Written by Joanna on 29th Aug 2012 and filed under Peers, Poll
Britney Spears’ Slithering ‘Slave 4 U’ Tops Artists’ Most Epic VMA Moment Spears’ 2001 VMA performance, featuring Banana the python, resonates with pop stars old and new.
When looking back at artists who have made a career of memorable VMA moments, one person always comes to mind: Britney Spears. The pop diva made her VMA debut in 1999, sharing the stage with *NSYNC and performing her hit “…Baby One More Time.” The following year, Spears took things to a whole new level. Hitting the stage in a glittery tux singing “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” a then-18-year-old Spears ripped off the suit revealing a skin-colored ensemble, showing off impeccable dance moves as she transitioned into an unforgettable performance of “Oops!…I Did it Again.”
For the third year in a row, Spears was tapped to perform at the 2001 Video Music Awards in New York City. Many wondered if Spears would be able to top the strip-teasing, jaw dropping moment of “Oops!”, but all doubts were cast aside when she hit the stage. Performing “I’m a Slave 4 U” for the first time, Spears opened the song in a jungle-type setting, emerging from a cage with a white tiger by her side. After two minutes of heart-pounding dance moves, Spears saunters to the back of the stage to put a live python around her next, instantaneously making this performance an iconic VMA moment.
MTV News recently caught up with “Demonstrate” singer JoJo, who grew up idolizing Spears, and she revealed that the moment Spears performed “Slave,” it instantly topped her list of VMA memories.
“It will always stick out for me probably because the age I was and what Britney meant to me, what she means for a lot of people, ” JoJo said. “When she came out with the snake around her, it was ‘Wow!’ ”
Yet, JoJo isn’t the only one. More than a decade later, and many performances in between, Spears’ snake dance still resonates as a top moment in VMA history and a favorite memory among artists.
“I’m gonna go with Britney Spears,” Max George from The Wanted told MTV News of his favorite VMA performance.
“My favorite moment has to be Britney Spears “Slave 4 U,” Karmin’s Amy Heidemann said. “[She] comes out with the snake on her neck and she’s dancing around and crazy. I was like I must do that with my life, it was so cool.”
98 Degrees member Jeff Timmons agreed. “When Britney did ‘Slave,’ I think that was the first time she did ‘Slave’ with the snake and she looked super sexy, that was pretty cool.”
Spears herself was feeling nostalgic recently about the performance, tweeting earlier this month, “Sometimes I wonder what this snake is up to these days… Anybody know where it’s at? Haha.”
Shortly after, she followed up, tweeting, “Snake update: I’ve heard she’s alive and well, and that her name is Banana! This makes me smile ”
Of course, there have been many more unforgettable Video Music Award performances, and we want to know your favorite, so make sure you vote in our “VMA Epic Moments” poll, and watch the results on AMTV, Wednesday September 5.
Written by Joanna on 27th Aug 2012 and filed under List, Peers
Forbes Highest Paid Celebrities between May 2011 and May 2012
#20 Britney Spears: $58 million
Conspicuously absent from our 2011 list due to limited touring, Britney blasts back into the top 20 this year with over 75 shows in the past 12 months. She also earns millions from endorsements and a fragrance line with Elizabeth Arden. Her latest album, Femme Fatale, earned platinum certification in the U.S. The pop princess still attracts plenty of tabloid attention, especially in the wake of her December 2011 engagement.
Written by Joanna on 21st Aug 2012 and filed under Interview, Peers
I find it interesting that you selected dance pop as the genre of choice for this new record and at the same time you’re examining these — at least on the surface — shallow themes, many of which beloved female dance pop artists like Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera have been accused of propagating or indulging in.
There are two sides to it: On the first album I secretly wanted to be a pop star but I wasn’t. The first album didn’t take me to that level. I criticized the whole American songwriting industry and the pop side of it and I was bitter about it. And I stepped back and thought “Why are you bitter? You can’t just stand there like every other indie musician and criticize this so-called ‘generic’ music when you’re not doing anything to challenge that.” So I wanted to use the pop model or the pop formula to become the kind of artist that I wanted to be, but also to make an album that was pop but that also has something behind it that was more than just “drunk in a club” lyrics — which I actually love but you can’t dress that up [laughs].
Did you have specific women in mind when you wrote the album?
Britney Spears is a big influence. Huge. I think people thought I was joking about that for a long time. But when I was a teenager there was a genuine connection with this sweet girl who also had this very sexual side that people didn’t really want to accept.
Totally. She came right out of the gates with “…Baby One More Time.”
Oh my God! And it was her idea! This is the thing — Britney is really smart. And in the way that she inspired “Electra Heart,” if you step back from all the cynical stuff, it actually focuses on the idea of innocence being mixed with darkness. For some reason I really like that combination. I suppose because you don’t really connect innocence with darkness.
But they’re often placed together. In “Teen Idle,” you’re talking about virginity and how lauded it is but girls are supposed to be sluts at the same time. And Britney embodied both of those things.
