Imagine you're sitting at this table. What would you do? I'd laugh, but I wouldn't write about it. ---- Britney Doesn’t Know Yoko; Will Justin Go Solo? Friday, March 01, 2002 By Roger Friedman You may wonder what the real Britney Spears is like. Or you may not. But in case you do, I now have something of a report. You could guess that a girl without much of a formal education is no rocket scientist. She's not going to know much about the history of civilization, world economics, or how to split an atom. What you might expect is that she'd know something in the category of pop music, enough to play Rock and Roll Jeopardy on VH-1. But here's some upsetting news. Brit was stymied on Tuesday night when presented with a pretty easy question. Here's what it was: "Who is Yoko Ono?" The question came up because this reporter was having a congenial talk with the members of 'N Sync and some of their parents at the J Records pre-Grammy dinner. The gang was sitting at a round table front and center in the Beverly Hills Hotel ballroom. Britney was sitting with the group, between Justin Timberlake and his mom. I asked Justin, as I had asked him about a year ago, whether 'N Sync identified more with the Beatles or Rolling Stones, and where that might leave their rivals, the Backstreet Boys. Timberlake replied, "Beatles! Beatles! Beatles!" Did that mean the Boys were the equivalent of the Stones, I wondered? "No, the Osmonds!" he laughed. But immediately following this happy exchange, I queried the couple: "Does this mean Britney is Yoko Ono?" Spears responded: "Who?' Her potential mother-in-law, Mrs. Timberlake, jumped right in and explained that Ono had been John Lennon's widow and broken up the Beatles. (This was strictly her opinion, this last modifier.) But Brit didn't know what anyone was talking about. To save her, I said: "You're probably more Linda McCartney. You know her name, don't you?" Spears again gave a question mark expression. "I'm sorry," she said in her rich Southern accent. "I'm very young." Justin's mom, ignoring this exchange on purpose, then told us a story. "You see, you have to know who Pete Best is." Best was the original drummer for the Beatles, replaced by Ringo Starr before the band became a sensation. "Lance only became a member of 'N Sync the day we signed our contracts, because the original bass singer quit. So we call him our Pete Best!" Granted, Spears has a great little body and has done much to show it off in her videos and concerts. So let's give her credit where credit is due. But a future member of the Rock Hall of Fame? Just as in her MTV diary, she showed no interest in music or in singing at the J Records bash. When most of the performers including Timberlake hit the stage for a final jam session, Spears avoided the chance to show off her vocal talents in front of the room and sat on her hands. Timberlake, however, jumped on stage, took the mike, and worked hard to show that he is more than a flash in the pan. He was impressive. Afterwards, I was told that he is hard at work on a solo album, which may be more than halfway completed. "It's going to be huge," said one music insider who's heard some of the results. link
i have no idea who he is, but for making these two comments, roger friedman should have his credentials stripped and he should be sent to afghanistan.
I found it hillarious You would think she would know who Yoko and Linda are. First, its embarassing then to have everyone know its even more embarassing. I don't think she's thrilled with Friedman.
It's not exactly like Yoko Ono and Linda McCartney are household names for someone of her age. I'm sure not going to ridicule or blame her for not knowing them.
LoL... I just ask my ten year old if she knew who Yoko Ono was...I thought she might because we are Beatles fans,so anyway her answer was "wasn't he the speed skater in the olympics" .
True, true. Maybe I expected a little more from someone in the music business. I'm her age and I don't listen to the Beatles, but I do know who Yoko and Linda are. btw, Friedman works for Fox News Channel
Does the writer actually think he'll damage Britney's rep by prinitng that she doesn't know who Yoko Ono or Linda McCartney is? All he's done is made himself look like an old fart who, like many baby-boomers, thinks the "artists" (I use that term very loosely with Yoko and Linda) of his generation are the be-all, end all. And if he's too young to be a baby-boomer, than he's a premature old fart. The best way to discredit Britney would be to hook her up with some aging, has-been movie/rock star. Nobody who listens to Britney gives a crap about Yoko Ono or Linda McCartney.
Yea I'd say the writer looks worse than he tried to make Brit. look. You don't really need to study the history of pop music to be a musician. I bet there are many b-ball players that couldn't tell you who someone like Bob Cousy is.Nothing bad,it just means it was before their time.
