Britney Doesn’t Do It Again…
…screw up big time, that is. No, as opposed to last year’s televised public meltdown as she stumbled through a shambolic performance of Gimme More, a trim, toned, and tanned Britney, obviously in her right mind and ready to reinvent her image after what was arguably the year from hell, stole the show (and garnered three Moonman statuettes) as she not only opened the MTV Video Music Awards, but won three awards of her own:
Spears was resolutely careful, determined to set right her pop star image. She was, after all, returning to the scene of the crime, so to speak. At last year’s VMAs — Britney Comeback 1.0 — her unpolished performance was roundly disparaged.
In each acceptance speech Sunday, Spears spoke briefly, thanked God and dedicated the awards to her fans. Even while opening the show, she was all business, zipping through her few lines of introduction.
“Thank you so much,” she said flatly as the crowd greeted her with a standing ovation. “Thank you for all the love.”
All three awards were for her song and video Piece Of Me, off her CD Blackout…which, if you recall, was made while Britney was in the grips of what turned out to be a serious mental illness which ultimately resulted in hospitalizations, ambulance rides, very public breakdowns, and a total grilling in a largely critical press. I remember saying at the time that the lyrics about how she didn’t see anything wrong with “working and being a mama” were pretty lame, seeing as how she could do neither at the time with any degree of success…however, now that she’s starting to put the pieces of her life back together, perhaps she can be more of a success at both.
Speculation ran rampant that Brit was going to do some sort of musical number to open the show, but as it turns out all she did was walk out to the strains of Hit Me Baby (One More Time) (kind of apropos) and, with a slightly shaky voice, recite four lines:
Thank you so much. Thank you for all the love. I’m here tonight to celebrate a very important birthday, the 25th anniversary of the VMAs. This is the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards and it starts right now.
And y’know what? That’s enough. It wasn’t Oscar-worthy, it wasn’t a huge dramatic performance, it wasn’t even all that exciting. But it was enough. Just dip a toe into the water…no need to jump in all the way. She needed to know that her peers stand behind her after a horrid time in her life, and I believe she got what she needed. In any recovery situation, one of the key things to remember is baby steps, and as long as she takes little baby steps she’ll be fine. She was with manager Larry Rudolph, whom she memorably fired a while back, and he kept a protective eye on her during the ceremony.
Everybody needs a reason to get out of bed in the mornings…everyone needs to feel like they have a little place in the world that they fill…everybody needs to have a goal in their life that they strive to reach. Brit’s goals are in the entertainment world, and I believe that as long as she stays with her therapy and keeps in touch with her doctors and takes her medication and does not overdo it, there’s no reason why she can’t do a little here and there as she feels up to it. As with any recovery, you definitely do not want to overdo it or risk a relapse…we definitely don’t want to see her like she was last year ever again.
Wait, I’m supposed to be hateful and critical and never find anything good about Britney, right? Isn’t that what commenters tell me all the time when I do a Britney story? Um, okay…I’m not fond of the hair extensions. I think she should let her short hair out and do it all punky. And personally, I didn’t think Piece Of Me was all that great, it was kind of repetitive and the vocals were over-computerized; however, I like the overall concept of the song and the video. But that’s just me. Happy now?
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Well said! I for one am extremely happy to see Britney smiling again and back on track. There is no joy in watching someone fail, even if we have lowered our expectations somewhat. If nothing else, Britney has raised the awareness of overcoming mental illness and taking charge of one’s life, even if it takes the help of family and loved ones.
God bless you Britney, keep it up honey, we have our fingers crossed for you. Next on your list, be a good role model and mother to your little men. They need you.
Comment by Dawn — September 8, 2008 @ 11:01 am
I thought Brittany looked beautiful…stunning actually. I too, am happy to see Brittany claiming her life back. She had a rough couple of years and took some pretty hard blows but she has made it through the dark times and she is not only standing on her own two feet; but beautiful and smiling as well.
Comment by Kimi — September 8, 2008 @ 5:00 pm
the real britney is the one who was running around looking like crap. the phoney britney is the one who was made up last nite.
Comment by sally — September 8, 2008 @ 5:20 pm
She looks great! I didn’t get to see the show, but these pictures are great and I’m glad she didn’t dance or whatever because she does need to take baby steps before she takes on something like a big song and dance number again. And at first I was angry that MTV had asked her back, but now I think the result was really more like everyone was being supportive and whatever. So even though I hate most of what she records, you know, I’m glad to see she’s not Amy Winehouse.
Comment by Brooke — September 8, 2008 @ 8:59 pm
Even when you think you’re being nice, “Yo’ a bitch.”
