The following italicized article is from www.mtv.com:Well, there's really no denying it now: Britney Spears really is back! Back to selling tons of records, at least. Her Circus album will debut at #1 on next week's Billboard albums chart, selling just under 505,100 copies. It's Spears' fifth album to debut at #1 on the chart, and it sold nearly twice as many copies as last year's Blackout album, which was denied the top spot on the chart by the Eagles' Long Road Out of Eden. Circus' first-week sales total is certainly big, but it's only the sixth biggest opening of 2008, behind albums like Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III, AC/DC's Black Ice, Coldplay's Viva la Vida, Taylor Swift's Fearless and T.I.'s Paper Trail. Still, it outpaced the first-week numbers of some of Brit's pop peers, including Beyoncé's I Am ... Sasha Fierce, Mariah Carey's E = MC2 and Miley Cyrus' Breakout. Interestingly enough, the Brit-sanity was so high among album buyers that Blackout also managed to return to the charts, selling more than 4,600 copies to land at #198. Spears' manager, Larry Rudolph, told The Associated Press that the success of Circus really does signify Brit's triumphant return. "At the end of the day, I think she is America's pop princess, and the world's pop princess, and this just reconfirms it to everyone who doubted it," he said. "Professionally, she's feeling great. ... It's great for her to hear that she's got a #1 album again."
Those sentiments were seconded by in a statement from Jive Records, Britney's label. "We're absolutely thrilled for Britney," the statement reads. "The response to Circus is a testament to how great the album is, and to how connected and supportive Britney's fans are to her and her music." Swift's Fearless lands in the #2 spot on the albums chart for the second-straight week, selling 193,500 copies. Beyoncé's Sasha Fierce is at #3, with sales of more than 152,800 copies. Last week's chart champ, Kanye West's 808s & Heartbreak, drops to #4, with sales of close to 141,700 copies. Nickelback's Dark Horse rounds out the top five, selling 133,400 copies. The rest of the top 10 features the "Twilight" soundtrack at #6; the week's other big-name debut, Akon's Freedom at #7; the soundtrack to "High School Musical 3" at #8; the ubiquitous hits collection Now That's What I Call Music! 29 at #9; and David Cook's self-titled effort at #10.
Aside from Circus and Freedom (which sold 110,600 copies), other notable debuts on next week's chart include Scarface's Emeritus (#24, with 42,000 copies sold), Neil Young's Sugar Mountain: Live at Canterbury House 1968 (#40, with 26,400 copies sold) and the soundtrack to Beyoncé's new movie, "Cadillac Records" (#66, with 15,600 copies sold). Source: MTV
The following italicized article is from www.etonline.com:ET talks to Britney's manager Larry Rudolph about her new album soaring to No. 1! Larry says even though Circus started out as "just an experiment," it has now emerged as a great album that fans have embraced to put the pop star back on top of the charts. Click to watch the video for more of Larry's thoughts on the album and why he thinks the title track "Circus" is Britney's best song in five years.Source: ET Online
The following italicized article is from www.thesun.co.uk:WE’VE all heard of the 12-step rehab programme. But BRITNEY SPEARS has come up with her own three-step alternative, and it forms the basis for her new stage show. I’ve had a world exclusive sneak peak at the Pop Princess’s plans for her gigs supporting new album Circus. And I can reveal her messy meltdown and road to recovery is covered in frank detail in the three-act spectacular. The finale features the diva emerging at the end of a rainbow after a spectacular indoor thunderstorm. My tour insider said: “The first act sees the miserable star run away to join the circus. This mirrors her slide into unhinged behaviour. “Her disturbing antics while suffering her meltdown are the focus of the second act, which takes place in the circus. “Brit is seen having fun in this crazy world and falling in love with a circus freak.“The final act focuses on Britney’s salvation. She manages to prize herself away from the clutches of the circus to be reunited with her friends and family.” And I can also reveal one of costume designs that Britney will be sporting during her upcoming shows. It's a metallic designer corset from David and Phillippe Blond that Britney sports on the inside of her Circus Album. Sources say that Britney's camp has been in talks with the Blond's to design outfits for her upcoming tour as well as the corset she wears for the Circus promo. A source close to the Blond's said: "They will only be designing for Britney's tour outfits and not any of her dancers. They are super excited about this project." The jaunt kicks off on March 3 in New Orleans, then takes in a further 33 concerts across the US. It hits the UK on June 3 with an eight-night stand at London’s O2.
