...Baby One More Time Tour
The ...Baby One More Time Tour was the debut concert tour by American entertainer Britney Spears. It supported her debut studio album, ...Baby One More Time (1999), and visited the United States and Canada. The tour was announced in March 1999, with dates released a month later. Tommy Hilfiger was chosen as the tour sponsor. The show was divided into various segments, with each segment being followed by an interlude to the next segment, and it ended with an encore. The setlist consisted of songs from her debut album and several covers. The tour received positive feedback from critics; many highlighted Spears' persona and edgy look.[1][2]
| Tour by Britney Spears | |
Backstage access pass for the tour | |
| Location | North America |
|---|---|
| Associated album | ...Baby One More Time |
| Start date | June 28, 1999 |
| End date | September 15, 1999 |
| Legs | 1 |
| No. of shows | 57 |
| Britney Spears concert chronology | |
Background and development edit
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).[3] Shortly after, she announced that the tour would start in July.[4] 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,
"My passion for music has always inspired my designs. This year we have really put music in the forefront of everything we do. Britney represents the spirit of Tommy Jeans and of youth today. I cannot think of a better way to continue this exciting year by sponsoring one of today's hottest, young recording artists".[1]
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.[5] Tour dates were released through Pollstar on April 9, 1999, with the tour kicking off on June 28, 1999, in Pompano Beach, Florida.[6] Several dates were added and rescheduled, and the complete schedule was released two months later.[2]
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.[7] Spears worked with fashion designer Gia Ventola to create the costumes for her and the dancers.[8] 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 eight songs from her debut album and several covers by well-known artists.[9]
Concert synopsis edit
The show began with a dance introduction by Spears' dancers among smoke effects.[10] 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".[10] 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".[10] 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".[10] After this, she performed two covers of Janet Jackson songs, "Black Cat" and "Nasty".[10] She ended the section with a performance of Sonny & Cher's "The Beat Goes On", accompanied by psychedelic lights.[10] 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.[10] 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 edit
The tour garnered generally positive reviews from critics.[9] Jeffrey Haney of the Deseret News described the show as "funky and flashy".[11] A reporter from USA Today called Spears' performance "assured and energetic".[9] 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".[12] 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".[10]
Broadcasts and recordings edit
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.[13]
Opening acts edit
- C-Note (select venues)[14]
- Steps (select venues)[15]
- Boyz N Girlz United (select venues)[12]
- P.Y.T. (select venues)[16]
- Michael Fredo (select venues)[12]
- 3rd Storee (select venues)[12]
- Divine (select venues)[12]
- Sky (select venues)[15]
- Joey McIntyre (Orlando)[12]
Setlist edit
The following setlist was obtained from the concert held on July 29, 1999, at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland, California.[10] It does not represent all concerts for the duration of the tour.
- "(You Drive Me) Crazy"
- "Soda Pop"
- "Born to Make You Happy"
- "From the Bottom of My Broken Heart"
- "Material Girl" / "Black Cat" / "Nasty"
- "The Beat Goes On"
- "I Will Be There"
- "Open Arms"
- "Sometimes"
- Encore
Tour dates edit
| Date | City | Country | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 28, 1999 | Pompano Beach | United States | Pompano Beach Amphitheatre |
| June 29, 1999 | Tampa | USF Sun Dome | |
| July 1, 1999 | Atlanta | Atlanta Civic Center | |
| July 2, 1999 | North Myrtle Beach | House of Blues | |
