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In the two years from the day that
she burst onto the world musical landscape,
Christina Aguilera has scored four #1 smash hit
singles, watched sales of her chart-topping RCA
debut album surpass the 12 million mark worldwide
(23 million CDs and singles total sold to date),
headlined the Super Bowl Half-Time Show, performed
for the President, and to top it all off, took home
two Grammys including one for Best New Artist,
headlined a mammoth 2000 international tour,
released a Spanish language album, and a holiday
album of seasonal favorites. Christina Aguilera
continues to provide evidence that she is the
premier musical voice of her generation.
Christina first began performing at age six in
school talent shows and became known as the 'little
girl with a big voice.' At age eight, she appeared
on the nationally syndicated 'Star Search,' using
her runner-up winnings to buy a portable sound
system so she could sing in the park. By the time
she was 10, Christina was singing the National
Anthem for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Penguins. And
then, at twelve, she joined the ensemble cast of 'The
New Mickey Mouse Club,' appearing on the Orlando-based
show along with future stars Britney Spears, J.C.
and Justin of 'N Sync, and Keri Russell of 'Felicity.'
After two years, the show ended and Christina got
the opportunity to travel overseas to further hone
her musical skills. In 1997, Christina performed in
places as far flung as Tokyo, Japan (where she
released a single with Keizo Nakanishi called 'All I
Wanna Do') and Brasov, Romania, but always with her
eye on the same goal. 'I always wanted to have my
own album recorded and released before I graduated
high sc
hool,' says Christina. She certainly took quick
strides toward that goal.
In early 1998, after finishing some demos and
shopping for a record deal, Christina auditioned to
sing 'Reflection' for Disney's animated film 'Mulan.'
The filmmakers needed someone 'who could hit a high
E above middle C,' according to Christina, who then
cut a one-take demo in her living room singing to a
karaoke tape of Whitney Houston's 'I Wanna Run To
You.' The demo was rushed to Disney, and within a
day, Christina was in a Los Angeles studio recording
'Reflection.' That same week, RCA Records signed her
to a record contract. 'Mulan' premiered in June
1998, and 'Reflection' turned into a Top 15 A/C
single, with Christina performing it live on 'CBS
This Morning' and the 'Donnie & Marie Show.' 'Working
on the 'Mulan' project was so unbelievable,'
Christina said in June 1998. 'I seriously thought I
wouldn't get the job because the song was so
difficult. It's so cool to hear your voice in a
theater.' The single went on to garner a Golden
Globe Nomination for Best Original Song in a Motion
Picture and Christin
a the attention of some of the best writers and
producers in the industry.
On her self-titled debut album for RCA, those
writers and producers helped Christina showcase her
special talents. 'I was thrilled to work with so
many great writers and producers on my album," says
Christina. 'What A Girl Wants' was produced by Guy
Roche (Brandy, Cher, Dru Hill, Aaliyah, K-Ci & Jo Jo),
'Genie In A Bottle' was produced by ex-System member
David Frank and Steve Kipner, and 'Blessed' was
penned and produced by Travon Potts (co-writer of
Monica's chart topping 'Angel of Mine'). Meanwhile,
Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers ('N Sync, Boyzone,
Brand New Heavies) contributed a pair of tracks, the
soul-flavored 'Love For All Seasons' and the rousing
'Love Will Find A Way.' Christina is particularly
proud of the album's ballads, such as the Matthew
Wilder-produced 'Reflection,' and 'Obvious' written
by newcomer Heather Holly, and of course, master
tunesmith Diane Warren's smash 'I Turn To You.'
Christina Aguilera's breakthrough year in '99 began
with her first #1 single 'Genie In A Bottle,' which
stayed atop the charts for five consecutive weeks
and rocketed the album to #1 upon its release in
August 1999. The follow-up single 'What A Girl Wants'
reached the coveted first Billboard Hot 100 #1 slot
of 2000 (the first #1 hit of the new millenium) and
helped to push the album into platinum territory
many times over ('Come On Over Baby' became the
third #1 from the album later in 2000).
Among other honors, along with stars like Jodie
Foster and Aretha Franklin, Christina was named one
of the most fascinating women of 1999 on the 'Ladies
Home Journal' CBS-TV special earlier this year.
Christina also won 1999's Best New Artist at this
year's ALMA Awards, the annual event honoring the
best in entertainment from the Hispanic-American
community. She graced the covers of many national
magazines, including Entertainment Weekly, Teen
People and Latina and performed as a musical guest
on 'Saturday Night Live,' 'The Tonight Show with Jay
Leno,' 'The Rosie O'Donnell Show,' and was the only
female guest performer on VHI's 'Men Strike Back.'
She also performed on other TV specials such as 'The
Essence Awards,' 'Disney Summer Jams,' and 'People
Magazines's 25 Hottest Stars Under 25.'
