General Britney Spears Discussion

[esteveyb]

No it is not obviously wrong. She is the judge that grabs all the headlines and keeps that show in the press.

And what is your definition of 'relevant'? Back to Basics was critically acclaimed and the accompanying tour was the most successful female tour that year. And I like how you conveniently forgot about the smash that was Moves Like Jagger. Though, if the song had completely flopped I'm sure you would be amongst the first to say "OMG!! That new Xtina song flopped! FLOPTINA!"

But not for positive reasons... her negativity towards guest performers, rivalry and bitchiness, and her weight issues, etc. are what is keeping her in the headlines.

It's also worth addressing that "Back To Basics" was not exactly critically acclaimed; some reviews were positive, some weren't. "Mixed" is a far more accurate word to describe the reviews from worthwhile sources (Rolling Stone, Blender, The Guardian, The New York Times, The Observer Music Monthly, Q Magazine, etc. - as opposed to the music 'Bible' that is Now magazine and paid reviews on All Music Guide and Amazon!). As for her tour, saying it was the most successful by a female artist that year conveniently ignores the fact that there was only Gwen Stefani (who was finishing a #4 ranking tour from the previous year and only fell to #8) and Stevie Nicks as competition in terms of global female acts touring! She had no competition whatsoever... and yet, Faith Hill's tour with Tim McGraw eclipsed the Back To Basics tour by quite a long way, without going anywhere near as far in terms of global span.

[PeachPie]

But not for positive reasons... her negativity towards guest performers, rivalry and bitchiness, and her weight issues, etc. are what is keeping her in the headlines.

It's also worth addressing that "Back To Basics" was not exactly critically acclaimed; some reviews were positive, some weren't. "Mixed" is a far more accurate word to describe the reviews from worthwhile sources (Rolling Stone, Blender, The Guardian, The New York Times, The Observer Music Monthly, Q Magazine, etc. - as opposed to the music 'Bible' that is Now magazine and paid reviews on All Music Guide and Amazon!). As for her tour, saying it was the most successful by a female artist that year conveniently ignores the fact that there was only Gwen Stefani (who was finishing a #4 ranking tour from the previous year and only fell to #8) and Stevie Nicks as competition in terms of global female acts touring! She had no competition whatsoever... and yet, Faith Hill's tour with Tim McGraw eclipsed the Back To Basics tour by quite a long way, without going anywhere near as far in terms of global span.

I've already addressed elsewhere in the thread that Christina gets alot of negative headlines but press is press and quite frankly, she is an interesting judge/coach and she makes for good TV. I know she had alot of negativity directed her way during The Voice this season but 80% of the headlines about that show were related to her and she is the one that keeps that show afloat. The bad press towards her is questionable in anyways. I know she was a bitch at times to Tony Lucca and Adam, but frankly it was a two way thing the entire season but the press just decided to vilify Christina instead of everyone involved.

As for the tour..... I always read that Christina had the highest grossing female tour of 2006 but if you are suggesting otherwise then you may be right but I don't know.

[Jonathan27]

Is there merit to this claim that All Music Guide does paid reviews? Because I tend to trust their opinions over most other reviewer's.

[esteveyb]

I don't think she's ever been in a position where she could have broken away from the label - perhaps the infamous Original Doll, but everything that leaked from that recently is shit (even according to Britney's fans) and then she had a breakdown; and from then on she's probably lucky to get a co-write on the tenth album track.

That's kinda wrong though - she's never created (and for all the arguments about her voice being 'unique' - Nicole Sherzinger, as an example, can mimic it easily; and she can do it live as well) any greatness herself; her position has allowed her to cherrypick the best of any pop producer. The writers might let her have a line or so an album; but the only thing she truly is is a common banner for various producers to release their products under.

She's a step above Kim Kardashian in that music is her main thing (Kim's is her arse), but I definitely see her more as a celebrity than a singer now.

