Britney Single Soars up Charts
Spears Loses Kids but New Release Gimme More in Billboard's Top 10
Oct 4, 2007
Britney Spears’ new single, ‘Gimme More’ leaped 68 to 3 on Billboard’s Hot 100. A number one single is inevitable, which has to be the brightest news about the troubled star in a long time.
But the question still remains - What happened to Britney Spears?
To go from cute schoolgirl, to wild mother gone bad in a few years made more than a few hands scratch heads. Hanging out with Paris Hilton is disturbing enough, but did Britney have to leave the panties home, shave her head and commit career suicide in front of the whole world on MTV's Video Music Awards?
Britney’s not the first music icon to experiment with drugs (remember the Beatles, Elvis or any band from 1960 to say 2006?) and she is not the first musician to have a meltdown. To her credit, the girl did release a Greatest Hits package before her 25th birthday – an amazing feat for any artist. But also the turning point in her career.
Her Prerogative
Bobby Brown recorded ‘My Prerogative’ back in 1989. Shortly after, his career tanked. In 2005 Britney recorded a cover version of the song and likewise, shortly after, her whole life tanked.
Brown tried to resurrect his fading star by dueting with pre-crack-head-wife Whitney, but failed miserably. Likewise Britney tried to boost the career of her husband and father of their 2 children, Kevin Federline, by introducing him at the 2006 Teen Choice Awards show before he broke out into a terrible rap. Not long afterwards the marriage went down the tubes and Britney’s life sped out of control.
The couple ultimately divorced and Britney reacted to the emotional wreckage just like anyone else would have, however dramatic. Most new divorcees go through a period of self-loathing and bitterness, a period of self-destruction and questioning – yet most grieve in private whereas Britney had to deal with her emotional turmoil and confusion every night on the national news.
Regardless of her actions, no one will know the Hell she must have gone through. That she still breathes and performs (no matter how lacklustre) today, remains nothing short of amazing.
Give Her More
‘Gimme More’, the lead single from her new album, Blackout, due October 30, reveals a new side of Britney. Harder and more mature than her past bubble gum pop efforts, this single shows a strength not mirrored by her present public image. Britney bears her fangs “It’s Britney…bitch” she growls before a pumping beat explodes into pure dance territory.
Normally a 65-point jump on the singles chart would be cause for celebration, especially after a 2-year absence from the charts. But given that earlier this week Britney temporarily lost custody of her 2 sons to ex-husband Federline, a number 3 placing on the top 100 looses its gleam.
Another custody hearing is scheduled for October 26, just a few weeks shy of the release of her new album. Let’s hope Britney Spears can turn her life around and have the kind of comeback Mariah Carey enjoyed with her “Emancipation of Mimi” album in 2005, instead of another Bobby Brown burnout.
The new video for 'Gimme More" is set to premiere next week on MTV but has already leaked to YouTube.
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