Britney Spears: The Onyx Hotel Tour at the Oakland Arena, March 9, 2004

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Britney Spears

The Onyx Hotel Tour 2004

Oakland Arena

March 9, 2004

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Tuesday night, March 9th, I saw Britney Spears' The Onyx Hotel Tour 2004 at the Oakland Arena. Like me, Britney still is morphing at 22, and she brought those changes to a show that contagiously energized a packed house for 90 minutes with sexy vocals, numerous provocative costumes, killer choreography, high-tech staging with sizzling special effects and huge pulsing videos, and throbbing techno/industrial dance music on a lavish set that--like great theater--left me hungering for more. Britney learned her craft at G-rated Disney, but her show has morphed with her into something quite R-rated.

Harlem native R&B singer Kelis did a great job warming up the audience, and the Arena lights went down about 9:30 p.m. A creep-me-out ringmaster in carnival drag appeared on the futuristic set as the MC, and the spectacle began.

Dressed in the sexy skin-tight black leather of a dominatrix, Britney Spears appeared on a moving platform to the thunderous applause of the audience. She opened with her hit “Toxic,” a dig at kiss-and-tell cad Justin Timberlake from her 4thlatest album, “In the Zone.”

Britney then sang "Overprotected" and "Boys," during which her four shirtless, male dancers with suspenders and bellhop caps pushed Britney and her four female dancers on luggage carts.

Then Britney morphed into a sexy lingerie-clad lounge singer and sounded like Marilyn Monroe for “Hit Me Baby One More Time," "Oops! ... I Did It Again," and a Latin "(You Drive Me) Crazy." Britney really knew how to work the bullwhip at the end of the microphone.

I loved the sexy choreography of her "I'm a Slave 4 U" and her energy during "Outrageous" and her ballad, "Everytime."

I loved Britney in a pink satin bra and frilly panties, but her show really became R-rated during "Breathe on Me" and "Touch of My Hand." Britney slid out of a white robe to reveal a flesh-colored body suit, stepped into a clear glass bathtub, and then did some digital self-exploration during "Touch of My Hand." Meanwhile her dancers did faux masturbation on beds and chairs. Britney really got my hormones going when she simulated sex with one of her male dancers. I wish that she had asked for volunteers.

Just as quickly Britney morphed again and sat down at a flower-covered piano for the song "Everytime.”

I understand Britney’s toggling between her sexual and her spiritual hungers. Clearly the media does not. Such toggling is common among thoughtful people our age. It is called personal growth. Britney has morphed, yet her critics—like possessive parents--want the girl of her Disney days. The ignorant media dissects Britney’s performance and over analyzes her vocals, her moves, and her intent. But Britney is an excellent example of phenomenology--her performance is far more than the sum of its parts. And Britney gives a performance worth far more than the ticket price. I sensed it from the audience as I exited. Too bad Britney’s critics are such poor observers.

Some critics have called The Onyx Hotel Tour Las Vegas glitzy. Duh! Could it be that Britney—like Celine Dion--has tired of the road with its lonely, dreary hotel rooms? Like Celine, Britney hungers for a theater to call home where she can do what she lives to do—entertain audiences. Las Vegas would be lucky to get Britney as an artist in residence. Britney delivers a spectacular show.

Some critics hinted that Britney’s vocals might have been enhanced during upbeat numbers. Duh! Have they been to other pop or rock concerts lately? Have they been to musicals on Broadway lately? Did they watch this year’s Super Bowl entertainment? Such critics should try Britney’s aerobics on stage for 90 minutes and see if they need vocal enhancement between gasps for air.

Some critics have mentioned that Britney’s shows are too sexual for pre-teens. Duh! Britney has matured, and so has her core audience. The talented Hilary Duff can pick up Britney’s slack.

Britney’s critics seem to have very few mental neurons firing.

Britney Spears emerged from a humble background in Louisiana and worked her ass off for years at Disney learning her craft. She is the epitome of the American work ethic. She has emerged as one of the world’s great entertainers. Look at her CD sales. Look at her box office. Ask her audience, NOT the critics. She is only 22 years old, yet she bears the huge responsibility of providing and sustaining jobs that support hundreds of families. Critics should be praising such achievement by one so young, NOT attempting to elevate themselves by tearing Britney down. Isn’t it pathetic how some critics show their ignorance? Meanwhile Britney delivers exciting entertainment. An Oakland Arena of people would testify to that!

It takes something special to get us San Franciscans to cross the Bay and visit Oakland. Britney Spears is very special.