(from the Wedding Singer)
Your review was snarkely but more accurate than your review of Halperin’s interview with Geraldo.
What happened to your exclusives by the way.
That’s funny you thought you were being nice.
Comment by Amazing — September 9, 2008 @ 5:14 pm
Dawn, you’d be surprised at the number of people who “enjoy” watching someone fail.
I am not one of them.
But there were (ARE) people who wanted to see her life end, preferably at her own hand, so they could be right?
“I knew it. I said so. She was a trainwreck. I’ve been saying for weeks that….”
I can’t believe, one of those people who wanted her dead, was my best friend?
I can only imagine that my friend had so much heartache and f’ups in her life she could enjoy looking at Brit to say, “Well at least I am not like that. I’m stronger than her.”
It’s a little like someone drowning say, off the Titanic, and pushing others’ heads down to buoy up and survive.
Comment by Amazing — September 9, 2008 @ 5:25 pm
Okay, “Amazing”…I think you have me confused with Dawn. I’ve never reviewed either Halperin or Geraldo. There are two writers here, k (me) and Dawn. Learn the difference. I’m taller but Dawn has cooler hair.
And before anyone even thought Britney had a mental condition, I was here saying she showed all the signs of a mental illness and I was calling for SOMEBODY to help her before she killed herself, inadvertently or on purpose. I was relieved to see her in the hospital the second time. If that is bad, then I guess I am a bitch. And since when is it bad for me to have an opinion about her work? That is what people do…look at a thing and form an opinion about it.
Reread the article. I’m happy that her mental illness was properly diagnosed and dealt with in an appropriate manner by professionals who obviously continue to monitor her. I’m glad that she took a bit of a break from show business and got her life together. I’m happy that she is working hard to stay mentally and physically healthy. I said I thought she looked great. I did NOT want to see her fail or fall. I was emotionally wrapped up in this story. I was genuinely upset when she would turn up on the celeb sites looking like death on a very disturbed cracker. We are not Perez or any of those sites who just point fingers and laugh.
So I wasn’t that impressed by the video and I’m not thrilled with her hair…so the crap what? Minor bit of flotsam in a big sea of positives. What more do you people want?
Comment by k — September 9, 2008 @ 8:57 pm
I am not a Brittany fan, nor will I EVER be…… but its always better to see someone get back on their feet,(unless they are a criminal) rather then the road she was going down…. especially when that someone has kids. So Kudos to her.
She looked good, its her ex-manager Larry that looked like crap. Has he not slept in the past 10 years or something? Yeeessh!
Comment by OOPS! Shes DONE IT AGAIN — September 10, 2008 @ 9:56 am
k,
ok, there’s the Dawn who posted comment #1. “…There is no joy in watching someone fail..” hence my comment #6.
Comment #5 does not address you, as Dawn or k, but you’re right, I did believe you were the same person who wrote about Ia?. So “Dawn” of this site, not a commentor (?), but GL co-author, and I were the ones who had juxtaposed views on how his interview went with Geraldo?
Sorry about that. I do wish “k” that when you speak of Brit’s mental health you include that someone was drugging and controlling her, with drugs that rearranged her mind? I think those drugs were meant to be “steady state” not drugs by the handful as Lutfi decided to make her do.
Comment by Amazing — September 11, 2008 @ 7:20 pm
That was poorly written. Sorry.
Comment by Amazing — September 11, 2008 @ 7:21 pm
Amazing: Okay, I are confuzed.
When I read your initial comment, I thought it was directed at Dawn, who is the head honcho here and who writes here, because you thought she wrote this article. I thought you had me (k) confused with Dawn.
Dawn has done many articles about Ian Halperin and one did concern Geraldo, so I thought you had confused the two of us. It has happened before with other commenters, so I thought it had happened again here.
And when I speak of drugs and Britney, I am talking about both kinds…I believe she has in the past done drugs, I also believe that Sam Lufti (and possibly others) were drugging her with prescription and/or illegal drugs. I think she was overprescribed and the mixture of meds didn’t go well with her system, but Sam gave them to her anyway. Why? Not sure…possibly to worsen her manic states and get put in charge of her fortune so he could do as he wished with it. In other words…proper meds at a proper dosage would have been good, but too many meds at too high dosages were bad.
You’ll notice now that Sam is gone and her father is in control of her life and finances and medical issues, Brit is well on her way to regaining her life and her dignity. I mean, look at her this time last year, and look at her now. It’s like night and day.
Brit will never be one of my favorite performers or even one of my favorite people. But I am glad to see that, as a human being, her train isn’t wrecking any longer.
Comment by k — September 11, 2008 @ 8:49 pm