Hair The chart-topping songbird famously went on an orgy of deranged behaviour as her marriage to dancer KEVIN FEDERLINE fell apart. At the pinnacle of her mania in February 2007 she lopped off her hair in a Los Angeles hair salon.
She was in and out of hospital and custody battles over sons Sean Preston, three, and Jayden James, two, followed before the star began to turn her life around earlier this year. My insider added: “Britney is well aware of what a rollercoaster she has been on during these past two years and she is determined that her recent life is reflected in the shows. “She thought the best metaphor to use would be the circus. “Fans get to travel with her through her fall from grace and her eventual rehabilitation.” Top fashion bods DONATELLA VERSACE and DOLCE & GABBANA have been called upon to design the costumes and the Womanizer singer will have 12 changes of outfit. Brit has never been renowned for her great live shows. But I reckon that could all change once the Circus rolls into town.Source: The Sun
The following italicized article is from www.x17online.com:Last night Britney rehearsed at the International Dance Academy, and when the pop princess was all done, she bundled up in a checkered trench and made some funny faces as she headed to her SUV. We've never seen Brit in this overcoat before - think it's gonna be her new fav?See more pics here!Source: X17
The following italicized article is from www.billboard.com:As expected, Britney Spears' "Circus" makes a big bow at the top of The Billboard 200, becoming her fifth No. 1. The Jive set moved 505,000 copies in the United States, making Spears the only act in Nielsen SoundScan history to have four albums debut with 500,000 or more.Since SoundScan began tracking data in 1991, only four acts -- aside from Spears -- have notched three 500,000-starts: 2Pac, 50 Cent, Garth Brooks and Jay-Z. Previously, her second, third and fourth sets all racked up half-million weeks: 2000's "Oops! I Did It Again" started with 1.3 million, 2001's "Britney" debuted with 746,000 and 2003's "In the Zone" entered the chart with 609,000. Among female artists, only four have earned more No. 1 albums: Barbra Streisand (eight), Madonna (seven) and Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson (both with six).On the Billboard Hot 100 to be released tomorrow, Spears scores her first top 10 debut as the set's title cut debuts at No. 3. The song, which she performed live on ABC's "Good Morning America" the day "Circus" hit retail, opens at No. 1 on Hot Digital Songs with 212,000 downloads. With her former No. 1 single "Womanizer" at No. 10 on the Hot 100, Spears places two tracks simultaneously in that chart's top 10 for the first time in her career.
Source: Billboard
Did you guys hear what the press has been saying about Britney and Circus? My, how the tables have turned, haven't they? "...her new songs are crisp, cunning dance-pop..." —The New York Times"...like any good circus, Britney's version will leave you thoroughly entertained." —Associated Press"...it's a first-rate electro-pop album." —Entertainment Weekly"3 out of 4 stars." —USA Today"Britney Spears re-enters the ring, comes out on Big Top." —New York Post"...the best work of Miss Spears' career." — Washington Times"Circus... finds Spears in confident form..." —The Arizona Republic"...clever hooks and snazzy beats..." —NY Daily News"...the best album of her career..." —Newsday"...she is in a class of her own." —BillboardWhat have you guys been hearing about Circus? Oh, and speaking of, did you check out our guest blogger's glowing Circus review? Couldn't have said it better myself! xx♥PS Did you catch The Hills last night?! "Circus" was on, which I loooved. But Spencer made me throw up in my mouth a little. He looks like Beavis. And Stephanie was totally fake-crying. LOL at Lauren's giant cell phone. Source: Britney.comCouldn't agree more on the Spencer thing.
Right before Britney and crew headed to Europe they had a huge dress rehearsal here in the States -- and of course we have the EXCLUSIVE photos to share with you! Looks like they made sure to practice with ALL of the bells and whistles. Uncovered circus wagon... check. Huge metal ball... check. Ring of fire... check. That jacket Britney has on is totally fierce circus-wear! She didn't wear it for any of her European performances nor GMA, but maybe we will see her wearing it in an upcoming performance? I hope so anyway -- it's hott!See more pics here!Source: BritneySpears.com
The following italicized article is from www.mtv.com:
