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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2018 12:44:53 GMT
We got some riveting press out of her with the whole “meltdown” thing. Remember when she shaved her head? I actually think that might have been a turning point where she became more than just another pop star. Like a symptom of the online paparazzi and their treatment of young (mostly female) celebrities. Her mental instability may have caused her fan base to become hugely protective of her rather than just putting her on a pedestal. In my opinion, that's sort of true - a lot went on back then behind closed doors. But in terms of her move to becoming more than just a popstar, I think it's a little more than just that. Her first greatest hits album - My Prerogative - I would happily argue is the strongest greatest hits album to be released in the last 20 years (excluding anyone who has released a greatest hits album using songs from previous greatest hits packages). In terms of pop stars and pop music - she hit the jackpot almost every single time and I think the album acted as a strong reminder of her musical contribution. Then came her personal issues, and amongst it all she released her strongest studio album, then was hospitalised, then bounced back with a great return to form with Womanizer/Circus. I get she's a product of a team of people pulling strings and making decisions (she is, afterall, under a conservatorship) but she managed to keep a strong output of pop songs during a time when pop music just wasn't popular. That's why I think she had managed to become more than just another popstar. But whatever 'Britney Spears' is, I think Britney-Jean is more or less over it... although she did cry on stage at her last show, because it was the last show of this tour. So who knows - maybe once she gets control over her own life again may she start to shake things up. But I doubt she'll ever sing live - her studio vocals are definitely a character voice she does, which depending on which conspiracy theory you believe, are too hard for her to maintain live. I mean, she was signed because she recorded a cover of Whitney's 'I Have Nothing', was supposed to become 'the next' Alanis Morrissette and the writer/producer of Baby One More Time has admitted in interviews that he taught Britney how to sing the song the way he wanted it sung... a vocal style she has made a career out of. It's interesting to hear her leaked material, where she practices her vocals with her own voice then puts on this character vocal we all know. Anyway, I digress, but there may be some truth in that as to why she doesn't sing her own songs live. Doesn't explain why she doesn't sing them in her most natural singing voice, but whatever - right or wrong it's worked for 20 years. |
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Post by kathryn on Sept 7, 2018 13:16:09 GMT
We got some riveting press out of her with the whole “meltdown” thing. Remember when she shaved her head? I actually think that might have been a turning point where she became more than just another pop star. Like a symptom of the online paparazzi and their treatment of young (mostly female) celebrities. Her mental instability may have caused her fan base to become hugely protective of her rather than just putting her on a pedestal. There is definitely a fanbase out there that is drawn to self-destructive female stars - and are as interested in the personal drama as the actual music. |
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Post by daisy24601 on Sept 7, 2018 13:56:37 GMT
I really think it’s just me. I’m the same age as Britney and never even thought of her being a “superstar”. She was just kind of a regular popular pop star in the same way Steps were in the U.K. or like a 00s version of Olivia Newton John. On an international scale no bigger than the Backstreet Boys in the same way as they had a small handful of high selling albums during a little blip in time. And I always put that down to the pre-download market where the US barely issued physical singles, forcing consumers to buy albums they otherwise never would have considered. I certainly never put her in the same sentence as Madonna. It’s only from talking to people 10 years younger that I realised she apparently meant a lot more to them than that. One factor of it is she did change the course of pop music at the time. It was mostly boybands at the peak of celebrity at the time (especially in the US), after BOMT came out there was a string of other solo female teenagers, all baring their bellies and dancing similar style to Britney. She made a huge impact and even though some who followed could arguably be as good and probably better singers, people always remember the first one as the best. |
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Post by ellie1981 on Sept 7, 2018 14:03:24 GMT
I really think it’s just me. I’m the same age as Britney and never even thought of her being a “superstar”. She was just kind of a regular popular pop star in the same way Steps were in the U.K. or like a 00s version of Olivia Newton John. On an international scale no bigger than the Backstreet Boys in the same way as they had a small handful of high selling albums during a little blip in time. And I always put that down to the pre-download market where the US barely issued physical singles, forcing consumers to buy albums they otherwise never would have considered. I certainly never put her in the same sentence as Madonna. It’s only from talking to people 10 years younger that I realised she apparently meant a lot more to them than that. One factor of it is she did change the course of pop music at the time. It was mostly boybands at the peak of celebrity at the time (especially in the US), after BOMT came out there was a string of other solo female teenagers, all baring their bellies and dancing similar style to Britney. She made a huge impact and even though some who followed could arguably be as good and probably better singers, people always remember the first one as the best. Was that not just the same 10 years prior with Tiffany and Debbie Gibson, just on a slightly larger scale? Because the teen market was just larger by proportion of the population of teenagers around at the time. I don’t think she changed and course of popular music really. I’d say the Spice Girls had a far bigger impact in the 90s. I would however credit her image as being the beginning of the sexualisation of teenagers. Turn the clock back 10 years however and Kylie was the Britney of her day, |
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Post by daisy24601 on Sept 7, 2018 14:06:04 GMT
In terms of dress style and music videos I'd say she made a big impact. Maybe more so in America. There weren't really any pop solo singers around at the time.