Other highlights for Christina over 1999 included a
duet with blues legend BB King and a solo
performance of 'The Christmas Song' for President
Clinton on TNT's 'Christmas at the White House' TV
special. This led to the President asking Christina
to sing the first song on his televised Millenium
special from Washington. Christina had to decline
due to a prior commitment to perform from Times
Square in New York on MTV's New Year's Eve
broadcast.Christina's amazing new year of 2000 began
with a great duet performance with Enrique Iglesias
at the Super Bowl Half Time Show which also featured
Phil Collins and Toni Braxton.
What made all her commercial success so much sweeter,
were Christina's two Grammy nominations for Best New
Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal performance. In
February 2000, Christina's incredible ride to the
top reached new heights as Sheryl Crow, Melissa
Etheridge and Sara McLaughlan announced that the
Grammy for Best New Artist goes to - Christina
Aguilera! 'It was an incredible shock for me,'
Christina recalls of that amazing night. 'I was
completely unprepared. My album had been out the
least amount of time compared to everyone else, so I
thought there was no way I'd win. But I was
overwhelmed, shocked and overjoyed all at the same
time.'
As for her national summer 2000 tour, co-sponsored
by Sears and Levi's, Christina was equally
enthusiastic. 'It was exciting to take my full band
and my dancers out on the road,' she says, 'and
giving the show an edgy, theatrical vibe. I was in
on all the creative aspects of planning the show, of
covering new ground, doing more blues, soul, and
some spectacular choreography.'
Christina recorded a Spanish language album 'Mi
Reflejo' released in fall 2000 and a seasonal album
ready in time for the holidays. Said Christina, 'I've
always been proud of my Ecuadoran heritage.
Recording a Spanish album and working with a great
producer like Rudy Perez, gave me a chance to
explore my Latin side.' As for the Christmas album,
Christina was excited about performing with a 70-piece
orchestra and the opportunity to record both new and
traditional holiday tracks. 'I did a duet with Dr.
John on 'Merry Christmas Baby,' she notes, 'and
several new pop Christmas songs with a real R&B edge.'
In March 2001, Christina collaborated with Ricky
Martin on 'Nobody Wants To Be Lonely' that peaked at
number 11 on Billboard charts, and became a
worldwide international hit.
Christina also proved that she can work with other
divas, as she did in the remake of 'Lady Marmalade,'
from the 'Moulin Rouge' soundtrack which spent five
weeks at #1. Teamed with Pink, Mya and Lil' Kim,
their video took home the 2001 MTV Video Award for
'Best Video of the Year' (among many awards the
record received). She also appeared on the All-Star
Tribute remake of Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On?,'
with a star-studded cast including Bono and Nelly
Furtado. She capped off an amazing 2001 by winning
her second Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Album
for 'Mi Reflejo.'
Billboard Magazine recently wrote about her great
prospects for a long future:
'Christina Aguilera's much anticipated sophomore
album is likely to be a hit with the critics and
crowds alike. Boasting an edgier sound and self-written
lyrics, this CD should end comparisons between
Aguilera and bubblegum queen Britney Spears.
It's been two years since the release of Aguilera's
self-titled debut disc - which was home to #1 hits
like 'Genie In A Bottle,' 'What A Girl Wants' and
'Come On Over Baby.' This former Mousketeer has
risen to a Grammy-winning, multi-platinum pop
powerhouse.
In the time since her entrance into the music world,
Aguilera has proven successful in both the English
and Latin fields. Aguilera has worked with some of
the biggest names in the industry including BB King,
Brian McKnight, Sting, Ricky Martin and most
recently Pink, Mya and Lil Kim on their #1 smash
'Lady Marmalade.' Not bad for a 20-year old.
The outlook is very good for her newest record. She
has expanded her horizons musically and gained new
and excited fans. There's nowhere for this young and
talented beauty to go except up.'
With fans ranging beyond the teen market, Christina
has shown that this 'Genie in a Bottle' has been
released - and is soaring.
'This (new) record is extremely personal,' Christina
recently told Time magazine. 'It's so personal that
I feel like people from my past will say 'Oh my God,
she's singing this to me.' I have a lot of things to
say and a lot of things to let out of me. I feel
like I was very confined in that first record to be
very pop-driven. I want to be a poet and have a
chance to explore that and let people know what's
really on my mind.'
Over all, Christina Aguilera is as overwhelmed as
she is thrilled by her enormous success, but she
remains reflective and grateful. 'It's been quite a
roller-coaster ride,' she laughs, 'But I think I've
grown and learned a lot about myself. In this
business, it's often all about hype, record sales,
and a crazy schedule of traveling, performances, and
it can be easy to get lost in all that. But for me,
the greatest thing is being able to interact with
fans and touch peoples' lives. I know that's a
greater accomplishment than selling records. For
that I give thanks. I simply love the job I'm doing.'. |
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