| July 3, 1999 | Doswell | Paramount Theatre | |
| July 4, 1999[a] | Bethel | Max Yasgur's Farm | |
| July 5, 1999 | |||
| July 6, 1999 | Washington, D.C. | DAR Constitution Hall | |
| July 7, 1999 | New York City | Hammerstein Ballroom | |
| July 8, 1999 | Hershey | Hersheypark Arena | |
| July 9, 1999 | Scranton | Montage Mountain Performing Arts Center | |
| July 10, 1999 | Darien | Darien Lake Performing Arts Center | |
| July 11, 1999[b] | Schenectady | Proctor's Theatre | |
| July 13, 1999 | Hamilton | Canada | Copps Coliseum |
| July 14, 1999[c] | Toronto | Molson Canadian Amphitheatre | |
| July 16, 1999[d] | Montreal | Molson Centre | |
| July 17, 1999[e] | Ottawa | Corel Centre | |
| July 20, 1999 | Winnipeg | Centennial Concert Hall | |
| July 21, 1999[f] | Saskatoon | Saskatchewan Place | |
| July 22, 1999[g] | Edmonton | Skyreach Centre | |
| July 23, 1999 | Calgary | Canadian Airlines Saddledome | |
| July 25, 1999[h] | Vancouver | General Motors Place | |
| July 26, 1999 | Seattle | United States | Seattle Center Arena |
| July 27, 1999[i] | Hillsboro | DeMar Batchelor Amphitheater | |
| July 29, 1999 | Oakland | Paramount Theatre | |
| July 30, 1999[j] | Paso Robles | CMS Grandstand Arena | |
| July 31, 1999 | Los Angeles | Universal Amphitheatre | |
| August 3, 1999[k] | Brighton | Bromley Companies Stage | |
| August 4, 1999 | Denver | Paramount Theatre | |
| August 6, 1999 | Arlington | AT&T Music Mill Amphitheater | |
| August 7, 1999 | Houston | Aerial Theater | |
| August 8, 1999[l] | New Orleans | Lakefront Arena | |
| August 10, 1999 | Memphis | Mud Island Amphitheater | |
| August 11, 1999[m] | Nashville | Grand Ole Opry House | |
| August 13, 1999 | Eureka | Old Glory Amphitheater | |
| August 14, 1999[n] | Omaha | Ak-Sar-Ben Arena | |
| August 15, 1999[o] | Sioux Falls | W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds Grandstand | |
| August 17, 1999 | Rosemont | Rosemont Theatre | |
| August 18, 1999 | Columbus | Veterans Memorial Auditorium | |
| August 19, 1999[p] | Fairlea | State Fair Event Center | |
| August 20, 1999[q] | Adrian | Lenawee County Event Grounds Bandshell | |
| August 21, 1999 | Orlando | Hard Rock Live | |
| August 25, 1999 | Indianapolis | Egyptian Room | |
| August 26, 1999 | Cleveland | Nautica Stage | |
| August 27, 1999 | Mason | Timberwolf Amphitheatre | |
| August 29, 1999 | Upper Darby | Tower Theater | |
| August 30, 1999[r] | Essex | Coca-Cola Grandstand | |
| September 1, 1999 | Boston | FleetBoston Pavilion | |
| September 2, 1999[s] | Geddes | Mohegan Sun Grandstand | |
| September 3, 1999 | Wallingford | SNET Oakdale Theatre | |
| September 4, 1999 | Baltimore | Pier 6 Pavilion | |
| September 5, 1999[t] | Allentown | Allentown Fairgrounds Grandstand | |
| September 10, 1999[u] | Salt Lake City | Utah State Fair Grandstand | |
| September 11, 1999[v] | Hutchinson | KSF Grandstand | |
| September 12, 1999 [w] | Detroit | State Theatre | |
| September 14, 1999[x] | Allegan | ACC Grandstand | |
| September 15, 1999[y] | York | Grandstand at the York Fair |
Cancelled dates edit
| Date | City | Country | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 13, 1999 | Quebec City | Canada | Agora du Vieux-Port |
| August 1, 1999 | Las Vegas | United States | House of Blues |
Selected box office data edit
| Venue | City | Tickets sold / available | Gross revenue[20] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hersheypark Arena | Hershey | 7,628 / 7,628 (100%) | $183,925 |
| Darien Lake Performing Arts Center | Darien | 8,804 / 10,000 (88%) | $176,293 |
| Corel Centre | Ottawa | 9,202 / 9,202 (100%) | $177,853 |
| Saskatchewan Place | Saskatoon | 8,719 / 8,719 (100%) | $166,407 |
| Skyreach Centre | Edmonton | 9,263 / 9,263 (100%) | $176,529 |
| Canadian Airlines Saddledome | Calgary | 10,620 / 10,620 (100%) | $201,766 |
| General Motors Place | Vancouver | 10,804 / 10,804 (100%) | $195,624 |
| Mohegan Sun Grandstand | Geddes | 17,059 / 17,059 (100%) | $439,401 |
| Total | 82,099 / 83,295 (98%) | $1,717,798 | |
Notes edit
- ^ Part of the 1999 "A Day in the Garden" Festival.[17]
- ^ Originally scheduled at Palace Theatre in Albany.[18]
- ^ Originally scheduled on July 17.