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Post by ellie1981 on Sept 7, 2018 14:11:56 GMT
In terms of dress style and music videos I'd say she made a big impact. Maybe more so in America. There weren't really any pop solo singers around at the time. The US market is quite strange in that way. I suppose in the late 90s the soloists were all R&B based like Brandy, Aaliyah and Monica. |
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Post by vabbian on Sept 7, 2018 15:28:23 GMT
Because she's iconique darling!!!
I mean you know exactly what you're getting at a Britney concert.
She fetches that greatest hits CD from the tour bus and slams it in the CD player and BAM
GOOD TO GO
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2018 16:14:47 GMT
What if some of the rock bands did it or the older performers?
Cher has a lot of fans on here, I'm sure they would want to hear her live.
The Stones, Elton, Who, Macca, Fleetwood Mac all perform live as far as I know and they are nearly all well into their 70's.
Does the great Tony Bennett at 92 mime - I doubt it.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2018 17:05:19 GMT
What if some of the rock bands did it or the older performers? Cher has a lot of fans on here, I'm sure they would want to hear her live. The Stones, Elton, Who, Macca, Fleetwood Mac all perform live as far as I know and they are nearly all well into their 70's. Does the great Tony Bennett at 92 mime - I doubt it. Well, Cher does mime. Quite a lot actually - particularly her verses. Granted I don’t know the other big names well enough to comment, but the difference for me is what you offer as your ‘show’. The truth is to sing and dance a show is completely different to standing in front of a microphone or sitting at a piano and then miming your way through. For Britney you expect a dance show - it’s what she’s known for, just as much as Elton is famed for sitting at his piano and singing. Both set their audiences expectations decades ago and stick to same format so you basically know what you’re getting. It really just depends on the type of artist you are and I think you have to decide whether you’re going to be a vocalist or a visualist, particularly if you’re a female popstar: it’s rare a woman is allowed to be both. I appreciate the irony of defending (some) miming on a theatre board that discusses people who sing and dance 8 shows a week, but different trades and training I suppose. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2018 18:08:10 GMT
I just think it's different things- as above the 02 this year was an EXPERIENCE and probably a lot of long held memories and nostalgia for many of us there. I used to listen to Britney every day in the car on the way to 6th Form. And I watched her live for the first time in Uni. I went with a bunch of women around my age and we all have 'grown up' with Britney. And while for some there was that 'car crash' element to 2007 for a lot of- dare I say 'real fans' there's a real sense of rooting for her but also that meme 'if Britney can survive 2007 I can survive today' does actually ring true- she's a survivor (yes a well off privileged one) and she bounced back- especially with the Vegas tour- and good on her.
I can go to the theatre any day and see amazing singing, rarely can I got an see someone whose music (some very fine pop music, I agree some of the best of it's time) and who has been a 'part' of my life for so long. So mime all you want Brit, I had a GREAT time.
