156-565: Melanie Adele Martinez (born April 28, 1995) is an American singer and songwriter. Born in Astoria, Queens , and raised in Baldwin, New York , Martinez rose to fame in 2012 after appearing on season 3 of the American television talent show The Voice . Following the show, she was signed to Atlantic Records and released her debut single " Dollhouse ", followed by her debut extended play of
312-631: A Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance . The title track also topped the singles chart for two weeks in the United Kingdom, and became the fastest-selling single ever by a female artist, shipping over 460,000 copies. It would later become the 25th-most successful song of all time in British chart history . Spears is the youngest female artist to have a million seller in the UK. The album's third single " (You Drive Me) Crazy " became
468-594: A conservatorship led by her father, Jamie Spears , and attorney Andrew Wallet, giving them complete control of her assets. She was released five days later. The following month, Spears guest-starred on the How I Met Your Mother episode " Ten Sessions " as receptionist Abby. She received positive reviews for her performance, as well as bringing the series its highest ratings ever. In July 2008, Spears regained some visitation rights after coming to an agreement with Federline and his counsel. In September 2008, Spears opened
624-541: A doll -like look complemented by babydoll dresses and emotional facial expressions. Melanie Adele Martinez was born on April 28, 1995, in Astoria, Queens , to parents Mery and Jose Martinez, who are of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent. Her family moved to Baldwin, New York , on Long Island , when Martinez was four. Martinez attended Plaza Elementary School, crediting her teacher Mr. Nadien with teaching her how to sing, and in kindergarten, Martinez began writing poetry. Martinez says she had few friends growing up and
780-561: A drug rehabilitation facility in Antigua for less than a day. The following night, she shaved her head with electric clippers at a hair salon in Tarzana, Los Angeles . She admitted herself to other treatment facilities during the following weeks. In May 2007, she produced a series of promotional concerts at House of Blues venues, titled The M+M's Tour . In October 2007, Spears lost physical custody of her sons to Federline. The reasons of
936-498: A Slave 4 U ", " Toxic ", " Gimme More ", and " Piece of Me ". "...Baby One More Time" was named the greatest debut single of all time by Rolling Stone in 2020. In 2004, Spears launched a perfume brand with Elizabeth Arden, Inc. ; sales exceeded $ 1.5 billion as of 2012 . Forbes listed Spears as the world's highest-paid female musician in 2001 and 2012. By 2012, she had topped Yahoo! 's list of most searched celebrities seven times in twelve years. Time named Spears one of
1092-574: A Virgin ". Halfway through they were joined by Madonna , whom they both kissed. The incident was highly publicized. In 2008, MTV listed the performance as the number-one opening moment in the history of MTV Video Music Awards, while Blender cited it as one of the 25 sexiest music moments on television history. Spears released her fourth studio album, In the Zone , in November 2003. She assumed more creative control by writing and co-producing most of
1248-642: A career break to start a family. Greatest Hits: My Prerogative , her first greatest hits compilation album , was released in November 2004. Spears' cover version of Bobby Brown 's " My Prerogative " was released as the lead single from the album, reaching the top of the charts in Finland, Ireland, Italy, and Norway. The second single, " Do Somethin' ", was a top ten hit in Australia, the United Kingdom, and other countries of mainland Europe. In August 2005, Spears released " Someday (I Will Understand) ", which
1404-438: A child, "I was in my own world, ... I found out what I'm supposed to do at an early age". When Spears was eight, she and her mother Lynne traveled to Atlanta , Georgia, to audition for the 1990s revival of The Mickey Mouse Club . Casting director Matt Casella rejected her as too young, but introduced her to Nancy Carson, a New York City talent agent. Carson was impressed with Spears' singing and suggested enrolling her at
1560-521: A full album. Spears had originally envisioned " Sheryl Crow music, but younger; more adult contemporary". She felt secure with her label's appointment of producers, since "It made more sense to go pop, because I can dance to it—it's more me." She flew to Cheiron Studios in Stockholm, Sweden, where half of the album was recorded from March to April 1998, with producers Max Martin , Denniz Pop , and Rami Yacoub , among others. After Spears returned to
1716-483: A gross of U.S. $ 131.8 million, it became the fifth highest-grossing tour of the year. In November 2009, Spears released her second greatest hits album, The Singles Collection . The album's lead and only single, " 3 ", became her third number-one single in the U.S. In May 2010, Spears' representatives confirmed she was dating her agent, Jason Trawick, and that they had decided to end their professional relationship to focus on their personal relationship. Spears designed
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#17327917543751872-516: A higher ratio of college-educated residents than the rest of the city as of 2018 . Half of residents (50%) have a college education or higher, while 16% have less than a high school education and 33% are high school graduates or have some college education. By contrast, 39% of Queens residents and 43% of city residents have a college education or higher. The percentage of Astoria students excelling in math rose from 43 percent in 2000 to 65 percent in 2011, and reading achievement rose from 47% to 49% during
2028-464: A large albino python draped over her shoulders. It was harshly received by animal rights organization PETA , who claimed the animals were mistreated and scrapped plans for an anti-fur billboard that was to feature Spears. Jocelyn Vena of MTV News summarized Spears' performance at the ceremony, saying, "draping herself in a white python and slithering around a steamy garden setting – surrounded by dancers in zebra and tiger outfits – Spears created one of
2184-550: A limited edition clothing line for Candie's , which was released in stores in July 2010. In September 2010, she made a cameo appearance on a Spears-themed tribute episode of the television series Glee , titled " Britney/Brittany "; the episode drew the highest Nielsen rating – up to that point in the series's run – in the 18–49 demographic . In March 2011, Spears released her seventh studio album, Femme Fatale . The album peaked at number one in
2340-696: A month later on May 19, 2014. The only single from the EP, "Carousel", reached number nine on the Alternative Digital Songs chart, was certified gold by the RIAA, and featured in a preview for FX's miniseries American Horror Story: Freak Show . She promoted the EP with the Dollhouse Tour which lasted from June 2014 to March 2015. On June 1, 2015, Martinez released the single " Pity Party ", which sampled Lesley Gore 's " It's My Party ". This
2496-419: A non-fatal assault hospitalization rate of 56 per 100,000 people, compared to the boroughwide rate of 37 per 100,000 and the citywide rate of 59 per 100,000. Its incarceration rate is 277 per 100,000 people, compared to the boroughwide rate of 315 per 100,000 and the citywide rate of 425 per 100,000. Of the five major violent felonies (murder, rape, felony assault, robbery, and burglary), the 114th Precinct had
2652-631: A patent from Nieuw Nederland's last governor, Peter Stuyvesant , it is believed to be the oldest remaining dwelling in New York City still used as a residence. There is an adjacent family cemetery. The Smiths, who bought the house in 1975, have been restoring it for many years. The annual public tour was given usually in mid-September by the owners for the benefit of a local historical society, but has since ceased to occur. Before Prohibition , there were dance halls, picnic areas, and amusement park rides at North Beach. Ragtime composer Scott Joplin
2808-512: A physical vinyl release of the bonus tracks from Cry Baby as well as "Gingerbread Man", a Christmas-themed single which was initially released in December 2015 on SoundCloud but later released as a solo single in January 2016. In October 2016, Martinez released a commercial for her fragrance, Cry Baby Perfume Milk, noting that the "idea for this perfume has been cultivating in my brain since
2964-636: A rate of 385 crimes per 100,000 residents in 2019, compared to the boroughwide average of 424 crimes per 100,000 and the citywide average of 572 crimes per 100,000. Astoria is served by four New York City Fire Department (FDNY) fire stations: As of 2018 , preterm births and births to teenage mothers are less common in Astoria than in other places citywide. In Astoria, there were 84 preterm births per 1,000 live births (compared to 87 per 1,000 citywide), and 15.1 births to teenage mothers per 1,000 live births (compared to 19.3 per 1,000 citywide). Astoria has
3120-465: A relatively average population of residents who are uninsured . In 2018, this population of uninsured residents was estimated to be 12%, which is equal to the citywide rate of 12%. The concentration of fine particulate matter , the deadliest type of air pollutant , in Astoria is 0.0078 milligrams per cubic metre (7.8 × 10 oz/cu ft), higher than the citywide and boroughwide averages. Nineteen percent of Astoria residents are smokers , which
