If you have searched the internet for any amount of time in the last week or so, you have probably read something about the "epic showdown" set to come between reigning pop princesses, Britney Spears and Lady Gaga. This is arguably the first time that the two have had albums competing in the same arena, and some are forecasting a bloody battle for the Queen of Pop throne. But, let's face it, even when comparing artists as similar as Britney Spears and Lady Gaga, you're still comparing apples to oranges. And, what's more, I think there is plenty of room for them to both share the throne. When it comes to pop music, no one is more exciting, electrifying, and engaging than these two. Britney Spears single-handedly turned the music industry on its head in 1999, and has defined (for better or worse) what it means to be a celebrity in the new millennium. Plus, no one can deny the power she clearly wields to be able to stage the comeback of 2008 that put her back on top of her game. But, Lady Gaga is a relatively new artist whose glorious blend of performance art and pop music has made her the most innovative new artist of the last ten years or so. She's still riding her initial wave of popularity, and is showing no signs of slowing down.
So, to answer the question of who will "come out on top" in 2011, the answer is both of them. Sure, Gaga is doubtlessly going to outsell Britney...but that's what is bound to happen when a new artist goes up against a veteran one. That doesn't change the fact that Britney and Gaga are both going to experience huge successes with their respective new albums. How do I know, you ask? Well, let's look at the facts. Lady Gaga's debut album, The Fame, sold 12 million copies worldwide. Her follow-up, The Fame Monster, was the best-selling album of 2010, selling 5.8 million copies worldwide. When she said that a big announcement about her next album, Born This Way, would come at midnight on New Year's Eve, her strong influence was seen, evidenced by the sheer amount of speculation, reporting, and general buzz the announcement generated. Britney, on the other hand, sold over 4 million copies of her last album, Circus, and fans flocked to buy her last single 3, from her "Singles" collection, making it the first song in more than three years to debut at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. In addition, an episode of Fox's Glee dedicated to honoring Britney became the highest rated episode of the show ever, surpassing similar episodes dedicated to Madonna and Lady Gaga. All of this success is made even more impressive, given that it came right on the heels of Britney's highly-publicized breakdown. Her ability to stage arguably the most successful comeback in music history after the most-publicized breakdown proved her enduring power in the industry.
So, do you need anymore proof that these two are about to take over 2011 with all of their pop goodness? I don't think so. There hasn't been a pop star since Madonna to stir up the industry as much as these two, and I don't think going head-to-head is going to hurt either one of them. I mean, honestly, I'm waking up at dawn to buy Britney's album on the day it's released, and I'm doing the same for Gaga. I imagine that most of their target audiences will be doing the exact same thing. The question, then, is why is there such a fuss about their supposed showdown this year? It's the same reason why the media pitted Britney against Christina Aguilera back in the day (for the record, both have done just fine)...and why, to a lesser extent, they have tried to pit Gaga against Katy Perry (again...both, fine). It makes for really good news, but it is completely hollow, nonetheless. Sure, one of them is going to outsell the other, but no matter who "wins," it won't put a dent in either of their armor. If Britney wins, it will probably be because of the strong fanbase she has developed over the years, and her ability to produce infectious, delicious pop tunes. If Gaga wins, it will probably be because she is the hottest new artist currently working, and is still demanding the attention of everyone, fan or not, because of her amazing music and breathtaking performance art pieces. In the end, though, they are both going to continue being pop royalty. It will still be their world, and we'll all still just be living in it. I like it that way.
The real question we should all be asking: when can we expect a collaboration from these two? Now, that's something to talk about!
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