Also for those who saw her tour WTF is Pitbull about?!!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 7, 2018 19:32:56 GMT
I would however credit her image as being the beginning of the sexualisation of teenagers. Turn the clock back 10 years however and Kylie was the Britney of her day, Do you think so? We’ve been doing that in this country for decades. The upper sixth at St Trinians in their very short gymslips and stockings, Benny Hill running round in speeded up film chasing busty schoolgirls who then turn round and chase him.. it’s the oldest shtick in the book. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2018 21:19:24 GMT
I would however credit her image as being the beginning of the sexualisation of teenagers. Turn the clock back 10 years however and Kylie was the Britney of her day, That was a much bigger issue in the 1980s when Madonna was flashing her underwear and wearing it as outerwear. Britney’s first few years were all about being cute and innocent - although there may have been an attempt by kids and teenagers to emulate her style. I’d even go as far as to say the Spice Girls has more of an impact on the sexualisation of teenagers, being that their message of self empowerment was aimed at children who then quickly developed into teenagers and had Destiny’s Child and Christina Aguilera to then emulate. I can understand it in a passive way, in that Britney was the first of a wave of solo female pop stars that arrived and they each tried to outdo each other and find their own place in the market. She made that possible, because Spice Girls aside, there wasn’t really any young female pop stars doing the rounds for the teen market to emulate and take fashion direction from. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2018 21:22:56 GMT
She gets away with it because she's Britney Spears. That's the main reason I guess.
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Post by Dr Tom on Sept 8, 2018 8:54:52 GMT
Does the great Tony Bennett at 92 mime - I doubt it. Definitely not. Tony Bennett occasionally forgets the words to songs he’s sung for years now, but certainly isn’t miming. Have seen him many times up close and his voice is still exceptional. On the other hand, I saw Barry Manilow at the O2 on Thursday night (only 75). During many of the songs and the spoken parts, it was just impossible to make out what he was saying/singing. Then some songs, he suddenly sounded 20 years younger, clear vocals, only his mouth didn’t always match the words. Sometimes the sound quality changed mid song. The band and his piano playing were both live. He had problems with the piano and had to have it fixed. Not saying he didn’t make an effort and the crowd didn’t have a great time. But it’s telling when the best Barry Manilow song of the night was sung by Collabro and even the compere “Barry From Eastenders” was nailing his songs. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2018 10:09:38 GMT
She gets away with it because she's Britney Spears. That's the main reason I guess. Also she's so polite about it, always apologises "oops, I did it again." I mean, who can take umbrage at that? Ah but then there’s the diva moments where she’s all like, “It’s Britney, Bitch”. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 9, 2018 10:15:14 GMT
Who is the REAL Britney?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2018 10:20:11 GMT
Because Britney Spears is Brktney Spears. She has a presence that I haven't gotten from several performers including the "queen" Beyoncé. Britney is a legend in the music indiustry, love her or hate her. I went to her recent tour and she was absolutely amazing, and she maybe sang one song live. And I didn't care. You don't go to her concert for the singing, you go for the experience because she puts on a great show.  |
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Post by Backdrifter on Sept 13, 2018 14:55:38 GMT
And not to anyone who has been there since the 80s. My first albums were Kylie on tape! I adore Kylie and she's very much still on my 'bucket list' performers that I'm very sad not to have managed to see yet. Oh she’s a real treat. I’ve seen her 8 times now and each one was a blast. The best was the Anti-Tour when she did a series of one off gigs only playing her album tracks and B-Sides, so you had to be a proper fan to go. One of the most memorable concerts I’ve ever attended. I saw KM a few times during a period 10-15 years ago. They were all good shows, very enjoyable and she's a great performer. I decided to stop going, as I kind of 'got it' by then. Here's the Japanese section, now on to the robot section (her designer seemed a bit obsessed with robots), next up is the - oh I don't know, eskimo section - etc etc. It's one reason I was sorry to have missed the above-mentioned Anti Tour as it was exactly the type of different show I craved by then. To be fair though, she's generally been quite good with setlists not being really predictable as some acts' can be. Spears's rapport was criticised earlier; this is one thing KM is brilliant at. I've seen Madonna a few times and loved the shows but my word her audience interactions were cringe-inducing, mainly of the shouty hectoring variety. She comes across as less of a stage natural than KM (cue Up For Grabs comments). I've always wished Madonna had the guts to do a pared-down show where she is just the frontwoman of a band. I've often felt the rare moments in her extravaganzas when she did just that were among the best bits. I agree that people happily cough up to see Spears miming because they want to see a SHOW and see her in the flesh. Absolutely fair enough in my view - not for me, but it satisfies many. |
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