3276-435: A response to Heller's accusations, saying the allegations "horrified and saddened" her, and that Heller "never said no to what [they] chose to do together". On December 9, 2017, Martinez released a second statement thanking her fans for analyzing past social media posts that "reveal [Heller's] false statements" and claiming she "would never be intimate with someone without their absolute consent." On December 22, Martinez released
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#17327917543753432-554: A significant ethnic and religious group. The Astoria Center of Israel , which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places , was built in 1925 after outgrowing the former Congregation Mishkan Israel, which was built in 1904. The 1960s saw a large increase of Greeks , and after 1974 , there was an influx of Cypriots . This cultural imprint can be seen in the numerous Greek restaurants, tavernas , bakeries, and cafes, as well as several Greek Orthodox churches. In
3588-439: A singer from a young age. Martinez has cited The Beatles, Neutral Milk Hotel , Feist , Kimbra , Zooey Deschanel , Regina Spektor , and CocoRosie as influences of hers. Specific albums which have influenced her music include The Idler Wheel... by Fiona Apple and Ariana Grande 's albums Yours Truly and My Everything . She attributes the "heavy hip-hop influence" in her music to her father playing hip-hop music in
3744-547: A single, " Pretty Girls ", with Iggy Azalea . It reached number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 and charted moderately in international territories. Spears and Azalea performed the track live at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards from The AXIS, the home of Spears' residency, to positive critical response. Entertainment Weekly praised the performance, noting "Spears gave one of her most energetic televised performances in years." On June 16, 2015, Giorgio Moroder released
3900-640: A six-month break from her career; however, she went back into the studio in November to record her new album. Spears' relationship with Justin Timberlake ended after three years. In November 2002, Timberlake released the song " Cry Me a River " as the second single from his solo debut album . The music video featured a Spears look-alike and fueled the rumors that she had been engaging in an affair, fueled by further rumors of possible relationships involving Timberlake's choreographer Wade Robson and Limp Bizkit 's frontman Fred Durst . Spears had initially denied
4056-591: A song from the album When the Sun Goes Down (2011) by Selena Gomez & the Scene . In June 2011, Spears embarked on her Femme Fatale Tour . The first ten dates of the tour grossed $ 6.2 million, landing the fifty-fifth spot on Pollstar ' s Top 100 North American Tours list for the half-way point of the year. The tour ended on December 10, 2011, in Puerto Rico, after 79 performances. A DVD of
4212-552: A special guest in the Super Bowl XXXV halftime show headlined by Aerosmith and NSYNC. In February 2001, she signed a $ 7–8 million promotional deal with Pepsi , and released another book co-written with her mother, A Mother's Gift . Her third studio album, Britney , was released in November 2001, with a funkier sound inspired by hip hop artists such as Jay-Z and the Neptunes . Britney debuted at number one in
4368-451: A stand-alone single, "Copy Cat" which featured Tierra Whack , marking Martinez's first feature. Martinez later released a second single from the EP, "Fire Drill", on June 26, 2020, which had previously featured in the credits of the K–12 film. Both songs were not included on After School , which was eventually delayed and released on September 25, 2020. In April 2020, " Play Date " became one of
4524-536: A top-ten hit worldwide and further propelled the success of the ...Baby One More Time album. The album has sold 30 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time. It is the best-selling debut album by any artist. On June 28, 1999, Spears began her first headlining ...Baby One More Time Tour in North America, which was positively received by critics. It also generated some controversy due to her racy outfits. An extension of
4680-558: A total of 100 shows throughout 2014 and 2015. During the same appearance, Spears announced that Britney Jean would be released on December 3, 2013, in the United States. It was released through RCA Records due to the disbandment of Jive Records in 2011, which had formed the joint RCA/Jive Label Group (initially known as BMG Label Group ) between 2007 and 2011. Britney Jean became Spears' final project under her original recording contract with Jive, which had guaranteed
4836-665: A village; there was no disposition at any time to become independent as there was insufficient population or commercial activity to justify such a move. Ravenswood remained an exclusive hamlet within the Town of Newtown until its absorption with the Village of Astoria and the hamlets of Hunters Point , Blissville , Sunnyside , Dutch Kills , Steinway, Bowery Bay and Middleton in Newtown Township into Long Island City in 1870. In 1870, Ravenswood, along with several other hamlets and
Melanie Martinez - Misplaced Pages Continue
4992-791: A week and recorded her vocals in a studio. Spears traveled to New York with the demo and met with executives from four labels, returning to Kentwood the same day. Three of the labels rejected her, saying that audiences wanted pop bands such as the Backstreet Boys and the Spice Girls , and "there wasn't going to be another Madonna , another Debbie Gibson , or another Tiffany ." Two weeks later, executives from Jive Records returned calls to Rudolph. Senior vice president of A&R Jeff Fenster said about Spears' audition that "it's very rare to hear someone that age who can deliver emotional content and commercial appeal ... For any artist,
5148-480: Is "a five-minute saga detailing serious accusations leveled against her". On May 15, 2019, Martinez released a teaser trailer for her second album, K–12 which was eventually released on September 6, 2019, and debuted at number 3 on Billboard 200. The album was accompanied by a musical fantasy horror film, which was written and directed by Martinez. In an interview with People , Martinez alluded to future sequels and visual albums being released. The album
5304-679: Is a worldwide piano company. Later on, the Steinways built a sawmill and foundry, as well as a streetcar line. The family eventually established Steinway Village for their workers, a company town that provided school instruction in German as well as English. Part of the motivation for locating the Steinway factory in Queens was to keep the workers isolated from the ferment of labor organizing and radicalism occurring in other parts of New York, notably
5460-587: Is about 20 percent of New York City's electricity demand. Ditmars is a middle class section of Astoria bounded by Bowery Bay to the north, 31st Street and the Steinway subsection to the east, 23rd Avenue to the south, and the East River to the west. The adjacent Steinway neighborhood was largely developed as a company town by the Steinway & Sons piano company, and included houses and public facilities that were also available to non-employees. However,
5616-468: Is an American singer and dancer. Often referred to as the " Princess of Pop ", she is credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Spears has sold over 150 million records worldwide, making her one of the world's best-selling music artists . She has earned numerous awards and accolades, including a Grammy Award , 15 Guinness World Records , six MTV Video Music Awards , seven Billboard Music Awards (including
5772-438: Is beyond what I've ever dreamed of. I'm just so glad I got to express who I am as an artist and really touch people's hearts because that was the ultimate goal". After the show, Martinez began working independently on original material, which she says she spent the majority of 2013 writing. She released her debut single, "Dollhouse", on February 9, 2014. She later compared the song's story to Edward Scissorhands , saying "[It's]
5928-664: Is buried across the Grand Central Parkway at St. Michael's Cemetery , which occasionally holds ragtime concerts. The Rikers Island Bridge to New York City's main prison, Rikers Island , runs from the north end of Hazen Street. Technically, Rikers Island is in the Bronx since New York City took it over from Long Island City in 1884, after it had annexed the South Bronx but before it consolidated Queens. However, like Astoria Heights, Rikers Island gets its mail from
6084-402: Is higher than the city average of 14% of residents being smokers. In Astoria, 19% of residents are obese , 11% are diabetic , and 29% have high blood pressure —compared to the citywide averages of 24%, 11%, and 28% respectively. In addition, 22% of children are obese, compared to the citywide average of 20%. Eighty-nine percent of residents eat some fruits and vegetables every day, which
