Producer Timbaland Wants to Save Britney
By Associated Press
Wed Mar 7, 12:48 AM


Timbaland arrives for the Grammy Awards on Feb. 11, ...
NEW YORK - Timbaland, who's crafted hits for Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado, wants to help Britney Spears reclaim her once-stellar career.

"I feel her pain, it really bothers me," the 34-year-old rapper-producer says in an interview in Entertainment Weekly magazine's March 16 issue. "I'm the type of person who tries to save the world. I just want to take her away, go overseas, and work (it) out."

Timbaland says he invited Timberlake, his "best friend" and Spears' ex-boyfriend, to be part of that plan.

"I asked Justin, `How would you feel about me working with Britney?' I had to ask him that," Timbaland is quoted as saying. "I said, `Would you do it with me?'"

The 26-year-old "SexyBack" singer said he would, according to Timbaland, who notes: "She's just gotta be serious."

Timberlake's spokeswoman, Sonia Muckle, referred inquiries to Timbaland's spokeswoman, Monique Idlett, who didn't immediately respond to a phone call Wednesday from The Associated Press. Gina Orr, a publicist at Jive Records, Spears' label, didn't immediately respond to an e-mail message.

Last month, Spears, 25, checked into Promises Malibu drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in California, capping a week of bizarre behavior in which she entered and exited rehab twice, shaved her head bald and went out clubbing with friends.

"I just want to hold her hand," Timbaland says. "I want her to be in my camp, to be around Justin. I need Justin to talk to her. Help her, please!"

___

On the Net:

Entertainment Weekly:

http://www.ew.com/ew

Britney Spears:

http://www.britneyspears.com/

Justin Timberlake:

http://www.justintimberlake.com/

I don't buy it. I think he just wants to be involved in what could be a huge comeback. She's on the brink of suicide and he wants to get in the studio. Alrighty then.

JackieBlue said:

Totally agree!, I cant believe he said "I feel her pain" seriously, does he know what she is going through, I would think only she knows what she is going through right now, how timbaland become a brintey expert overnight. The last thing this girl needs right now is someoe throwing cash/beats/fame at her all over again, thats how she got in this mess in the first place. But of course Timbaland wants to be viewed as the "genius" that brought her back from rehabs, he wants to be viewed as the saviour, kind of how JD thinks of himself with Mariah's Emancipation. It just bothers me that Timbaland thinks that this girl needs a "hit" to be alright again, how ignorant can he be, does he realize that his buddy Justin wouldnt even exist if it wasnt for Britney "blowing up" the whole Pop Scene, Nsync's first album was doing nothing till she came out and blew the doors wide open. So Timbaland needs to just shut up with his advice and guidance on subjects he knows nothing about, he's a friggin beatmaker, no one that has ever worked with has been even close to the "fame mania" level that Britney was at, so how does he 'feel her pain".

JackieBlue said:

agreed...seems to me like he just wanted to catch a ride on the britney media over-kill train.

If Tim has been wanting to save the world he's been very quiet about it 'cause I've never heard about his global concern for anything or anybody. Funny how this particular story has been everywhere.

Wasn't Brit set to work with Pharell again?

JackieBlue said:

Yeah thats a very shitty quote "Save the World", its friggin Britney Spears, sure you can feel bad for her but its not the war in Iraq or something that matters. Britneys odds of cutting an album anytime soon are about as likely as Prince touring this year, just ain't gonna happen, just let the girl chill for a bit, and think about life, before we throw her back on stage for the "big comeback" moment, save that crap for the MTV awards, so they can ride her train too.,

JackieBlue said:

I agree with you Jackie. I think he hears cha-ching, cha-ching. I'm not sure who buys her music anymore, but I'm sure those that like crap and lip-syncers will lap it up. And, if it sounds like all those other songs from Timbaland, even more people will lap it up. Personally, I don't get but whatever floats your boat I guess.

I saw this online this morning. From what I can tell Britney's issues run a lot deeper than popstar gone wild.

I'm telling ya'll rumor has been for a NUMBER of YEARS that Britney has some emotional problems. This was just the final meltdown--well hopefully the final one. Sadly, it could be even worse, so I'm hoping the girl gets some true medical help. Forget about her career. Her career is the least of her worries--well maybe those of her family's worries at this point because it appears that Brit is too "sick" to even be worried about her own personal well-being outside of the entertainment business.

I do believe the girl is suffering from post-partum depression at the very least, but I think it's actually more than that. She might just suffer from clinical depression. I'm not so sure that being this big pop star is the place for Britney--which is no big deal. She could change directions, but still stay in the business somehow in maybe something a more low-profile. Hopefully, she and her family won't rifle through all her money. She's got the money to live-on the rest of her life, but she has to see her life is valuable without being this major "star." Her life is valuable whether or not she ever has a hit record, movie, etc., or is "hot" again in the public domain.

Timbaland just needs to hold-up for a year or two or maybe forever. A few months in rehab for Britney just ain't gonna cut-it in the long-term.
[Edited 3/8/07 7:17am]

Isel said:

Very true. I think people forget sometimes that she was that "popstar" that we build up and then wanna tear down, and then given her other issues, relationships, two kids,two divorces, it took its toll on her. Re-habbing for 6 months is not the answer for her, and TIMBALAND should shut up in this matter. The answer to her problems is not to put an album and have a hit song, thats how she got where shes at in the first place.

