TOP 10: Britney Spears VMA Moments
In a lovely bit of synchronicity, this week on the podcast we discuss the Best Britney Spears Music Video, just as the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards will air on MTV and Paramount+ on Wednesday, September 11. It seems only correct, then, to celebrate Britney’s iconic moments at the VMAs. I would argue she defined that particular awards show in the 2000s the way Madonna did in the 1980s and 1990s, and had memorable outings at the show in the 2010s as well.
Read on for my Top 10 Britney VMA moments. Did I forget your favorite? Drop it in the comments!
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Best Britney Spears Music Video
Dishonorable Mention: Gimme Less (2007)
Let’s just get it out of the way. Britney’s “comeback” at the 2007 VMAs was anything but, as a clearly uncomfortable Britney appeared uneasy as she lispynched through “Gimme More,” the lead single off of Blackout. The performance was widely derided by pop-culture critics, and in hindsight, it’s clear that Britney never should have been on that stage. She wasn’t ready. Whoever pushed her to do this, and said yes to it, should be ashamed of themselves. Even the other celebs in the audience — Rihanna, P. Diddy — look concerned about what they’re watching. Had the Powers That Be waited until Britney was in a place to perform again, this could have been a capital-M Moment. As it stands, it took her years to move past this disastrous performance.
10. Britney and KFed Do a Skit (2006)
Let’s focus on the positive: Britney is charming in this skit, filmed to coincide with the couple presenting via satellite the 2006 VMA for Best R&B Video. At the time she was pregnant with her second child, and the two were coming off their…bold?…reality series, “Chaotic.” (Hey, it was aptly named.) Kevin comes across exactly as you expect Kevin Federline to come across. Frankly the person who looks the worst in this bit is VMA Host Jack Black, who struggled to deliver any of his scripted lines competently. And while he may not have written the lines, which include offensive language regarding little people — and which were unfunny on top of it — he still said them. The whole thing feels very mid-2000s, which is to say, mean spirited for the sake of being mean spirited. But hey, Britney is charming!
9. Britney & Christina Introduce Whitney (2000)
The still-new pop stars — both former Disney kids, pitted against one another via a largely media-invented “feud” — united to introduce one of the 80s’ biggest teen pop stars, the iconic Whitney Houston. Christina also used the opportunity to get in a little dig at rapper Eminem, who objectified both women in his “Slim Shady” video. The audience reactions in this segment are priceless, including a thoroughly unimpressed-looking Kid Rock, an enthusiastic Lance Bass, Jennifer Lopez in bandana, etc. Also, shout out to Whitney, who looked so beautiful here.
8. You’re a Winner, Baby! (2008)
We got a healthy, happy-looking Britney at the 2008 VMAs, collecting her first-ever Moonman trophy (three, in fact) for the “Piece of Me” video. The real headline was the return of a present, confident, and calm-seeming Britney after the shocking 2007 performance. MTV, please do a better job of putting your VMA clips up on YouTube. It’s stunning how few of these clips are available now.
7. Britney x Michael Jackson (2002)
In one of the more surreal Britney VMA moments, our gal came out dressed like the Leather Daddy from The Village People to present a birthday cake to Michael Jackson, lauding Jacko for his contributions to music videos, breaking barriers (it’s true — he was the first black artist to get played on MTV, after the network blatantly rejected black artists), and inspiring countless pop artists. Whatever your thoughts on Jackson and his legacy, all of that is accurate, and it was a lovely moment to have the Princess of Pop celebrate the erstwhile King of Pop. Jackson seemed to think he was receiving an award for “Artist of the Millennium,” which was…not what was happening. He thanked magician David Blaine! Again: surreal. I’m just over here wondering what flavor that cake was.
6. A Victorious VMA Return
It was nearly a decade between Britney performances at the VMAs, as 2016’s “Make Me”/“Me, Myself & I” mash-up with G-Eazy was her first number at the show since the 2007 debacle. The “Make Me” portion of the show is lovely, and Britney looks absolutely stunning. Not to be rude, but if you need any better proof of Britney’s star power, she completely outshines G-Eazy even when he’s taking the lead on this duet. The camera loves her.
5. Britney Mega Mix (2011)
Britney was presented with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award in 2011 — deserved! — and while she herself did not perform at the awards that year, a host of dancers served up a retrospective of her greatest video hits as a delighted Britney looked on from the audience. It’s both a great clip and so sweet to see her in awe of her own work. Which, honestly, she should be. You’ve done amazing, sweetie.
4. Britney’s Coming Out (1999)
Britney made her VMA debut in the final show of the 20th Century, recreating the video to “…Baby One More Time” with remixed audio that included an extended dance break, which featured performers in pants that looked like they were wrapping baked potatoes. This was a big deal for Britney, and she met the moment, helping to cement her as a bona fide pop star. That said, could nobody lend this poor woman a barrette? Her hair was constantly in her face!
3. Satisfying Britney (2000)
Britney’s second VMA performance continued to move her past the schoolgirl image, as she started by covering The Rolling Stones’ “Sastisfaction” in a bedazzled men’s suit, which (IMO too quickly) was stripped off to reveal one of the sexiest outfits of her career, a flesh-toned two-piece festooned with rhinestones. I don’t know who decided to put her downstage in a spinning cage with basically no lighting for the back half of this performance, but that was a CHOICE. There’s a quantum leap in Britney’s stage presence between the 1999 debut and this performance. Even when you can barely see her due to the lighting, she commands the camera.
2. Shedding Her Teen Idol Image (2001)
Britney decided she was not still a girl, and most DEFINITELY a woman in this iconic performance of “I’m a Slave 4 U.” Decked out in a modern bellydancer version of the outfit she wore in the video for the song, Britney starts in a cage with an actual goddamn tiger, and then proceeds to get down to the song, dancing with the sexiest “Zoobilee Zoo” background characters before being handed an actual python, which she held across her shoulders in one of the most defining images of her career. Is it silly to watch Britney fiddle with her mic while obviously lipsynching? It surely is. But the singing was never the point with this song — she nailed what counts, which is the vibe.
1. The Virgin Bride (2003)
Easily one of the Top 10 VMA moments of all time — possibly Top 5? — Britney and semi-rival Christina Aguilera reenacted Madonna’s iconic “Like a Virgin” from the very first VMAs back in 1984, only to have Madonna herself join them on stage to mash-up with her then-current song, “Hollywood.” The three then perform together, culminating in Madonna kissing each starlet — although the public only seems to remember Britney! — essentially passing along the title of Princess of Pop to the next generation. And then Missy Elliot comes out and sets the stage on fire. Incredible. The whole 5-minute segment is spectacular. Britney is very good in it, and the various crowd reactions take it over the top top. The Mary J. Blige reaction when Christina comes out is camp perfection. The original “Queer Eye” Fab 5 losing it over Madonna appearing. Justin Timberlake’s disapproving look after the kiss. This is definitive pop culture.
What are your favorite Britney VMA moments? Are you looking forward to the 2024 awards? Leave a comment below!
