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1* AcclaimedFlop: ''Blackout'' was critically acclaimed but shafted by ''Billboard'' at the last minute, who changed their rulings at the eleventh hour before it was due to hit #1. It debuted at #2 and found mediocre success. Since Spears' official return to music in 2008, many critics and fans alike have gone back to the album and given it the credit it deserves, with many citing it as her best album. For that matter, Britney herself considers ''Blackout'' to be her best work.
2* ActingForTwo: The music video for Lucky features Britney as herself and an actress.
3* BreakthroughHit: "...Baby One More Time".
4* BreakupBreakout: Was in a girl-group called Innosense for all of five seconds before deciding to go solo and getting signed to Jive.
5* CareerResurrection: She basically came back from the dead.
6** Interestingly enough the start of her coming back was her breakdown (she began working on what would become Blackout as early as mid-2006 when her marriage was falling apart) and her intent on getting music out even if inside she was feeling nasty and having a CreatorBreakdown.
7* CashCowFranchise: One of the richest musicians from 1999-2013. One of the top 3 most influential musicians of 2010. One of the richest musicians of 2009, 2010, and 2011. Forbes reported that Spears was the highest-paid female musician of 2012, with earnings of $58 million, having last topped the list in 2002. Has expanded her franchise to involve movies, dolls, computer games, traditional games, clothing, and perfumes.
8** Made somewhat darker, however, by the fact that between February 2008 and November 2021 since was under a legal conservatorship, and had no control over any of that money.
9* ContractualPurity: Being a Disney alumnus wasn't necessary for her success. People were still mad when she acted her age in 2001!
10* CostumeBacklash: She regretted the red bodysuit she wore for the "Oops I Did It Again" video, as it was hot and uncomfortable, comparing it to dancing while wearing a balloon.
11* CreatorBacklash:
12** She thinks the music video for "Gimme More" is hands down the worst video she’s ever done.
13** She now hates The Onyx Hotel Tour, as she doesn’t like how sexual it got, which she attributed to feeling betrayed by Justin Timberlake for painting her as the bad guy in their breakup and embarrassing her by revealing details about their sex life so her rebuttal "on stage was to go there a little bit", along with fact she was burnt out from performing, so much so the whole time she even hoped she would get injured so the tour would end. She would actually end up injuring her knee on the set of her music video for "Outrageous" and had to get surgery, resulting in the rest of the tour getting canceled.
14** She has said outright she thinks all her past music [[PrecisionFStrike fucking rocks]]...but she has said that of all the fashions she's worn, the red LatexSpaceSuit from "Oops!...I Did It Again" is the one thing she'd never wear again, saying it was hot, uncomfortable, and it felt like wearing a balloon. In 2004, she announced at a show that she never liked her 1998 song "Sometimes." It's well known that she also never liked her song "Outrageous," but her label made her record it.
15* CreatorBreakdown:
16** "The Original Doll" would have been an example of this trope if it had been released. She clearly had some very significant problems and they were spoken of in the "Art/TheMonaLisa" demo and her sample of the song "Rebellion". The release of this could have averted the breakdown she had. She often mentioned a lack of trust in her family and those close to her outside of her fledgling family.
17** She personally went through a personal breakdown and had deep emotional/trust issues in late 2006 to early 2008. She mostly averts this with her releases and tries to keep a separation between her music and her personal feelings/lives/creations.
18** Her cancelled album ''Shock Your Mind'' was supposed to be this too. Till her recording company stepped in for the first time to "adjust" the idea behind the album to her SelfTitledAlbum ''Britney''.
19** Let's not forget about "Lucky". Released in 2000, the song tells the story of a girl who is a worldwide superstar, but feels lonely and as if no one understands her. The song also never offers a resolution to the issue, ending with the lyrics "Why do these tears come at night?". Could it be that Britney was trying to tell us something? Or could it be that she was just worried about what might happen (and what ultimately DID happen) if she let all the negativity get to her? Either way, given her very public breakdown in 2007, the song is a bit too prophetic for comfort.
20* CreatorsFavorite: She cites ''Blackout'' as her favorite album that she's released.
21* CreatorsOddball: ''Britney'' is her only studio album that does not feature the word "crazy" as a lyric on any of the tracks.
22* DoingItForTheArt: Has passed into this working so hard on her career after being such an IronWoobie all the time. She does it for her fans, and for the show and for the music. She can't quit.
23* DyeHard: A natural brunette, she is better known as a blonde, though she has reverted back to her natural hair colour from time to time.
24* ExecutiveMeddling:
25** Britney was forced to change her video "Everytime" when the media found out that she wanted to do a video where she kills herself by overdosing on pills. Instead of killing herself, she passes out from a head injury and drowns due to a bump on the head, dies in hospital but is shown resurfacing from the water at the end of the video, probably to reassure critics. Frustratingly, when the new version aired, many misinterpreted her red Kabbalah bracelet as a slashed wrist and criticized her for assuming she kept the suicide ending in the whole time.
