I still remember the very first time I was introduced to the music of Britney Spears. It was the year 2000 - a simpler time when MTV played music videos (rather than abortions) on repeat and Channel V was still a thing. My friend came to school that morning and asked me if I had seen the video for “Oops...I Did It Again”. I lied and said yes, even though I hadn’t, because it instantly sounded like something I should be ashamed not to be familiar with (like when you have an off weekend and someone brings up a major development in the global war against terror and you have to pretend like you obviously know everything about it, like duh!). That afternoon, after school was out, I cancelled all my plans and rushed home to watch MTV. Two hours and three packets of Top Pops later, Britney finally came on in her iconic red leather jumpsuit. My life changed after that. Soon, I became immersed in the world of pop culture and music -The Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, Christina Aguilera and Westlife - and I found my brain expanding to hold dreams so vast that they still propel me forward each day (might sound cheesy, but music has a way).
Britney, when she shaved her head in 2007
At the end of the day, if Britney can make it through 2007, trust me, we can do anything
At the time, Britney did something very special for me that I can only truly appreciate today. In the summer of 1978 (way before I was born, by the way), feminist Audre Lorde gave a powerful speech at Mount Holyoke College that changed the way women viewed the sexy within them for eternity (well, at least the women who became familiar with its content). Lorde urged all women to embrace and exercise eroticism, but she made a very important distinction. The word “erotic” stems from the Greek word “Eros”, also the name of the Greek god of love and creativity. Lorde pointed out that we often constrict eroticism to the bedroom, and that we tend to suppress it in all the various other facets of life - such as our work, our hobbies, our skills, our personal development and our ambitions. If we channel that love and passion (and frankly, that brazenness) into everything that we do, we can develop a fearless “capacity for joy”, which can ultimately empower us to achieve more in our personal and professional lives. Now, I clearly wasn’t reading up on Lorde back in the sixth grade, but I must have picked up on Britney’s erotic approach to everything, because even when times were tough, Britney went that extra mile.
“You guys, this playlist is terrible,” Sanam exclaimed, scrolling down the iPod and making a face. It was Anam’s surprise party and Bano and I had been tasked with the very important job of taking care of the music.
“What’s wrong with it?” I asked, surprised. I really thought we had come up with a killer playlist for the party.
“Yes, we actually put our heart and soul in it,” Bano added, slightly saddened by Sanam’s remark.
“Well, for one, it’s ancient. What is all this? Toxic, Womanizer, I’m a Slave 4 U, Baby One More Time...oh, and Cry Me a River?” Sanam rolled her eyes at this last one. “You guys, this is not party music. Also, I thought your Britney slash Justin phase came like fifteen years ago!”
“Um...our Britney phase is back, b****!” I snapped.
“Oh yeah,” Bano continued. “Think of it as a second wave. After all, even feminism came in three waves!”
Writer, feminist and civil rights activist Audre Lorde
***
Why am I dedicating an entire piece to Britney Spears, you ask? Recently, Lifetime released a biopic chronicling the life and times of Britney Spears, and although it was absolutely horrific, the film reminded me of all ways Britney pushed me to achieve great things in my life. For starters, she encouraged me to improve my dancing skills (I mean, how epic was her 2001 VMA’s performance where she danced on stage with a yellow snake?). She also inspired me to eat healthy, join the gym and lose all my body fat so that I, too, could pull off a red catsuit one day. Most importantly, though, Britney taught me the power of a great career. Like, in this day and age, how many people could pull off using the word “slave” in an internationally released pop song and get critical acclaim for it? The woman is solely responsible for the riches and fame of her husbands and boyfriends as well. Now, that can be a bad thing, because Britney ended up spoiling her significant others way too much, which led her to completely break down in 2007 and shave her head (she’s even erotic in her mental anguish). But Britney preserved, made more good music, and always kept going despite the trauma and the setbacks (she makes about $ 1 mil a week, so...). At the end of the day, if Britney can make it through 2007, trust me, we can do anything.
“Why do you guys love Britney so much anyway?” Sanam asked me and Bano later that evening, after we refused to let her change our playlist.
“Because her music is great,” I replied, making an “isn’t it so obvious” face.
“And because she’s gone through a lot and, as a girl with a broken heart, I get her, you know,” Bano added. “She taught us a very important lesson.”
“What’s that?” Sanam inquired.
“Britney spent all her riches and her fame in making her husband, that goon Kevin, happy. She had two babies with the guy. And he cheated on her anyway. Poor girl couldn’t comprehend why he didn’t love her even after all that. She went crazy. It’s pretty intense,” Bano explained.
“So, what’s the lesson?” Sanam inquired again, clearly not getting it.
“Now, get to work b*****!” Bano and I replied in unison.
