# Does Britney’s career deserve a second chance? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 2, 2008, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-britney-s-career-deserve-a-second-chance/475370 "2008-12-02T18:02:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-britney-s-career-deserve-a-second-chance/475370/41 "2008-12-04T08:38:23Z")
> [@Charlie\_Tan](#): > > [Madonna showing off that she can’t dance and that her voice has always been very limited (YouTube).](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I43e7I4czYk) While you may not be fond of her style, Madonna is a trained dancer. Saying she “can’t dance” is maybe a bit much. From her [Wikipedia page](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madonna_(entertainer)): "Madonna received a dance scholarship to the University of Michigan after graduating from high school. Madonna’s ballet teacher persuaded her to pursue a dance career, so she left the college at the end of 1977 and moved to New York City." ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-britney-s-career-deserve-a-second-chance/475370/42 "2008-12-04T09:00:01Z")
The radio station that’s always playing in my office has “Womanizer” on heavy rotation, and it seems like a decent song except for the fact that Ms. Spears is completely irrelevant to it. Her voice has been so heavily processed that it may as well be my voice. She’s not even singing the lines, just sort of talking them. The only part that’s actually sung is the chorus, and that’s just one word repeated several times. The song is so utterly generic and devoid of anything that could identify it as her work, that I have to conclude that the only reason it’s on the radio is because of the selling power of her name. That’s a far bigger second chance than any of us will ever hope to receive, so if she can’t do more with it than she is I hardly feel sorry for her. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-britney-s-career-deserve-a-second-chance/475370/43 "2008-12-04T10:13:10Z")
She didn’t deserve a first chance. She can kinda sing. Better than me anyway. But big deal. There are thousands of girls out there who can sing better and write music and lyrics and play an instrument. Its just they didn’t happen to look like, act like, and ultimately be, a cute, underage, jailbait little slut. Britney Spears is not a singer, or musician, or even performer (she lip-syncs). She’s prepackaged mindless product for 12 year old girls. At least she used to be. Now she’s an irrelevant, embarrassing, white trash has-been ---
**Author:** ![Ellef](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8dc957/32.png) [@Ellef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellef)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-britney-s-career-deserve-a-second-chance/475370/44 "2008-12-04T10:56:55Z")
Britney has just given a widely panned performance on TV in the UK, during The X-Factor (think big Saturday night talent show). Her appearance was talked up as if she was the second coming of Christ, but she mimed over a very muddy and incomprehensible backing track, didn’t dance much and seemed out of it when the host chatted to her afterwards - I got the impression she barely knew what show she was on. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-britney-s-career-deserve-a-second-chance/475370/45 "2008-12-04T11:52:47Z")
> [@Rubystreak](#): > > I don’t know, it seems excessive to me. She went through rehab, and time in a mental hospital. I can see family stepping in to get her through, but for life? That’s a bit much. I don’t know much about what her parents are like, but the article said her father was an abusive alcoholic himself who Britney’s mom divorced because of his problem, before he “got clean.” No one put him on a lifetime conservatorship, and now he’s controlling Britney’s life. Her mom? Well, look at her daughters. I doubt they’re the people you’d want controlling your every move. It might be excessive but her dad taking over her life and career pretty much saved both. Theres been a complete turn around for Britney ever since the consevartorship and if it hadn’t happened there would be absolutely no talk of any kind of comeback or second chance, see Amy Winehouse. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-britney-s-career-deserve-a-second-chance/475370/46 "2008-12-04T12:11:36Z")
> [@freekalette](#): > > I caught part of her “Britney: for the record” (no, it’s not supposed to be capitalized) special last night before I went to bed. It was like watching Mount Vesuvius erupt in eXXXtreme slo-mo. I was horrified, but I couldn’t look away! > > The bit I saw was mostly about her life in the public eye. She was headed somewhere in an SUV, and there were throngs of paparazzi swarming the vehicle. It cut to her being interviewed, and she was bitching and moaning about how she just wants to be left alone, how she wishes she could walk down the street without being a spectacle. She went on and on about how everyone analyzes every little move she makes. I just wanted to rech through the screen and punch her in the face. Um, hellooooo?? You are the one who made a spectacle of yourself, Miss Thang! Shaving your head in downtown LA? Acing like a zombie onstage at the awards show? And let’s not forget the infamous getting-out-of-the-vehicle-with-short-skirt-and-no-knickers ordeal. What the fuck? Attention whores tend to attract…What’s the word…Oh, right. Attention. > > She really, really needs some counseling or something. There’s tons of celebs out there who deal with life in the spotlight just fine (some of whom even are the same age as Brit and had parallel careers) so there’s no reason she shouldn’t be able to. I saw that too, and she is so wrapped up in herself. She says she used to be the hot chick but now she ain’t the party girl anymore but still thinks she needs a security detail and to walk behind a blanket to leave a clothing store? I think she is afraid to break out from behind her iron curtain that is of her own making. What would happen if she just dropped the walls she erected around herself? And when Madonna showed up (right after a botox appointment? her upper lip was incredibly stiff) Brit seemed shy and mouselike around her. She did not return her hug or even look her in the eye, must be a self esteem issue when in her Highnesses presence. And what the hell is up with her dad dressed like a killer clown for halloween? He scared the shit out of her kids , they were crying and the adults were laughing. Those boys were freaked out! ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-britney-s-career-deserve-a-second-chance/475370/47 "2008-12-04T16:12:26Z")
> [@Charlie\_Tan](#): > > [Madonna showing off that she can’t dance and that her voice has always been very limited (YouTube).](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I43e7I4czYk) Not sure what you’re talking about. This video doesn’t necessarily showcase her dancing or vocal range, but does not in any way whatsoever illustrate any lack of talent. I don’t think you’d find many people who would agree with your statement. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-britney-s-career-deserve-a-second-chance/475370/48 "2008-12-04T16:28:37Z")
