14 DAY TRIAL // Britney Spears remains, for 2009 as well, the most sought after celebrity, making more headlines even when out shopping than other artists for putting on a spectacular show. She has had one of the most mediated and brilliant comebacks in music history, yet competition on the scene is so tight that she seems very close to losing her hard-earned crown of the ultimate Princess of Pop, e-zine ThatGrapeJuice argues.
Fans will always love Britney, that much is certain, just as also is the fact that critics will give credit where it’s due. That happened with her latest releases, and it also occurred back in the day when the troubles in her personal life seemed to present more interest for the general public than a new single or video she put out. Still, after her publicized meltdowns, something seems to have been irremediably lost. That, combined with the fact that other pop artists are coming strong from behind, seems to tear at the very foundation of Britney’s claim to the title of Princess of Pop.
“She was once the most powerful force in Pop music; the heir apparent to the Pop dynasty. It seemed that at the turn of the century, there was no bigger star than Britney Spears. From show-stopping performances to worldwide #1 successes, she exploded onto the charts, toppling the long held reign of more established artists. However, the ‘fire’ that once made Spears the most sought after entertainer of her time appears to have been lost,” the e-zine says.
From one of the best performers on the scene, Spears is now reduced to only running through the motions, as if there is nothing behind the glitzy, well-synchronized façade, the report goes on to argue. She still has her millions of fans from around the world, some of whom would fight tooth and nail to prove that she remains the best artist pop music has to offer, but the problem is that she’s not earning new followers. To make matters even more potentially worse, other singers, like Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Beyonce are putting in 100% to have their music reach as many fans as possible and to make their appearances, no matter how few, truly memorable. On the other hand, Spears seems to no longer care about any of that.
“Regardless of the position that her music is now arguably at its best, the energy that Spears exudes in the studio no longer translates on stage. In fact, some critics assert that it is this decline in potency that allowed Beyonce to rise to the helm of the Pop charts. This begs the question: has Spears permanently lost the ‘glint’ in her eye? Or does she stand a chance of returning to fine form? In any case, with mounting competition from her younger contemporaries including Lady GaGa and Rihanna, many contend that unless she is able to recapture that ‘magic,’ her days as the Princess of Pop are surely numbered,” the e-zine goes on to say.
Sadly, many happen to be of the same opinion as the one stated above. The end of the decade finds Britney Spears as a mere shadow of the performer she promised to be a few years ago. In time, her routine will wear out and people will find replacements for her from the many options available. Of course, fans – true fans – are free to disagree.