There’s one sure thing that can be said about Britney Spears’ performance at last night’s MTV Video Music Awards. She delivered exactly what everyone expected; a horrifically embarrassing performance that had to have Kevin Federline rolling on the floor laughing uncontrollably. Practically tripping over herself throughout the limp, lifeless, lip-synced performance, Spears began the performance looking as if she’d just stumbled out of a bar drunk searching for something to hold on to so she wouldn’t fall over.
From there, it didn’t get any better. Several years ago – before Federline, before kids, before physical and emotional meltdown – Spears would have been all over that stage exploding with high energy dance moves. But at least twice last night, she had to be hoisted up and down from a riser like an overweight kid trying to climb out of a swimming pool.
As she wearily sang, “gimme more, babe,” you could almost feel her begging the audience to help infuse her with energy so she could at least make it through the routine without passing out from exhaustion. It’s really not a good thing when the backup dancers exude ten times more exuberance than the star.
See the disaster in all its glory here. Damn. Poor girl. At least she didn’t pull an Ashlee Simpson and leave the stage. Points for that. It all makes us pine for the days of the Britney/Madonna Kiss.