Glasgow kiss me baby one more time

Published on Friday 30 April 2004 01:00

Britney Spears ***

SECC

OOPS, she did it again. Britney Spears courted controversy this week, at least among the critics, after appearing to fake her vocal performance on the first European dates of her current world tour.

But last night there was only one place for any self-respecting Britney fan to be - and, judging by the deafening roar which greeted her arrival on stage the SECC, they weren’t disappointed.

It’s been two years since Britney has performed in Britain - and how times have changed. On her last visit, she was a squeaky-clean, self-confessed virgin.

None of that "not yet a woman" stuff now. In the last 12 months, the 22-year-old has indulged in a spot of tonsil tennis with Madonna, annulled a 55-hour marriage after a drunken weekend in Las Vegas and has been linked with a string of stars including Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst and bad boy Irish actor Colin Farrell.

The Louisiana-born bombshell looked stunning in a skin-tight black PVC catsuit that showed off her cheerleader curves. But first her fans were treated to a spectacular display of lights, lasers and precision-timed pyrotechnics before the singer launched into her hit single, Toxic.

Leaving little to the imagination with a raunchy dance routine, the princess of pop had indeed arrived.

Supporting Britney on the European leg of her tour is singer JC Chasez, a member of United States boyband N-Sync, which also featured Spears’ ex, Justin Timberlake.

Chasez, whose latest single Blowin’ Me Up (With Her Love) is at number 18 in the UK charts, was the main attraction for many fans - and will have won many more with his polished performance.

A blistering set followed from Britney as fireworks shot up from the stage and the singer worked the crowd into a frenzy with hits such as Overprotected and Slave 4 U. She wore a pink basque and fishnets to perform jazz versions of Baby One More Time - albeit minus the slutty schoolgirl routine - and Oops I Did It Again.

But it was clear many wanted the original versions. Granted, Spears doesn’t so much sing than mime along with most of her hits anyway - but she gives good lip-sync.

And what do you expect when she’s simultaneously performing vigorous dance routines, simulating sex acts with scantily-clad dancers and writhing near naked in a clear bathtub?

It was her sexy dance routines rather than any singing that really set the crowd alight, although, she did have time for a bit of playful teasing. "There are so many cute guys in the audience tonight," she coyly observed. "If you’re feeling lucky I might just marry one of you."

Who knows? Maybe tonight guys.

• Run ends tonight