Britney's Exciting

Before I get going on my opinion, let me offer a brief critique of the mass number of hostile opinions against Britney Spears. It seems to me particularly cruel that so many people seem to take such pleasure in calling Britney Spears demeaning vulgar names, especially considering the fact that she is a nice young woman. It seems almost hilarious -- and very sad -- to see opinions titled, "I'll Hit Her One More Time," "Someone Please Hit Her," and "Burning Hatred" (of Britney) get the little "Opinion Highly Recommended by an advisor." That such opinions could be highly recommended is laughable. What could an opinion with a vulgar title like "I'll Hit Her One More Time," possibly have to offer in the way of constructive criticism? These reviews are just flames, and certainly do not deserve any rating other than "Not Recommended." That they are "Highly Recommended by an advisor" makes me question the intelligence of the "advisors" of Epinions, and furthermore the integrity of Epinions as a whole.

That said, let me explain the vast majority of criticisms of Britney Spears: (1) She can't sing (2) She has no looks (3) She flaunts her sex (4) Her songs have no point (5) The only reason she's successful is because of promotion (6) If it weren't for her good looks, she'd be nothing.

Regarding (1) well, let me say the Britney Spears certainly can sing, as is shown in the single parts of "Sometimes," "Lucky," "When Your Eyes Say It," and "Dear Diary." Really, what they are saying when they say she can't sing is that they don't like the way she sings, or the type of singing that she does. They don't like her Southern accent or her "pouty" voice which often makes like she's singing through tears. Regarding those who just criticize her because they don't like the pop-culture, it is sad that they have to resort to flaming crude remarks targeted at one young woman to express their dislike of an entire genre of music. And regarding those who don't like the "way" she sings because of here Southern accent or her "pouty" voice -- well, let me just say that it is those very same features of her voice that her fans love, and that distinguish her from other pop-culture singers like Aguilera and Twain.

Regarding (2), anyone who says that Britney Spears doesn't have good looks is, plain and simply, lying through their teeth. Britney Spears has exceptionally good looks -- not that I'd like her any less if she didn't -- and anyone who would say otherwise is really pretty desperate. Comments along the lines that "she is slightly overweight," or "too skinny" can be disregarded as obviously lies. And even if they weren't, so what?

Regarding (3), almost every pop-culture singer flaunts her sex, and almost every female (and male) singer does to some extent. Britney Spears just does it in a way that certain people don't like because her flaunting of her sexuality is mixed in with a slew of innocence and hurt. Let me say that there is nothing wrong with flaunting your sexuality, and it certainly makes her music exciting -- part of what gives it that quality that makes the listener feel alive. Really, what people who say that Spears flaunts her sexuality are objecting to is the intermingling of sex, innocence, and hurt(anyone listening to her music can clearly hear and feel that there are sexual undertones, as well as an underlying tone in her music of innocence and hurt in many songs). I don't see why there is anything objectionable about mixing these three things -- sex, innocence, and hurt -- in fact, it is rather unconventional and interesting, as it forces us to realize that two things we don't normally associate with each other -- sex and innocence -- can be associated with each other, and that two things we really don't want to think about together -- sex and hurt or pain -- are in fact closely related.

Regarding (4), that her songs have no point. Yes, some of her songs have no point, and many of them use cliches, and many have the same point. So what? I mean, she is a teenager and a young woman, not a philosopher who's had years to reflect on her life. What do you expect from her, some great deep pathos, a Homeric tragedy in her songs? Come on, get real. How many songs have you ever listened to that have actually had an original point? Even songs like "War, what is it good for" have only really expressed an already made point in the form of music. And really, what Britney is doing is not expressing a point or some view on political matters, but showing us part of what it's like to be her -- to be a young teenaged girl in a world where sex is both looked down on and advertised -- in America. She sings her songs with emotion and it shows through in her voice, as well as to the tune of the songs. What makes her songs unique isn't the lyrics(which are really supplemental to the emotion expressed in her voice, the beat and tunes) but the way the emotion behind them is expressed in a collage of intermingling voices and instruments.

