Last night was supposed to be Britney Spears’ big VMAs comeback. She’s been to the VMAs since her much-talked about 2007 performance, in 2011 she picked up the MJ Video Vanguard Award, but she hasn’t performed. This was her chance to shine and there were ads for her using photos from her 2001 snake-accessorized “Slave for U” performance. However I didn’t hear anyone on the red carpet mention Britney when they were asked who they were most looking forward to seeing. In the MTV livestream and preshow people said the performances they were anticipating were Rihanna, Beyonce of course, and whatever it was Kanye was going to do for four minutes.
Britney performed “Make Me” and “Me, Myself and I” with G-Eazy, who just reminded me so much of K-Fed when he was getting interviewed on the red carpet. As Kaiser said to me, it was a disservice to Britney to put her on after Beyonce broke the VMAs. Rihanna makes it fun and brings a party atmosphere, Beyonce amazes us with her larger-than-life performances and Britney entertains us while she’s on and is largely forgotten afterwards. Don’t get me wrong, Britney did a good job, I just didn’t come away from this thinking “comeback,” more like “good for Britney.” Here’s her performance:
In case you missed it, Britney slayed the #VMA! https://t.co/J0r7HYE3mY
— #AT (@andytelasai) August 29, 2016
I liked the shadowbox effect at the beginning with the giant hands and how they made it look like she was wearing a dress. Her outfit was hot, however she wasn’t singing and she wasn’t really dancing. I know that sounds harsh but we do more choreography than that in Zumba. The sequin hoodie was a nice addition, it was cool when she climbed under G-Eazy’s legs and bounced on the floor, they needed to do more of that, but the ending was a little awkward, like they were trying to have chemistry and it wasn’t happening.
On the red carpet Britney was wearing a black one arm Julien Macdonald dress with an asymmetric hem and diagonal cutout. I really liked this dress and she looked gorgeous but I wanted something more daring from her.
photos credit: WENN and Getty
Doesn’t help that she lip syncs all the time. It was fine but I won’t remember this in 24 hours
I don’t know why she even bothers with the microphone.
I came on here to say just that after looking at the video on youtube. Outfit was killer but it was kind of lack luster and boring.
She lip synced back in the day too, however, there are two things that exaggerate it now:
1) The vocals are overproduced to the point that you know it’s IMPOSSIBLE for an individual to sound exactly as they did on the track; and,
2) She used to make different facial expressions to act like she was singing. Britney spears now essentially has the same face the ENTIRE routine. High notes; low notes, sustained notes, etc. Couple this with the fact that you don’t hear any change, break in vocals when she’s on the floor or doing complex dance moves, and it just looks SUPER phony.
Like someone said below, many people give her a pass because of how low she was at one point. It’s good to know she’s getting better. I can definitely see that, but it doesn’t make this a good performance. It was decent/acceptable (at best).
Also, did anyone notice she BARELY remembered the lyrics for the G-Eazy song?!
I think Britney danced her little heart out. I would have been on oxygen less than a minute into it. She has come a long way since her last VMAs performance. I think she was channeling some of the old (still good) Britney when she was dancing around him towards the end. I feel it could have been a lot more awkward than it actually was. He seemed kind of nervous to me and I did get a K-Fed vibe from him but Britney seemed into it so that was good. Britney will always be the queen of everythang to me. I adore her.
I’m calling Britney clone! There’s a closeup of her face at the end of this clip, and it’s not Britney. The arrival pictures ARE Britney, but her body no longer looks like that of the performer. Obviously they weren’t going to risk a repeat of her last fiasco, so they brought in a Vegas stand-in to toss her hair a lot and dance around. I highly doubt Britney is up for a performance like that, and with the lip syncing it could be anyone. The album cover isn’t her, either! Management is making a switcheroo to keep bringing in money.
I’m not really a conspiracy theorist, but I’ll swear by this one!
