The ...Baby One More Time Tour was the debut concert tour by American entertainer Britney Spears. It supported her debut studio album, ...Baby One More Time (1999), and visited the United States and Canada. The tour was announced in March 1999, with dates released a month later. Tommy Hilfiger was chosen as the tour sponsor. The show was divided into various segments, with each segment being followed by an interlude to the next segment, and it ended with an encore. The setlist consisted of songs from her debut album and several covers. The tour received positive feedback from critics; many highlighted Spears' persona and edgy look.
Background and development On March 5, 1999, it was reported that Spears was planning her first headlining tour to support her first studio album, ...Baby One More Time (1999). Shortly after, she announced that the tour would start in July. On May 12, 1999, Tommy Hilfiger was announced as the main tour sponsor. During the time of the announcement, Spears was being featured in the "AllStars" campaign launched by the company. Hilfiger spoke about the sponsorship saying, "My passion for music has always inspired my designs. This year we have really put music in the forefront of everything we do. Britney represents the spirit of Tommy Jeans and of youth today. I cannot think of a better way to continue this exciting year by sponsoring one of today's hottest, young recording artists". The secondary sponsor was supposed to be Nestlé, but they pulled out soon after provocative photographs of Spears shot by David LaChapelle were published in Rolling Stone. Tour dates were released through Pollstar on April 9, 1999, with the tour kicking off on June 28, 1999, in Pompano Beach, Florida. Several dates were added and rescheduled, and the complete schedule was released two months later.
Spears talked to CNN about her involvement during the development of the tour, stating that she had designed the entire tour herself, including costumes and concept. Spears worked with fashion designer Gia Ventola to create the costumes for her and the dancers. The proscenium stage was simple and had only one main prop, a staircase in the middle. The band was in both sides of the staircase and consisted of five musicians. There were also six dancers, that took the stage during interludes. The setlist consisted of seven songs from her debut album and several covers by well-known artists.
Concert synopsis The show began with a dance introduction by Spears' dancers among smoke effects. She appeared shortly after at the top of the staircase wearing a hot pink vinyl tube top and white vinyl pants with pink knee patches, to perform "(You Drive Me) Crazy". In "Soda Pop", she danced and interacted with the audience, before leaving the stage while her dancers continued. She appeared sitting on the staircase to sing "Born to Make You Happy" and "From the Bottom of My Broken Heart". The show continued with a dance interlude set to Madonna's "Vogue" in which she named Madonna and Janet Jackson as her biggest inspirations. She then took the stage to perform a cover of Madonna's "Material Girl". After this, she performed two covers of Janet Jackson songs, "Black Cat" and "Nasty". She ended the section with a performance of Sonny & Cher's "The Beat Goes On", accompanied by psychedelic lights. After a dance interlude, she performed the album track "I Will Be There" and a cover of "Open Arms" by Journey, ending with a smile at the top of the staircase. After "Sometimes", she waved and left the stage. The encore consisted of a performance of "...Baby One More Time", in which Spears wore a black bra under pink halter, a pink sequined plaid mini-skirt, and black thigh-high stockings. She then thanks the audience and leaves the stage.
Critical reception The tour garnered generally positive reviews from critics. Jeffrey Haney of the Deseret News described the show as "funky and flashy". A reporter from USA Today called Spears' performance "assured and energetic". Jim Farber of the New York Daily News pointed out that Spears seemed to have two personas during the show, one when singing songs from her album and a more edgy look when singing the covers. He also added that "Spears' nods to edginess no doubt reflects her desire to grow into a more mature career". Jane Ganahl of the San Francisco Chronicle said that "she may be somewhat entertaining, but she's also just another prefab act – longer on packaging than actual talent".
Broadcasts and recordings In August 1999, the concert in Orlando, Florida was filmed for the Disney Channel in Concert series which Spears was also joined by New Kids on the Block member Joey McIntyre (who was embarking on his solo career). The concert entitled Britney Spears and Joey McIntyre in Concert aired on October 16, 1999. In the special, Spears performed seven songs in front of the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith attraction at the Disney Hollywood Studios. It also featured Spears visiting her former routes working at the park during her years of The Mickey Mouse Club and shopping at Downtown Disney with her dancers.
