Britney, We're So Into You...

As Britney’s world spun out of her control, it as evident that things were moving too fast. While shooting a music video for her new single “Sometimes,” Britney tore her cartilage in her left knee, and had to take a break for surgery. Once Brit recuperated, and not a minute later, Jive Records had Brit right back on a tour, sponsored by Tommy Hilfiger. Although Britney obviously needed a break, her managers kept her working, and her single “Sometimes” was released shortly after. After a massive tour across North America, Brit came out with “You Drive Me Crazy” in late June 1999. She hit the top of the charts once again, and this time it wasn’t just North America singing her name. 

By late 1999 Britney Spears, was a name that everyone in the world knew, literally. Then in January 2000 Britney Spears made her first appearances in Europe. Britney attended the 2000 Europe MTV awards in Dublin, where she left her mark. There, she won all four awards, which she was nominated for. “Born To Make You Happy” was released In the same month as Britney finished up her tour. Sometime during all the touring and promotions, Britney Spears was in the middle of creating her next album titled, “Opps…I Did It Again.” This album was eagerly anticipated, and satisfied the starved fan base for new Britney material, but I guess you will have to keep reading for that album!

Brittany recording her video for "Sometimes"

2000 Grammy Awards

This was the first Grammy Awards Britney attended, as well as performed. This was Britney's first major performance, before she hit it big with her next album which came out in late 2000. It's sad to think when asked if she would attend this year's Grammys (2008) she told a reporter that the "Grammys can go F*** themselves." 

"Innocent Temptress"

When Britney, or her mother, thought she wasn’t getting enough screen time, she pursued other ambitions. Britney moved to New York, with her mother, of course, in order to pursue singing. Originally Brit was turned down by several labels, including Sony and Mercury, but was eventually signed by Jive records. It was late 1998 when Britney Spears captured the media’s attention, and she would have it for the next ten years. Her single “…Baby one more time,” soared to the top of the charts, as well as her music video for the single. Britney became the pop phenomenon of the new millennium. In 1999, like her single, her album hit the top of the charts, and was there for 6 weeks. Her album went 14 x platinum, “Britney world” was created. 

Her fan base grew from young adolescent girls to middle age men, but was getting even her fans to talk. Controversy broke our after the music video for “…Baby One More Time,” and her provocative cover on Rolling Stone magazine. Britney’s response: “I don’t get it all I did was tie up my shirt and wore a sports bra. Also, on an interview with Rosie O’Donnell, Rosie said to Britney “I don’t want to see you in that top again…I’m old enough to be your mother I could ground you!”  After wearing a skimpy top to the 1999 MTV music awards. Later that year it was rumored that Britney had undergone breast augmentation. Britney denied these rumors, but a close source to Brit told Rolling Stone magazine “She regretted the decision almost immediately partially because her breasts were still growing.” It was clear that the media had a preconceived notion of what they wanted Brit to be, and so she conformed. The “innocent temptress” look was established after the much talked about controversy.  Stuck in a world of extremely high media expectations it was only a matter of time before Hollywood started influencing the mind of our favorite new star.

The Mousekateer

In my personal opinion, Britney’s problems started well before she was born. Her parents Jamie and Lynn spears married early, with very little money. and gave birth to their first child in Kentwood, KY. With her father's overly ambitious, failed dreams and his raging alcoholism, the spears family declared bankruptcy shortly after Britney was born. The perfect solution to their declared bankruptcy, Lynne spears dragged 8 year old Brittany to the Mickey Mouse Club (MMC) tryouts, and tried to lie about her age to get her to make it. Brittany was their scapegoat. When she was turned away, Britney’s mother didn’t give up. She spent 2 years touring the country with a play called "Ruthless," and lived part time in New York with Lynne. After her tour she tried out for the Mickey Mouse Club again, and made it. Alongside Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera, Britney was constantly told what to do. She was a doll to her parents, a showcase for them to live out their dreams they themselves never fulfilled themselves. Even before she came into public eye, Brittany was constantly exposed to the burdens of stardom. Not only did Brittany not have a permanent home while developing as a child, she was constantly criticized and controlled; just to think, this was before the paparazzi and the pressure of the media. Taking a look in the present, we hear about Brit's dad gaining legal responcibility for Britney and her mom trying to do "damage control." Not only did we hear nothing of Lynne or Jamie spears after they got what they wanted from their daughter, i find it incredibly ironic they want to control Britney again. With Britney's newly shaved head and tember tantrums, i guess Britney never grew up.

Justin Timberlake (right) and Britney met on the Mickey Mouse show

Our American Tragedy

As I opened the new article by ROLLING STONE magazine, titled "An American Tragedy," I thought back to the era of the pop princess we all came to love, well, at least came to know, Britney Spears. I'm going to admit, I was a huge Britney fan when she first stepped into stardom with her hit "... Baby One More Time." I was attending catholic school when the music video for the song first came out. Needless to say, the hit song inspired some new moderations to our once boring school uniform, and not to mention several trips to the principal's office.

 The young teen blossomed right before the media's eyes. If Britney hiccupped, we would know. She was on commercials, magazine covers, and even the folder of a classmate you were sitting next to. Her concerts sold out. The "innocent temptress" had hit it big, or so we presumed. With time, the media turned Brittany into a sex object, she was told to change her image. Once again, the public watches as Britneymade the transformation into, well, something that we still can't figure out. The funny thing is: if we witnessed every move she took, why is everyone asking "What happened to Britney?" People thrive for new information on the latest Britneynews; magazines make millions off of her weekly. The Paparazzi camp outside of the star's house, hoping to get the new cover to Us Weekly or People. So exactly how did the gorgeous pop princess that young girls adored, turn into an inbred swamp thing who chain-smokes, doesn’t do her nails, tells reporters to “eat it, snort it, lick it, f*** it." (Rolling Stone Magazine) ? I guess you will just have to keep reading :o)

What Went Wrong?