Brit Brit Spears, this amazingly classy lady and trainwreck extraordinaire, has a new video out (we all know that by now) and... surprise, it's not as bad as we all expected it to be. On closer inspection, however, I tend to think that at least half the (mildly) positive reviews "Piece of Me" got are due not so much to the quality of the video concept and production as such (to which Britney has no effective contribution after all), but to the fact that we were all very surprised to actually see that Britney showed up for the shoot and there was only a small amount of drama around the whole thing. Which, given the sad history of the popwreck's previous forays into video land (Gimme More, anyone?) is a remarkable achievement. However, now that the initial excitement has passed, there's room for a little more discussion.

A couple of closer looks at the video, and it's quite clear that we're dealing with some serious talent at work here - only not so much from Britney or her dancers, but more from the post production team. They must have a pretty good image processing department, and they did a good job slimming Brit down... I was going to say a "bit", but it's actually quite a consistent change. Take a look at the photos and you can see for yourselves that the change is quite obvious. But on the whole, at least Britney was there - and according to Wayne Isham, the man who directed the video (the same guy who also worked with Britney on her 2002 single I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman) she acted like the professional that she once was.

"She was very professional, excited to work and beautiful as always" he says. Um, I must object to the "beautiful" part, but I suppose he was only expressing his own opinion and trying to make Brit look good at the same time, which is pretty hard anyway. "I was impressed with her focus as she choreographed the dance herself. Her endurance was remarkable, as we had a long day. She almost outlasted me, which is amazing! It was a pleasure to work with her again" Isham added. Britney choreographed her own dance routine? Hell must have frozen over! How come I didn't learn about it? I suppose I should be happy about all these signs of normality from the troubled singer. But it's too much too fast. Good video and Brit acting like a pro? Better have a strong drink at hand, just in case.