Spears, Minaj dazzle Houston

Much to the delight of pop music lovers, Britney Spears took the stage last Wednesday night at Toyota Center after two high-energy performances by Jessie and the Toy Boys and Nicki Minaj.

Spears is known for the eccentric costumes that accompany her over-the-top shows. The crowd followed her lead, channeling every character from the “Hit Me Baby One More Time” schoolgirl to the “Circus” ringmaster.

Before Spears took the stage, Jessie and the Toy Boys were the opening act.

The crowd wasn’t quite as enthusiastic for this performer as they were for the pop princesses, but the super-pop sound of Malakouti was appropriate given the audience’s taste.

A blonde-wigged Minaj took fans by storm with the heavy bass lines of her tracks moving straight through their bodies.

She performed her hits, including “Moment4Life,” “Did It On Em,” “Monster” and “Super Bass,” to name a few.

Tensions were high when the final countdown to Britney began.

She started off with “Hold it Against Me,” followed by “3.” Dancers in white trench coats and the infamous Britney fedora accompanied Britney in a slinky dance routine.

Also on the setlist were “If U Seek Amy,” “Gimme More,” and “Boys,” all in different, glittery costumes.

The backup dancers did most of the work in keeping the energy up, however, while Britney sat and sang on stage props.

Her range of motion has certainly declined since her early years, but we figure that all those years of being Britney Spears can take a toll on one’s body.

The show ended with what seemed like a glitter and confetti-filled parade. Minaj joined Spears on stage to perform “Till The World Ends.”

This was a fitting ending to a spectacular show. Say what you will about Britney Spears, but when it comes to putting on a show, she’s still got it — and she’s got it in tons.

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