...Baby One More Time Tour

Background and development

On March 5, 1999, it was reported that Spears was planning her first headlining tour to support her first studio album, ...Baby One More Time (1999). Shortly after, she announced that the tour would start in July. On May 12, 1999, Tommy Hilfiger was announced as the main tour sponsor. During the time of the announcement, Spears was being featured in the "AllStars" campaign launched by the company. Hilfiger spoke about the sponsorship saying,

The secondary sponsor was supposed to be Nestlé, but they pulled out soon after provocative photographs of Spears shot by David LaChapelle were published in Rolling Stone. Tour dates were released through Pollstar on April 9, 1999, with the tour kicking off on June 28, 1999, in Pompano Beach, Florida. Several dates were added and rescheduled, and the complete schedule was released two months later.

Spears talked to CNN about her involvement during the development of the tour, stating that she had designed the entire tour herself, including costumes and concept. Spears worked with fashion designer Gia Ventola to create the costumes for her and the dancers. The proscenium stage was simple and had only one main prop, a staircase in the middle. The band was in both sides of the staircase and consisted of five musicians. There were also six dancers, that took the stage during interludes. The setlist consisted of seven songs from her debut album and several covers by well-known artists.

Concert synopsis

The show began with a dance introduction by Spears' dancers among smoke effects. She appeared shortly after at the top of the staircase wearing a hot pink vinyl tube top and white vinyl pants with pink knee patches, to perform "(You Drive Me) Crazy". In "Soda Pop", she danced and interacted with the audience, before leaving the stage while her dancers continued. She appeared sitting on the staircase to sing "Born to Make You Happy" and "From the Bottom of My Broken Heart". The show continued with a dance interlude set to Madonna's "Vogue" in which she named Madonna and Janet Jackson as her biggest inspirations. She then took the stage to perform a cover of Madonna's "Material Girl". After this, she performed two covers of Janet Jackson songs, "Black Cat" and "Nasty". She ended the section with a performance of Sonny & Cher's "The Beat Goes On", accompanied by psychedelic lights. After a dance interlude, she performed the album track "I Will Be There" and a cover of "Open Arms" by Journey, ending with a smile at the top of the staircase. After "Sometimes", she waved and left the stage. The encore consisted of a performance of "...Baby One More Time", in which Spears wore a black bra under pink halter, a pink sequined plaid mini-skirt, and black thigh-high stockings. She then thanks the audience and leaves the stage.

Critical reception

The tour garnered generally positive reviews from critics. Jeffrey Haney of the Deseret News described the show as "funky and flashy". A reporter from USA Today called Spears' performance "assured and energetic". Jim Farber of the New York Daily News pointed out that Spears seemed to have two personas during the show, one when singing songs from her album and a more edgy look when singing the covers. He also added that "Spears' nods to edginess no doubt reflects her desire to grow into a more mature career". Jane Ganahl of the San Francisco Chronicle said that "she may be somewhat entertaining, but she's also just another prefab act – longer on packaging than actual talent".

Broadcasts and recordings

In August 1999, the concert in Orlando, Florida was filmed for the Disney Channel in Concert series which Spears was also joined by New Kids on the Block member Joey McIntyre (who was embarking on his solo career). The concert entitled Britney Spears and Joey McIntyre in Concert aired on October 16, 1999. In the special, Spears performed seven songs in front of the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith attraction at the Disney Hollywood Studios. It also featured Spears visiting her former routes working at the park during her years of The Mickey Mouse Club and shopping at Downtown Disney with her dancers.

Opening acts

• C-Note (select venues)
• Steps (select venues)
• Boyz N Girlz United (select venues)
• P.Y.T. (select venues)
• Michael Fredo (select venues)
• 3rd Storee (select venues)
• Divine (select venues)
• Sky (select venues)
• Joey McIntyre (Orlando)

Setlist

The following setlist was obtained from the concert held on July 29, 1999, at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland, California. It does not represent all concerts for the duration of the tour.

1. "(You Drive Me) Crazy"
2. "Soda Pop"
3. "Born to Make You Happy"
4. "From the Bottom of My Broken Heart"
5. "Material Girl" / "Black Cat" / "Nasty"
6. "The Beat Goes On"
7. "I Will Be There"
8. "Open Arms"
9. "Sometimes"
10. ;Encore
11. "...Baby One More Time"

Tour dates

Cancelled dates

Selected box office data

Notes

References

References

1. (March 5, 1999). "Bubble Gum Blows Up!".
2. MTV News Staff. (March 23, 1999). "Britney Spears Back In Action, Plans Summer Tour". [[MTV]].
3. (May 12, 1999). "Tommy Hilfiger Announces Sponsorship of Britney Spears Summer Concert Tour". Tommy Hilfiger Corporation.
4. MTV News Staff. (April 7, 1999). "Britney Spears On Sponsor-Scaring Pix: "It's Fine And It's Tasteful"". [[MTV]].
5. John, Richard. (April 9, 1999). "Revised Britney Spears Cdn. tour info". [[Jam!]].
6. (June 25, 1999). "Britney Spears Prepares To Launch Summer Tour". MTV News.
7. Tush, Bill. (August 2, 1999). "Britney Spears has her say-so". [[CNN]].
8. Ryan, Suzanne C.. (August 26, 1999). "MATERIAL GIRL At 23, fashion newcomer Gia Ventola already has designs on the stars". [[The Boston Globe]].
9. Stevenson, Jane. (July 10, 1999). "Spears takes aim at fame". [[Jam!]].
10. Ganahl, Jane. (July 30, 1999). "The musical equivalent of cotton candy".
11. Haney, Jeffrey P.. (September 11, 1999). "Teen Queen Spears reigns at State Fair". [[Deseret News]].
12. Farber, Jim. (July 9, 1999). "Britney's Act: It's So Schizo". [[New York Daily News]].
13. (July 16, 1999). "Britney Spears, Joey McIntyre Headed To Disney".
14. (May 26, 1999). "C-Note Drops Debut Album; Tours With Brandy, Britney, Cher". MTV News.
15. Stevenson, Jane. (July 14, 1999). "Sky enjoying sunny days". [[Jam!]].
16. Ripley, Jackie. (June 4, 1999). "Living the teen dream". [[St. Petersburg Times]].
17. Strauss, Neil. (July 7, 1999). "Pop Review; A Woodstock where teeny is everything". The New York Times.
18. (April 8, 1999). "Britney Spears Lines Up U.S. Tour Dates". MTV News.
19. (July 16, 1999). "Shows". Official Site of Douglas County, Nebraska.