Not much has changed in Britney's explosive show By JANE STEVENSON
Toronto Sun
HAMILTON -- Britney Spears is still dreaming. And blowing it up real good.
The 20-year-old pop superstar's pyro-heavy Dream Within A Dream Tour, which first came to Toronto's Air Canada Centre last November, returned to the area last night to play in front of a sold-out crowd at Copps Coliseum.
Like that earlier ACC show, thousands of her screaming, mostly young female fans were treated to plenty of video vignettes, flames, explosions and fireworks. And that was just during the opening song, a rocked-up version of Ooops! .... I Did It Again.
Still, to be fair, it did feel like the explosions had been toned down considerably since their laughable frequency at the ACC show.
Elsewhere, however, it was almost the exact same concert -- right down to the set list.
"What's up Canada?" Spears screamed early in the evening and that was about as original as her stage banter got.
The night was big on costume changes -- anything tight and midriff bearing all the better. Plus add in the aforementioned effects with green laser lights and confetti, and props -- including a rotating wheel platform on which Spears was strapped to, hidden trap doors out of which she would appear and disappear, a giant ballerina jewelry box out of which she emerged to sing Born To Make You Happy, and an elevated moving platform on which she and four dancers performed I Love Rock 'N' Roll.
Oh, and did I mention the non-stop dancing with the ever-strutting Spears and her eight-person troupe making full use of the long catwalk for almost every song?
Just last week, Spears topped Forbes' list of the world's 100 most powerful celebrities, pulling in a cool $70 million in the past 12 months, drawing over 10 cover stories and attracting nearly one million hits on her Web site.
She starred in her first feature role earlier this year, playing a sweet girl who loses her virginity on a road trip with two friends in Crossroads. Spears also made one of the most talked about commercials with a Pepsi ad that aired during the Super Bowl.
Personally, however, there's been more bad news than good.
Last month there was some suggestion Spears might cancel her tour after her mother started divorce proceedings against her father.
And the breakup of Spears and her longtime boyfriend Justin Timberlake of NSYNC earlier this year has also taken its toll on the pop singer.
But she was all smiles last night, singing (lip-synching?) her little heart out for an hour-and-a-half, making sure to include all the familiar songs and trying in vain to keep her beautiful, long, blond hair off her pretty, if sweaty, face.
The only time that Spears let on that life has been personally difficult was when she trotted out a new bluesy song as she sat on a stool beside her piano player in the middle of the circular stage.
"Honestly, a lot of times, I just feel overwhelmed," she said.
Then it was back to the uber hits like the ballads, I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman and Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know.
Posted by Jen on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 @ 05:43 p.m.
Young attendees at Florida's Space Camp are reaching out to pop singer Lance Bass, the 23-year old 'NSync band member.
Bass is negotiating to fly to the International Space Station aboard a Russian spacecraft this fall.
Bass says he first got the urge to go into space after attending the Titusville training program when he was 12 years old.
The campers this summer are signing a large "Follow Your Dreams" banner which will be presented to Bass before he departs.
U.S. Space Camp Florida is a residential overnight camp for students in grades 4 through 7 which offers simulated space training. More than 400,000 young people have participated in the camp during its 20 years of operation.
Posted by Jen on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 @ 05:29 p.m.
Dueling Best New Artists hit studio to record track.
Alicia Keys has promised to deliver "pimped-out vocals" from Christina Aguilera on "Impossible," a track she co-produced for Aguilera's upcoming album.
On day three of their sessions at New York's Electric Lady studios last month, Aguilera
wasn't looking like the "big ol' pimp" Keys was boasting her to be. There was no diamond-encrusted gold goblet or neon three-piece suit with the matching hat and 'gators. X-tina just sported a cutoff Terry Bradshaw Pittsburgh Steelers jersey, though her white undershirt did match her pink and white scarf.
Aguilera's nose was stuffy, her eyes were puffy and she was coughing. Obviously her cold didn't have her much into a game-spitting mood — not that she would've been wasting time shooting the breeze if she were the perfect picture of health. Aguilera was ready to get down to business and finish the track, which was being produced by the Crucial Keys team of Alicia and her partner, Kerry Brothers.
"I like the piano," a giddy Aguilera said of the slow, chord-driven track Keys devised to complement her big voice. "Now I gotta learn how to play. You inspire [me]."
Looking low-key in sunshades, a scarf and a leather jacket, Keys returned the compliment. "I like them vocals," she said. "We're smashing. Official killer. 'Killer Chris!' "
A few minutes later, Keys, who was orchestrating the session when she wasn't laying background vocals or harmonizing with her collaborator, sat intently at the boards listening to K.C. finish the second verse.
" 'It's impossible to make it easy if you're always trying to make it so damn haaarrrd,' " the 22-year-old sang. " 'How can I, how can I give you all my love, baby/ If you're always, always putting up your guaaarrrd/ This is not a circus, don'tcha play me for a clown.' "
Keys and Aguilera have been wanting to work together for a while, Keys said. Keys wrote the new cut, but not before the Grammy Award-winners had a chance to vibe off each other — they hung out and partied before Keys penned the track.
