In a fleeting pop culture world, Madonna and Britney Spears remain the two most iconic females making music today. Britney seems to be the natural successor to Madonna with her deadlock grip on the public's prurient interest, even in times of criticism and appall.

While one is an established legend, with radio still playing her hits from the 80's, 90's, and now 2000's, another is letting her legend status spiral perilously close to self-annihilation. Britney now reigns supreme in tabloid fodder, but it wasn't too long ago that her self-described idol, Madonna, hogged the media spotlight as well. Let's do a side-by-side comparison of these two women who fascinate us, but for vastly different reasons.

The Virginity Debate

Like A Virgin? Doubtful: Madonna outright declared she was "Like A Virgin" and with a faux wedding gown, "Boy Toy" buckle and writhing performance on the MTV Music Awards her tongue became firmly planted in her cheek for the next 25 years. Madonna was no virgin, and she wanted us all to know that. What she wanted us to know even more, however, was that she would be sexual in her own way, on her own terms, and let the chips fall where they may. The chips, it turned out, would fall in cascades. People said they were repulsed by her envelope-pushing tactics but they often harbored the same curiosities and sexual inquisitiveness that she possessed.


Like a Virgin? Probably: "Is she really a virgin?" Reporters breathlessly asked this question when Britney Spears entered the scene at age 16, looking quite unlike any high school girl America had seen in recent times. With a swath of belly exposed and a naval ring glittering under the hot performance lights, the media went crazy over this pubescent girl moving like a woman and dressing with an intent to titillate. As word came out that Britney was, perhaps, not a virgin the public reeled, but soon came back for more.


First Tabloid Troubles

Buff Ambition: Madonna's first tabloid trouble arrived in the form of photos published from her days as a nude model in New York City. Having to make ends meet, Madonna posed in the buff, and while the public reeled Madonna set the course for her "shrug and smirk" reactions. Her statement: "So what?"

Britney Gets Hitched, Part I: The hyper controlled world of Britney Spears began to crack as Britney shocked many with her quickie Vegas wedding to childhood pal Jason Alexander. While the world scratched its collective head and made every joke possible about "Seinfeld's" miserable mensch George Costanza, the salacious details about a weekend filled with non-stop sex and booze forced the public to reexamine the Britney they knew and loved. They were also forced to see their beloved Spears pose for her bridal pictures in a belly shirt with a wad of gum sticking out from her teeth.

Men

John "Jellybean" Benitez: Madonna was infamous for using men who would get her to the next stage of her career. Benitez worked the New York club scene when Madonna first started out, circa 1982. The two met through a band mate of Madonna's, and during their two year romance it was Benitez who helped shape and produce her debut LP. Because of this lusty engagement, you'll be hearing "Everybody" and "Lucky Star" for the rest of your lives.

Warren Beatty: Madonna's lack of credibility in the film industry seemed to be the one chink in her armor. However, the knight in shining armor who could fix that came in the form of Hollywood lothario Warren Beatty. After Madonna was hired to play Breathless Mahoney in "Dick Tracy," Beatty would not only be her boyfriend but her mentor in a business that he dominated, much like Madonna in music, for over 20 years.



Justin Timberlake: The world was able to relive their first puppy love crushes when America's teen queen and boy band wonder joined forces. The Justin Timberlake/Britney Spears romance was almost too sweet to bear, but Justin would be the one to unveil the not-so-nice Britney when it was reported she cheated on him with her choreographer. The confessional "Cry Me a River" video marked the beginning of Justin as a credible artist and an end of Britney's virginal, sweetheart persona.

Kevin Federline: Britney's lack of control over her own life led to the disastrous union with a monosyllabic, wannabe rap star/backup dancer known as K-Fed. This sideways- hat-wearing extraordinaire would come in, charm Britney, and play her until there was nothing left but an unfit mother of two with a depleted bank account.

The Public Turns:

Erotic…ahh, no: Ten years into Madonna's career she faced the biggest backlash from the press and general public yet. A trifecta of overtly erotic material emerged: her album "Erotica," the film "Bodies of Evidence," and her coffee table book "Sex." Headlines claimed she had lost the pulse of America, and instead of mindfully pushing buttons she was desperate to shock for shock's sake.

Little Shop of Horrors: At some point, the negative press can reach deafening crescendos. For Britney Spears, her infamous head shave in a Tarzana, California barbershop was the spark that ignited a blistering assault by the press corps and paparazzi. Both put Britney under the magnifying glass with a quizzical gaze, but nevertheless gave the public a real time view of a woman on the verge of losing it. Losing custody of her children and putting on a comatose performance at the MTV Music awards solidified her status as a star the public loved to look down upon.

Redemption

Ray of Light: Madonna had sunk into a productive, but somewhat bland period of music (remember "You'll See"? You probably don't), but emerged triumphant in 1998 with her most critically successful album to date, "Ray of Light." This ethereal, electronica-infused CD won Madonna a Grammy and made her relevant again. The iconic shot of her bouncing in a denim jacket, superimposed over a neon lit sped-up highway, made her a video maverick once again. And we all took up yoga.

Blackout: Another telling CD title, this album was released in the maelstrom of public fury over Britney's twisted antics, divorce proceedings, and custody battles. She gave odd, erratic interviews, pulled up her skirt and showed her nether regions to anyone who cared. In the end, however, she put out a single, "Gimme More," that received ubiquitous airplay and did well on the charts. Though it did not relieve any distress in the singer's personal life, it did ensure, that yes, "It's Britney, bitch."

Story by Tiffany Bagster
Starpulse contributing writer