Although I am not the biggest Spears fan, I do respect the charming, catchy pop music that she pioneered in the '90s. Spears has cited Madonna a musical icon known for constantly reinventing herself as an influence, yet her music works best when she sticks to her signature '90s style. At the apex of her fame, Spears revolutionized the pop music scene with her innovative tunes, meshing hip-hop and rock with simple lyrics and frequently provocative choreography. Overall, Spears was pretty successful, as evidenced by the enduring appeal of hits like " Baby One More Time."
Lately, however, Spears has attempted to amp up her appeal by mimicking the outlandish style of KE$HA and Lady Gaga, and the video for "Hold It Against Me" is very much in the Gaga style. The crazy outfits and over-the-top choreography (which, ironically, fails to compare to Spears' signature dance moves) echo Gaga hits like "Telephone" and "Bad Romance."
If Spears were evolving on her own terms maturing as an artist as she transitioned into adulthood I might appreciate her changing style. But the artistic changes she has made are not unique to her personal development. Her new style is nothing but an imitation of the club scene that has come to rule the charts in recent years.
With the release of "Hold It Against Me," Spears attempts dubstep, a genre of electronic dance music. By adopting dubstep, Spears seems to be appealing to the masses, delivering what music consumers currently want to hear. However, in light of dubstep's increasing popularity in the club era of KE$HA and Lady Gaga, perhaps Spears is wise to jump on the bandwagon.
It comes down to a matter of choice: Did Spears actually want to change her style or was she merely coerced by the ever-controlling music industry?
It appears Spears is selling out in order to stay relevant to the masses, and she is not the only artist to have done so. Christina Aguilera, who released her new album "Bionic" in June, may be the most drastic example of an artist attempting to stay current by altering her image.
For Aguilera, however, change has not brought success. Described by the media as a "Bionic bust," the artist's new album failed to match the success of the club music it channeled. Ironically, Aguilera was more successful when she paid homage to artists from the past in her 2006 album "Back to Basics."
Unlike Aguilera, Spears has sold out more successfully, reemerging on the pop scene every now again after reinventing her style. Similarly, R&B stunner Usher used the club scene to step back into the limelight. Made for the club dance floor, Usher's recent hits are more upbeat than his signature soulful jams.
Nelly Furtado also sold out or, to be more sensitive, "crossed over" to the club scene with "Loose" (2006), her most successful album to date. Although I thoroughly enjoy Furtado's new sound, I can't help but miss the days when the artist refused to fit any mold but her own, releasing unique singles such as "Turn Off the Light" and "I'm Like A Bird."
Furtado's successful evolution has left me with several questions: Was being herself not enough for the music industry, or was it listeners who wanted something different? Is changing one's musical style equivalent to selling out, or is it a necessary skill for any popular musician?
Several hip-hop artists including Eminem, Kanye West and Talib Kweli have changed the messages they promote in their lyrics over the years, but their overall artistic style has remained relatively intact. These musicians are still loved by millions, and it seems that they have not had to change in order to stay relevant to the music scene.
Many artists may not want to make changes to their musical style, but are forced to for the sake of their careers. A great artist should not have to change who they are in order to stay relevant. True artists have longevity because they are great singers and can evolve naturally as musicians not to fit the standards of the contemporary culture.