6240-702: Is higher than the city's average of 87%. In 2018, 79% of residents described their health as "good", "very good", or "excellent", about the same as the city's average of 78%. For every supermarket in Astoria, there are 10 bodegas . Astoria is served by the Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens . Astoria is covered by ZIP Codes 11102 between 37th Avenue and Grand Central Parkway, 11105 north of Grand Central Parkway, 11106 between 31st and 37th Avenues west of 37th Street, 11101 south of 37th Avenue, and 11103 east of 37th Street. The United States Post Office operates five locations nearby: Astoria generally has
6396-702: Is higher than the median life expectancy of 81.2 for all New York City neighborhoods. Most inhabitants are middle-aged adults and youth: 16% are between the ages of 0–17, 41% between 25 and 44, and 22% between 45 and 64. The ratio of college-aged and elderly residents was lower, at 10% and 12% respectively. As of 2018 , the median household income in Community District 1 was $ 67,444. In 2018, an estimated 18% of Astoria residents lived in poverty, compared to 19% in all of Queens and 20% in all of New York City. Around 8% of residents were unemployed, compared to 8% in Queens and 9% in New York City. Rent burden, or
Melanie Martinez - Misplaced Pages Continue
6552-484: Is now fully accepting of her sexuality. At fourteen, Martinez taught herself how to play guitar by studying chord diagrams of songs she enjoyed, which she found online, and wrote her first song by adding her poetry to one of the chord diagrams, but says that playing guitar "eventually got stale". Martinez graduated from Baldwin High School . In 2012, during her junior year of high school, Martinez participated in
6708-400: Is part of Astoria. The etymology of Ravenswood may have been for the population of ravens, or a character from The Bride of Lammermoor . It was situated around Sunswick Creek , which drained into the East River at the current location of Socrates Sculpture Park . The land was acquired in 1814 by Col. George Gibbs , a businessman from New York City who developed it. Gibbs died in 1833, and
6864-604: Is preserved today by the Museum of the Moving Image and Kaufman Astoria Studios . For census purposes, the New York City government classifies Astoria as part of three neighborhood tabulation areas: Steinway (north of Grand Central Parkway ), Old Astoria (north of 31st Avenue and approximately west of 31st Street), and Astoria (in the remaining area approximately north of Northern Boulevard / 36th Avenue and approximately west of Hobart Street / 50th Street). Based on data from
7020-511: Is sometimes referred to simply as "Steinway", and the northern end around Ditmars Boulevard is sometimes referred to as "Ditmars", with their convergence point bearing the neighborhood name "Ditmars-Steinway". Banners displayed on lamp posts along 30th Avenue refer to it as "the Heart of Astoria". Ravenswood is the name for the strip of land bordering the East River and Long Island City, and
7176-667: The Billboard Hot 100 . She embarked on the Portals Tour in May 2023. Martinez was nominated for the VMA's Best Visual Effects , for the music for her single "Void". In November 2023, Martinez announced the launch of Portals Perfume, a collection of four fragrances developed in collaboration with indie perfumery Flower Shop Perfumes. The collection launched in a sculptural vessel modeled after Martinez's four eyed "Cry Baby" alter ego which houses all four fragrances and retails for $ 275. Since
7332-627: The 100 most influential people in the world in 2021. Spears placed first in the Time reader poll. Britney Jean Spears was born on December 2, 1981, in McComb, Mississippi , the second child of James "Jamie" Parnell Spears and Lynne Irene Bridges . Her maternal grandmother, Lillian Portell, was English and born in London, and one of Spears' maternal great-grandfathers was Maltese. Her siblings are Bryan James Spears and Jamie Lynn Spears . Born in
7488-456: The 2000 MTV Video Music Awards . Halfway through the performance, she ripped off her black suit to reveal a sequined flesh-colored bodysuit, followed by heavy dance routine. It is noted by critics as the moment that Spears showed signs of becoming a more provocative performer. Amidst media speculation, Spears confirmed she was dating NSYNC member Justin Timberlake . Spears and Timberlake both graduated from high school via distance learning from
7644-624: The 2010 United States Census , the combined population of these areas was 154,141, a decrease of 17,427 (10.2%) from the 171,568 counted in 2000 . Covering an area of 2,556.2 acres (1,034.5 ha), the neighborhood had a population density of 60.3 inhabitants per acre (38,600/sq mi; 14,900/km ). The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 52.2% (80,533) Non-Hispanic White , 4.7% (7,204) black, 0.2% (250) Native American , 14.3% (22,100) Asian , 0.0% (70) Pacific Islander , 1.0% (1,532) from other races , and 2.1% (3,238) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 25.4% (39,214) of
7800-810: The Bible Belt , where socially conservative evangelical Protestantism is a particularly strong religious influence, she was baptized as a Southern Baptist and sang in a church choir as a child. As an adult, she has studied Kabbalist teachings. On August 5, 2021, Spears announced that she had converted to Catholicism . Her mother, sister, and nieces Maddie Aldridge and Ivey Joan Watson, are also Catholic. However, on September 5, 2022, after Spears' ex-husband, Kevin Federline , and youngest son did an interview defending her father's actions during her conservatorship , she stated: "I don't believe in God anymore because of
7956-500: The Billboard 200 and reached top five positions in Australia, the United Kingdom, and mainland Europe, and has sold 10 million copies worldwide. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic called Britney "the record where she strives to deepen her persona, making it more adult while still recognizably Britney. ... It does sound like the work of a star who has now found and refined her voice, resulting in her best record yet." It
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#17327917543758112-778: The Billboard Hot 100 since "...Baby One More Time". The single also topped the charts in Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Norway, and Sweden. It was also nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording. In January 2009, Spears and her father obtained a restraining order against her former manager Sam Lutfi, ex-boyfriend Adnan Ghalib, and attorney Jon Eardley, all of whom had been accused of conspiring to gain control of Spears' affairs. Spears embarked on The Circus Starring Britney Spears tour in March 2009. With
8268-560: The Billboard Hot 100, becoming Spears' fourth number-one single on the chart and making her the second artist in history to have two consecutive singles debut at number one, after Mariah Carey . The second single " Till the World Ends " peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in May, while the third single " I Wanna Go " reached number seven in August. Femme Fatale became Spears' first album in which three of its songs reached
8424-771: The East Elmhurst ( ZIP Code 11370) station of the Flushing Post Office. Astoria is patrolled by the 114th Precinct of the NYPD , located at 34-16 Astoria Boulevard. The precinct also covers parts of Long Island City and Woodside. The 114th Precinct has a lower crime rate than in the 1990s, with crimes across all categories having decreased by 83.9% between 1990 and 2019. The precinct reported 2 murders, 34 rapes, 184 robberies, 364 felony assaults, 196 burglaries, 782 grand larcenies, and 136 grand larcenies auto in 2019. As of 2018 , Queens Community District 1 has
8580-646: The Kabbalah Centre through her friendship with Madonna. In July 2004, Spears became engaged to dancer Kevin Federline , whom she had met three months earlier. The romance was the subject of intense media attention, since Federline had recently broken up with actress Shar Jackson , who was still pregnant with their second child at the time. The stages of their relationship were chronicled in Spears' first reality show Britney and Kevin: Chaotic , which premiered on May 17, 2005, on UPN . Spears later referred to
8736-605: The MSG Varsity Talent Show , a televised talent competition. She sang the Beatles ' rendition of " Money (That's What I Want) " by Barrett Strong and " Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over) " by the Four Tops . She was eliminated in the second round. Martinez then auditioned for the third season of The Voice . She had not watched the show herself prior to the audition. The initial, untelevised audition
8892-680: The MTV Video Music Awards with a pre-taped comedy sketch with Jonah Hill and an introduction speech. She won Best Female Video , Best Pop Video , and Video of the Year for "Piece of Me". A 60-minute introspective documentary, Britney: For the Record , was produced to chronicle Spears' return to the recording industry. Directed by Phil Griffin, For the Record was shot in Beverly Hills , Hollywood, and New York City during
9048-654: The Millennium Award ), the inaugural Radio Disney Icon Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame . Her heavily choreographed music videos earned her the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award . After appearing in stage productions and television series, Spears signed with Jive Records in 1997 at age fifteen. Her first two studio albums, ...Baby One More Time (1999) and Oops!... I Did It Again (2000), are among
