Okej Exclusive: First Swedish Interview!
With the hit song, BOMT, 17-year-old Britney Spears became a star overnight. The song is Swedish-produced and surely both the BSB and 'N Sync are whining over the fact that Max Martin gave this giant hit to an unknown newcomer. Okej met the new star in New York. We're starting to get used for newcomers to become smashing stars. Today, it's not about working your way to the top. Not at all. Nowaday, if you haven't became a hit overnight you're useless. Almost. For 17-year-old Britney Spears from the American south it must feel tumbling to become almost immediately #1 in both her home country and all around the world with her debut single, "Baby One More Time" and the debut album! It's not very common for a newcomer to to go straight to the top in the USA. Last time this happened was back in the 80's and the artist was Whitney Houston. Now the speculations are that Britney Spears will go the same phenomenal way.
Okej met her some time ago, this summer, in New York. She was supposed to be presented in Europe during the autumn, before the USA, but the record company changed their mind, and gave her to the USA first. Therefore, the Britney I spoke to during a warm symmer day in "The Big Apple," was completely unaware of the miracles of the future. She was a totally normal 16-year-old girl dressed in shorts and sweater with only a little mascara and a big smile who welcomed me to the record company's office. I had received a tape with the song "Baby One More Time" and I predicted it would become a huge hit. It's a fabulous song that Max Martin made for her. The CD was recorded in Stockholm - where else? We are the pop-center of all thanks to the Cherion gang.
"It was my first trip abroad" says Britney when we're talking about Stockholm. "It was really exciting even though I didn't have time to see much. We worked so hard while we were there. I don't know much about Sweden, other than the people there are beautiful - and that's true - and that the guys that I worked with are really talented."
Britney grew up in a small town outside of New Orleans in the American south. "No one has ever heard of Kentwood," she sighs, "but that's where I started to sing and dance when I was really little. Finally, I did an audition for the Disney Club and got a palce in the gang when I was 11. One year later I flew up to New York to join a girl group, but it didn't work out. But I did meet this entertainment lawyer who helped me to get a contract a few years later. I've never been so nervous as the time when I sang to the record company bosses. It was acually in here where I sang", says Britney looking around the room. Seventeen year old and she has already found her career. She droppped out of school, but not stopped her studies.
"I study on my own. We can do that here in the USA. I send my homework and tests to the University of Nebraska. It's very hard to stay disciplined. It's easy to wait too long to do your homework. But I could never go to school. I know I only want to sing. Back in the summer of 1998 when I did this interview Britney had a boyfriend in Kentwood, but she says it just wasn't easy to combine the career with the relationship.
"He's so jealous! " She says sadly. "It must be tough for guys to have a girlfriend who is running around recording CDs in other countries and lives in New York during long periods. He didn't understand that we were working so late, so when I got home at one in the morning he thought I had been out partying. And well.... sometimes I did, he,he. They don't care much about IDs here in New York. Last night I tried margaritas for the first time. Really good, but very strong too! After the second one, everything started to spin."
That's the point with tequila Britney! Even when she had a boyfriend, she can't help it but to think of other guys who look good. She melts when she sees Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio, but straight schoolboys are not her style.
"I like rough guys, with long hair. Like rockers." Britney is on her way to Sweden soon. Skip the next visit to the barber guys!!!