I think it looks like her but I dont think the outfit is right, she barely dances although makes it look like a lot of effort. Her smile at the end – and yes that was awkward with the guy (no idea who he is!!) – just seems uncomfortable, like she could not remain in performance. Why cant she just (quote unquote) sing and not have to be doing moves every minute (which arent that impressive to begin with)?
I am usually up for a * conspiracy theory * but to me this looked like her…
I don’t think this was a clone. I definitely believe she uses them in Vegas. I’ve “researched” this subject late night on the interwebs. lol! I really think this was the real Britney during this performance.
Ugh no, Gerald is not a K-Fed!!! I met him a handful of times and he’s sooo sweet and hard working and really busted his ass to get to where he is. He’s so talented as a rapper and genuinely loves working with everyone he does.
Dani, I’m sorry! I didn’t get the dirty K-Fed vibe at all. I just mean the white rapper vibe. G seemed genuinely honored to be there and I think he did a great job.
Vegas Showgirl.
Jlo without the energy or dance skills tbh. Britney will always have a stronger discography, even with her bad albums but I’ll always prefer a great show over anything else which is where most popstars fail.
I was just thinking about how much JLo tears up the dance floor still, and she’s 10 yrs older than her! Brit and Beyonce are the same age, there is no excuse for not being amazing (and she used to be a great dancer/performer). Too much medication?
She looks fantastic (minus the hair).
you cannot expect Britney to perform live.. I don’t think she can do that anymore.
I do appreciate the fact she is back healthy, energic and very smiley.
As her album tops charts we will get more performances by her and she will become more secure. It was her first major performance after long time and there were bunch of celebrities.
Exactly. She didn’t look spaced out or scared so that’s enough for me. She was never a big vocalist and probably 95% of her old live performances were lip synched too.
She’s been performing in Vegas for how many years now? The footage I’ve seen (I considered going) doesn’t do anything to convince me she will ever get back to truly loving, embracing, stomping and commanding a stage with the confidence and FIRE she used to have. She seems better, physically and mentally, but I have no hope that she will be the performer she used to be.
Britney is relevant for the nostalgia factor and her new album is amazing but a new album isn’t hiding the fact that she has nothing to offer anymore in the popstar game. When you have even the worst popstars, meaning no singing skills and mediocre stage presence + skills (Katy, Taylor and Demi – Selena) sing live and try to do something to give a good show/experience, then Britney, who used to be the BEST can pack it in. When older popstars like Jlo and Madonna are outperforming Britney because they’re still ambitious and curious, what does that say about Britney? When you have Beyoncé, who is the same age as Britney be this bold, political and already being an all-round performer, how can you even pretend that she is still relevant? When you have the new generation like Miley, being pretty bold, expressive and creative, Britney serves no purpose anymore. Her personal life is too tragic to gossip about so there’s nothing there either.
Pre-breakdown Britney is the best but this hope that she will have that energy again means nothing in the age of the new popstars and the older ones holding down the fort too. Britney is obsolete in showbusiness and it kills me because in the real world, Britney will always be a winner to me for overcoming her demons and being productive again.
@Artemis – EVERYTHING you said! The amount of excuses being made for Britney kill me. Britney Spears has been on a perpetual comeback for the past 5 years or so. The idea that her not looking drugged is reason enough to celebrate seems silly and it’s a ridiculously low bar. I’m happy that she no longer looks like she’s on heavy meds, but that doesn’t mean she should be up there performing.
Artemis- Yes! Especially your last words about her being obsolete but still a winner in life for overcoming.
I thought that if a newcomer gave a performance like this they would get a clap and then a “nope- not enough to make it”.
I agree, this is a woman who has a major break-down all over the press, and she’s doing really well. She’s sexy and healthy looking. I can’t diss on her.
I think she did an amazing job and considering what she has gone through mentally not everyone could do that. Her body is to die for. As for lypsyncing, everyone’s did it, even Rihanna, but I don’t see so harsh comments on her as in Britney.