A tentative September 17 release date has been set for Aguilera's still-untitled album, which is the proper follow-up to her 1999 self-titled debut.
Posted by Jen on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 @ 05:26 p.m.
The pink-haired Osbourne, youngest daughter Kelly Osbourne, is the latest celebrity to lend their name -- and feet -- to shoe and clothing company Candie's.
In her first endorsement deal, Osbourne will serve as a spokesperson for the company for its fall print advertising campaign, along with the previously announced Ashanti and Vanessa Carlton. Osbourne's ad will debut in October in fashion, entertainment, and lifestyle magazines, including YM, CosmoGirl!, Seventeen, and Teen People.
"Candie's ads have been really cool, and you always remember them. I was honored to be part of the campaign," said Osbourne in a statement issued on Tuesday (June 25).
Past Candie's ads featured Destiny's Child and Jenny McCarthy. McCarthy's memorable and controversial ad featured the former MTV host sitting on the toilet in a pair of Candie's shoes.
-- Carrie Borzillo-Vrenna
Posted by Jen on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 @ 05:23 p.m.
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 24, 2002--Britney Spears' current national "Dream Within a Dream Tour" features extensive contributions by NVU Productions, the premier celebrity-brand marketing services firm. From merchandise to in-venue promotional videos and demonstrations, NVU drew on its considerable line of services to help enhance the concert experience for Ms. Spears' dedicated fans.
The design and production of the official tour program is one of NVU's more prominent contributions. "We wanted to offer fans a real keepsake," noted Jim Forni, President of NVU Productions. "Something that would evoke the feeling of the whole concert experience for years to come." With its unique format (oversized and grommet-bound, with postcards, window clings and other extras) and dazzling design, the program is available at every venue.
As managers of the Britney Spears brand, NVU also served as a consultant for all licensed merchandise available at the venues, ensuring the integrity of the brand standards they developed. Prior to the tour, NVU reviewed and approved all T-shirt and related apparel designs.
For select product offerings, NVU produced new advertisements being aired on the large JumboTron video display. These include spots for WFX, SmartFlash, Samsung, and a promotional trailer for the THQ video game, "Britney's Dance Beat." Additionally, NVU created video content for AOL Music that is broadcast in the venues, as well as the official AOL online tour content at keyword BRITNEY.
Outside the concert hall, fans enjoy demonstrations of "Britney's Dance Beat." The game itself features more of NVU's creative work, in both the game and package design. A Samsung promotional vehicle parked at every venue features a bus wrap designed by NVU.
Inside the hall, NVU stages a promotional event for SmartFlash, a new premium Internet product from Internet plc. The event includes hands-on demonstrations and a giveaway drawing. The SmartFlash kit, also available at merchandise kiosks, features package design by NVU. Numerous banners for Samsung adorning each venue were also designed by NVU.
The Dream Within a Dream Tour travels to 36 cities and concludes in Mexico City on July 27th.
Posted by Jen on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 @ 05:19 p.m.
Superstar Heats Up Charts With #1 Smash Hit 'Hot In Herre'
8x Platinum-Selling Rapper's Hotly Anticipated Sophomore Project 'Nellyville' in Stores June 25th
NEW YORK, June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Records' multi-platinum- selling superstar Nelly is heating up the charts with his #1 smash hit "Hot In Herre." The song currently claims the #1 spot on Billboard's "Hot 100 Charts." "Hot In Herre," produced by The Neptunes, is receiving enormous support from all radio formats in the country while the video clip, directed by Little X, is in heavy rotation at MTV, BET, MTV2 and MuchMusic USA.
Close to 2 million units of Nellyville will ship to retailers by June 25th, so the St. Louis-based rapper's sophomore album is expected to go double platinum within two weeks of its release. When asked about the success of his new single and forthcoming, Nelly states, "We never expected Country Grammar to sell as well as it did, so I'm glad that people are still feeling what we're doing," he says referring to his group-mates the St. Lunatics."
Nellyville is the follow-up to Nelly's 2000 Grammy-nominated debut, Country Grammar, which spawned a string of hits including "E.I.," "Batter Up," the Grammy-nominated "Ride Wit Me," and the catchy, melodic title track, "Country Grammar." To date, Country Grammar has sold over 9 million units world-wide.
"Hot In Herre" ("here" pronounced with a St. Louis twist) is receiving rave reviews from the press. Entertainment Weekly gives "Hot In Herre" an "A" and proclaims, "the song percolates like Mr. Coffee in, er heatt." Early praise for Nellyville is also pouring in: Interview magazine declares, "This album is so on point, Nelly arrives all over again," and Entertainment Weekly, who gives the album a "B+," says, "Our man seems to be in control of his flame and on top of his game..."
Most of Nellyville is produced by Jay E. Epperson (who handled the production of Country Grammar) and Wally Yaghnam and features guest appearances by the rest of the St. Lunatics (Ali, Murphy Lee and Kyjuan) along with Kelly Rowland ("Dilemma") and N'SYNC's Justin Timberlake ("Work It").
Nelly will open the BET Awards, with a blazing live performance of "Hot In Herre" on June 25th, and he will perform the song on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on June 28th.
Posted by Jen on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 @ 05:17 p.m.
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