Britney Spears: Live in London

As you've no doubt heard, Britney Spears kicked off the European leg of her 'Circus' tour at London's O2 Arena last night. After haggling like an Apprentice candidate on a buying-and-selling task, we managed to nab ourselves a ticket and took our notepad along for company. Here, making full use of some classic Britney lyrics, are our notes on her performance.

She's running this like-like-like a circus.
Whatever the show throws at us - be it magic tricks, giant flying picture frames or simulated onstage welding (yes, really!) - Britney's always portrayed as the ringleader. She tells her dancers to drop and give her ten during 'Boys', bashes them on the bonce with a pink mallet at the end of 'If U Seek Amy', and spends a lot of time marching them from one side of the stage to the other.

That's my prerogative.
Does Britney sing live? Well, it's impossible to say for certain without blackmailing one of The O2's sound technicians, but let's just say we doubt that she's reaching for the Strepsils this morning.

Baby, don't you wanna dance upon me?
Britney executes her moves confidently and competently tonight, but the trickiest routines are left to her troupe of backing dancers.

She's so lucky, she's a star.
The crowd's palpable affection for Britney is really quite touching. She even gets a cheer for hopping on the back of a tricycle and allowing herself to be pedalled across the stage - respect.

Let me break the ice.
Britney doesn't address the audience until the ninth song of the evening, but when she does, informing us she's going to "slow things down" for 'Everytime', the roar from the crowd is ferocious. Thereafter her interaction with her fans comprises one "What's up London?", one "Thank you London" and... well... that's it.

They want a piece of her.
Britney performs 'Piece Of Me' inside a gilded cage-on-wheels. Spot the metaphor!

Hit me baby one more time.
Yes, she actually performs it! Other vintage Britters hits slotted between tracks from Blackout and Circus are 'Toxic', 'Do Somethin', 'Everytime', 'Boys', a raved-up 'I'm A Slave 4 U' and a Bollywood remix of 'Me Against The Music'. Sadly, there's no space for 'Stronger' though.


All of the boys and all of the girls want to...
Though she's as innocent as a curtain-twitcher these days, it still feels naughty to watch Britney being mounted by a dancer in bondage togs during 'Touch Of My Hand'.

I see you looking at me like I'm some kind of freak.
Don't believe the gossip rags! If we had to sum up Britney's appearance in three words, we'd choose "fit", "curvy" and "rumpalicious".

Gimme more!
Sadly, in spite of some white-hot choreography and spectacular stage sets, tonight isn't a top notch pop concert. It's hard to believe that Britney's fully engaged when she clearly isn't singing live and her interaction with the crowd is so infrequent. More often that not, the motions are being well and truly gone through. For that reason, and even though there are flashes of Britney gold here and there, it's a kind of night.

Have you seen Britney on her 'Circus' tour? What did you think? Use the space below to leave your comments.