I like very much that black dress, she is beautiful on it.
That knock off K.Fed is tragic. Just NO.
That lipsynch was turrible….but good for her for getting up there. Needed more pythons, lesbian kissing and Canadian tuxedos tho 😉
She looks damn good.
Lol, how can anyone say she did a good job? This was embarrassing.
Agreed, I cringed the whole time. Only thing that could have saved it is if those shadow hands that controlled her all grabbed fistfuls of $ at the end.
Seems unkind to have her performing.
I thought she looked ridiculous, especially after Beyonce’s tour de force.
She needs to retire. Beyoncé and Rihanna showed up to perform, Britney showed up to pour herself into a Vegas showgirl outfit and writhe on a guy.
This is not music or entertainment. She needs to retire. She is an adult not a child. She has zero talent. There are so many really talented musicians and dancers that don’t make it to the big time.
Girl! I posted something similar in the Beyonce thread earlier today and got trolled to no end. I agree that at some point these pop stars should retire to enjoy life and allow younger new talent have a piece of the fame cake. They had their time, they should know when to step off gracefully and allow the next crop to bring it
Karen – you nailed it. I couldn’t agree with you more.
I felt embarrassed too. It didn’t seem professional to me, very amateur and dated. I am glad to see she seems to be doing well, but I think that public pity sessions are maybe not the best thing for her. It was especially noticeable since they put her after Beyoncé.
I agree. The pity party needs to end. She had one really bad year and even during that year released the best album of her career. She’s a multimillionaire with a hugely successful show in Vegas. She’s doing fine. Better than most people in the world by far.
I feel sorry for her. Mainly because I don’t think that 1999 brand of performance is what the people want anymore. Her dance moves have not changed and she lip syncs through the whole routine. Then she had to follow Beyonce and 4 Rihanna performances. Ariana Grande was pitchy, but she has undeniable talent. I just don’t understand what we need Britney Spears for. I feel like many can do it better, but nostalgia keeps everyone coming back.
Agree. She’s so dated. She’s doing the same exact thing she was doing when she first started and in comparison to everything else around her it looks so stale. If she can’t give up the pop star life she should at least try to evolve.
I think everyone is giving her a pass b/c Britney but her performance was budget and terrible. She did have more of her spark back and I hope she is as healthier and happier as she seems to be. I still hold hope for her grand return
Britney, the hair is terrible! You’ve got to try something new.
Her performance was a snooze fest. Video installation seemed too retro; coreography seemed old fashioned and boring. I felt sorry because it all would have worked better if she went for something simpler and a bit contemporary. I would have rather seen jer sing than dance and move around men’s crotch. She’s more than that. And someone please help her with the hair. She has a great body but why do all these women have to be half naked all the time covered in sleazy glitter?
I didnt watch cause I didnt wanna stay up to cringe: She needs to chill somewhere, Im glad I didnt stay up for this, Someone said Justin Timberlake must have been in charge of the schedule
I Adore G-Eazy but NO To this i’ll advised cringey duet
Also related: This shady ass review http://www.salon.com/2016/08/27/britneys-path-to-glory-the-pop-survivors-least-personal-album-is-also-her-best-in-more-than-a-decade/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=socialflow
But also No More Britney New Music, Pls
Her new album is good. The only sub par album she’s ever had was Britney Jean.
Britney still is working.
Sad she still has the lifeless glaze in her eyes.
I’m not a fan so personally I wish she’d just retired on a beach somewhere.
Come on with the, “I think she did great considering…”, “I would have been out of breath!” comments. Stop. I’ve seen more energetic yoga instructors. This is not your niece’s grade 3 recital! It’s an absolute shame (and sham) that they keep parading this poor woman around as a shadow of what she once was. And she wasn’t very good to begin with.
Britney’s 2001 VMA performance was spectacular. Girl could seriously dance.