Regarding (5), that she is only successful because of promotion. Yes, promotion and advertisement has played a large role in elevating her to her Superstardom, but it has in no way been wholly responsible for her popularity. *Every* singer relies heavily on promotion, and so does every young singer entering the profession with one really good song(e.g., "Baby, One More Time"). The promotion of Britney Spears has only made people aware of her -- it hasn't made them like her. If her music was really garbage, then the promotion wouldn't help her. Let me also say that the first Britney Spears song I ever heard by Britney Spears was "Baby One More Time," and it was on the radio. I had no idea who she was, and had never heard of her name, and I(in fact) thought she was African American. But I instantly liked her first song. That had nothing whatsoever to do with promotion. And it also had nothing to do with her looks. It was just the nature of the music.

And this gets us to the final criticism of Britney Spears, that she would be nothing without her good looks. Well, maybe her good looks have helped her -- the pictures of her gorgeous face and body on her CD-albums certainly didn't hurt. But good looks won't make people like your voice or your music. Like I said, I liked her music before I knew anything about her.

Now, let me say what's in the title: Britney Spears is exciting. That's pretty much a fact. Her music is exciting, her looks are exciting, her dancing is exciting, and she is exciting. She makes me feel alive, and she keeps me awake at 3:00 at night when I'm listening to her with my headphones, a time at which I would normally otherwise be sound asleep. I like her voice, and I especially like her top-notch dancing; I like the way she manages to express sexuality, innocence, hurt, pain, and confusion all in the same song and all in the same voice at once. I like the way the accompanying music and chorus in songs like "Oh Baby Baby," "Crazy," and "I will be there" make your heart jump and startle you, but at the same time express undertones.

Since this review is already extensive, I will divide my comments on the music in this CD into two categories: the upbeat songs and the slow ones.

In "Crazy," probably the most upbeat song of the album, the background music is striking and pronounced. It is in your face and so is Britney Spears and the chorus. In a word, the song is aggressive. It is also enough to give you a shock. I know this from the experience of cranking the volume on my radio all the way up and listening to it with headphones. The first notes are so sudden and so pronounced that they give me a jump every time. Another need effect that I always feel when I listen to her is when the music stops at the end of the song, or during a momentary silence in the song -- the sudden absence of sound feels like a ripple of force flowing through me. The background music and the chorus complement Britney's voice and approach climax at certain points of the song, really making you just want to get up and dance.

Now, let me talk about the song "Sometimes" in the album. This is not a totally slow paced song, but it is laid back and easy-going. This features moments of Britney Spears in a solo voice, at points in the song which open the song, close it, and are climax points within it. It is particularly effective, the way her voice sort of melds into the chorus voice, and then melds out of it into a solo. The overlapping of her voice with the chorus which achieve a kind of echo effects really accent the Southern pathos-filled voice of Britney Spears; these are the times when her voice really sounds like she's singing through tears, really makes you a little sad and a little excited at the same time -- your sad because of the somewhat melancholy tone in her voice, and excited b/c the beat and chorus of the song just makes you want to, again, get up and dance. By the way, if you've seen the video of this song, it is clear that Britney Spears really works hard, because she does some very finely tuned and complex. She clearly has a lot of talent.

So, do you want a summary of the reasons why I like Britney Spears? No problem: She's exciting; she's fun; she flaunts sex, innocence, hurt, pain, and excitement in her songs; her voice is really adorable.

But really, what makes Britney's music so great is that you can be at ease with it, because -- although she expresses some of the more somber parts of being a teenager -- she is honest in her music, and it comes through in her voice, her chorus, and her music. She doesn't try to oversimplify things, nor does she try to complicate them with unnatural deep thoughts about simple things. She doesn't try to filter out emotions -- she just gives it all to you.

Britney Spears and her music really is honest, but not brutal: a subtle kind of honesty.

She is charming and I am charmed.