Britney Spears vs. Ayumi Hamasaki .....what do you prefer?

[Coelacanth]

Well, I must say.. I think that people actually give Britney too much credit. She will undoubtedly always have a legacy as an excellent stage presence and an all-around great entertainer, but as a critically acclaimed recording artist with any artistic merit? I really don't think so. The success of "Circus" has been catapulted mainly by a combination of cleverly-crafted pop hooks and the public infatuation with her personal life. Otherwise, the album is entirely passionless, much like Britney herself. Her music will always be secondary to her persona as a pop culture icon and everyone's favorite trainwreck.

People need to stop inflating her success as well. I really do not think she's one of the world's biggest singers. Now, is she one of the world's most recognizable singers? Yes, definitely. There's somewhat of a distinction there. To sell 75 million+ records worldwide in such a short period of time is remarkable, but I think the timing of her debut was absolutely everything. I have a hunch that her music will simply not surpass the test of time once she has left the industry.

As for the topic of the thread, Ayu vs. Britney.. It's obvious who my choice would be, I just came here to give my two cents about Britney. Mind you, I think "NEXT LEVEL" is about just as unpassionate as "Circus" is.