9204-767: The New York City Housing Authority project that was built in 1949 to 1951 with this name between 34th and 36th Avenues, and 12th and 24th Streets. The name also identifies the large electric power station established along the shore of the East River, just south of the Roosevelt Island Bridge . The Ravenswood Generating Station which includes Ravenswood No. 3 or " Big Allis ", was built by Con Edison in 1963–65 but, due to deregulation, has subsequently been owned by KeySpan , National Grid, and TransCanada . The power plant can generate approximately 2,500 megawatts of power, which
9360-636: The New York City Police Department 's 114th Precinct. Fire protection is provided by Battalions 45 and 49 of FDNY . Politically, Astoria is represented by the New York City Council 's 22nd and 26th Districts. The area now known as Astoria was originally called Hallet's Cove (also spelled Hallett's Cove), after its first landowner William Hallet, (or Hallett) who settled there in 1652 with his wife, Elizabeth Fones , though they moved to Flushing after their farm
9516-636: The Nielsen SoundScan era, as well as the best-selling female album artist of the 2000s. She was ranked by Billboard as the eighth-biggest artist of the 2000s. Spears has had six number-one albums on the Billboard 200 and five number-one singles on the US Billboard Hot 100: " ...Baby One More Time ", " Womanizer ", "3", "Hold It Against Me", and " S&M (Remix) ". Other hit singles include " Oops!... I Did It Again ", " I'm
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#17327917543759672-686: The Professional Performing Arts School . Spears was hired for her first professional role as the understudy for the lead role of Tina Denmark in the off-Broadway musical Ruthless! She also appeared as a contestant on the popular television show Star Search and was cast in a number of commercials. In December 1992, she was cast in The All-New Mickey Mouse Club . Other fellow cast members included Christina Aguilera , Justin Timberlake , Ryan Gosling , Keri Russell , and JC Chasez . After
9828-546: The UK Albums Chart , selling 12,959 copies in its first week. In doing so, it became Spears' lowest-charting and lowest-selling album in the country. " Work Bitch " was released as the lead single from Britney Jean in September 2013. It debuted and peaked at number 12 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 marking Spears' 31st entry on the chart and the fifth highest debut of her career on the chart, and her seventh in
9984-641: The University of Nebraska High School . She also bought a home in Destin, Florida . In her 2023 memoir , Spears revealed that she had an abortion during late 2000 while dating Timberlake after he said they were not prepared for parenthood. Spears called the abortion "one of the most agonizing things I have ever experienced in my life." In January 2001, Spears hosted the 28th Annual American Music Awards , starred at Rock in Rio alongside NSYNC, and performed as
10140-411: The War of 1812 . The coastal fort also had an inland defensive position, Castle Bogardus, to protect from a land attack. Together these structures where the first permanent buildings in what would become Astoria. By 1815 the fort would be abandoned, but by 1836 a small village of 20 to 30 dwellings and an Episcopalian church was built, naming itself the aforementioned Hallet's Cove. Beginning in
10296-409: The best-selling albums of all time and made Spears the best-selling teenage artist of all time. With first-week sales of over 1.3 million copies , Oops!... I Did It Again held the record for the fastest-selling album by a female artist in the United States for fifteen years. Spears adopted a more mature and provocative style for her albums Britney (2001) and In the Zone (2003), and starred in
10452-487: The 1990s, Steinway Street between 28th Avenue and Astoria Boulevard saw the establishment of many Arabic shops, restaurants, and cafes, which is unofficially called "Little Egypt", due to the number of Arabs residing there and the mostly Egyptian shops and lounges there. Croatians from Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina have been numerous since the 1960s and their numbers continue to grow. New populations of South American and Balkan peoples have seen significant growth since
10608-401: The 2002 film Crossroads . She was executive producer of her fifth studio album, Blackout (2007), often referred to as her best work. Following a series of highly publicized personal problems, promotion for the album was limited, and Spears was involuntarily placed in a conservatorship . Subsequently, Spears released the chart-topping albums Circus (2008) and Femme Fatale (2011),
10764-450: The 20th century, with the area being a center for filmmaking and industry. Astoria is colloquially referred to by several nicknames: "Actoria" highlighting the neighborhood's significant population of actors, drawn by its proximity to the Kaufman Astoria Studios , Silvercup Studios , and the Theater District ; "The People's Republic of Astoria," referencing the neighborhood's reputation as a progressive political hub - as of 2023, it became
10920-405: The Asian minority decreased by 5% (1,120), and the change in the small Black population rounded to 0% (11). Taking into account the three census tabulation areas, the White and Asian populations both actually increased in Old Astoria, but decreased enough in Astoria and Steinway to cause an overall decrease; on the other hand, the Black population decreased in Old Astoria and increased equivalently in
11076-416: The Detroit area. However, as of 2010, the Bangladeshi American community in Astoria has been increasing. By the early 21st century, Astoria was one of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in Queens, with people from around 100 countries residing there as of 2015 . Population losses in Queens were particularly high in immigrant neighborhoods such as Astoria, which suffered the greatest population loss in
11232-469: The Ditmars neighborhood was not included in the Steinway & Sons company housing and related facilities project. The neighborhood takes its name from Ditmars Boulevard which was named in honor of Abram Ditmars, the first mayor of Long Island City, New York, elected in 1870 (the city became a mere neighborhood when Queens became a part of Greater New York). His ancestors were German immigrants who settled in
11388-549: The Dutch Kills area in the 1600s. Astoria Heights, or Upper Ditmars (part of East Elmhurst), is bounded by Hazen Street to the west, La Guardia Airport to the east, Bowery Bay to the north, and Astoria Boulevard and the Grand Central Parkway to the south. It is mostly a quiet middle class neighborhood of one- and two-family private homes. The Riker-Lent Homestead is near the north end of Astoria Heights at 78-03 19th Road. Built around 1655 by Abraham Riker under
11544-441: The East River the new Long Island village named in his honor. Astor, however, never actually set foot in Astoria. During the second half of the 19th century, economic and commercial growth brought increased immigration from German settlers, mostly furniture and cabinet makers. One such settler was Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg , patriarch of the Steinway family who founded the piano company Steinway & Sons in 1853, which today
11700-691: The Knockout Round. Michele was stolen by Cee Lo Green and also moved on. In the Knockout Round, Martinez was paired with Sam James. She chose to sing La Roux 's " Bulletproof ". Levine eliminated James, and Martinez moved on to the Live Rounds as one of the five remaining members of Team Adam. In week one of the Live Rounds, Martinez sang " Hit the Road Jack ". Public vote saved Team Adam members Amanda Brown and Bryan Keith. Levine then chose Martinez over Loren Allred and Joselyn Rivera to remain in
11856-608: The Lower East Side. Astoria and several other surrounding villages, including Steinway, were incorporated into Long Island City in 1870. Long Island City remained an independent municipality until it was incorporated into the City of Greater New York in 1898. The area's farms were turned into housing tracts and street grids to accommodate the growing number of residents. Astoria also figured prominently in early American filmmaking as one of its initial centers. That heritage
12012-565: The RIAA on February 24, 2017. Martinez went on the Cry Baby Tour to promote the album, which lasted from 2015 to 2017. In May 2016, Martinez released her second EP, Pity Party , in Ireland , Mexico and the UK exclusively. A month later, Martinez said she had started working on and recording her second album. In November 2016, Martinez released her third EP, Cry Baby's Extra Clutter ,
12168-512: The U.S. Billboard 200 and was certified two-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America after a month. Worldwide, the album topped the charts in fifteen countries and sold over 10 million copies in a year. It became the biggest-selling album ever by a teenage artist. " ...Baby One More Time " was released as the lead single from the album on September 29, 1998. Originally, Jive Records wanted
12324-534: The U.S. Billboard Hot 100 . In October 2013, she was featured as a guest vocalist on the song "SMS (Bangerz)" by Miley Cyrus , from the latter's fourth studio album Bangerz (2013). On January 8, 2014, Spears won Favorite Pop Artist at the 40th People's Choice Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. In August 2014, Spears confirmed she had renewed her contract with RCA and that she
