Britney Spears – Interview [2000]

When the hit song “…Baby One More Time” was released just one year ago, a pop diva was born. Unlike many young stars struggling to make the charts, Britney Spears has definitely secured her place.

Who would have thought a gangly girl from Louisiana, sporting Mouseketeer ears and an innocent smile, could turn out to be one of today’s hottest sexual icons? Plastered in teenage boys’ bedrooms across the continent and beyond, Spears has staked her claim as the ultimate temptress.

With solid roots in the Baptist faith, Britney has always held fast to her religion and churchgoing ways. Typically, lyrics of a sexual nature have been reworked to meet her approval, yet the gateway for misinterpretation has been left wide open. How else do you explain the provocative crooning of “Hit me, baby”? According to Spears, “It doesn’t mean physically hit me, it means just give me a sign.” Regardless, when wailed by a seventeen-year-old clad in a catholic schoolgirl uniform, the purpose is to drive boys crazy. It’s the only conclusion one can derive. How’s that for purity? Nonetheless, the midriffs and tight leather pants have worked, and regardless of the sexy image, Spears is floating above the top.

Starting out as a gymnast at the ripe age of eight, Britney always had a passion for dance. She also nailed the talent show racket by age ten with a wide range of performances in both dance and song. She secured an agent in New York who landed her a role in the off-Broadway hit Ruthless, based on the 1956 thriller The Bad Seed . After that, it was on to the Mickey Mouse Club, where she performed for two years. Taking a break at age fourteen to try the life of a normal teenager, Britney itched to get back into the business, and at age fifteen she headed for New York once again, only this time to make it in pop music. With her vast list of credits at such a young age, I guess you could say she was destined to make it as a star.

And that she is, especially with her second release, …Oops I Did It Again!, sweeping the charts. Holding the #2 record for top sales in its first week’s release, Spears isn’t going anywhere. In fact, this prime teen is just getting started. With young pop stars gaining control of the market at a rapid pace, it’s only natural that a select few will make it for the long haul. With two major hit releases in the bag, Britney’s shot at being one of those few just got better.

Now a year older and a year wiser, Britney has taken her music up a notch. With the same seductive tone that permeated …Baby One More Time, …Oops I Did It Again! makes a similar statement, but even louder! Not only that, but every track on the release is more mature and controlled. According to Britney in an onstage interview, “I think having been in this business during the past year, I have a lot more knowledge and experience. And now being older I think I am a much stronger person.” This viewpoint is expressed in the feisty “Stronger”, in which Britney explains, “I think when you experience things in your life, dealing with both good and bad things, you just become stronger in so many ways.” Point proven. Not only has Britney grown in dance moves and voice range, she has also spread her wings to writing. “Dear Diary”, the final track on the Oops album, is co-written by Britney herself. “I used to write them (melodies) down in my diary and show them to my friends and producers I work with. And now, to actually have one on my record is a dream come true. I hope you all like it.”

With two hit albums and another world tour in the works, Britney has little time for friends and romance. Her band and dancers have become her home away from home and her music is her passion. You’d think it would be tough for a youngster leaving behind her family and friends, but with the tremendous support of her parents, she’s able to keep on working. And work she must, with millions of anxious fans waiting for her next move.

Up and coming teens are making a rise in the business and the competition is getting fierce. Though still a young eighteen, Britney is now an old-timer who has in some ways paved a road for dreamers to follow. She has proven that no matter what age you are, you can still have your dreams fulfilled. Being that kind of role model is more important that holding a number one spot on some chart. And hey, even if she does fall a bit behind, with the profits and fan base she’s already established, this is one girl that will be just fine. All I know for now is that she “did it again,” and that’s all that matters

+ Ashley Adams