Why Britney Matters

[fuzzis]

Why Britney Matters (http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=474257)

Why 'Blackout' Is the Most Underappreciated Smash Album of 2007

I thought this article was pretty interesting. It's about Britney's merits as an artist; not really about the trainwreck that her life is. Food for thought.

...It's challenging to engage in a serious conversation about Britney Spears. My friends are proud of their musical tastes and I frequently embarrass them, but there are limits. Over time, derivative acts such as Stone Temple Pilots and Everclear have gained a grudging hipster acceptance. Ten years from now, I predict, we'll think about Nickelback in an entirely different way. Despite selling 80 million albums, it's doubtful Britney will ever be appraised as anything more than a signifier of other, more relevant cultural trends. The intelligentsia doesn't even consider her a musician. She's barely a vessel. One friend tells me that Britney Spears is a wholly manufactured sound, the only difference between Spears and a computer program being her ability to walk onstage.

But it's not true. Britney has a way of dipping at the end of a verb like she's having an orgasm so intense and fast the only thing to do is dance right through it. Other times she's forceful, or innocent; she always feels it at exactly the right time. She doesn't have "pipes" like Mariah or Christina. What she has is a sweet Southern drawl that tells a story, which is strange, because it's a story she doesn't seem to understand. Her songs contradict each other; and as she gets older, her schoolgirl drawl is ripping in two, leaving a ragged, adult edge evidenced on almost all the songs in Blackout, her best album by far. It's the sound of a voice at its peak, about to go into steep decline.

A large part of the criticism of Britney comes from the fact that she doesn't write her own songs. If she did, it's likely the rest of her transgressions would be easily forgiven. After all, artists are supposed to be self-centered and crazy. I have to remind people that Elvis didn't write his own songs, either....

[aaron]

I just could not believe Blackout hit No. 1. One of my family members asked for it for Christmas. I'm guilty of the same though, I rarely think of the artist when I pick my music. I'm only looking for something that expresses how I feel or puts me in a certain mood. That's pretty much how I categorize it too.

[virgo]

I am almost embarrassed to say that I thought the album was actually decent. :)

[fuzzis]

I wasn't surprised that the album hit no. 1; there was too much hype about Britney in generally for there not to be some good early sales.

I kinda ignored her when I was younger, but I gotta say that I do enjoy shakin' it to "Toxic". :laugh:

[fuzzis]

I am almost embarrassed to say that I thought the album was actually decent. :)

You have it? You bringin' it with you?

[virgo]

You have it? You bringin' it with you?

Sure, I can. I think it is still in my car :)

And while we are on the topic, the second video she released is MUCH BETTER than the first one.

[pinkytuscadero]

I downloaded the "Give Me More" club remix. It is really fast and good for walking. I did it on son #2's ipod. He was totally grossed out!:smt118 I told him I would kill him if he deleted it.

Pinky

[Dixie Tree Slayer]

Why Britney Matters (http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=474257)

Why 'Blackout' Is the Most Underappreciated Smash Album of 2007

I thought this article was pretty interesting. It's about Britney's merits as an artist; not really about the trainwreck that her life is. Food for thought.What is sad is she does have a beautiful voice. But you never get to hear it... Get some of her stuff when she was not a star and watch and listen to her sing.... I didn't bother to read any of the article since the author obviously did not dig any to see if she did or did not have a voice. :confused: And to me ...:smt102 she does not matter. She is a self serving person with the ability to do good in the world with her clout... However she does nothing but feed her body whatever it is craving at the present moment.
My personal favorite is Shakira... Yes I like the way she can make her body move. But she is self taught English and writes a lot of her stuff. She also has set up a foundation to help the children in Columbia her war torn home country. She helps provide medical, nutritional, psychological, etc to children affected by violence and poverty in Columbia. She goes to corporations governments and people such as you and I to contribute to her cause...
This is someone I could possibly encourage my daughter to consider emulating... She is not drunk in the bars and swimming in her underwear for the press. She is trying to use her talents, influence, and means to help people unable to help themselves... What has Britney done? She tried to get her son's teeth bleached white for the paparazzi...
So if Britney does matter it is in the fact she is a poster child of what every parent should use to make sure their kid does not turn out like her...

[fuzzis]

Just a small point, but he does investigate whether she has a voice or not. She does not have a strong voice, that's for certain, but the rest of the article is rather interesting review of her career.