I completely agree. It was embarrassing and sad–the whole time I thought “is her family making her do this? Poor girl looks like she wants to be somewhere else.”
LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE!
her new album is really good. and this is from someone who was waning on her shtick.
It always looks like she’s counting her steps recently. She was always a best counter but back in the day she would just go for every dance move with abandon, even if she was counting. Here, all I could see was her counting or thinking about the next step.
I love Britney, I really do. I feel for her, I want her to succeed, but putting this on after Beyoncé was awful planning.
She looks amazing, but thise body suits are just awful! I kept thinking about her prison crotch, stuck under nude stockings and that tight stretch of fabric.
What would be amazing is Britney singing. Just sitting down and singing. She’s so much more talented than her music and performances allow.
Every time I see her perform now, I feel sad for all that she has lost because of her mental illness. Mental illness is a cruel b*tch.
I will never not root for this girl. She looked beautiful last night and I really liked the cut-away to “Me Myself and I”. Wish her performance had been more on that note than the slower song. She had a glimmer in her eye and a smile on her face. These days, I can appreciate Brit for what she is, instead of who she was, because I have a soft spot in my heart for people who have overcome obstacles (in her case, mental illness) and still press on.
It would be humane for her conservatorship to allow her to retire. Her interviews are painful, as if her development is arrested at 16. Her performances are just okay, and she doesn’t sign live at all. Allowing her to retire instead of continuing to try to stage comeback after comeback would be best.
I’ve liked her since I was a teen and I like her new Album Glory but long ago I came to terms with the fact that Britney Spears will never be the performer she once was. 1990’s and early 2000’s Spears had a fire to her when she performed, 2010’s version doesn’t have the spark nor the moves. And that’s fine I still like her and wish her good luck.
Her VMA performance was just okay and that’s all I expected it to be.
Eh. Passable, but not great…which is totally what should have been expected. Britney has been an “average” performer for more years now than she was a “great” performer.
It was bad but better than 2007.
Britney is in a happy space these days, and seems to have joy back in her life. So I think people are just happy to see her back out there again and aren’t hard on her. Yes, it’s barely-trying lipsyncing and a dated performance, but she looked relaxed.
I think on any other night, that performance would have the press announcing her second coming. It’s the best she’s been in years. But on a night with Beyonce and Rihanna, they just blew her out of the water.
I want her to do well considering all that she’s been through. But the performance was not really good. I personally hated her outfit. The yellow is not the best color for her skin tone.
I saw this glimpse of “yay! I did it!” At the end of the performance that seemed almost child-like. Makes me root for her even more.
It wasn’t that bad – there were glimpses of the old Britney but the dancing was painful but thats probably because we have seen how she can kill it. I agree the outfit was horrible – too Vegas showgirl. The disconnect is still there but not as obvious as its been previously – the Vegas residency has given her some much needed confidence. Thou my heart breaks with those shots of her in the white dress sitting down – she looked lost. I still root for her.
However, G-Eazy why have i only just noticed you, you fine man!
she did a good job if you’re comparing this performance to the one in 2007. But this was in no way a good performance – she’s wooden and honestly there’s no spark of the old Britney. she’s lost her dancing ability.
I still remember the Slave 4 U and Satisfaction performances – those were great.
I thought she was great and of course she can’t dance like she did in 2001–it was fifteen years ago! She seemed happy and present.
It was ok. I don’t understand why they still have her holding a mic when she “sings”. We all know it’s not live ! Her dancing is very robotic. It just wasn’t a good “comeback”.
she just seems dated and her moves are a struggle. I cannot enjoy the expereince because I am worried if she will fall or just look too awkward.
did she really have to perform?? she is sellling anyway, just let her collect the money.
Agree… it’s like watching a toddler take first steps. You don’t want to stop them, but you’re afraid it’s all going to go wrong. Although in Britney’s case, she looks like she’s afraid instead of excited herself. And the whole thing just seems so exploitative and desperate.