12480-453: The U.S. Billboard 200, France, Japan, Mexico, and the United Kingdom, and the top ten in Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, and many European nations. In the United States, it was Spears' first album not to debut at number one, although, she did become the only female artist to have her first five studio albums debut at the two top slots of the chart. The album received positive reviews from critics and had sold 3.1 million copies worldwide by
12636-727: The UK Singles Chart and peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. "Scream & Shout" was among the best-selling songs of 2012 and 2013 with denoting sales of over 8.1 million worldwide, the accompanying music video was the third most-viewed video in 2013 on Vevo despite the video being released in 2012. In December 2012, Forbes named her music's top-earning woman of 2012, with estimated earnings of $ 58 million. Spears began work on her eighth studio album, Britney Jean , in December 2012, and enlisted will.i.am as its executive producer in May 2013. In January 2013, Spears and Jason Trawick ended their engagement. Trawick
12792-459: The United States, Canada, and Australia, and within the top ten on nearly every other chart. Its peak in the United States tied Spears with Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson for the third-most number ones among women. Femme Fatale has been certified platinum by the RIAA and as of February 2014, it had sold 2.4 million copies worldwide. The album's lead single, " Hold It Against Me " debuted atop
12948-399: The United States, she embarked on a shopping mall promotional tour, titled L'Oreal Hair Zone Mall Tour , to promote her upcoming debut album. Her show was a four-song set and she was accompanied by two back-up dancers. Her first concert tour followed, as an opening act for NSYNC . Her debut studio album, ...Baby One More Time , was released on January 12, 1999. It debuted at number one on
13104-557: The Village of Astoria, merged to form Long Island City. In 1875, the first commercial buildings were erected, and the mansions were converted into offices and boarding houses. In 1879, the Long Island Terra Cotta Company was established in Ravenswood, by Rudolph Franke. By 1900, Ravenswood was heavily commercial, and remains so to this day. However, the name has retained its residential character through
13260-469: The album Déjà Vu , which featured Spears on " Tom's Diner ". The song was released as the fourth single from the album on October 9, 2015. In an interview, Moroder praised Spears' vocals and said she "sounds so good that you would hardly recognize her". At the 2015 Teen Choice Awards , Spears received the Candie's Style Icon Award, her ninth Teen Choice Award . In November 2015, Spears guest-starred as
13416-443: The allegations of a possible affair involving Durst, despite the two being spotted together on multiple occasions; even claiming the two had a friendly connection. In 2023, she admitted to engaging in an affair with Robson. As a response, Spears wrote the ballad " Everytime " with her backing vocalist and friend Annet Artani . In August 2003, Spears opened the MTV Video Music Awards with Christina Aguilera , performing " Like
13572-819: The area include the Hellenic American Action Committee (HANAC) and the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York. Most of the 20,000 Maltese in New York City live in Astoria, and although this population has steadily been emigrating from the area, there are still many Maltese, supported by the Maltese Center of New York. Beginning in the mid-1970s, the neighborhood's Muslim population grew from earlier immigrants from Lebanon to also include people from Kosovo , Albania , Bosnia-Herzegovina , Montenegro , Egypt , Syria , Yemen , Tunisia , Morocco , and Algeria . In
13728-463: The associated music video to be animated; however, Spears rejected this idea, and suggested the final concept of a Catholic schoolgirl. The single peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 , topping the chart for two consecutive weeks in January–February 1999. It sold more than 10 million copies, making it one of the best-selling singles of all time. "...Baby One More Time" later received
13884-451: The best-selling albums of all time. Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone said that "the great thing about Oops! – under the cheese surface, Britney's demand for satisfaction is complex, fierce and downright scary, making her a true child of rock & roll tradition." The album's lead single, " Oops!... I Did It Again ", peaked at the top of the charts in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and many other European nations, while
14040-405: The city, losing more than 10,000 residents between the years 2000 and 2010. There is some debate as to what constitutes the geographic boundaries of Astoria. The neighborhood was part of Long Island City prior to the latter's incorporation into the City of Greater New York in 1898. The area south of Astoria was called Ravenswood, and traditionally, Broadway was considered the border between
14196-496: The competition. In week three, Martinez's performance of " Seven Nation Army " finished the voting period at #10 on the iTunes Top 200 Single Chart, causing her iTunes votes to be multiplied by ten. This occurred again in week four, when " Too Close " ended the voting period at #6. Martinez was eliminated by audience vote in week five, along with the fellow Team Adam member Amanda Brown, leaving Levine with no artists. In response, Martinez said, "I never expected to get this far and this
14352-489: The court ruling were not revealed to the public. Spears was also sued by Louis Vuitton over her 2005 music video "Do Somethin'" for upholstering her Hummer interior in counterfeit Louis Vuitton cherry blossom fabric, which resulted in the video being banned on European TV stations. In October 2007, Spears released her fifth studio album, Blackout . The album debuted atop the charts in Canada and Ireland, at number two in
14508-795: The early 1990s, including a large population of Brazilians , who reside in the 36th Avenue area. Albanians , Bulgarians , Serbs , and Bosnians have also shown a rise in numbers. Many Spanish Americans live in Astoria, with most of them being of Galician heritage from Northwestern Spain; this community is supported by the Casa Galicia (Galicia House) and the Circulo Español (Spanish Circle). At one time, many Bangladeshi Americans settled in Astoria, but by 2001, many of them had moved to Metro Detroit . A survey of an Astoria-area Bengali language newspaper estimated that, in an 18-month period until March 2001, 8,000 Bangladeshi people moved to
14664-408: The early 19th century, affluent New Yorkers constructed large residences around 12th and 14th Streets, an area that later became known as Astoria Village (now Old Astoria). Hallet's Cove, incorporated on April 12, 1839, and previously founded by fur merchant Stephen A. Halsey , was a noted recreational destination and resort for Manhattan's wealthy. The area was renamed for John Jacob Astor , then
14820-458: The end of 2008. Blackout won Album of the Year at the 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards and was listed as the fifth Best Pop Album of the Decade by The Times . Spears performed the lead single " Gimme More " at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards . The performance was widely panned by critics. Despite the criticism, the single enjoyed worldwide success, peaking at number one in Canada and within
14976-462: The establishment of the #FreeBritney movement . In 2021, the conservatorship was terminated following her public testimony in which she accused her management team and family of abuse. Spears published her first memoir, The Woman in Me , in 2023, which became a #1 New York Times best-seller in its first week of release. In the United States, Spears is the fourth best-selling female album artist of
15132-486: The family's house often during her childhood. The visuals in Martinez's music videos have been influenced by her favorite visual artists: Mark Ryden , Aleksandra Waliszewska and Nicoletta Ceccoli . She named Tim Burton as a large influence of hers, and has said that to make a movie with him would be her "one dream". At age sixteen, after watching 101 Dalmatians (1996), Martinez dyed half of her hair blonde, in
15288-451: The land was divided into nine parcels by three developers. From 1848, there were several mansions built on this land, but the high class housing did not survive. The spring of 1853 brought the opening of a post office of its own and country store "run by Messrs. Moore & Luyster, and Mr. Samuel H. Moore of that firm received the appointment of postmaster, handling the mails in a corner of the store." Ravenswood, unlike Astoria, never became
15444-551: The late 1960s, a 'Greek Town' neighborhood coalesced in Astoria. From 1960s to 1980s the number of Greeks constantly increased. While the population of Greeks in Astoria was 22,579 in 1980, it dropped to 18,127 by 1990 due to decreased immigration and lower birth rates. During the 2000s, the Greek immigration dropped again. During the 2010s and 2020s economic issues in Greece caused a resurgence of Greek immigration. Greek organizations in
