I remember when I first heard Baby One More Time in early 1999 by Britney Spears. At that moment I knew that Britney would definitely be a pop hit. After that, I for instance did not know that she was a member of the Mickey Mouse Club when she was only 8 years old (Come on now people, admit that when you were young, you looked at the show also). Later on the video came, and what a scandal it was because she was dressed in a Catholic Schoolgirl Uniform, baring her midriff, which was a soon to become her trademark. Nonetheless, the single was a total hit worldwide.
Music Video for (Baby) One More Time
She got to tour with the popular boy band NSync. Her album released around three months later that same year and took to the top of the album charts. Appealing to young girls, teenage boys and older men, Britney was on her way, yet nobody could have predicted at that time the impact she would have on Pop Culture. After that was hit after hit. My opinion is that this was the “Good Girl” type of an album.
Now comes the album that started to raise eyebrows, her second album Oops! I Did It Again
because people just weren’t happy with the message she was sending their impressionable young children. There was the performance she did in the MTV Music Awards in 2000 when her costume made her appear scantily-clad, sexually charged and provocative.
Music Video for Oops I Did It Again
Performance for Oops I Did It Again at the MTV VMA's 2000
Yet she was labeled the Pop Princess around the world. Britney then continued to grow up fast in a relationship with NSync heartthrob Justin Timberlake. They looked so cute together, seemed like the perfect couple.
Then came the shocker!!!!!!! The sexually charged single I’m a Slave For You. This was a completely different turn in musical direction from her previous singles. Her performance of the single in the MTV VMA’s 2004 caused outrage among animal rights campaigners, as she performed wearing little herself and with a live giant snake (by the way, loved it cuz I have three of my own and they're my only "children").
Performance for I'm A Slave For You at the MTV VMA's 2001
This is when people would say "she started going downhill". Britney was increasingly letting her pop princess crown slip, admitting she had lost her sacred virginity to Timberlake, outside of marriage. Britney could also be seen smoking and drinking to excess on wild nights out and famously breaking down in tears while being interviewed by Diane Sawyer about her parents (who were recently divorced) and her bitter split from Timberlake. I know….I know, this was very sad but nevertheless it was the truth and we had to deal with it. Thennnn!!!!!!! Justin Timberlake came out with the single Cry Me a River. OMG!!!!! What a coincidence that the girl in the video looked and dressed just like Britney and song had to do with cheating. :o| Haven’t said anything. You should see for yourself.
Music Video for Cry Me a River by Justin Timberlake
Oh well….on to the next chapter of her life. Then came her performance of Like a Virgin in the MTV VMA’s in 2003 with Madonna and Christina Aguilera. There was where the famous kisssss took place between all three of them, but I don’t understand why they got only on Britney’s case if Madonna and Christina did the same thing.
Performance for Like A Virgin at MTV VMA's 2003 with Christina Aguilera and Madonna
Anyways…….then in 2004 she got MARRIED!!!!!!! Yes married to her childhood friend Jason Alexander in Las Vegas but later was annulled within 55 hours and was described as a joke gone too far. (Yeah Right!!!!! but it was funny anyways)
Nevertheless, she continued with her life. Later on she got
together with Kevin Federline, got married in September 2004 had two kids with him. Britney now was a changed woman, no longer concerned with what the public thought of her or her appearance.
Know this is the part in Britney’s life where it reaaaally went down hill. In November of 2006 she filed for divorce. After her break-up, her personal life seemed to spin out of control. Within days, she was photographed without underwear and also arriving at various parties without her underwear. In 2007 she shaved her head with electric clippers at a tattoo shop. She made several attempts at rehabilitation. Then there was the very anticipated performance at the opening of the MTV VMA’s on September 17. Don't know about you but it left me speachless (and not in a good way)
Performance for Gimme More at MTV VMA's 2007
Spears, who is trailed almost everywhere by paparazzi, has also became notorious for distracted driving and has been photographed driving with her son on her lap. The damage just continued to pile up for Britney. There was the drug and alcohol abuse that later caused her to loose custody of her children. She then had to take undergo random drug and alcohol test and meet weekly with a parenting coach who would later report back to the court about her parenting. Both her and Federline had to complete a Parenting Without Conflict class. Conflict between her and Federline grew thicker and thicker. Then we later find out that Britney might me suffering by long-standing psychological illness, possibly bipolar disorder. Meantime, Federline got sole physical and legal custody of the kids and Britney got her visitation rights suspended. Then one thing led to another, her father was named conservator of her person and he and attorney were conservators of her $100 million estate. Lutfi, who has been at Spears’ side throughout much of her well-documented public breakdown, was also ordered to stay away from the pop singer and stop harassing her.
After some progress, on May 6, 2008 she was granted increased visits with her two sons and this was to the progress that has she had made. Later that July, Spears and Federline reached a custody settlement in which Federline retained sole custody while Spears kept her visitation rights. Finally Spears returned to the MTV Video Music Awards on September 7. While she did not perform, she did pick up three trophies, including video of the year, best female and best pop video for Piece of Me. She thanked God, her children and her record label for each of her award wins.
Music Video for Piece of Me
Britney with her 3 VMA's Trophies
