No person can deny that Britney Spears is a pop culture icon, and even though she is no longer in the spotlight, many people will remember her as the music artist that changed pop music forever. There are countless pop culture moments related to Britney Spears that have happened throughout the years, but there are only a few that we could deem as “culture-changing” events that shape the history of music and Hollywood at the same time. Here are some of the most iconic Britney Spears pop culture moments.
Baby One More Time
One of the most popular music videos that Britney Spears has sung and appeared in is “…Baby One More Time,” a catchy pop song released on September 28, 1998. Along with the memorable song, the music video is also quite iconic, as the signature look that Britney sported in the video, which featured a skimpy schoolgirl outfit that is paired with pink ribbons worn on the singer’s twin ponytails.
Britney’s outfit has been copied and parodied on comedy skits and homemade videos countless times that it has become one of the pop singer’s most memorable looks. What’s crazy about the single is that it was Britney Spears’s debut single, and it has already become a hit in many countries around the world. The song would serve as a sneak peek of how big Britney’s career and musical style would later impact pop music and pop culture.
Oops!… I Did It Again
Two years after “…Baby One More Time,” Spears released another legendary single titled “Oops!… I Did It Again” that was released on April 11, 2000. Much like the debut single, “Oops!… I Did It Again” features another dazzling outfit for Britney, as she now sports a skintight red bodysuit that perfectly accentuates the curves of her body. In addition to the costume, the music video also has a memorable love story between an astronaut and Britney, who is supposed to be a Martian.
This popular single has also been covered and copied by many artists around the world, and it has also been used on the soundtrack for a TV show titled “Will & Grace.” Today, “Oops!… I Did It Again” remains one of the best songs that were released in the 2000s.
Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake
Many people know that Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake had dated from 1999 to 2002, although it was only in 2000 when Spears admitted that she was dating Timberlake. After three years, several media outlets announced that Spears and Timberlake’s relationship ended abruptly.
The breakup even got more controversial when Timberlake released the single “Cry Me a River” around the same year, which is supposed to have lyrics pertaining to Britney cheating on him with another man. Interestingly, the music video for the single features Timberlake invading the house of her ex-girlfriend (who bears similarities with Britney Spears) while also filming himself kissing another woman. The music video became a hit, and the media eventually realized that the song was supposed to be an attack on Britney. Two years later, Britney Spears released a single titled “Everytime,” which contains lyrics about asking for forgiveness for hurting her lover. The song further strengthened the rumor that Britney did indeed cheat on Timberlake, but until today, no one really knows how and why they broke up.
The 2003 MTV Video Music Awards Performance
Who could forget one of the most unforgettable MTV Video Music Awards performances by Britney Spears, Madonna, Christina Aguilera, and Missy Elliot in 2003? While there have been many musical acts that performed in the same year, the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards is probably only remembered by the moment where Britney Spears and Madonna shared a kiss on stage, with the cameraman showing Justin Timberlake’s poker face afterward.
It was also in the same awards night when Timberlake won the Best Male Video and Best Pop Video awards for “Cry Me a River,” which is quite surprising and awkward at the same time. The kiss between two female pop icons was the headline for many news reports and newspapers in the United States. The kiss would later be cited as a pivotal moment for the United States’ reaction and acceptance of the LGBT community.
Those are just four of Britney Spears’s most emblematic or symbolic moments in pop culture. After the 2000s, which was the era where Britney truly shined as a pop music icon, she was still able to get the spotlight in the music industry dozens of times, and her popularity soared once again when she was featured in “Framing Britney Spears,” a documentary produced by The New York Times that details all the hardships that Britney went through to reach fame and stardom. The documentary reminded us that our idols and celebrity crushes are still humans, and we should treat them with respect and understanding so that no young artist or celebrity should go through what Britney has been through.