15600-654: The latter of which became her most successful era of singles in the US charts. With " 3 " in 2009 and " Hold It Against Me " in 2011, Spears became the second artist in history to debut at number one with two or more songs on the Billboard Hot 100 . She embarked on a four-year concert residency , Britney: Piece of Me , at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas to promote her next two albums Britney Jean (2013) and Glory (2016). In 2019, Spears' legal battle over her conservatorship became more publicized and led to
15756-520: The lyrics of a song written three years before the riots ever happened." In April 2011, Spears appeared in a remix of Rihanna 's song " S&M ". It reached number one in the US later that month, giving Spears her fifth number one on the chart. On Billboard ' s 2011 Year-End list, Spears was ranked number fourteen on the Artists of the Year, thirty-two on Billboard 200 artists, and ten on Billboard Hot 100 artists. Spears co-wrote "Whiplash",
15912-403: The material. Vibe called it "a supremely confident dance record that also illustrates Spears' development as a songwriter". NPR named it one of the most important recordings of the decade, writing that "the decade's history of impeccably crafted pop is written on her body of work". In the Zone sold over 609,000 copies during its first week of availability in the United States, debuting at
16068-447: The moment I finished writing" Cry Baby . The perfume was directly distributed by Martinez's record label, Atlantic, making them the first record label to distribute a fragrance. Martinez also collaborated with cosmetics company Lime Crime, Inc. to release two "exclusive" lipsticks: a blue lipstick called "Cry Baby" on August 17, 2015, and a brown lipstick called "Teddy Bear" on March 9, 2016. On December 22, 2017, Melanie Martinez released
16224-515: The most striking visuals in the 27-year history of the show." To support the album, Spears embarked on the Dream Within a Dream Tour . The show was critically praised for its technical innovations, the pièce de résistance being a water screen that pumped two tons of water into the stage. The tour grossed $ 53.3 million, becoming the second highest-grossing tour of 2002 by a female artist, behind Cher 's Farewell Tour . Her career success
16380-448: The motivation—the 'eye of the tiger'—is extremely important. And Britney had that." Spears sang Houston's " I Have Nothing " (1992) for the executives, and was subsequently signed to the label. They assigned her to work with producer Eric Foster White for a month; he reportedly shaped her voice from "lower and less poppy" delivery to "distinctively, unmistakably Britney". After hearing the recorded material, president Clive Calder ordered
16536-484: The only district in the United States to elect Democratic Socialists of America representatives at municipal, state, and federal levels; and "The Big Apple ’s Fruit Basket" due to the thousands of fruit trees, particularly fig trees, cultivated in local yards. Astoria is located in Queens Community District 1 and its ZIP Codes are 11101, 11102, 11103, 11105, and 11106. It is patrolled by
16692-686: The other regions. The decreases in the Hispanic / Latino population and in racial groups, however, were relatively even across the three areas. The entirety of Queens Community District 1 , which includes Astoria and parts of Long Island City, is bounded to the east approximately by the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and 81st Street, and to the south approximately by Queens Plaza and Northern Boulevard . It had 199,969 residents according to NYC Health 's 2018 Community Health Profile, with an average life expectancy of 83.4 years. This
16848-486: The other. Spears claimed that the situation happened because of a frightening encounter with paparazzi, and that it was a mistake on her part. The following month, she guest-starred on the Will & Grace episode " Buy, Buy Baby " as closeted lesbian Amber-Louise. She announced she no longer studied Kabbalah in May 2006, explaining, "my baby is my religion". Spears posed nude for the August 2006 cover of Harper's Bazaar ;
17004-483: The percentage of residents who have difficulty paying their rent, is 47% in Astoria, slightly lower than the boroughwide and citywide rates of 53% and 51% respectively. Based on this calculation, as of 2018 , Community District 1 is considered to be gentrifying : according to the Community Health Profile, the district was low-income in 1990 and has seen above-median rent growth up to 2010. Astoria
17160-539: The perfect home with the perfect lawn and they all look the same. But behind each house there's a screwed up group of people who are hiding behind wealth and perfection." Martinez also released a music video for the track, which was fan-funded by an Indiegogo page created by Martinez, and hair, makeup, and shooting were all done by friends of hers. The song was produced and cowritten by NYC songwriting duo Kinetics & One Love . On April 7, 2014, Martinez signed to Atlantic Records and released her debut EP, Dollhouse ,
17316-535: The photograph was compared to Demi Moore 's August 1991 Vanity Fair cover . In September 2006, she gave birth to her second son, Jayden James. In November 2006, Spears filed for divorce from Federline, citing irreconcilable differences. Their divorce was finalized in July 2007, when the two reached a global settlement and agreed to share joint custody of their sons. Spears' maternal aunt Sandra Bridges Covington, with whom she had been very close, died of ovarian cancer in January 2007. In February, Spears stayed in
17472-594: The population. The Astoria and Old Astoria tabulation areas had greater Hispanic / Latino and Asian populations, and the Old Astoria area specifically had a greater Black population. The racial and ethnic composition of Astoria changed significantly from 2000 to 2010. The most significant changes were the decrease in the Other population by 64% (8,919) and the decrease in the Hispanic / Latino population by 13% (5,705). The White majority also decreased by 2% (1,699), while
17628-437: The release of eight studio albums. The record received a low amount of promotion and had little commercial impact, reportedly due to time conflicts involving preparations for Britney: Piece of Me. Upon its release, the record debuted at number four on the U.S. Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 107,000 copies, becoming her lowest-peaking and lowest-selling album in the United States. Britney Jean debuted at number 34 on
17784-947: The release, a further three music videos have appeared, one featuring the song "Tunnel Vision" in December 2023, a second in February 2024 for "Faerie Soirée", and a third in May 2024 for "Light Shower". Martinez's music has been described as pop , alternative pop , art pop , electropop , and dark pop . Cry Baby and K–12 were seen to have hip hop and R&B undertones. Portals saw Melanie venturing into experimental sounds and pop-rock . Martinez's music has been described by The Guardian as "off-kilter, sweary electropop". Rolling Stone described Martinez's music as "twisted lullabies about love, danger and madness", and compared her music to that of " ' Coin-Operated Boy '-era Dresden Dolls " and Lana Del Rey . The New York Times ' s Jon Pareles described her music as "perch[ing] prettily tinkling keyboards and concise pop choruses amid
17940-762: The same femme fatale poses, she lacks the subtlety of her influences", and that "Martinez is admirably ambitious, but her insistence on sticking to Cry Baby ' s central idea leaves her contorting into uncomfortable positions". Martinez describes her alter ego and the protagonist of her debut album, Cry Baby , as a " fairy tale " version of herself. Martinez's songs are often based on personal experiences. Martinez described her own music as "very dark and honest" and "hip hop/trap inspired beats with creepy nostalgic childlike sounds such as baby pianos, music boxes, and toys". Martinez listened to Christina Aguilera , Brandy , Britney Spears , The Beatles , Tupac Shakur , Shakira , and Biggie Smalls growing up, and wanted to be
18096-582: The same name (2014). Martinez later released her debut studio album, Cry Baby (2015), which went on to be certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album amassed numerous commercially successful singles including " Pity Party ", " Soap " and " Mrs. Potato Head ". She has since released two follow-up albums: K–12 (2019) and Portals (2023). Easily recognized by her colorful two-toned hair and bangs , Martinez's visual style plays an important part in her music videos and performances. She came to fame cultivating
18252-444: The same time period. Astoria's rate of elementary school student absenteeism is about equal to the rest of New York City. In Astoria, 19% of elementary school students missed twenty or more days per school year , less than the citywide average of 20%. Additionally, 78% of high school students in Astoria graduate on time, more than the citywide average of 75%. Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981)