But even if she broke away from her label, there's nothing to stop her working with people she wants to work with for hits. The majority of the leaks we have heard have been with nobodies, recorded just because she likes to write and record and, back in 2006-2007, was using music to vent her frustration (Rebellion, All That She Wants, etc.) and not actually anywhere near completion (remember, when she wanted Someday to be a single, she approached Guy Sigsworth personally to produce it - and the same is true for Mona Lisa and Bloodshy & Avant). She isn't like Beyonce in that she feels the need to get writing credits for nothing, to give her some kind of credibility - she sings the songs she likes and that make her dance or want to exercise, songs that 'move' her.

Her voice is well known to be 'fake' - Larry Rudolph said he wanted the big-lunged Britney to have a distinctive voice and tone, so she channelled Janet and her favourite R&B singers to get it. The fact that Nicole Scherzinger can imitate it just shows that it's mission accomplished - it's distinctive and instantly recognisable as Britney - back in the early 00s there were loads of girl singers trying to sound like her.

There's also her image to consider; it was her idea to be seen as a Lolita-esque character, she wasn't told to blurt out about her virginity, and she wasn't told to sex it up for her David LaChappelle shoot in 1999. She was also, interestingly, the one who opened the blinds when she decided to shave her head so it could be broadcast to the world. I think she's more perceptive than anyone gives her credit for; just listen to the lyrics of the Mona Lisa demo that she wrote, where she is predicting the killing-off of her previous public persona.

[esteveyb]

Is there merit to this claim that All Music Guide does paid reviews? Because I tend to trust their opinions over most other reviewer's.

I am pretty sure it's common knowledge they aren't impartial!

[MadgeBrit]

As for the tour..... I always read that Christina had the highest grossing female tour of 2006 but if you are suggesting otherwise then you may be right but I don't know.

A little something called the Confessions Tour I am pretty sure outgrossed it.

[esteveyb]

I've already addressed elsewhere in the thread that Christina gets alot of negative headlines but press is press and quite frankly, she is an interesting judge/coach and she makes for good TV. I know she had alot of negativity directed her way during The Voice this season but 80% of the headlines about that show were related to her and she is the one that keeps that show afloat. The bad press towards her is questionable in anyways. I know she was a bitch at times to Tony Lucca and Adam, but frankly it was a two way thing the entire season but the press just decided to vilify Christina instead of everyone involved.

As for the tour..... I always read that Christina had the highest grossing female tour of 2006 but if you are suggesting otherwise then you may be right but I don't know.

Press is press, but at the end of the day she is a public persona that is hoping to relaunch her career on the back of a TV show. The way she comes across isn't endearing her to anyone, and whilst it may be generating press that she's fighting with Adam (and I'd say he's had quite a bit of press this series, just looking at Google news), it actually turned viewers off. The premiere had 37.61million viewers; by the final, only 11.90million remained, and when the negativity was at its peak, ratings dropped as low as 8.86million. Idol, season 11, on the other hand, has never dropped below 14.34million and regularly attracts 15-18million on average.

Christina's tour came in at #6 overall in 2007, but with really quite low figures - Faith Hill came in at #2 with her joint tour, and there are literally only 3 or 4 females in the top 25 for Pollstar that year. It's not really a huge achievement, all things considered - it was a quiet year. I don't think it ranked at all in 2006...

[RJF]

I hope Christina never stops being the redheaded stepchild of pop.

[PeachPie]

Press is press, but at the end of the day she is a public persona that is hoping to relaunch her career on the back of a TV show. The way she comes across isn't endearing her to anyone, and whilst it may be generating press that she's fighting with Adam (and I'd say he's had quite a bit of press this series, just looking at Google news), it actually turned viewers off. The premiere had 37.61million viewers; by the final, only 11.90million remained, and when the negativity was at its peak, ratings dropped as low as 8.86million. Idol, season 11, on the other hand, has never dropped below 14.34million and regularly attracts 15-18million on average.