Opening acts
C-Note (select venues) Steps (select venues) Boyz N Girlz United (select venues) P.Y.T. (select venues) Michael Fredo (select venues) 3rd Storee (select venues) Divine (select venues) Sky (select venues) Joey McIntyre (Orlando)
Setlist The following setlist was obtained from the concert held on July 29, 1999, at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland, California. It does not represent all concerts for the duration of the tour. "(You Drive Me) Crazy" "Soda Pop" "Born to Make You Happy" "From the Bottom of My Broken Heart" "Material Girl" / "Black Cat" / "Nasty" "The Beat Goes On" "I Will Be There" "Open Arms" "Sometimes" Encore "...Baby One More Time"
Tour dates DateCityCountryVenueJune 28, 1999 Pompano BeachUnited StatesPompano Beach AmphitheatreJune 29, 1999 TampaUSF Sun DomeJuly 1, 1999AtlantaAtlanta Civic CenterJuly 2, 1999 North Myrtle BeachHouse of BluesJuly 3, 1999 DoswellParamount TheatreJuly 4, 1999 BethelMax Yasgur's FarmJuly 5, 1999July 6, 1999Washington, D.C.DAR Constitution HallJuly 7, 1999New York CityHammerstein BallroomJuly 8, 1999HersheyStar PavilionJuly 9, 1999ScrantonMontage Mountain Performing Arts CenterJuly 10, 1999DarienDarien Lake Performing Arts CenterJuly 11, 1999SchenectadyProctor's TheatreJuly 13, 1999HamiltonCanadaCopps ColiseumJuly 14, 1999TorontoMolson AmphitheatreJuly 16, 1999MontrealMolson CentreJuly 17, 1999OttawaCorel CentreJuly 20, 1999WinnipegCentennial Concert HallJuly 21, 1999SaskatoonSaskatchewan PlaceJuly 22, 1999EdmontonSkyreach CentreJuly 23, 1999CalgaryCanadian Airlines SaddledomeJuly 25, 1999VancouverGeneral Motors PlaceJuly 26, 1999SeattleUnited StatesKeyArenaJuly 27, 1999 HillsboroDeMar Batchelor AmphitheaterJuly 29, 1999 OaklandParamount TheatreJuly 30, 1999 Paso RoblesCMS Grandstand ArenaJuly 31, 1999Los AngelesUniversal AmphitheatreAugust 3, 1999 BrightonBromley Companies StageAugust 4, 1999DenverParamount TheatreAugust 6, 1999 ArlingtonAT&T Music Mill AmphitheaterAugust 7, 1999HoustonAerial TheaterAugust 8, 1999New OrleansLakefront ArenaAugust 9, 1999Chula VistaNorth Island Credit Union AmphitheatreAugust 10, 1999 MemphisMud Island AmphitheaterAugust 11, 1999 NashvilleGrand Ole Opry HouseAugust 13, 1999 EurekaOld Glory AmphitheaterAugust 14, 1999 OmahaAk-Sar-Ben ArenaAugust 15, 1999 Sioux FallsW.H. Lyon Fairgrounds GrandstandAugust 17, 1999 RosemontRosemont TheatreAugust 18, 1999 ColumbusVeterans Memorial AuditoriumAugust 19, 1999 FairleaState Fair Event CenterAugust 20, 1999 AdrianLenawee County Event Grounds BandshellAugust 21, 1999 OrlandoHard Rock Live August 25, 1999IndianapolisMurat TheatreAugust 26, 1999ClevelandNautica StageAugust 27, 1999MasonTimberwolf AmphitheatreAugust 29, 1999Upper DarbyTower TheaterAugust 30, 1999EssexCoca-Cola GrandstandSeptember 1, 1999BostonFleetBoston PavilionSeptember 2, 1999GeddesMohegan Sun GrandstandSeptember 3, 1999WallingfordSNET Oakdale TheatreSeptember 4, 1999BaltimorePier 6 PavilionSeptember 5, 1999 AllentownAllentown Fairgrounds GrandstandSeptember 10, 1999Salt Lake CityUtah State Fair GrandstandSeptember 11, 1999 HutchinsonKSF GrandstandSeptember 12, 1999 DetroitState TheatreSeptember 14, 1999 AlleganACC GrandstandSeptember 15, 1999 YorkGrandstand at the York Fair
Cancelled dates DateCityCountryVenueJuly 13, 1999Quebec CityCanadaAugust 1, 1999Las VegasUnited StatesHouse of Blues
Selected box office data VenueCityTickets sold / available Gross revenue* Hershey, Darien: Canada: Geddes:Star PavilionHershey7,628 / 7,628 (100%)$183,925Darien Lake Performing Arts CenterDarien8,804 / 10,000 (88%)$176,293Corel CentreOttawa9,202 / 9,202 (100%)$177,853Saskatchewan PlaceSaskatoon8,719 / 8,719 (100%)$166,407Skyreach CentreEdmonton9,263 / 9,263 (100%)$176,529Canadian Airlines SaddledomeCalgary10,620 / 10,620 (100%)$201,766General Motors PlaceVancouver10,804 / 10,804 (100%)$195,624Mohegan Sun GrandstandGeddes17,059 / 17,059 (100%)$439,401Total82,099 / 83,295 (98%)$1,717,798
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