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GREATEST
HITS: BRITNEY'S PREROGATIVE
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GREATEST HITS: BRITNEY'S PREROGATIVE
Dubbed
by MTV as "one of the last teenage pop superstars of
the 20th century," Spears enjoyed her breakthrough
success at the end of 1998. She appeared in local dance
revues and church choirs as a young girl, and at the age
of eight auditioned for The Mickey Mouse Club. Although
she was too young to join the series, a producer on the
show gave her an introduction to a New York agent. She subsequently
spent three summers at the Professional Arts School Center.
She also appeared in a number of off-Broadway productions
as a child actor, including 1991's "Ruthless."
She returned to the Disney Channel for a spot on The Mickey
Mouse Club, where she was featured for two years between
the ages of 11 and 13. Her demo tape eventually landed in
the hands of a Jive Records executive who quickly singed
her to the label. She toured American venues for a series
of concerts sponsored by U.S teen magazines, eventually
joining "N Sync on tour. It all added up to 1999's
wildly infectious "...Baby One More Time" album
to make its bow on the charts at No. 1. The set not only
spanned a smash hit with the title tune, but also scored
with the charming ballad "Sometimes" and the funky
"(You Drive Me) Crazy." Before the album finished
its impressive worldwide attack of the charts, it garnered
Britney 4 MTV Europe Awards, including best pop performer,
and 4 Billboard Music Awards, Most notably female artist
of the year.
The
massive demand for Britney material was satisfied when her
2000 sophomore collection, "Oops!... I Did It Again"
was released to a Spears-starved world in May. Once again,
the title cut flooded radio airwaves, as did the anthemic
"Stronger" and lovely "Don't Let Me Be The
Last To Know." She also racked up more Awards that
year by taking home an American Music Award as favourite
new artist, a Billboard Music Award as artist of the year,
and 2 Teen Choice Awards. Britney would later earn Teen
Choice Award honours in 2001 and 2003. Ever-prolific, the
artist returned in 2001 with "Britney," a spirited,
assertive collection on which she began to reveal her mettle
as a tunesmith, not to mention as a vocalist of increasingly
soulful depth. She earned high praise for the wickedly sultry
"Slave 4 U," as well as for the forceful "Overprotected"
and the gentle "I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman."
The album's was quickly followed by Britney's motion picture
debut, "Crossroads," which proved that she has
the talent and box-office pull to be a multifaceted superstar.
Britney's Musical intensity and her evolution from a teen
renegade into a provocative young woman are undeniable throughout
"In The Zone," her fourth Jive Records collection.
First and foremost, the project shows her flexing notably
strong and mature songwriting muscles. She co-wrote 8 of
the project's 13 sterling new compositions, collaborating
with such heavy hitters as Red Zone ("Me Against The
Music," "The Hook Up"), Cathy Dennis ("Toxic,"
"Showdown"), R. Kelly ("Outrageous")
and Ying-yang Twins on "(I Got That) Boom Boom."
The album runs the stylistic gamut from streetwise hip-hop
and electro-trance to the new-wave-etched rock and well-crafted
pop. From top to bottom, Britney effectively expands the
parameters of mainstream musical consciousness with songs
that lure listeners with infectious hooks, and then captivates
them with layers of clever lyrics and deft instrumentation.
Perhaps
the most significant was the appearance of pop icon Madonna,
who lent her voice to the single "Me Against The Music."
Collaborating with one of her all-time greatest musical
influences was a dream come true for Britney. From this
collaboration, Britney picked up a 2004 Billboard Music
Award of Hot Dance Single of the Tear. She also went on
to win a 2004 Teen Choice Award of Choice Music Single for
"Toxic", 2004 Female Artist of the year at the
MTV Europe Awards and a 2005 Grammy for best dance Recording
of "Toxic".
Britney's
"Greatest Hits: My Prerogative" perfectly sums
up the beginning chapter of Britney's Career. As far as
the next chapter goes, "I can't imagine ever reaching
the point where I've hit the all", Britney concludes.
"There will always be something new and challenging
to tackle. I can't wait to see what happens next."
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