Tag Archives: Christina Aguilera

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The 10 Best Christina Aguilera Tracks

The day has come — after much anticipation, Christina Aguilera‘s eight album Liberation is finally here. In honor of such a momentous occasion, we look back on the greatest songs from the screaming songstress’ extensive catalog. Happy Pride and welcome back Xtina!

 

10. Elastic Love

Written by M.I.A, this gem wasn’t even officially released as a single off Xtina’s polarizing Bionic, yet it stands among her most striking work. The fuzzy and minimal electronic production basically salvages an otherwise static album. While the sexually charged office supply puns make up for a lack of utilizing her tremendous vocal range, this song ultimately gives us a glimpse of what the Bionic era could have been.

 

9. Fall in Line (feat. Demi Lovato)

Never one to shy away from messages of female empowerment, this song off Liberation is right on brand. And while this number feat. Demi Lovato might not be as danceable as her other feminist duet with Lil Kim, ‘Can’t Hold Us Down‘ (which has aged kinda poorly thanks to the video which is now taught as a prime example of cultural appropriation), a towering screaming harmony at the end is enough to convince me that Xtina means business.

 

8. Hurt

Xtina is a classic vocalist — after all, it was she who was asked to perform ‘At Last’ at Etta James’ funeral back in 2012 — and it truly shines in ballads like ‘Hurt.’ A highlight of her short-lived but never forgotten jazz era, the string-filled ballad has her mourning the loss of a lover the only way she knows how: belting her motherfucking heart out.

 

7. Come on Over

I can’t go anywhere in Hell’s Kitchen without hearing this song and I am not complaining. Built around a playful Grease-Tell-Me-More like bassline, this bubblegum bop off her debut album perfectly encapsulates everything we loved about the pre-Y2k pop and accompanying visual aesthetic. And 20 years later it still slaps.

 

6. Bound to You

I have a complicated relationship with Burlesque on one hand, give me Stanley Tucci as an affirming gay man any day of the week. But to cast Cher in a burlesque-themed musical and limit her to only two numbers is, at best, criminal. And to feature two of the most thunderous voices in pop music and deny the world a duet is absolutely unforgivable. Nevertheless, this song helps make up for that lapse in judgment — it was even nominated for a Golden Globe! And the final chorus has her voice soaring to new peaks so intense I get vertigo. It’s brilliant.

 

5. Dirrty

The leather chaps. The dyed blonde-black extensions. The oddly large facial piercings. This video marked the birth of ‘Xtina’ as we know her, as the lead single of her third album and magnus opus, 2002’s Stripped. Accompanied by a controversial, mud-filled music video directed by David LaChappelle, ‘Dirrty’ remains a staple party anthem while demonstrating the vocal flexibility and knack for reinvention that made her a star.

 

4. Fighter

The video looks straight out of a European fashion editorial.

 

3. Ain’t No Other Man

What makes this song so amazing is that it perfectly marries Xtina’s strengths classic jazz sensibilities wrapped in a bubbly pop package. And that opening run has her dancing through vocal gymnastics before the song even starts — a vocal run that many have tried to cover but few succeeded. Further cementing its status in pop culture, it was featured in the first Lip Sync on season 10 of Rupaul’s Drag Race, when she was a guest judge. 

 

2. Genie in a Bottle

This is the first Xtina song I ever heard and I instantly fell in love with and it also follows me from gay bar to gay bar and I’m still not complaining and that’s all I have to say about that.

 

1. Beautiful

Not only has this become Xtina’s signature song, but it remains one of the greatest pop songs ever written. While there’s a timelessness in the production and a universality in its theme of empowerment, the accompanying music video was groundbreaking upon its release. By featuring a transwoman and two gay guys kissing, the video was heralded in 2002 for its portrayal of queer people, which validated their existence and proclaimed them as beautiful. Plus she just sounds amazing. Forever we stan.

 

Listen to Liberation now.

ragbone

Love it: EH Best of the Week #9

Say good-bye to the heat wave, make yourself a Mule and listen to that new song everyone has been talking about.

ACCESSORIZE: Rag & Bone NOMAD frames, $395

rag&bone
Photo: Courtesy of Rag & Bone.

The new leather-wrapped “Made in Italy” special edition capsule features aviator inspired vintage sunnies. Available in 4 colors, the triple bridge and iconic dagger-shaped temples are made of metal giving them an authentic looks as if teleported from the 70’s. Groovy~

DRINK: Mexican Mule

cocktail

Who doesn’t love an easy cocktail recipe? DeLeón tequila has the perfect one for this weekend. Grab a bottle and you’re all set. You’re welcome!

  • 1.5oz DeLeón Platinum
  • .75 Lime Juice
  • .25 Simple Syrup
  • Top of with Ginger Beer
  • Lime Garnish

SMELL: Tocca’s new Tuscany collection

tocca
Photo: Courtesy of Tocca.

Tomato vines, wild primrose and the sun-drenched, rolling Tuscan hills… Sounds like the ideal summer escape. But while that’s less likely, the new Tocca home fragrance collection consisting of  a diffuser ($35), a candle ($42), a hand soap ($20), and a hand lotion ($22) is a cocktail of all Tuscan scents and will transport you back to the good old Italia — to really drive the concept home, light the candle while streaming Call Me By Your Name.

LISTEN: Accelerate – Christina Aguilera, Ty Dolla $ign, 2 Chainz

Pop legend and Queen of Screaming Christina Aguilera is back and we are LIVING! After announcing her long-awaited eighth studio album, Liberation (out June 15th), Xtina released her comeback single Accelerate. Produced by a pre-Trump-endorsing Kanye West and featuring guest appearances from 2 Chainz and Ty Dolla $ign, the single is a kinetic bop that unfortunately doesn’t fully utilize Xtina’s pipes. I miss the screaming, but I’m sure that she’ll deliver with future releases leading up to the album drop. Until then we’ll make do with this — it’s Xtina, after all.

HAIR: Seed Phytonutrients Hair Collection

seed
Photo: Courtesy of Seed Phytonutrients.

Seed is an all American brand aimed at making the surrounding world a cleaner environment and your grooming routine a safer one as well. Start preparing your hair for the summer now with Seed’s shampoo and conditioner. The products use sunflower seed oil, camelina seed oil, coconut, shea butter, and turmeric to nourish hair and keep it healthy and strong. Plus, the bottles are made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper with a post-consumer recycled liner.

The Blonds - Front Row - MADE Fashion Week Fall 2014

You Might Not be Pregnant But Lil’ Kim Is

The Blonds - Front Row - MADE Fashion Week Fall 2014

This is not a test. No drill, no fantasy, nor fiction: La Bella Mafia herself, Kimberly Jones (AKA Lil’ Kim), is pregnant. With a baby. That she’ll be carrying. And then delivering. And then raising. Last night, she turned heads—standard practice for a Kim appearance—not just by gracing The Blonds A/W 2014 fashion show at Milk Studios, but with a little something extra she brought with her: baby on board!

The Blonds - Backstage - MADE Fashion Week Fall 2014

“I’m a mom, but I can turn it up a little!” the singer/rapper/supporting character in She’s All That told US Weekly. “I’m still going to work. I’m still going to be hardcore. The baby has made me even more of a beast!” Afterward, the beast performed Lighters Up for the show’s after-party at The Gilded Lily. It could be producer Scott Storch’s child (#TBT: Christina Aguilera’s 2006’s jam F.U.S.S. (Fuck You Scott Storch)). Could be Ray J’s. Could be Floyd Mayweather’s. It could be anybody’s.

STAY TUNED.

Images courtesy of Instagram and Global Grind.