Can Britney (older, wiser) find depth in pop life?

“I’m getting older and more in touch with myself on a deeper level,” Britney Spears told journalists during a recent press conference in Seoul. Sitting on a couch onstage in Juicy jeans and a frilly blouse, the 22-year-old American pop star fielded questions about her sexuality, her clothing and song writing, during her first trip here.
Sexuality: “There’s no lesbian vibe going on,” she said about the music video, “Me Against the Machine,” one of the songs on her fourth album, “In the Zone.” But she did call Madonna “inspiring to be around.” (The two shared a kiss during the MTV Music Awards). That kiss was influential in shaping the first song on this album.
Clothing: “I’m not responsible for their kids,” she said when asked about a recent article in a British newspaper pointing to her attire as influencing girls to wear revealing clothes. “I’m wearing what makes me happy.”
Song writing: “It’s different every time with each song,” she said. She’s credited with writing seven of the 13 songs on “Zone,” which marks a departure for Spears from bubbly pop music to club beats and sensual themes. Will her audience grow up with her? In Korea, her album debuted earlier this month at No. 1 on Synnara’s music charts. It has held that position. About 30 members of the international press traveled to Korea to cover Spears’s stay here. “Spears is huge in Asia,” said one producer with Channel V, based in Malaysia.
Spears arrived in Korea on Sunday for the Asia launch of “Zone.” Her five-day visit included an SBS-TV special with BoA, who has been called “the Korean Britney Spears.” SBS will air the program on Dec. 25. “Among local artists, BoA was the best match for a concert with Britney,” said BMG Korea’s Joseph Lee. After this new album, Spears said, “I will continue experimenting. There are so many things I haven’t done. . . . I’d love to win an Oscar. I’d love to do it all.”

by Joe Yong-hee