[Dixie Tree Slayer]

HarleyBarbie agrees: Well stated...Regarding Shakira, you know you really just like her hips! lol:smt103
She has hips?... Oh wait she does.. .but they do not lie...:clap:
It was her whenever video that caught my eye I must confess... And if you notice anything about me I have a problem with not leaving things as they are... Most people get in their car and put the key in and drive... I have to know what goes on from the key to the tailpipe... If I am interested in something or somebody I dig and dig and dig information on anything that strikes my interest. Whether it is a hip shaking singer from Columbia or other useful/useless stuff that strikes me...

[Dixie Tree Slayer]

Just a small point, but he does investigate whether she has a voice or not. She does not have a strong voice, that's for certain, but the rest of the article is rather interesting review of her career.Hmmm
Thats odd... Maybe I am remembering someone else but when you watched her coming up through Disney and others things she would belt her voice like hell. You sure I am not crazy?...
I think I remember when she first came into the limelight that it was a shame she did not use her real voice...
IIRC she actually got her singing career honestly on the merits of her voice...
I AM NOT GONNA TRY AND FIND OUT>>>>

[HarleyBarbie]

Hmmm
Thats odd... Maybe I am remembering someone else but when you watched her coming up through Disney and others things she would belt her voice like hell. You sure I am not crazy?...
I think I remember when she first came into the limelight that it was a shame she did not use her real voice...
IIRC she actually got her singing career honestly on the merits of her voice...
I AM NOT GONNA TRY AND FIND OUT>>>>

Sure that wasn't Christina? They were both blonde Mickey Mousers! Christina can blow for sure!!

[fuzzis]

There's no doubt that Britney was willing to work hard, but I don't remember her being a stand-out.

[Dixie Tree Slayer]

Sure that wasn't Christina? They were both blonde Mickey Mousers! Christina can blow for sure!!Yep.. .Sure I remember Christina. Christina is another flavor... :smt023There's no doubt that Britney was willing to work hard, but I don't remember her being a stand-out.
And this is probably where the difference lies between the two of us. You probably have a good ear and such where I can only vouch for what I hear... And my ear is not musically disciplined to really appreciate a singer's voice... But to me from day one Britney has used some type of enhancing synthesizer. I think she would do fine acapello:smt023... (did I spell that right?)
Any way I concede cause this is where I am definitely in the inferior position...:confused:

[HarleyBarbie]

Yep.. .Sure I remember Christina. Christina is another flavor... :smt023
And this is probably where the difference lies between the two of us. You probably have a good ear and such where I can only vouch for what I hear... And my ear is not musically disciplined to really appreciate a singer's voice... But to me from day one Britney has used some type of enhancing synthesizer. I think she would do fine acapello:smt023... (did I spell that right?)
Any way I concede cause this is where I am definitely in the inferior position...:confused:

It's A cappella. As a trained vocalist, I can attest to the fact that she has definitely always had a little "help". And her voice is just ok IMO. But hey, she had the goods to sell records. Whatever it was (I happen to believe it was sex that sold) it worked.

[Dixie Tree Slayer]

It's A cappella. As a trained vocalist, I can attest to the fact that she has definitely always had a little "help". And her voice is just ok IMO. But hey, she had the goods to sell records. Whatever it was (I happen to believe it was sex that sold) it worked.
ok ok....
All right....
I'm trying....
Whew...
I have editied and edited and edited this post and I am only posting it cause of the time I have spent on it... There is nothing in here of any value or contain anything resembling sense... But that was a nice set up with the trained vocals and all... But you're a lady and I resemble something of a gentleman so... I am just gonna look stupid on this post ok?:smt023:laugh:

[CircusRide]

I like Brit because she makes my mouth water. Everytime I hear her name, I think about a sloppy roast beef sandwich.....mmmmmmm.
Crap, I'm hungry now.

[Fish-Bait]

Oh babuh, babuh. (boom chica bow wow)

[ComputerDude]

Somebody said Britney had a beautiful voice which almost made me blow coffee out my nostrils. She has a horrid voice that is mixed and re-mixed in the studio to make her sound not completely like a cat getting run over by a cement truck repeatedly. Britney's appeal was her sexuality. She was selling it when she hit the scene with "hit me one more time" at the ripe old age of what, sixteen or seventeen?
Now at a time when her sexual appeal is all but DEAD, if she had a real voice she'd at least be able to get on stage and belt out really good songs, but she can't. Once she lost what made her marketable, she was through.

