LONDON — As Britney Spears(小甜甜布兰妮) prepares to launch(发行) her seventh studio album "Femme Fatale" on Tuesday, the pop star faces keen competition from Lady Gaga, Katie Perry and Rihanna, who reign(统治) atop Billboard's Hot 100 singles ranking.
Her younger rivals' dominance(支配力) this week may be coincidental(巧合的) — indeed, Spears also topped the ranking recently with "Hold It Against Me" — but the chart(榜单) is a reminder of how crowded the pop diva(女主角) market has become since Spears rose to fame as a teenager.
There is little doubt her fans will ensure(确保) brisk sales(销路畅旺) — Spears has sold nearly 70 million albums, according to label Jive Record — and her music is making headlines again instead of personal meltdowns, a custody battle and rehab stints.
Spears kicked off a string of promotions for the album on Friday with a performance at a Las Vegas nightclub(夜店). On Sunday in San Francisco she will record a sold-out mini-concert to be aired(播放) on ABC's "Good Morning America" TV show on Tuesday.
Yet after more than 10 years in the music business, Spears, now 29, may have to do more to remain relevant(相关的，切题的) in the era of Gaga, critics say.
"As far as novelty goes, her natural demographic now has an icon as quirky(离奇的) and characterful as Lady Gaga to fascinate and fuss over(焦虑)," said Andy Gill of Britain's Independent newspaper.
"Gaga's music, let's be frank, is not that much better than, or even different to, that on 'Femme Fatale,' but she knows the lingering(逗留的) appeal of playing dress up," he added in a two-out-of-five star review of Spears' record.
Adrian Thrills of the Daily Mail added: "The one-time gymslip(无袖体操服) diva has had to contend with(与某人竞争) the emergence of Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Rihanna — a brash new wave of female performers who have made their mark while seemingly exercising far more creative control."