Britney, Taylor and Beyoncé defined the 2000s. How they changed pop culture forever
Raised in a quaint town of New Hampshire, Nora Princiotti found herself residing about two hours from the closest shopping mall. Consequently, the Scholastic Book Fair served as her vital connection to acquiring items reflecting contemporary trends and culture.
Back in fall of 2003, when he was nine years old, he rushed straight towards the fair and purchased gum, sparkly gel pens, and “Metamorphosis,” the second studio album by Hilary Duff from her Lizzie McGuire days.
At that point, Duff was “the most crucial individual to me, excluding my immediate family,” Princiotti notes in “Hit Girls: Britney, Taylor, Beyoncé, and the Women Who Shaped Pop’s Most Radiant Decade.” “This is the start of a new chapter in my life.
Books
In “Waiting for Britney Spears,” Jeff Weiss pens an account of his transformation into a dedicated accomplice, working alongside others bit by bit, as each fresh piece of news about Spears unfolded.
This declaration isn’t an overstatement. Duff’s CD served as Princiotti’s entrance into the lively pop music scene of the 2000s – a period that “Hit Girls” delves deep into, exploring it via some key figures from the decade’s music industry.
The book unfolds with Britney Spears rekindling the buzz in mainstream pop following the massive hit of her catchy debut single “…Baby One More Time” in 1998. Later chapters delve into Rihanna’s groundbreaking dance music and innovative technology approach, the tumultuous (and at times rocky) pop-punk journey of Avril Lavigne, and the intricate connection between indie rock and pop, as illustrated by Kelly Clarkson’s journey on “American Idol”.
Additionally, she gives a second look at the musical work of Ashlee Simpson with a more compassionate perspective. Her career faced a significant setback when she was exposed for lip-syncing on “Saturday Night Live”. At that time, figures like Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton, who were constantly in the gossip columns, also came under scrutiny.
According to Princiotti, an employee at The Ringer who specializes in writing about pop music and the NFL while also co-hosting the podcast “Every Single Album,” she was confident about which artists should feature in “Hit Girls.
She shares that her concept emerged slightly prior to the recent Y2K revival. However, she notes that it had already begun permeating the cultural landscape. Moreover, she had a distinct vision that encompassed various facets of the pop star realm and the version of it prevalent in the 2000s. Despite the music being different, it seemed perfectly cohesive to her as a fan because she was immersed in it.
During her thorough investigations, Princiotti enhances the experience with vibrant recollections from that period – such as exchanging messages on AOL Instant Messenger (her username was mangorainbow99), hunting for rare Taylor Swift videos on YouTube, and grooving to Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance” at a school dance.
Finding a unifying thread for a story about the 2000s was quite a puzzle. The dilemma I faced [while writing the book] was, ‘Besides the audience and my personal inclination to link Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, and Ashlee Simpson because that’s how I experienced that era, what are the real connections between these artists?’
Music
Anticipating the second part of the hit Broadway version, the actress who played Elphaba is set to unveil an album featuring soulful tunes with a softer, more personal touch.
The connecting theme throughout this book is Britney Spears. The narrative skillfully illustrates the similarities between Britney’s career progression and the development of that decade – from how her music expanded beyond teen pop (for example, the electro-disco “Toxic”) to the harmful effects the relentless tabloid attention took on her mental wellbeing.
According to Princiotti, she was the defining artist of the 2000s. If you consider the entirety of the aughts, Britney Spears kicked things off, and she maintained her prominence throughout. There are numerous aspects I believe that can be traced back to that one woman.
Princiotti also concludes that the female pop stars of the 2000s helped legitimize pop music.
She notes that the actions of these women, who are featured in the book, played a significant role in challenging the perception that pop music is trivial and unimportant. This persistent effort has led to a growing recognition of pop as a form of serious art, capable of shaping culture and deserving thoughtful, substantial analysis.
Every day, you encounter research projects centered around Taylor Swift’s music and her influence, with questions such as ‘What impact does she have on society?’ and ‘What role does she play in culture?’ What stood out to me was the realization: ‘We didn’t used to discuss this. Now, it’s become a topic of interest.’
Due to the limited time span covered by the book, “Hit Girls” spans from the brink of Y2K to the early 2010s, it presents an unusual perspective on the careers of Taylor Swift and powerhouse artist Beyoncé.
Later on, Beyoncé started her solo career in 2003 with “Dangerously in Love,” having previously gained recognition as part of Destiny’s Child. Princiotti posits that Beyoncé’s success in pop music paved the way for hip-hop and R&B artists, leading to a significant cultural shift overall.
Despite the fact that these music genres significantly impacted the pop charts and popular music from the late 1990s onwards, Princiotti found through her study that magazine and tabloid covers predominantly featured white artists.
In her writing, she points out that there was a strong correlation between people’s fascination with Britney Spears’ personal life and their interest in her music. However, this connection didn’t occur as frequently for many Black artists. As a result, hip-hop continued to thrive in the mainstream music scene, yet it struggled to penetrate the exclusive celebrity spheres that foster genuine pop stardom.
Meanwhile, Swift was diligently growing her fanbase through thoughtful comments on MySpace – a country-pop prodigy with an innate talent for grasping fan psychology and the online behavior of her audience.
According to Princiotti, she established the foundation for growing her fanbase very early in her career, which we’ll later recognize as a significant part of her artistic legacy. In essence, she was not only the songwriter for her generation but also served as a sort of ‘poet laureate’ for young women.
Music
As a music enthusiast, I can’t help but marvel at the extraordinary achievements that Taylor Swift is currently gracing us with. Breaking records in album sales, filling stadiums to capacity, her momentum in the pop world is nearly unprecedented.
However, I believe that Taylor Swift’s lasting impact will stem from the diverse groups of fans she united within her following. This fanbase has shown remarkable strength, at times even feeling intimidating, and has proven its ability to mobilize effectively. Swift carefully crafted this community to be what it is today.
Much like Swift, several artists featured in “Hit Girls” continue to thrive in their respective fields today. For instance, Lavigne and Beyoncé are currently touring extensively, while Clarkson has achieved success with her daytime talk show. Rihanna, a billionaire businesswoman, has built her empire through ventures like Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty. Lastly, Duff, who now has four children, has been seen in TV shows such as “Younger” and more recently in the short-lived series “How I Met Your Father.
Towards the conclusion of “Hit Girls,” Princiotti delves into the persistent impact of these artists and the ’90s era – manifested in today’s pop music scene with rising stars like Olivia Rodrigo, as well as retro festivals like When We Were Young, and fashion trends such as dark jeans, party tops, and butterfly hair accessories.
According to Princiotti herself, she harbors a deep affection for pop stars, and she presents compelling arguments as to why this particular time period continues to captivate us so strongly: a potent blend of nostalgia, second chances, and fresh perspective.
Speaking from personal experience, I find great satisfaction in being able to look back at my past, a little bit wiser than before. This allows us to cherish the good times and scrutinize the difficult ones with greater clarity. There’s a sense of fulfillment for me in this process.
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2025-06-17 13:34