LOS ANGELES (AP) - Though the theme of
Britney Spears' latest effort,
Britney, is that she is no longer a little girl, her current
Dream Within a
Dream tour proves she is definitely not yet a woman.
The travelling pop extravaganza rolled into the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, Calif., on Tuesday (Nov. 19), just one day after all the surprises were spoiled for those privy to her HBO special Britney Spears: Live from Las Vegas.
Throughout the 90-minute musical circus, Spears bumped and grinded like a woman, but remained very much immersed in a childhood-themed show, which did little for her cause of being stuck between the two worlds.
As Spears stripped down from a ballerina dress to Daisy Duke's and matching corset, she did so while emerging from a giant wind-up music box ("Lucky"); or when she sang "You gotta turn me on and make me feel sexy," from Britney's strongest track ("Anticipating"), she did so while gallivanting around in a cardboard, coloring book-like cutout car and house.
Musically, the Dream Within a Dream show sees the pop princess seemingly sing live a bit more this time around, though much was still on tape, and utilizing the frivolous "Woo!'s" (to prove her mike is on) a lot less -- an annoying and obvious crutch to her last tour.
Highs of the show include a scantily-clad Spears (green bra, knee-high green boots, and a skimpy, wrap-around matching skirt) riding a male dancer like a bull ("I'm a Slave 4 U"); a toned-down, almost gospel version of "Born to Make You Happy"; and the overall entertainment aspect of the show -- tons of fantastic pyrotechnics, acrobatics, costume changes, and dancing.
Lows include a bald Spears on the video monitors during "Overprotected" (not cute), a cheesy sequence featuring Spears battling a video image of herself in a dance off ("Lonely"); and a terribly annoying video sequence premising Joan Jett and the Blackhearts' "I Love Rock 'n' Roll," where Spears plays the singer in a band called Stinky Pinky (now that's not appropriate for a teen!).
The 17-song set ended with a slowed version of Spears' breakout hit "� Baby One More Time." Spears' "I'm Not a Girl" side traded in the private school outfit that has become so much associated with the song and its video in favor of her "Not Yet a Woman" side and a much more adult halter top and matching pants. Clearly, growing up is hard to do.
O-Town kicked off the festivities with a surprisingly solid opening set, which saw the made-for-television boy band pick up its own instruments ("We Fit Together," "Love Should Be a Crime"), which is more than can be said for many of its contemporaries. While some of the dance moves have been recycled from New Edition's repertoire in the '80s, the singing was solid (yes, they appear to actually sing!) and the packed-house ate up O-Town like Nielson families eat popcorn during sweeps week.
