By Madeline Kerins

When hearing the name Britney Spears, several keywords usually come to mind: Vegas wedding, hair extensions, kissing Madonna, Cheetos. But as the original princess of bubblegum pop becomes a mom and graces the cover of every magazine from Us Weekly to Allure, people are starting to forget what Mrs. Federline was first known for- irritatingly addictive pop ditties. It’s probably impossible to find someone who doesn’t know all the words to at least one Spears song-most people probably know about five.

While her Greatest Hits: My Prerogative encompasses every radio-friendly gem she’s released, her 2001 release, aptly titled Britney, is quite possibly the best example of Britney Spears’ pop reign.

Placed in the middle of her career, Britney was the first real glimpse of Spears as a sex symbol. Though she subtly hinted at the idea (think mini-skirts and red leather cat suits), the Spears that released …Baby One More Time and Oops! I Did It Again still swore to her innocence and her virginity.

Britney broke her out of that shell. Judging by the title of the album’s opener, “I’m A Slave 4 U,” and the steamy, sexually charged music video that accompanied the song, it was clear to everyone that Spears was a Mouseketeer no longer.

As with all of her discs, Britney was not a one-hit endeavor. Following the success of her writhing on-stage at the MTV awards with a boa constrictor, she then released “I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman.” Though its serious tone and slightly paradoxical title made some question if Spears had gone off the deep end, she hadn’t. At least not yet, anyway.

As if that wasn’t enough, Spears also debuted as an actress, albeit in a mediocre way, in the chick flick Crossroads. And even though the movie turned out to be a flop, the two songs accompanying it, “Overprotected” and a cover of “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll,” were instantaneous hits.

Rounding out the five hits of the album is “Boys.” This female sexual anthem got play from being featured in the 2002 Austin Powers flick Goldmember.

Now that she is a mom-to-be, it seems ratty extensions and blousy dresses have replaced platinum blonde locks and crystalline bodysuits. But hey-at least we’ll always have Crossroads and Britney to remind us of the good ol’ days.