Britney: The Girl We Hate to Love
by Jennifer DeLeo
What’s so evil about a Mouseketeer from Louisiana anyway?
Ask any twelve year old girl who the thirteenth president of the United States is and they draw a blank;
ask them who the leading princess of pop music is, and they can not only tell you who it is, but give you her
whole background history. And they can probably tell you how many other people seem to despise their idol.
Britney Spears has invaded the airwaves since her first single, "Baby One More Time,” clogged the radio in
1998. She was nominated for two Grammy awards in 1999, and created a performing arts summer camp for
underprivileged kids in Massachusetts. She has captured the hearts of young girls and the attention of young
boys across the nation.
Britney Spears is bigger than any other name in the media. Everyone is talking about her. In fact, what
seems a couple of months ago, there was breaking news that her and Justin Timberlake, one of the *NSync
hotties, ended their long-term relationship. She’s seen on billboards in NYC, Pepsi commercials on television,
in the Barbie aisle of Toys “R” Us, and posters adorning this pop princess in teenyboppers’ bedrooms. Her Las
Vegas concert was televised on HBO, and she has a museum in her hometown of Kentwood, La.
She’s what every girl wants to be and what every guy wants. So if she has so many fans, why is she the
most criticized singer in music today? We’ve heard all the trash talk:
“She can’t sing! She lip-synchs wherever she goes.”
“She got a boob job. They’re not real!”
“Why does she even wear clothes? She’s practically naked all the time.”
“She’s no role model; she’s not even a virgin.”
“Britney can’t act! Why would they let her star in a movie?”
She’s constantly being dissected under a microscope for doing this or not doing that. So why do people
make such crude comments about her?
(1) They’re jealous of her, because they wish they could look as good as she does.
(2) They want to stir up controversy so there will always be something to gossip about.
(3) They think they know her, as if she needs the whole world to be her best friend.
(4) They've made Britney their target -- if it weren’t Britney, it would be somebody else.
(5) They don’t have anything else better to do with their time.
But Britney is one of the most talented, dedicated, and charismatic artists out there. She's 20 and is
making more money than most her age. She’s acted in her own movie, has produced three successful CDs,
has co-written a great deal of her songs, has hosted award shows, has her own restaurant in Manhattan, trains
day and night to perform on tour to thousands of hungry fans, has her own video game, and has written a book
with her mom.
I remember the first time I heard "Baby One More Time." I, too, was 16, just learning how to drive, when
her song came on the radio. I begged my mom to buy the single for me, and I raced home and would listen to it
over and over again. It was just one of those songs you never got sick of. Her albums have been in my stereo
ever since.
How can you not like her catchy phrases of “Boys: sometimes a girl just needs one” or “Oops! I did it
again. I played with your heart”? I’ve caught my friends trash her music one minute and the next they are
humming one of her songs. Of course they try to deny it, but everyone is conscious of what they do, whether
they admit it. Besides, what’s so improper or sinful about singing to one of her songs? Is there something
wrong with a person for buying her CDs or buying tickets to her sold-out concerts? I think people are ashamed
to acknowledge that this pop princess does have talent just because shes a pop star.
Why are many people so intolerant of pop music? Is it really that bad? It’s just another genre. We’ve
accepted rap and heavy metal, which is constantly looked down upon for its harmful and violent lyrics. But
what’s so bad about pop music? It always promotes a positive vibe. You don’t hear the Backstreet Boys
singing about “blunts and b*tches” or Jessica Simpson wailing, “I don’t want no minute man.” Pop music is
what people relate to when they’ve experienced a broken heart or just want to listen to something upbeat to
dance to.
I admit it: I LOVE POP MUSIC. I’ve seen *NSync in concert. I have all of Britney’s CDs and a collection of
all her unreleased songs. I have Justin Timberlake on my screen saver. Nick is my favorite Backstreet Boy.
And I love candy just as much as Mandy Moore does. I’m not afraid to admit that I am an avid pop fan. I’m also
21 and in college, and I have a tattoo, and I eat Chinese food.
Britney is trying to make a name for herself, but people are trying to make it impossible for her. Nobody
else can be her, and nobody else can replace her. She’s one of those singers that just makes you want to
dance around your room singing to a hairbrush or drive in your car with the top down and bop your head to the
beat.
Britney may be the person we all hate to love, but at the end of the day, she’s the one most people talk
about. She's going to be around for a long time. So Brit, go sing your heart out girl! I’ll be listening to ya.
(Jennifer DeLeo is a senior from Kingston, majoring in English. She wrote this article for Prof. Robert
Miner's Journalism 308- Styles of Journalistic Writing class.)
http://www.albany.edu/journalism/samples15.html
Girl writes an essay about Britney and why they hate her 