I disagree. The actual release of the project might have to be a good year down the line after she has worked out some issues, but recording while you're depressed is not bad timing! Seriously. Recording is cathartic.

CinisterCee said:

I would agree with that in a case of a more artistic person, but Britney is not a person who will get into her lyrics and things like that, shes not that kind of an artist, people wanna see her back,wearing sexy clothing and making sexy videos and dancing. Britney coming out with something serious would be a big joke at this point she isnt that kind of an artist.

CinisterCee said:

I agree that in time recording might be cathartic for her. But I just think Britney is suffering from more than a bout of the blues. I think it's something that's going to take some time to address. When I was teaching, I dealt with some students who were clinically depressed--some not making it. I had this one student who was an amazing photographer. The thing is when he was on his meds, he could be "normal," for lack of a better word. Well, when he felt good, then he'd quit taking his meds because he believed he didn't need them. Then the whole cycle started again. It was an on-going problem. It was really horrible. He ended up committing suicide. Everyone thought he was fine. He seemed fine. But.. no. That's just one story. I have others successful, some not. It's a matter of long-term treatment. And just from observation and then some gossip which I can't really verify, the girl has been having these manic-episodes for a while. Of course then when she is self-medicating, that just compounds the problem. And then if she is in denial about even having a problem in the first place, well... it's just an on-going, life-time struggle.

And as cathartic as "creating" might be, people are always going to be around to exploit her, ya know? She doesn't have to a star to be an artist or performer. As someone who is just an outsider, I'd just like to see her take some time-off--out of the public eye for a while and realize she is more than her art. It's real romantic to be an artist, but then again these people are MORE than just that, but some don't even realize it. Most do, but some don't. And then if a person has a real problem in the first place, it's just a nightmare.
[Edited 3/8/07 7:53am]

lastdecember said:

Yeah, I agree that in this case it would be a bad idea. With a new album comes the pressure of promotion, appearances, videos, etc. She’ll be shaving her head again if she’s not careful. She needs to focus on caring for her two kids and trying to work out some sort of arrangement with Kevin, whatever that's going to be. And get grounded first!

Timbaland, dahling. If U want 2 save the world then stop making music.

JackieBlue said:

I see where y'all are comin' from.

lastdecember said:

No that is incorrect. NSYNC all ready had a large following in Europe and opened for Janet on the second leg of the Velvet Rope tour. On their first sold out US tour Britney was their opening act. It was right before the release of her first album. Over the course of the tour she started to get a better response as her star began to rise. NSYNC help expose Britney to their fanbase. She through proper marketing was able to use that to become a major player in the 1998-2002 pop rivial

So Britney's on the verge of a nervous breakdown and Timbabland wants to "save" her by getting her together with her ex-boyfriend Timberflake to record?

Yeah, that'll do it.

If he really wants to "save the world", he'll just keep his damn mouth closed from now on!

lastdecember said:

and you know Britney personally and know she doesn't have that in her?

ehuffnsd said:

something tells me even if she had nothing much to contribute previously, britney would have some real life things to say now.

you mean the dude named after a OLD 1990's hip-hop fashion icon

Ribbed4UrPleasure said:

His real name is Tim. Is he supposed to re-name himself because his career outlived an era of fashion?

CinisterCee said:

he's supposed to fade away too. hes over stayed his welcome. especially when he has to ruin everyone of his tracks with his personal appearances.

Well I'm glad that the only one who faded away was Max Martin.

ehuffnsd said:

Its not about knowing her its how she is going to be looked at in the future and what people will expect from her. What would people think if she turned out an "india-arie" like record, acoustic/lyric driven record talking about the world issues and things like that. Well in some respect Britney does need the whole Madonna-overhaul. I think part of the problem Britney is having, artist wise, is that her audience early on obviously was teen based and they are all older now and dont dig her anymore. So Britney now has to find a way to appeal to an older audience which never accepted her in the first place. But who knows, with the way she has been doing things i wouldnt be surprised to see her doing music again soon.

lastdecember said:

Britney is one ugly bitch, and the older she gets the uglier she will get.
Her popularity was based on her teen youthfulness ONLY.

I'm sorry, but when I read this I thought it was a joke! Doesn't Timbaland have better things to do with his time? I mean - it's Britney. She has to want to save herself first. Not to mention a Britney comeback? Please. Her audience has grown up and moved on.

Britney making a comeback is like Corey Feldman making a comeback: no one will give a damn!

theodore said:

exactly!

SexyBeautifulOne said:

Co-sign. That whole statement makes him sound like an opportunist.

Time is money...I guess. You know Timberfake was going to jump on it if included him getting big bucks.

lastdecember said:

you are psychic and can read the minds of people and predict the future?!? don't confuse your personal opinion as the truth. people didn't think Michael Jackson would have much of a career after he left the Jackson Five and both M and Kylie were only going to have one or two hits at most. Look at what happened to them