Let's face it: in the early 2000's the MTV Video Music Awards was basically a show thrown in Britney Spears's honor. Britney has been at (in some capacity) 10 VMAs in the last 13 years, and performed at 5 of them. It was always a guessing game about what she was gonna wear, what song she was gonna perform, and what jaw-dropping moments she would contribute to the show that year. Even at her lowest she still overshadowed the rest of the show and was the name on every person's lips for the weeks afterwards. Despite not having performed on the VMA stage since 2007, I still believe the show should just be called The Britney Spears Awards. All in favor say "I!" Since the 2013 VMAs air this Sunday, I thought I'd put together a post of all of Brit's appearances as well as my ranking of her performances. Let's get to the BSAs, shall we?

5. ...Baby One More Time (1999)
1999 was the year the Queen's reign began. She performed her debut single, recreating the schoolroom scene from the music video. While going through roll call, Britney doesn't respond when her name is called, but then she jumps out from behind the lockers and gave everyone a performance they would never forget. Of course she lip synced it, but this year it was all about the dancing. I think she actually danced more than sang. It showed that she was a force to be reckoned with executing those flawless dance moves. And this was only the beginning.

4. Satisfaction/Oops!...I Did It Again (2000)
Britney showed up the next year and concocted a performance that would shock the world. She started off in a suit singing a very sexy cover of The Rolling Stones's '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' as she walked down the stairs. Then things began to heat up as she ripped off her clothes revealing a nude bodysuit beneath it and began singing her huge single 'Oops!'. People went nuts actually thinking she was naked, and afterwards they settled in and watched her tear up the stage. I mean her on the ground pounding the floor? She was hot that night. How could she possibly top this performance?

Now let's take a moment to appreciate some of Britney's looks over the years. The first one on the left is from 2001, the same year she performed 'Slave'. She was looking hot in black lace. Next we have her 2002 dominatrix look which is what she wore when she presented Michael Jackson with a birthday cake and referred to him as the "artist of the millennium." The we have her 2008 sparkly silver dress which was her "real" VMA comeback. She won three moonmen that night. And on the right we have our current Brit at the 2011 VMAs where she was presented with the Video Vanguard award by Lady Gaga.

3. Like a Virgin/Hollywood with Madonna, Christina Aguilera and Missy Elliott (2003)
This has to be one of the most infamous performances in television history, a performance which gave us a moment that has become a part of our everyday pop culture talk. But we'll get to that in a second. Recreating her 'Like a Virgin' performance from the inaugural VMAs, Madonna once again opened the 2003 incarnation of the show. But this time she brought some help along with her. Britney popped out of the top of the giant wedding cake on stage and proceeded to sing Madonna's iconic song before Christina joined her. Then Madonna rose out of the cake in groom's garb and did some sexy dancing with the two pop singers. And then it happened: Britney and Madonna leaned in and kissed as Christina awkwardly looked on from the side (a foreshadowing of what the rest of her career would be like). This kiss was the biggest news story the next day, and it is referenced every day in the world of pop culture. This is also the moment when pop culture gurus say that Madonna passed the torch on to Brit and solidified her position as the Pop Princess.

2. Gimme More (2007)
I know what you must be thinking, "How could Brit's most disastrous and embarrassing performance be at #2?!" Bear with me and hear me out. This was the performance everyone was talking about before, during and after the show. Everyone on the red carpet was asked who they were most looking forward to seeing and they all said Britney, even 50 Cent! This was heralded as her comeback performance after her disastrous year. I was glued to my TV. This was the return of my pop goddess! And she was singing the song that I still to this day regard as her best song and one of the best songs of all time. She stepped on the stage and it all went to hell: she looked out of it (she was actually drunk), her choreography and lip syncing was sloppy, her heel broke causing her to wobble, and she wore the worst wig of her career and her body was not in shape enough to wear that outfit. But through it all, I was enamored. She had a couple of awesome moves, and the entire crowd was in awe. It's a performance that has gone down in history and will never be forgotten. When I'm bored I'll just go straight to this performance and watch it; I still get chills seeing it. I think it's the rise and fall of the celebrity and the whole dark power of fame that makes this such a special performance for me. Brit wouldn't be where she is today without this performance. It's iconic.

The first look on the left is from Britney's very first VMAs in 1999. Then it's the 2000 look which was when her and Christina were at the height of their "feud" and presented an award together. Finally, we have Brit's 2006 pregnant mommy look. Even though it was just a pre-taped video, she still looked gorgeous all plump with a bun in the oven.

1. I'm a Slave 4 U (2001)