18408-529: The same vein as Cruella de Vil . She became known for the look, as well as her "baby doll"-inspired outfits in music videos and when performing. The Guardian has called her image "doll-like and decidedly emo [...] hyperreal" while her music is best known to be "part- nursery rhyme , part tragic life story". On December 4, 2017, Timothy Heller, a woman with whom Martinez once shared a friendship, alleged via Twitter that Martinez had sexually assaulted and raped her two years prior. The following day, Martinez tweeted
18564-640: The second single " Lucky ", peaked at number one in Austria, Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland. The album as well as the title track received Grammy nominations for Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, respectively. The same year, Spears embarked on the Oops!... I Did It Again Tour , which grossed $ 40.5 million; she also released her first book, Britney Spears' Heart to Heart , co-written with her mother. On September 7, 2000, Spears performed at
18720-435: The show in a 2013 interview as "probably the worst thing I've done in my career". They held a wedding ceremony on September 18, 2004, but were not legally married until three weeks later on October 6 due to a delay finalizing the couple's prenuptial agreement. Shortly after, she released her first perfume, Curious , with Elizabeth Arden , which broke the company's first-week gross for a perfume. In October 2004, Spears took
18876-485: The show was canceled in 1994, she returned to Mississippi and enrolled at McComb's Parklane Academy . Although she made friends with most of her classmates, she compared the school to "the opening scene in Clueless with all the cliques . ... I was so bored. I was the point guard on the basketball team. I had my boyfriend, and I went to homecoming and Christmas formal . But I wanted more." In June 1997, Spears
19032-450: The slow, ominous basslines and twitchy percussion of Southern hip-hop – a candy-coated variation on the dirges of Lorde and Lana Del Rey", and described her mezzo-soprano voice as "whispery, sardonic, tearful, [and] furious". Billboard ' s Jason Lipshutz also compared Martinez to Del Rey and Lorde, saying, "Martinez is clearly cribbing from the dimly lit pop stylings of Lorde and Lana Del Rey, but while her wispy delivery strikes
19188-790: The song " Piggyback " on SoundCloud , an act believed to be in response to Heller's accusations. On July 19, 2024, Heller issued a new video statement reaffirming the story, as well as refuting claims that she had "admitted to lying". She also described harassment she experienced from Martinez's fanbase, stating that she "suddenly had thousands of hate accounts dedicated to [her], thousands of dislikes and negative comments on all of [her] music, and completely ridiculous fabricated stories of [her] being posted online" that ultimately led her to deactivate her public accounts. She also revealed that she had been doxxed and hacked, stating that her "home address, phone number, and family's phone numbers were all leaked," that "every single one of [her] social media accounts
19344-463: The song " Piggyback " on SoundCloud , believed to reflect on allegations made by her former friend, Timothy Heller. Heller accused Martinez of sexual assault via Twitter on 4 December 2017, which Martinez strongly denied, asserting that any intimacy was consensual. In a review of Martinez's third album, Portals , Sam Franzini of The Line of Best Fit wrote that the album track "Battle of the Larynx"
19500-404: The southeast, and Woodside and East Elmhurst to the east. As of 2019 , Astoria has an estimated population of 95,446. Originally the site of a War of 1812 fortification , a village called Hallet's (or Hallett's) Cove after its first landowner William Hallet, who settled there in 1652 with his wife, Elizabeth Fones grew around the fort. Hallet's Cove was incorporated on April 12, 1839, and
19656-418: The third quarter of 2008. The documentary was broadcast on MTV to 5.6 million viewers for the two airings on the premiere night. It was the highest rating in its Sunday night timeslot and in the network's history. In December 2008, Spears' sixth studio album Circus was released. It received positive reviews from critics and debuted at number one in Canada, Czech Republic, and the United States, and within
19812-455: The top 100 most-played songs on Spotify in the US after gaining popularity on TikTok . In 2021, Martinez featured on Forbes ' Under 30 list. On February 18, 2023, after archiving all her Instagram posts, Martinez teased her third studio album, Portals . The album was released on March 31, 2023, and was promoted with the singles, " Death " and " Void " which charted at number 95 and 61 respectively, marking her first original appearances on
19968-591: The top 20. It also marked Spears' 19th top 20 entry and overall her 23rd top 40 single. The song marked Spears' highest sales debut since her 2011 number-one single " Hold It Against Me ". "Work Bitch" debuted and peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart . The song also peaked within the top ten of the charts in Brazil, Canada, France, Italy, Mexico, and Spain. The second single " Perfume " premiered in November 2013. It debuted and peaked at number 76 on
20124-891: The top of the charts, making Spears the first female artist in the SoundScan era to have her first four studio albums to debut at number one. It also debuted at the top of the charts in France and the top ten in Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands. The album produced four singles: " Me Against the Music ", a collaboration with Madonna; " Toxic "—which won Spears her first Grammy for Best Dance Recording ; " Everytime ", and " Outrageous ". In January 2004, Spears married her childhood friend Jason Allen Alexander at A Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas , Nevada . The marriage
20280-643: The top ten in almost every country it charted. The second single " Piece of Me " reached the top of the charts in Ireland and reached the top five in Australia, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The third single " Break the Ice " was released the following year, and respectively reached numbers seven and nine in Ireland and Canada. In December 2007, Spears began a relationship with paparazzo Adnan Ghalib. In January 2008, Spears refused to relinquish custody of her sons to Federline's representatives. She
20436-548: The top ten in many European nations. In the United States, Spears became the youngest female artist to have five albums debut at number one, earning a place in Guinness World Records . She also became the only act in the SoundScan era to have four albums debut with 500,000 or more copies sold. The album was one of the fastest-selling albums of the year, and has sold 4 million copies worldwide. Its lead single, " Womanizer ", became Spears' first chart-topper on
20592-449: The top ten of the chart. The fourth and final single " Criminal " was released in September 2011. The music video sparked controversy when British politicians criticized Spears for using replica guns while filming the video in a London area that had been badly affected by the 2011 England riots . Spears' management briefly responded, stating, "The video is a fantasy story featuring Britney's boyfriend, Jason Trawick, which literally plays out
20748-600: The tour was released in November 2011. In August 2011, Spears received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards . The next month, she released her second remix album, B in the Mix: The Remixes Vol. 2 . In December 2011, Spears became engaged to her long-time boyfriend Jason Trawick, who had formerly been her agent. Trawick was legally granted a role as co-conservator, alongside her father, in April 2012. In May 2012, Spears
20904-452: The tour, titled (You Drive Me) Crazy Tour , followed in March 2000. Spears premiered songs from her upcoming second album during the show. Oops!... I Did It Again , Spears' second studio album, was released in May 2000. It debuted at number one in the US, selling 1.3 million copies, breaking the Nielsen SoundScan record for the highest debut sales by any solo artist. It has sold over 20 million copies worldwide to date, making it one of
21060-449: The two. Today, however, many residents and businesses south of Broadway identify themselves as Astorians for convenience or status, since Long Island City has historically been considered an industrial area , and Ravenswood is now mostly a low-income neighborhood. Some of the thoroughfares have lent their names to unofficial terms for the areas they serve. For instance, the eastern end of Astoria, with Steinway Street as its main thoroughfare,
21216-613: The way my children and my family have treated me. There is nothing to believe in anymore. I'm an atheist y'all". At age three, Spears began attending dance lessons in her hometown of Kentwood, Louisiana , and was selected to perform as a solo artist at the annual recital. Aged five she made her local stage debut, singing " What Child Is This? " at her kindergarten graduation. During her childhood, she also had gymnastics and voice lessons and won many state-level competitions and children's talent shows. In gymnastics, Spears attended Béla Károlyi 's training camp. She said of her ambition as
21372-466: The wealthiest man in the United States with a net worth of more than $ 40 million, in order to persuade him to invest in the neighborhood. He only invested $ 500, but the name stayed nonetheless, as a bitter battle over naming the village finally was won by Astor's supporters and friends. From Astor's summer home in Yorkville, Manhattan —on what is now East 87th Street near York Avenue —he could see across
