Not too long ago the ingredients for becoming a pop star was as easily as purchasing it from a Halloween store. Add in a couple sparkly bras, a dancing poll, a dozen or so dancers, and a vocal synthesizer and you’re good to go.

In the most materialistic way of thinking, some pop music is just meant to make you like it and sell albums, doesn’t matter if the vocals aren’t all that great – as long as there’s a decent music hook, the content doesn’t need much.

Last week Britney Spears’ latest album Black Out hit the street. I managed to hear a couple of the tracks prior to the release. Surprisingly to myself, and probably most of the critical music critics today – the songs weren’t that bad.

Everyone saw Britney’s live performance of “Gimme More” and the music video. I admit, I thought it was horrible. But, of course, after hearing a song for about hundred times its hard to completely hate it.

After I heard the other songs, like Freak Show, Toy Soldier, and “Piece of Me” my chair dancing began.

Piece of Me is probably my favorite so far. I guess this was her finger flip to the media and everyone else who has two words to say about her parenting and partying skills in the past year or two.

Granted, Brit hasn’t been in the best light with the judge taking away her two kids and her documented sporadic behavior – but when it comes to what she produces when she’s in the music studio – I think it is really hard to judge her.

You have to hand it to her though, as much as you may dislike her, she has an army of music producers that could turn a sick woman with a cough into dance floor diva.

This album just goes to show, even if your vocal skills are on the iffy side, and your personal life has become the dartboard for every comedian in the country, as long as you have money to pay you’re producers and handlers you’ll be rolling in dough by week’s end.
—Eming Piansay