definitely done it again, this time in a red leather catsuit), a second worldwide tour in support of her album, and millions of fans, Britney has definitely accomplished what few artists ever accomplish, at the mere age of 18.

she does it again, and again
The 8 times platinum Oops!... I Did It Again spawned number 1 singles like "Lucky," "Stronger" (in which she performs a lap dance to a chair), and "Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know."

2001 was a banner year for the popster, as she co-hosted the American Music Awards with L.L. Cool J.; performed at the Rock In Rio festival (where audiences got a real glimpse of what she sounds like offstage -- and we don't mean her singing voice); performed with Aerosmith, *N Sync, Nelly, and Mary J. Blige at the Super Bowl; appeared on a spoken-word CD of the Pope's prayers; and signed a multimillion-dollar endorsement with Pepsi.

While she dances with factory workers in a warehouse, impressing even Viagra-enhanced Bob Dole and his dog, Christina Aguilera stars in a Coca-Cola commercial, fueling more than just a pop war.

who's her baby?
The mystery of her sudden physical maturity is still unsolved, but there are two rumors we can dispel: Britney isn't cuddling up to Prince William, but rather a prince of pop, *N Sync singer Justin Timberlake. Although she preaches abstinence until marriage, it's hard to believe that Britney and Justin do no more than cuddle.

And another rumor that is certainly not true is the one claiming that Britney and Justin were killed in a car crash in Los Angeles; it was just a prank courtesy of two radio personalities.

Britney and her legions of teenage fans aren't her only admirers: it turns out her role-model, Madonna, has said that she's a big fan of Britney, and a duet with the new Princess of Pop is in the works. Britney also appeared in a one-hour BBC documentary on the Material Girl.

As if CDs, sold-out concerts, books (her second co-written book with her mother was released in April 2001, entitled A Mother's Gift), and a huge endorsement aren't enough, Britney is now working on an acting career and tinkering with the idea of a fashion line.

But for now, being the youngest female to achieve 10-times platinum status and to notch a number 1 album and single in the US with debut recordings, ain't all that bad.