26** The ''Britney'' album was originally supposed to be titled ''Shock Your Mind'' and was supposed to have much edgier, darker songs...she actually had co-written all but one of the tracks for the album. The label was displeased, though, and long-time producer Max Martin was called in to sweeten the sound. Britney was displeased with the meddling, though, and the two clashed in the studio, which ultimately ended in the two not working together for several years. They also cancelled the Crossoroads soundtrack proper and made Britney the album a soundtrack to the movie.
27** They meddled yet AGAIN by completely shelving the unreleased album ''The Original Doll'' (now ''Blackout''). Britney angered her label by going on radio station KIIS-FM and playing a rough draft of the lead single for the album, "Mona Lisa," and as a result the plug was pulled completely on the project. Many believe that the label simply didn't think the album was commercial enough to sell well, which was the true reason for the album being shelved.
28** In general Britney's whole career between 2008-2021 has been this, since her father had conservatorship of her and controlled any business or legal decisions about her life.
29* FountainOfExpies: She replaced Madonna as the archetype of "pop star" in North America. If a movie or TV series made in the past decade or so has a character considered a "pop star," odds are it will owe something to Britney.
30* InvisibleAdvertising: Since having her children and passing into a certain level of fame, she's stopped promoting so much. It's more about her priorities being touring/performing for her fans, focusing on her family/friends/significant others and knowing her fans are there for her more than anything else. Some of her fans resent her not doing so many interviews, cameos, promos and live performances on shows like ''Saturday Night Live'' though. She hasn't stopped entirely, but there has been a slow down since her children came into her life. It's a priority thing.
31* KeepCirculatingTheTapes:
32** She has 5 or 6 fanmade albums of rejected materials/demo tracks on the internet on youtube and various other websites. She also has a lot of bonus tracks and b-sides which are somewhat hard to find. Album rejects and demos leak every couple of months. It's hard to keep up. Blackout Demos are also around the internet under different titles.
33** Onyx Hotel and The Circus Tour didn't get proper DVD releases and have various fan made recordings on the web too. Her music videos often trend. "I Am Britney Jean" & "I Am The Femme Fatale" are also in circulation on various websites.
34* LicensedGame: Britney's Dance Beat.
35* MissingEpisode: The ''Original Doll'' album was cancelled and fans are ravenous about the full version of ''Rebellion'' not being leaked.
36* {{Promoted Fan|boy}}girl:
37** She was a huge Music/{{Madonna}} fan growing up, went on to work with Madonna on Me Against The Music. After performing with her at the VMA's, kissing her as part of a live performance and featuring on her tour. Madonna has also said some rather positive statements about Britney and how she feels maternal towards her while respecting her talent.
38** She performed a duet with Music/MichaelJackson, live.
39* PlayingAgainstType:
40** In the "I Wanna Go" music video she plays an ass grabbing rock diva who sleeps with cops to get out of trouble and kicks paparazzi's butts multiple times. This is the exact opposite of her NiceGirl image and all her other videos where she either dances a lot or places a GoodBadGirl.
41** Also her role as a judge on ''Series/TheXFactor'' forced her to be more verbal about what she expects out of fellow artists and be rude sometimes.
42* SoMyKidsCanWatch: Britney reportedly signed on to record "Ooh La La" for ''Film/TheSmurfs2'' as her sons enjoyed the first movie. Her children also appear in the music video.
43* WagTheDirector: The label wanted "Baby One More Time" to have a space-themed music video, but she pushed for the school setting.
44* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
45** "The Original Doll", a [[GenreMashup jazz rock acoustic singer/songwriter]] record was cancelled by the recording company. Had it come to be she might've become more respected musically by the general public. Although the album that did ultimately result was her first to be critically acclaimed anyway.
46** Doing "Telephone" with Music/LadyGaga and releasing it either as a duet or on her own.
47** The original idea for ''Britney'' was to be an album called ''Shock Your Mind,'' with more grown up and personal lyrics. This was halted by her recording company who felt Max Martin was needed for at least one more album.
48** The original "Everytime" video.
49** "Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know" had an original video which was sexier than the released version.
50** "Dramatic", "Look Who's Talking", and "Guilty" getting released would've told her side of the story instead of letting Music/JustinTimberlake hold a pity party for himself. Everytime did the trick in a different way though.
51** Original "Gimme More" video.
52** The original "Perfume" video.
53** Was supposed to play an heiress who shoots her philandering boyfriend in ''Film/{{Chicago}}'' (the role that ultimately went to Creator/LucyLiu). Britney turned it down as she had no interest in pursuing an acting career after her experiences with ''Film/{{Crossroads}}''.