Aren’t Britney and Beyoncé the same age? You would never guess based by those performances.
The guy wasnt necessary for her performance…be was hella awkward and needed to step aside.
It was so dissapointing. All of Brit’s VMAs performances are iconic, 07 in particular (for all the wrong reasons). This one was merelt okay. She looks healthy at least. Good for her.
Putting her on right after Beyonce was just cruel.
Head to toe the lackluster but not for lack of effort on her part. I 100% believe that Britney is still capable but whoever is choreographing her and producing her performances needs to be fired. Definitely not VMA caliber work, plus didn’t we see that same routine a thousand times in the aughts? Feels like it. And can we talk about her styling?! The hair was a total hot mess and that leotard with the horrible shiny panty hose legs was tragic. I still love Britney and I know she can be so much better.
It’s easy to see who’s a fan and who isn’t. If you are a fan you are literally thrilled to just see her with a genuine smile on her face, looking like she’s enjoying herself and not terrified -working her chreo the best she can. And that’s enough for you – it’s enough for me. Because the way she was a few years ago I thought she was on a path to certain suicide. Not an if but a when.
Was she singing live? Nope. Was she dancing with all about abandon? Nope. Do I care? NOPE. I don’t see Britney and expect her to be anything other than what I know her to be. An entertainer for her fans.
This is also why I wish her mental issues would be discussed a little more because I truly believe she’s a success story for people with mental health issues. That with the right support and medication you can come back from the lowest places. I also wonder if her issues were more vocalized if people would back the F off expecting her to be Beyonce. She’s not. She never was nor was she ever trying to be.
ETA: I do think putting her on after Beyonce was RUDE. Bey should’ve closed the show hands down.
Co-sign as a Britney fan. Such an improvement. I will always root for her and I’m so proud of how much she’s overcome.
I read somewhere (I think it was speculation over on GFY a while back) that Britney’s dancing seems “safer,” her obvious step counting and relatively boring routines these days, could be because of an improperly rehabbed knee injury that occurred around the same time as her breakdown. Her family and team were more concerned at the time with her mental stability and perhaps she just wasn’t up to doing the necessary physical rehab for the injury.
Conjecture, of course, but it always made sense to me.
DID NO ONE ELSE HEAR THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THIS SONG AND BEYONCE’S ‘PRETTY HURTS’?
The first bars and the background melody are almost identical. Why would anyone ok this song??
What I see is a 34-year-old Vegas showgirl/performer. She is in great shape, but her styling is all Vegas these days as is her choreography. I have always felt that her downward spiral was due to the breakup with Justin, the succession of douche bags that followed, the knee injury was a tremendous set-back at which time I think she got into drugs, decided that she was just done with performing, wanted to get married, have babies and live the lifestyle she wanted. However, what happened was that she married trash (who was the inspiration for womanizer), had the full blown onset of mental health issues post partum, was preyed upon by scumbags and hangers-on (Paris and Lindsey, I am talking to you), and just lost her way. Thank goodness her parents stepped up, she got help, and has had the time to get back into performing which she knows how to do without blinking. Will she get her mojo back and be the Britney of old? Doubtful. Time and age catches up with us all. I think she is comfortable these days and thinking of her future which by her own words may include 3 more babies while her bank accounts recover from K-Fed, the mental health issues and poor decisions she made. I think more of her now than I ever did. It takes guts, determination, hard work, and sacrifice to get back to where she is now. I think she is brave, beautiful, talented, and very lucky to be coming out of a near disaster and into a bright future with her boys, her career and her life intact and flourishing. I also think that she wore yellow in honor of Beyonce and lemonade. She knew that this would not be her show, but was Bey’s because of the popularity of Lemonade. However, it was win-win because she too has a new album out and it was a chance to shill for it. Now, Britney, if you would just stop smoking….
Seems you’ve got it all worked out.