Christina's tour came in at #6 overall in 2007, but with really quite low figures - Faith Hill came in at #2 with her joint tour, and there are literally only 3 or 4 females in the top 25 for Pollstar that year. It's not really a huge achievement, all things considered - it was a quiet year. I don't think it ranked at all in 2006...

It premiered after the superbowl. I highly doubt anyone expected the show to maintain those ratings the entire season. Its viewership was healthy throughout and its demo was consistently the strongest every Monday and Tuesday night. It absolutely anilhated its competition (Dancing with the Stars) when it came to the demo.

As for her personality- it is what it is. She could be a sugar sweet 'yes' judge who just dishes out nonsensical rubbish or she can do what she does which is be honest and offer constructive criticism, albeit in a catty way at times.

If she hadn't excelled in her role as judge/coach, she wouldn't have been kept on for Season 3 as she has.

[poshlopez]

So about Britney ...

Also esteveyb I recommend you to go to Christinas thread. Thank you. We are waiting for you there bwhahahaha

[toby3000]

So are Britney's act's going to go far in the X-Factor due to her mental fans voting for them?

I really hope her guest at the judges houses is someone really shit. Basically I want this to happen;

‎"Britney's had many collaberations over the years...
#clip of the kiss#
but one duet always held a special place in Britney's heart
#clip of Me against the music#
someone who shaped Britney's musical career from the beginning
#clip of her singing 'Open your heart' in Crossroads#
IT'S DON PHILLIP'

[JadeFan]

It'll be Jason or Gwen, unless the officials push for a megastar, like Lady Gaga.

I would *love* for it to be Christina but that's so not happening because of The Voice.

[drock689]

Christina might be #2 to Brit, but they're both head and shoulders above most of the women in pop. If Xtina is "irrelevant" then Cheryl and 90% of the other popstars covered on this board are not even on the fucking list.

[visionary]

Britney will drag viewers to this out of curiosity, but when people will see that she is boring, robotic and will only smile and say "cute", the show will again drop, because frankly that's what I fear will be. She will be the "nice girl next-door" and in the long run it'll be boring.

[Katungeh]

As for the tour..... I always read that Christina had the highest grossing female tour of 2006 but if you are suggesting otherwise then you may be right but I don't know.

Um, no. That was Madonna.

[LewJB]

Christina's always wanted to be Britney. She is a fantastic singer and that is all. She always tried to exert creative/visual control (that yes, Britney has and has exceeded in) and has mostly created an overstuffed mess. She is desperate to be a Madonna with the 'Im a 20s singer! Now I'm futuristic!' reinventions, but she's a Whitney Houston. A ballad singer, a Grammy tribute act, etc etc.

At her peak Britney was light-years more talented than Christina (IMOIMOIOMOMI). Even whilst being a technically better singer, vocally Britney created the 'Pop Vocal' that fit her genre to a T very much in a way Michael did, whilst x found it harder and harder to exercise any kind of restraint - these ears would much rather listen to Britney vocals like Back to Basics vocals. Then of course she was trounced in every other avenue.

However, Christina has the gift of the gab and will eternally be a better judge (unless Britney decides to go all crazy Southern on us but I doubt that'll happen).

[Archvile6]

If I hear a "Honey, you suck..." come out of her mouth, the entire season will be made for me.

[superglowy]

The problem with Christina is she has amazing album 'sound' concepts, but never executes them correctly or timely. 'Back To Basics' should have sounded like 'Back To Black', 'Bionic' should have been a mix of Ladytron and 'IamamIwhoamI'? She always seems to have a concept for the album that ends up (through another artist) being either a huge hit or extremely innovative, but Christina gives us a 'pop' version of these ideas and takes 4 fucking years to bring them, thus never creating any momentum.

I love Christina Aguilera dearly, but I have come to learn it is an abusive relationship!

