Simply Abu Dhabi IV

100 SIMPLY ABU DHABI had toured with. The couple quickly became engaged and married in a secret ceremony in September 2004, the same month that Britney released a cover of Bobby Brown’s 1988 hit ‘My Prerogative’ – a single from the ‘Greatest Hits’ album that was then released in November that year. Britney won her first Grammy for ‘Best Dance Recording’ for the single ‘Toxic’ in February 2005 shortly before her announcement that she was expecting her first child. Her son, Sean Preston was born in September and, showing no signs of slowing down, Brit released a remix album ‘B in the mix, the Remixes’ in the November of that year. Early in 2006 it was revealed that the singer was pregnant with her second child another son – Jayden James – born in September of that year, but sadly Britney and Kevin’s marriage officially ended the following year. Following some personal struggles after the birth of her two sons and her marriage breakdown, there was much anticipation for Britney’s ‘Big Comeback’ as the opening act at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards and her new single ‘Gimme More’ was released ahead of yet another album – ‘Blackout’ released in October 2007. Continuing in with the steely determination that made her a household name the first time around, Britney’s comeback saw her take home her first Video Music Awards for Best Female Video followed by Best Pop Video and video of the year at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2008. In spring 2009, Britney embarked on yet another world tour to promote her ‘Circus’ album. Whatever next for the Magnificent Miss Spears? Britney Spears has worked hard to get to where she is today and her widely-anticipated seventh studio album Femme Fatale was launched this year with the fabulous Femme Fatale tour receiving universally good reviews. She’s recognised as the best-selling female artist of the first decade of the 21st century, and in June last year was ranked sixth on Forbes list of the 100 Most Powerful and Influential celebrities in the world. The name ‘Britney’ is legendary both in media and celebrity circles and everyone wants to know what the teen sensation who kept re-inventing herself with regular successful ‘come backs’ will do next. Will it be a film or a tour? What’s next for the ever-ambitious Miss Spears? This Pop Princess will surely retain her crown for years to come and we, along with the rest of the world, will be watching... A Positive Impact of Pop Culture Engaging young girls, teenage boys and older men, Britney had a huge impact on pop culture. Her second single, ‘Sometimes’, was released in June 1999 followed by ‘Crazy’ in September and ‘From the bottom of my broken heart’ soon after. The American Awards, MTV and Teen Choice awards soon began rolling in and, in early 2000, Britney was nominated for two Grammy awards. Once it began, Britney’s success continued apace and in 2000 at just 18, she released her second album in 2000, ‘Oops! I did it again’ and single of the same title, which topped the singles chart for 5 weeks. Smash singles ‘Stronger’ and ‘Lucky’ and the talented and gorgeous young woman soon became referred to as the ‘Pop Princess’ with more awards to her name as well as a profitable deal with Pepsi- Cola for sponsorship and advertising. At 19 her budding relationship with NSYNC heart throb Justin Timberlake also saw interest in the young pop sensation increase as Britney tried to foster a more grown up public persona in time for her next LP release in late 2001. ‘I’m a slave 4 u’ made the top ten that November, taking her in a fresh in musical direction and was followed by the release of her third LP, self-titled ‘Britney’, which shot to the top of the albums charts, breaking records for a female artist. In February 2002, her debut movie Crossroads was released followed by the song ‘I’m not a girl, not yet a woman’, from the film’s soundtrack. Shortly after, ‘Overprotected’ climbed the charts and Britney embarked on a worldwide ‘Dream within a dream tour’. However, when her four year relationship with Timberlake ended she decided to take some time out yet still retained significant celebrity status with “Forbes” declaring her “The World’s most powerful celebrity” in mid-2002. Constant Re-invention Despite press intrusion as she faced some difficult personal challenges, Britney re-invented herself for the release of her new album in late 2003 and it was clear that her appeal had not waned as the album topped the Billboard 200 albums charts. Aged 22, Britney was taking control of her incredible pop career and soon released one of her biggest singles, ‘Toxic’, which topped various charts around the world including the UK and Canadian singles charts. The single was a phenomenal success and proved to critics she still had want was needed to retain her ‘Princess of Pop’ crown. Other singles from the album included the gold-selling ‘Everytime’, which topped the UK singles chart. In her personal life, Britney began a relationship with Kevin Federline, a former backing dancer who she talent shows until her audition for the ‘Mickey Mouse Clubhouse’ TV series. However, at the age of just eight, she was too young for the role on offer. A relocation to New York with her mother and baby sister saw Britney land several TV adverts and star in an off-Broadway play, ‘Ruthless’, where she was understudy with Natalie Portman. Her passion for music and dance never left her and, two years later, she auditioned for a part on ‘Mickey Mouse’ again. A little older and with the experience behind her, she was successful this time round and ended up as a ‘Mouseketeer’, alongside young stars, Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake. The show proved to be an invaluable training ground for the young Britney who benefitted from extensive training in dance, drama and singing. When the show was cancelled two years later, Britney was older and wiser and returned home as a ‘typical’ teenager who became the Homecoming Queen. Despite the usual teenage parties and socialising, Britney was eager to pursue her dreams to become a star and her determination to succeed saw her return to New York. Demo tapes to various labels including Sony and Mercury, were rejected but Britney remained focused, finally capturing the attention of Jive Records. Her hard work and determination had paid off and so it was that the ambitious young Miss Spears was on the path to becoming the critically acclaimed iconic star we see before us today. A Household Name Her massively popular debut single ‘(Hit me) Baby one more time’ from her debut album of the same name was released by Jive in 1998 to global success which was a pop hit around the globe, accompanied by the memorable video, featuring a 16-year old Britney Britney dressed as a schoolgirl, baring her soon-to-be-famous midriff and so it was that Britney became a household name and seemingly overnight international success. It was now obvious she was destined to be the star she had always dreamed of becoming as by July 2001 she had sold 13 million copies of ‘Baby’ and 9 million of her sophomore album, ‘Oops!...I Did It Again’, released in May of 2000. She toured with the popular boy band NSYNC and the single shot to the top of the charts for 3 weeks. Her debut album was released a few months later in early 1999 and, like the single, took to the top of the album charts, where it remained number one for six weeks. The album has now sold millions worldwide and is officially 14 x platinum in the US.