54** Many suspect that ''Femme Fatale'' was originally meant to be a much, ''much'' different album than the final product we all know and love today; a leaked track titled "Everyday" is rumored to have been a cut track from the album and is as different as night and day from anything included on that album, as it is a sweet, introspective ballad that was more than likely written as a love letter to her fiance and references her past hardships as well. Many have commented that ''Femme Fatale'' was supposed to be a much slower-paced, vocal-centric record that was light on dance tracks, hence why Britney looked like she was gearing up to promote the album as early as late 2010 (her high-profile appearance on Glee; anybody who knows the girl knows that she more or less goes into hiding when she's not promoting material). The Powers That Be at Jive, however, had different plans; upon hearing the album they might have decided that the album just wasn't commercial enough and decided to bring in Dr. Luke, Max Martin, and will.i.am at the last minute to make an album that would do well chart-wise. It definitely explains a lot of the kinks that Britney's team ran into during the era, including her indifference and lack of preparedness when it came to promoting the record, the last-minute recording sessions with will.i.am, the unpolished look of the album's artwork, etc. Of course, it's all just a rumor, but a compelling one nonetheless.
55** She nearly missed out on recording "Toxic" as it was originally offered to Music/KylieMinogue. Kylie had rejected it as she felt it did not mesh with the sound she was going for at the time, so it was given to Britney instead. In fact, "Toxic" is actually the replacement for "Graffiti My Soul", which Britney's management did not like. That song was eventually recorded by Music/GirlsAloud.
56** She also almost got Umbrella (currently by Music/{{Rihanna}}) for what became her Blackout record. One must wonder how she'd do that career evolving track.
57** According to a biography of Simon Cowell, he wanted "...Baby One More Time" so badly for his boy band Music/{{Five}}, that after hearing a demo of it from Max Martin, he [[http://www.ew.com/article/2012/05/01/simon-cowell-sweet-revenge-biography attempted to bribe]] Martin with a very expensive Mercedes-Benz if Martin would give him the song. Martin refused and offered up "Bye Bye Bye" instead. Unfortunately for 5ive, they hated the demo and that song became Music/{{NSYNC}}'s SignatureSong.
58** Speaking of "...Baby One More Time," Max Martin originally wrote the song for Music/{{TLC}}, but they had issues with the lyrics, and they were on hiatus at the time anyway. There were no hard feelings from TLC about missing out on it; after all, their comeback single wound up being a huge hit itself - a little ditty called "No Scrubs."
59** In an interview with Richard Blackwood in 2001, she said she got a script and would've loved to have been a part of the movie. She never revealed what movie it was, but, by context clues (the year, "it's a love story", the other woman who auditioned was solely an actress), most people think she was almost cast as the lead in ''Film/TheNotebook''.
60** A ''Blackout'' tour was considered but it was scrapped when Spears decided to focus on recording the album's follow-up ''Circus'' and to recover from her breakdown after the backlash of her infamous 2007 MTV [=VMA=]s performance.
61** When she was first signed, Britney considered performing in more of a pop/rock style, or in her own words, "Music/SherylCrow music, but younger; more adult contemporary" . The dance pop/ teen pop style of ''...Baby One More Time'' was the label's idea, but she was happy with the material and considered it "more me".
62** A few years after ''[[Series/TheMickeyMouseClub The All-New Mickey Mouse Club]]'' ended, Spears joined a GirlGroup called Innosense, which also included fellow MMC alumna Nikki [=DeLoach=] and was co-managed by the mother of ''other'' MMC alum Music/JustinTimberlake. Britney was picked as the BreakupBreakout before they could record anything. The rest of the group wound up getting signed by Lou Pearlman, the mogul behind Music/BackstreetBoys and Music/{{NSYNC}} who, at the time, was scrambling to find another pop act to manage after an ugly, public split from both boy bands. Innosense recorded one album in 2000 and the theme to ''Anime/Pokemon3'' a year later, opened for Britney on one of her early tours and then quickly dissolved.
63** There are videos from Britney's early career and as a teen of her singing in a significantly deeper voice, similar to the deeper parts of Mariah Carey's range. The "Baby voice" she sings and speaks in a lot of the time was developed with a vocal coach once she signed to Jive records.
64** When she first broke onto the scene, much hay was made in the teen magazines about how one of her first major acting roles was supposed to be a three-episode guest spot on ''Series/DawsonsCreek,'' but a temporary shutdown of the show's production and inability to reschedule prevented it from happening. The only real evidence of what the role might have been is a quote from Britney herself, saying at the time "I won't play somebody mean, and I won't play myself."
65* WorkingTitle:
66** "Oops!... I Did It Again" was supposed to be called "Sunflower" or "Platinum 2000".
67** "Britney" was supposed to be called "Shock Your Mind".
68** "In The Zone" was originally called "Getting In The Zone".
69** ''Crossroads'' was also going to be called ''What Are Friends For'' and ''Not A Girl'', the latter based upon the film's featured song.

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