> [@Rubystreak](#): > > However, if she wasn’t Britney Spears, would she be disallowed from being alone, at all, ever? Would she be on lockdown, with a legal conservatorship for LIFE controlled by her father? That amount of control surpasses what most people deal with even when they fuck up as Britney has. I think her dad has a monetary interest in controlling her, don’t you? > > Regardless, don’t you have some pity for people who are so messed up that they have limited visitation with their kids, and Kevin Federline is the custodial parent? She’s sad and whatever success she’s having, she doesn’t seem to be able to enjoy it much. Wasn’t she diagnosed with bi-polar disorder? If so that could explain the lifetime conservatorship since that’s not a temporary situation. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-britney-s-career-deserve-a-second-chance/475370/49 "2008-12-04T21:10:42Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > What does ‘deserve’ have to do with it? And assuming it did make sense, what does that even mean? ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-britney-s-career-deserve-a-second-chance/475370/50 "2008-12-04T21:32:22Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > Wasn’t she diagnosed with bi-polar disorder? If so that could explain the lifetime conservatorship since that’s not a temporary situation. The article didn’t mention that, and I’m no Britney Spears fan, so I don’t know if that’s true or not. Maybe that’s the reason behind the conservatorship. Kind of irresponsible of the journalist to paint Spears’ father as a controlling, over-protective opportunist if the real reason behind the conservatorship is a debilitating mental illness. HOWEVER, I’m sure there are plenty of bipolar people who manage their illness, once it’s diagnosed, and don’t have their parents controlling their lives forever. I can totally see a temporary intervention, but this is permanent. Yeah, she’s screwed up and she was behaving quite erratically and irresponsibly, but that doesn’t mean she’s doomed forever and can never get her shit together… does it? ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-britney-s-career-deserve-a-second-chance/475370/51 "2008-12-04T21:54:31Z")
> [@Rubystreak](#): > > The article didn’t mention that, and I’m no Britney Spears fan, so I don’t know if that’s true or not. Maybe that’s the reason behind the conservatorship. Kind of irresponsible of the journalist to paint Spears’ father as a controlling, over-protective opportunist if the real reason behind the conservatorship is a debilitating mental illness. HOWEVER, I’m sure there are plenty of bipolar people who manage their illness, once it’s diagnosed, and don’t have their parents controlling their lives forever. I can totally see a temporary intervention, but this is permanent. Yeah, she’s screwed up and she was behaving quite erratically and irresponsibly, but that doesn’t mean she’s doomed forever and can never get her shit together… does it? If i remember correctly they have gone back to the judge several times so they could rule on wether the conservatorship should continue. So far its been a resounding yes every time. Britneys life has done a complete 180 since dad took charge, imo its the best thing thats happened to her in the last 5 years. I don’t know if she was bipolar or not but there was something definitely wrong with her mental state, some people claim Sam Lufti kept her drugged up. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-britney-s-career-deserve-a-second-chance/475370/52 "2008-12-04T22:02:29Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > If i remember correctly they have gone back to the judge several times so they could rule on wether the conservatorship should continue. So far its been a resounding yes every time. Britneys life has done a complete 180 since dad took charge, imo its the best thing thats happened to her in the last 5 years. I don’t know if she was bipolar or not but there was something definitely wrong with her mental state,\*\* some people claim Sam Lufti kept her drugged up.\*\* “Some people” being Britney’s own mother, who said he was crushing up pills and putting them into Britney’s food. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-britney-s-career-deserve-a-second-chance/475370/53 "2008-12-04T22:09:58Z")
Drama? It was drama that reinvigorated Britney’s career. Many that become famous deserve ignominy . Some that are disgraced deserve fame. Can you give it to them, dopers? Do not be too eager to deal out a ruined career in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends. My heart tells me that Britney has some part to play yet, for good or ill before this is over. The drama of Britney may rule the fate of many. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-britney-s-career-deserve-a-second-chance/475370/54 "2008-12-04T22:12:51Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > “Some people” being Britney’s own mother, who said he was crushing up pills and putting them into Britney’s food. Whether he was drugging her or not, I’m pretty sure he did have her locked up in her house. Except of course for the times she was running around pantyless and stoned at clubs. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-britney-s-career-deserve-a-second-chance/475370/55 "2008-12-04T22:13:35Z")
> [@Autolycus](#): > > Drama? It was drama that reinvigorated Britney’s career. Many that become famous deserve ignominy . Some that are disgraced deserve fame. Can you give it to them, dopers? Do not be too eager to deal out a ruined career in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends. My heart tells me that Britney has some part to play yet, for good or ill before this is over. The drama of Britney may rule the fate of many. You rule. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-britney-s-career-deserve-a-second-chance/475370/56 "2008-12-04T22:21:10Z")
> [@Autolycus](#): > > Drama? It was drama that reinvigorated Britney’s career. Many that become famous deserve ignominy . Some that are disgraced deserve fame. Can you give it to them, dopers? Do not be too eager to deal out a ruined career in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends. My heart tells me that Britney has some part to play yet, for good or ill before this is over. The drama of Britney may rule the fate of many. That just made my day. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-britney-s-career-deserve-a-second-chance/475370/57 "2008-12-04T23:00:04Z")
I’m betting that if she managed to act like someone who was wholly sane for the next 3 years straight, a decent probate lawyer would be able to get her out of conservatorship. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-britney-s-career-deserve-a-second-chance/475370.md?page=2)