Christina María Aguilera (born December 18, 1980) is an American
recording artist and actress.
[1] Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the
Star Search program, and went on to star in
Disney Channel's television series
The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994. Aguilera signed to RCA Records after recording "
Reflection",
[2] the theme song for the animated film
Mulan (1998).
In 1999, Aguilera came to prominence following her debut album
Christina Aguilera, which was a commercial success spawning three number one singles on the
Billboard Hot 100—"
Genie in a Bottle", "
What a Girl Wants", and "
Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)."
[3] Her sophomore and her debut Latin-pop album,
Mi Reflejo (2000), a
Christmas third studio album,
My Kind of Christmas (2000), and several collaborations followed which garnered Aguilera worldwide success, though she was displeased with her lack of input in her music and image.
[4] After parting from her management, Aguilera took creative control over her fourth studio album,
Stripped (2002).
[5] The album's second single, "
Beautiful," was a commercial success and helped the album's commercial performance amidst controversy over Aguilera's image.
[6][7][8] Aguilera followed up
Stripped with the soul, jazz and blues inspired,
Back to Basics (2006), released to positive critical acclaim.
[9] Four years later Christina released her sixth studio album,
Bionic (2010), which incorporated aspects of R&B, electropop, and synthpop, and was met with mixed reviews and poor sales.
[10][11][12][13]
Life and career
1980–1998: Early life and career beginnings
Aguilera was born in Staten Island, New York, to Fausto Wagner Xavier Aguilera, a sergeant in the US Army at the time, and Shelly Loraine (née Fidler), a Spanish teacher. Aguilera's father was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador[22] and her mother is of German, Irish, Welsh, and Dutch ancestry.[23] Her father was stationed at Earnest Harmon Air Force Base in Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador and Japan. Aguilera lived with both her father and mother, up until their divorce when she was seven years old. Aguilera then lived with her mother, and her younger sister Rachel, at her grandmother's home in Rochester, Pennsylvania, a town outside Pittsburgh. According to both Aguilera and her mother, her father was very controlling, as well as physically and emotionally abusive. In an interview with Rolling Stone Aguilera revealed, "there was so much domestic violence going on when I grew up with my dad travelling in the military. I think the reason that my drive was so strong and I was so passionate about music was because I grew up in an environment of domestic violence."[24] She later sang about her difficult childhood in the songs "I'm OK" on Stripped, and "Oh Mother" on Back to Basics. Even though he has made several attempts to reconnect with her, Aguilera ruled out any chance of a reunion.[25] Since then, her mother has married a paramedic named Jim Kearns, and has changed her name.[26]
1999–2001: Christina Aguilera, Mi Reflejo and new management
2002–05: New image, Stripped and marriage
2006–09: Back to Basics, motherhood and greatest hits album
2010–present: Bionic, Burlesque and The Voice
Artistry
Vocal ability
Aguilera has been referred to as the "voice of her generation" and a blue eyed soul singer.[137][138] Aguilera also topped COVE's list of the 100 Best Pop Vocalists with a score of 50/50[139] and came fifth in MTV's 22 Greatest Voices in Music.[140] Her rendition of "It's A Man's Man's Man's World" at the 49th Grammy Awards ranked third in the Grammy's Greatest Moments List behind Celine Dion's performance of "My Heart Will Go On" and Green Day's performance of "American Idiot". In an interview, Dion described Aguilera as "probably the best vocalist in the world."[141] Rolling Stone ranked Aguilera at 58 on their list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time, the youngest singer on the list.[16]
Themes and musical style
The constant theme in Aguilera's music and lyrics is love, although she has written on other subjects including spirituality, female empowerment, and grief. Aguilera has also written about her childhood in two of her records which dealt with domestic abuse. In an interview Aguilera admitted she feels responsible to reveal her most vulnerable feelings and to share the darker sides of her life adding "People that can relate might not feel as alone in the circumstance."[150]
Influences
One of Aguilera's major influences and idol is blues singer Etta James, whose classic song "At Last" has been covered by Aguilera throughout her career. Aguilera says, "Etta is my all-time favorite singer. I've said it for the last seven years — since I had my first debut record out — in every interview. I mean, all of Etta's old songs, countless songs I could name, I grew up listening to."[155]
Other ventures
Filmography
Television
Discography
See also
In 1999, Aguilera came to prominence following her debut album Christina Aguilera, which was a commercial success spawning three number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100—"Genie in a Bottle", "What a Girl Wants", and "Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)."[3] Her sophomore and her debut Latin-pop album, Mi Reflejo (2000), a Christmas third studio album, My Kind of Christmas (2000), and several collaborations followed which garnered Aguilera worldwide success, though she was displeased with her lack of input in her music and image.[4] After parting from her management, Aguilera took creative control over her fourth studio album, Stripped (2002).[5] The album's second single, "Beautiful," was a commercial success and helped the album's commercial performance amidst controversy over Aguilera's image.[6][7][8] Aguilera followed up Stripped with the soul, jazz and blues inspired, Back to Basics (2006), released to positive critical acclaim.[9] Four years later Christina released her sixth studio album, Bionic (2010), which incorporated aspects of R&B, electropop, and synthpop, and was met with mixed reviews and poor sales.[10][11][12][13]
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