- ^ Originally scheduled on July 14 at Verdun Auditorium.[18]
- ^ Originally scheduled on July 16 at Ottawa Civic Centre Theatre.[18]
- ^ Originally scheduled at Saskatoon Centennial Auditorium.[18]
- ^ Originally scheduled on July 23 at Edmonton Convention Centre.[18]
- ^ Originally scheduled at Plaza of Nations.[18]
- ^ Part of the Washington County Fair.
- ^ Part of California Mid-State Fair.
- ^ Part of the Adams County Fair.
- ^ Originally scheduled at Saenger Theatre.
- ^ Originally scheduled at Ryman Auditorium.
- ^ Part of Douglas County Fair and Expos.[19]
- ^ Part of the Sioux Empire Fair.
- ^ Part of the State Fair of West Virginia.
- ^ Part of the Lenawee County Fair.
- ^ Part of the Champlain Valley Fair and Expo.
- ^ Part of the Great New York State Fair.
- ^ Part of the Great Allentown Fair.
- ^ Part of the Utah State Fair.
- ^ Part of the Kansas State Fair.
- ^ Originally scheduled on August 24, 1999.
- ^ Part of Allegan County Fair.
- ^ Part of York Interstate Fair.
References edit
- ^ a b "Tommy Hilfiger Announces Sponsorship of Britney Spears Summer Concert Tour" (Press release). New York: Tommy Hilfiger Corporation. Business Wire. May 12, 1999. from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2010 – via FindArticles.
- ^ a b . MTV News. June 25, 1999. Archived from the original on January 9, 2001. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
- ^ Essex, Andrew; Karger, Dave; Baldwin, Kristen (March 5, 1999). "Bubble Gum Blows Up!". Entertainment Weekly. from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
- ^ MTV News Staff (March 23, 1999). "Britney Spears Back In Action, Plans Summer Tour". MTV. from the original on September 7, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
- ^ MTV News Staff (April 7, 1999). "Britney Spears On Sponsor-Scaring Pix: "It's Fine And It's Tasteful"". MTV. from the original on September 7, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
- ^ John, Richard (April 9, 1999). "Revised Britney Spears Cdn. tour info". Jam!. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
- ^ Tush, Bill (August 2, 1999). "Britney Spears has her say-so". CNN. from the original on February 23, 2010. Retrieved January 1, 2010.
- ^ Ryan, Suzanne C. (August 26, 1999). "MATERIAL GIRL At 23, fashion newcomer Gia Ventola already has designs on the stars". The Boston Globe. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
- ^ a b c Stevenson, Jane (July 10, 1999). "Spears takes aim at fame". Jam!. Archived from the original on October 13, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Ganahl, Jane (July 30, 1999). "The musical equivalent of cotton candy". San Francisco Chronicle. from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2010.
- ^ Haney, Jeffrey P. (September 11, 1999). "Teen Queen Spears reigns at State Fair". Deseret News. from the original on September 7, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f Farber, Jim (July 9, 1999). "Britney's Act: It's So Schizo". New York Daily News. from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
- ^ Essex, Andrew; Karger, Dave; Baldwin, Kristen (July 16, 1999). "Britney Spears, Joey McIntyre Headed To Disney". Entertainment Weekly. from the original on September 7, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
- ^ "C-Note Drops Debut Album; Tours With Brandy, Britney, Cher". MTV News. May 26, 1999. from the original on January 8, 2010. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
- ^ a b Stevenson, Jane (July 14, 1999). "Sky enjoying sunny days". Jam!. Archived from the original on December 8, 2012. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
- ^ Ripley, Jackie (June 4, 1999). . St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on October 7, 1999. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
- ^ Strauss, Neil (July 7, 1999). "Pop Review; A Woodstock where teeny is everything". The New York Times. from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f . MTV News. April 8, 1999. Archived from the original on January 8, 2001. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ . Official Site of Douglas County, Nebraska. July 16, 1999. Archived from the original on October 23, 1999. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
- ^ * Hershey, Darien:
Allen, Bob (July 19, 1999). "Boxscore Concerts". Amusement Business. Vol. 111, no. 29. p. 9. ProQuest 209450507.