Gone are the days when live performances were a one-time phenomenon. Now, celebrities will be held unforgettably accountable for any misstep. (Think Beyonce falling down a set of stairs at a recent summer performance, immediately asking her fans not to post it on youtube.com. Needless to say, they did not comply.) Instead, shows need to be down right perfect as they will be replayed and replayed and picked over by every internet user.
Of course, as much as someone wants to watch a truly memorably performance again and again, America is more interested in seeing stars fall—literally and figuratively. Beyonce’s soulful live renditions of “Irreplaceable” are not nearly viewed as many times as that unfortunate fall of hers. Furthermore, Britney Spears’ “comeback” performance of her new single, “Gimme More,” at the VMA’s last night is an example of how the youtube.com phenomenon is more like rubbernecking than seeking out fine entertainment—as of 11am on September 10th (basically 12 hours after it first aired) it has been viewed 500,000 times on youtube.com.
The truth of the matter is that America was hoping that Britney would pull a Beyonce and fall on her face onstage. Yet, her figurative fall, although not as dramatic, was more painful to watch than her careening down a flight of stairs. Scared, bored, drugged, disoriented—all adjectives that fit her description last night. She was once forgiven for lip-synching when she could command her audience with her dance moves and flat stomach. Last night she barely knew the words to “Gimme More.” Dressed in a sequined lingerie set, black stockings, and hooker high-heeled boots (I’m sorry, but that’s the only way to describe them—God forbid someone help her pick out a flattering outfit), she fulfilled all the expectations that people were harboring for her, not to nail her performance, but to fail her performance.
The shots of the star-studded audience conveyed all that was necessary. They looked like rubberneckers—pained expressions, but still watching without blinking. Even a wardrobe malfunction would not have saved her. (Furthermore, the countless back up dancers could not distract anyone from her poor performance.) Yet, as appalled as I am about the American obsession with Britney’s fuck-ups, I am a total participant. I check celebrity blogs daily, I tuned in to VMAs only for her performance, promptly turning the TV off after she finished.
Now, of course, there is even more backlash against Britney for her half-assed (or not even, so call it quarter-assed) rendition of “Gimme More." There was a day when her VMA performances defined the MTV awards show for any given year. Who will ever forget when she danced with a snake? Or what about the Madonna kiss? She was never afraid to push the envelope, so last night’s blandness made her current state even more tragic.
Unlike Beyonce’s fall, after which she got up quickly and carried on without shame or embarrassment, Britney cannot easily dust herself off and pick herself up again. The tragic figurative implications of her “Gimme More” performance suggest that Britney may fall down a few more flights of her metaphorical staircase before coming close to being able to stand up again. The worst part of all is that it seems that people are happier to keep rubbernecking her plummet downwards rather than see her rise again.
