T.O.'s BIG ON BRITNEY

TEEN BEAT pulses STRONG IN city as pop music princess Spears appears

  A downpour didn't dampen the spirits of hundreds of fans who gathered to catch a glimpse of pop star Britney Spears yesterday.

Spears was in Toronto for a quick radio interview to promote her CD Oops! ... I Did It Again and a largely teenage crowd hung on her every word.

Phyllis Dordie, 14, saw the event as a milestone.

"It's pouring out and I'm supposed to be in school, but this is the most important thing in my life besides my graduation," Dordie said. Although Spears remained dry under the stage tent, she identified with being a fan, listing her childhood favourites as Michael Jackson and Madonna.

Krystyn Johnson, 8, dragged her mom in from St. Catharines to see the face of the next generation.

"I like her hair, her music," Johnson said.

Surprisingly, bed-head is not a problem for the 19-year-old Spears, who said she needs 12 hours of sleep to function.

Spears failed to address romance rumours circulating about her involvement with a member of boy band NSYNC.

"I'm not liking her too much ... with the rumours going around about her and (NSYNC's) Justin (Timberlake)," said Michelle Siple, 16, who believes Britney moved in on her territory.

Fans screamed and flailed as they flooded the stage where the bubbly Spears held court. "She's really cool and she can actually sing," said teen Amber Downing. But, the biggest fan might have been at work, lamented 15-year-old Catrina Handley.

"My dad wants to date her," she said of her 43-year-old father, who can be caught in traffic humming Spears' catchy hits.

Music took a back seat to Britney's other assets for Mike Jones, 24, on vacation from Wales, who came to see "her body."

Spears returns to Toronto Aug. 22 at the Molson Amphitheatre.

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