It’s like a formula that no one can refuse. I remember seeing an interview with Madonna in the ’80s and she was talking about how everyone is so attracted to the whole virgin/whore complex. And that is exactly Britney — she mixed those elements so perfectly.
That brings us to feminism. Do you consider yourself a feminist? Is the album supposed to be taken as a feminist statement?
There’s one song, “Sex, Yeah,” which I think is. I would say that the new album explores the feminine psyche more than the first album, but I wouldn’t say it’s a feminist statement. But I consider myself a feminist because I believe women should have equal rights. Of course. It’s just that the term feminism conjures up other things for people.
Written by Joanna on 14th Aug 2012 and filed under Peers
Digital Spy caught up with Jim while he’s in the UK to chat about what’s in store for the artists he has been working with.
You’ve served as a vocal producer for Britney Spears. How was it working with her? “She was very easy to work with. A lot of people would say Britney is more known as an entertainer, but what’s most important regardless is being attentive in the studio and open to who you’re working with without having an ego. She was very down to earth. I worked with her on Blackout and Circus and she was very easy to work with. That’s why the songs came out so amazing.”
After working with her closely on her vocals, what do you think she’ll be looking for on The X Factor? “I’m sure she’ll want to have someone who can entertain. Despite having a good voice, you’ve got to have a great personality on stage that will draw people in. As well as a great vocal, she’ll want someone who can deliver a great song and keep people interested – and that’s something they would have in common.”
Britney’s Blackout album was critically lauded, but came from a time of unfortunate personal circumstances. Do you think she can ever deliver a record of that standard again without the personal ups and downs? “They say that the negativity helps to sell an album sometimes, but in that case it was also about the music. It was unfortunate what was going on, but since then she’s got a lot better. I really think that nowadays it comes down to just having good music. Songs that make people feel good in the clubs.”
Written by Joanna on 13th Aug 2012 and filed under Peers, X-Factor
Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears have been pitted against each other since they first broke out into superstardom as teens, but the competition doesn’t seem to go past the tabloid pages.
While promoting season 3 of NBC’s The Voice (premiering Sept. 10 at 8 p.m.) at an intimate event at producer Mark Burnett’s house on Sunday night, Aguilera addressed Spears’ addition to the reality TV landscape as a judge on The X Factor.
“I came up with Britney [on] The Mickey Mouse Club [and] we were very close. Our paths have always crossed and they will continue to cross,” Aguilera said. “I welcome her to this family of fun and entertainment and finding talent as well.”
She added that Spears “is a pro” who will “give great advice” to aspiring entertainers.
“I don’t know the formats of other shows, I only know the show that I’m on, but I welcome these very talented women,” she added.
As for any lingering pop rivalry?
“I’m not down with [pitting women against women] at this point of my life,” she said. “I have no patience for it so I’m like ‘the more the merrier.’ It’s a fun thing to be a part of and I think she’ll have fun with it.”
Source
Written by Joanna on 11th Aug 2012 and filed under Peers
This old HILLBILLYB finally got to work with Britney Spears….
She is a very sweet, very professional, kind and beautiful girl. When you point a camera at her, she becomes, before your very eyes, The most Fantastic example of what a STAR is, and why she is BRITNEY SPEARS.It was truly 2 days of pure pleasure….
If only all of MY days at work could be like the last 2 days…. ..IT wouldnt feel like work. It would be what my job can and should be… a productive, rewarding, respectful, creative collaboration.
The first 2 days of my week, I unfortunately did not have the same experience. Luckily, the contrast of the 2 remind me that this is the way “work” can and should be. And, being a freelance makeup artist and my own boss, I don’t have to settle if I am belittled and disrespected. I don’t deserve it, and no one else does. after 25 years of being a makeup artist…. Sadly, I realized, only after having these 2 experiences that I have had over and over again, that I do not have to “settle”.
Written by Joanna on 27th Jul 2012 and filed under Peers
“Extra’s” Terri Seymour sat down exclusively with “The Voice’s” Christina Aguilera and her new team mentor, Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong.
Christina talks for the first time about the pop diva face-off on primetime with “American Idol’s” Mariah Carey and “X-Factor’s” Britney Spears, unlikely Team Xtina mentor Armstrong and her ongoing sparring with fellow judge Adam Levine.
How does she feel about Mariah and Britney? It’s about embracing the girl power. “You know I love that. All these artists are coming together from all the experience that we’ve had and we’re being able to take that and feed this new wave of talent coming up.”
Christina shows nothing but love and support for her fellow Mousekeeter alum. “Britney’s so talented. I mean she’s a pro. She’s been at it for a number of years now. We did grow up together. It’s actually cool that these strong women are joining the club and they’re gonna have fun.” When Aguilera heard about her own idol, Carey, joining “Idol,” she beamed, “I just found out about it last night, the news is fresh.”
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