21528-621: Was annulled 55 hours later, following a petition to the court that stated that Spears "lacked understanding of her actions". In March 2004, Spears embarked on the Onyx Hotel Tour in support of In the Zone . The tour was canceled in June 2004, when she fell and injured her left knee during the music video shoot for "Outrageous". She underwent arthroscopic surgery and wore a thigh brace for six weeks, followed by eight to twelve weeks of rehabilitation. That year, Spears became involved in
21684-555: Was a homebody, as she was "very emotional" and found it difficult to explain her feelings, crying when overwhelmed. She practiced photography and painting. Due to her emotionality as a child, she says that others referred to her as a "cry baby", which sparked the creation of the titular character of her debut album, Cry Baby . Martinez grew up in a "traditional Latin household" where she was made to feel shameful about talking about her sexuality and felt as if she would not be accepted if she came out as bisexual . She says that her family
21840-582: Was also removed as Spears' co-conservator, restoring her father as the sole conservator. Following the breakup, she began dating David Lucado in March; the couple split in August 2014. During the production of Britney Jean , Spears recorded the song " Ooh La La " for the soundtrack of The Smurfs 2 , which was released in June 2013. On September 17, 2013, she appeared on Good Morning America to announce her two-year concert residency at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, titled Britney: Piece of Me . It began on December 27, 2013, and included
21996-519: Was an open call, held at Javits Center . She recalls that while she and her mother were driving to the audition, her mother's car broke down before they reached the Queens–Midtown Tunnel , and the two were forced to "hitchhike" a taxicab in order to get there. Several months after the initial audition, while at Roosevelt Field Mall , Martinez received word that she had advanced to the "second round". She then received multiple callbacks until she
22152-494: Was dedicated to her first child, a son named Sean Preston, who was born the following month. In November 2005, she released her first remix compilation, B in the Mix: The Remixes , which consists of 11 remixes. In February 2006, pictures surfaced of Spears driving with her son, Sean, on her lap instead of in a car seat. Child advocates were horrified by the photos of her holding the wheel with one hand and Sean with
22308-404: Was destroyed by Native Americans . The peninsula was bordered to the north by Hell Gate , to the west by the East River , and the south by Sunswick Creek . Hallet bought the land in 1664 from two native chiefs named Shawestcont and Erramorhar. In 1814 the area of Hallet's point became the site of Fort Stevens , a defensive work to protect Hell Gate from a potential British attack during
22464-617: Was finally selected to audition on the show itself. Martinez auditioned singing Britney Spears 's " Toxic " with three of the four judges ( Adam Levine , CeeLo Green and Blake Shelton ) hitting their "I Want You" button. Martinez ultimately chose Adam Levine to be her coach. In the Battle Round, Martinez competed against Caitlin Michele. They performed a duet of the Ellie Goulding song " Lights ". Martinez won and moved on to
22620-550: Was first settled by the Dutch , English, and Germans in the 17th century. Many Irish settled in the area during the waves of Irish immigration into New York City during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Italians were the next significant immigrants in Astoria, and numerous Italian restaurants, delis, bakeries, and pizza shops are found throughout Astoria, particularly in the Ditmars Boulevard area. Jews were also
22776-526: Was followed by the album's second single, " Soap ". The song reached number twelve on the Alternative Digital Songs chart, and number sixteen on the Pop Digital Songs chart. The third single, "Sippy Cup", followed on July 31. Cry Baby , her debut album, was released on August 14, 2015, to moderate critical acclaim and debuted at number 6 on the Billboard 200. The album was certified Platinum by
22932-484: Was hacked, including her email," and that "the only thing they didn't get into was [her] bank account." Studio albums Headlining Supporting Astoria, Queens Astoria is a neighborhood in the western portion of the New York City borough of Queens . Astoria is bounded by the East River and is adjacent to four other Queens neighborhoods: Long Island City to the southwest, Sunnyside to
23088-658: Was highlighted by Forbes in 2002, as Spears was ranked the world's most powerful celebrity. Spears also landed her first starring role in Crossroads , released in February 2002. Although the film was largely panned, critics praised Spears' acting. The film was a box office success, grossing over $ 61.1 million worldwide on a $ 12 million budget. In June 2002, Spears opened her first restaurant, Nyla, in New York City, but terminated her relationship in November due to mismanagement and "management's failure to keep her fully apprised". In July 2002, Spears announced she would take
23244-452: Was hired to replace Paula Abdul as a judge for the second season of the USA show of The X Factor , joining Simon Cowell , L.A. Reid , and fellow new judge Demi Lovato , who replaced Nicole Scherzinger . With a reported salary of $ 15 million, she became the highest-paid judge on a singing competition series in television history. However, Katy Perry broke her record in 2018 after Perry
23400-514: Was hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after police that had arrived at her house noted she appeared to be under the influence of an unidentified substance. The following day, Spears' visitation rights were suspended at an emergency court hearing, and Federline was given sole physical and legal custody of their sons. She was committed to the psychiatric ward of Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and put on 5150 involuntary psychiatric hold under California state law. The court placed her under
23556-444: Was in talks with manager Lou Pearlman to join the female pop group Innosense . Lynne asked family friend and entertainment lawyer Larry Rudolph for his opinion and submitted a tape of Spears singing over a Whitney Houston karaoke song along with some pictures. Rudolph decided that he wanted to pitch her to record labels, for which she needed a professional demo made. He sent Spears an unused song of Toni Braxton ; she rehearsed for
23712-453: Was later renamed for John Jacob Astor , then the wealthiest man in the United States, in order to persuade him to invest in the area. During the second half of the 19th century, economic and commercial growth brought increased immigration. Astoria and several other surrounding villages were incorporated into Long Island City in 1870, which in turn was incorporated into the City of Greater New York in 1898. Commercial activity continued through
23868-491: Was nominated for the Grammy awards for Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for " Overprotected ", and in 2007 it was named one of the best albums of the preceding 25 years by Entertainment Weekly . The lead single, " I'm a Slave 4 U ", became a top-ten hit in several countries. Spears' performance of the single at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards featured a caged tiger (wrangled by Bhagavan Antle ) and
24024-631: Was promoted with the K–12 Tour began on October 13, 2019, in Washington, D.C. and concluded prematurely on February 17, 2020, in Brixton , England due to the COVID-19 pandemic . In January 2020, Martinez announced she was working on an EP titled After School , which was then set to be released in the spring of 2020 and serve as the deluxe edition of K–12 . On February 10, 2020, Martinez released
24180-574: Was signed for a $ 25-million salary to serve as a judge on ABC 's revival of American Idol . Spears mentored the Teens category; her final act, Carly Rose Sonenclar , was named the runner-up of the season. Spears did not return for the show's third season and was replaced by Paulina Rubio . Spears appeared on the song " Scream & Shout " with will.i.am , which was released as the third single from his fourth studio album, #willpower (2013). The song later became Spears' sixth number-one single on
24336-947: Was writing and recording new music for her next album. Spears announced via Twitter in August 2014 that she would be releasing an intimate apparel line called "The Intimate Britney Spears". It was available to be purchased beginning on September 9, 2014, in the United States and Canada through Spears' Intimate Collection website. It was later available on September 25 for purchase in Europe. The company now ships to over 200 countries including Australia and New Zealand. On September 25, 2014, Spears confirmed on Good Morning Britain that she extended her contract to perform her Britney: Piece of Me concert residency at Planet Hollywood Las Vegas for two additional years. Spears began dating television producer Charlie Ebersol in October 2014. The pair were split in June 2015. On May 14, 2015, Spears released
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