[mybabysmomma]

[quote=Dixie Tree Slayer;432835]
My personal favorite is Shakira... Yes I like the way she can make her body move.....quote]
She is also my husband's personald favorite. Only it's not because of her humanitarian ways. I try to keep some cold water handy just in case he stumbles across one of her videos. It dosen't matter which one. Any will do. :smt103 I do think "Hips Don't Lie" is his fave, though. Men. :smt009 :laugh:

[Dixie Tree Slayer]

[quote=Dixie Tree Slayer;432835]
My personal favorite is Shakira... Yes I like the way she can make her body move.....quote]
She is also my husband's personald favorite. Only it's not because of her humanitarian ways. I try to keep some cold water handy just in case he stumbles across one of her videos. It dosen't matter which one. Any will do. :smt103 I do think "Hips Don't Lie" is his fave, though. Men. :smt009 :laugh:
Obviously your husband is a man with excellent taste... I only found about her humanitarian ways because I liked her movements and sound. Then it was a dig for information. Mine is Objection Tango... But then of course I too like them all!!!;)

[Mike'sGirl]

Okay, I'm not a guy so I guess I am unable to 'appreciate' Shakira's more obvisous assets, but honestly.........I think her singing is extremely bad.
She has no range, therefore alternates between a mousy-squeak and singing through her nose. It's awful. I have to turn the channel on the radio if one of her songs comes on. I just can't deal with it.
If she was just 'okay-looking' and fully dressed, no one would give her the time of day.
Kudos to her for her humanitarian work, but the girl just sings BAD!
She is definitely a product of good marketing.

[fuzzis]

Okay, I'm not a guy so I guess I am unable to 'appreciate' Shakira's more obvisous assets, but honestly.........I think her singing is extremely bad.
She has no range, therefore alternates between a mousy-squeak and singing through her nose. It's awful. I have to turn the channel on the radio if one of her songs comes on. I just can't deal with it.
If she was just 'okay-looking' and fully dressed, no one would give her the time of day.
Kudos to her for her humanitarian work, but the girl just sings BAD!
She is definitely a product of good marketing.

The first folks who turned her down for a record deal said she sounded like a goat bleating. I agree. :laugh:

[ComputerDude]

So, to add to the Britney drama. She apparently flipped out last night when she was suppose to give the kids back to her ex husband. The police were called and she ended up being taken out in a stretcher, allegedly either drunk or stoned (or both)

Story (http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/01/04/spears/index.html)

[Dixie Tree Slayer]

Okay, I'm not a guy so I guess I am unable to 'appreciate' Shakira's more obvisous assets, but honestly.........I think her singing is extremely bad.
She has no range, therefore alternates between a mousy-squeak and singing through her nose. It's awful. I have to turn the channel on the radio if one of her songs comes on. I just can't deal with it.
If she was just 'okay-looking' and fully dressed, no one would give her the time of day.
Kudos to her for her humanitarian work, but the girl just sings BAD!
She is definitely a product of good marketing.
Well Mike'sGirl it is like this... Testosterone can make one person oblivious to many things...:kekeke:
In reality though somewhere I posted I have no clue as to range or anything musically related... I do agree with you in that about product marketing... I will even expand on it and say that a very high majority of singers being trotted out today only get to because they think they will appeal aesthetically to an audience... The old TV show The Brady Bunch had an episode where Greg was being recruited away from the family group and it turned out it was more that he fit the suit rather than he could sing good...
But back to Shakira... I heard her singing Underneath Your Clothes on the radio and wife and I thought it was a good song.... But as I said I am not one to go to for music reviews... And I had rather catch some grief from you on my hormone levels here on MH than to go try and find her on the net, TV or radio!!!:-D

[pinkytuscadero]

This was on Perez

http://img.perezhilton.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/drivintips_2__oPt.jpg

[ComputerDude]

She lost visitation rights.

[Luvia]

I read she tested clean for drugs and alcohol too.

I've said from the beginning this is mental...maybe PPD gone seriously out of control.

Of course, I still wouldn't be surprised if drugs didn't accelerate all this, even if she tested clean for now.