[Rmx]

Wasn't Back To Basics huge? I didn't actively follow sales or chart positions back then, but I remember Ain't No Other Man, Candyman and especially Hurt being massive hits. Hurt was everywhere, and it really is a gorgeous song!

Anyway, Back To Britney, I hope she'll be at least a bit critical of her candidates. She won't be negative but if she says "so cool!" on every contestant she'll lose all her credibility.

[Jonathan27]

I am pretty sure it's common knowledge they aren't impartial!

Well I feel a bit out of the loop now.

[Fire]

I want to see her reaction to contestants like this.

[blaze_dave]

I want to see her reaction to contestants like this.

I wanted her to win, but she got booted. Grr.

Well I am hoping the first few weeks will be a bit nervous and nicey, but then she'll find her ground and give some better critique!

[esteveyb]

Christina's always wanted to be Britney. She is a fantastic singer and that is all. She always tried to exert creative/visual control (that yes, Britney has and has exceeded in) and has mostly created an overstuffed mess. She is desperate to be a Madonna with the 'Im a 20s singer! Now I'm futuristic!' reinventions, but she's a Whitney Houston. A ballad singer, a Grammy tribute act, etc etc.

At her peak Britney was light-years more talented than Christina (IMOIMOIOMOMI). Even whilst being a technically better singer, vocally Britney created the 'Pop Vocal' that fit her genre to a T very much in a way Michael did, whilst x found it harder and harder to exercise any kind of restraint - these ears would much rather listen to Britney vocals like Back to Basics vocals. Then of course she was trounced in every other avenue.

However, Christina has the gift of the gab and will eternally be a better judge (unless Britney decides to go all crazy Southern on us but I doubt that'll happen).

I don't even think she's a Whitney. Whitney's songs captivated and contribute towards the soundtrack of an entire generation - I Wanna Dance (With Somebody Who Loves Me) is iconic and was still being referenced 20something+ years later, even before her death, same with her mid-tempos (Saving All My Love For You, etc.). Bar Beautiful and maybe Candyman at a push, I can't see Christina's career having that kind of impact, purely because she's always been overshadowed - as great as Genie is, it pales in comparison to ...Baby One More Time; Dirrty has fallen to the wayside when you have the likes of I'm A Slave 4 U, a decade after its release being featured on Glee, etc. Her songs often lack that ability for the public to connect and singalong, because she doesn't exercise restraint - I remember seeing Newlyweds where Jessica Simpson was made to re-record Sweetest Sin, as Sony said radio listeners wouldn't connect to it, and it's the exact problem I think people have with Christina Aguilera.

Britney circa 2003-2004 would have been amazing on a reality show; when she was on Graham Norton, she was hilarious and could do live TV, like SNL, with ease. I am worried that this whole thing will be a car crash, but I can't see them allowing her near the show if they didn't have utter 100% faith in her.

[PeachPie]

I don't even think she's a Whitney. Whitney's songs captivated and contribute towards the soundtrack of an entire generation - I Wanna Dance (With Somebody Who Loves Me) is iconic and was still being referenced 20something+ years later, even before her death, same with her mid-tempos (Saving All My Love For You, etc.). Bar Beautiful and maybe Candyman at a push, I can't see Christina's career having that kind of impact, purely because she's always been overshadowed purely because she's always been overshadowed - as great as Genie is, it pales in comparison to ...Baby One More Time; Dirrty has fallen to the wayside when you have the likes of I'm A Slave 4 U, a decade after its release being featured on Glee, etc.

You were just about making sense in your earlier posts but now you really are just desperate.

Beautiful, Fighter, The Voice Within, Candyman, Lady Marmalade and even Ain't No Other Man are all iconic. Britney has a huge catalogue of iconic songs too but that doesn't mean that her songs in some way 'cancel' Christina's songs out or vice versa.

[IotV]

Whitney's Greatest Love of All didn't cancel out Vision of Love.
Vision of Love didn't cancel out Because You Loved Me.
etc