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6 Degrees Entertainment

Title - 'Christina Aguilera: 20th Ann.' (Picture Disc)
Artist - Christina Aguilera

Legacy Recordings celebrates the 20th Anniversary of Christina Aguilera's self-titled debut album Christina Aguilera with some rather special releases!

The Christina Aguilera: 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Digital album is available now through DSPs.

The Digital album features the original album's songs along with rare versions, remixes and a cappella tracks that were previously unavailable for streaming.

There are also 1,000 Limited Edition Collector's Bundles with Christina's Autograph still available on Christina's D2C (Direct-To-Consumer) Store.

These include a special Collector's Edition 20th Anniversary Christina Aguilera bundle which features a Picture Disc Vinyl edition of the album (which we are luckily reviewing here today) which comes with an AUTOGRAPHED and numbered Certificate of Authenticity, a collectible Christina Aguilera cassette, the Christina Aguilera: Deluxe Edition Digital Download, and a selection of 20th Anniversary retro-themed merch!

Click Here For Christina Aguilera’s D2C Store

Oh, and if all that wasn't enough there is also an EXCLUSIVE Christina Aguilera: 20th Anniversary Colored Limited Edition LP (pressed on "Genie Fiery Orange Vinyl"!) ONLY being sold at Urban Outfitters!

That's right, boys and girls, Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, invites music fans to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Christina Aguilera, the self-titled debut album that launched the superstar’s career, with a range of special commemorative releases that broke online August 23rd, 2019.

Christina herself announced the news on August 13th, 2019, tweeting: "This month marks 20 years since my debut album, Christina Aguilera, was released!"

"In its honor, I’m releasing xxtra special versions digitally at my store … and more surprises to come!"

She also urged fans to share their memories of the record using the #XXtina hashtag.

Christina Aguilera debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 in 1999, went eight times platinum and earned the singer her first Grammy for best new artist.

The album birthed classic singles like 'Genie in a Bottle,' 'What a Girl Wants,' 'I Turn to You' and 'Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You).'

For a 20 year-old teen pop record, Christina's debut has aged pretty well. Some cheesy spots here and there, but surprisingly mature in places and catchy as ever.

Watching the picture disc go round and round on the turntable, I quickly recalled how she was so fresh on the scene, so spunky, so willing to take on the other girl singers of the day.

Blessed with Whitney's power, Mariah's airy high notes, and a wide range all of her own, "The little girl with the big voice" quickly blew fellow poppers Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, and Mandy Moore out of the water! 'Genie In A Bottle' was an obvious choice for a summer single with it's breezy synth and laidback approach. The lyrics are sexy, but tasteful.

'What A Girl Wants' is also very catchy and one where you simply cannot get the chorus out of your head for days afterward! The saucy 'Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)' gives Christina a chance to throw down and go crazy with the runs and melisma, but not in an annoyingly, over the top fashion.

The lyrics are racier with Christina teasingly persuading her man to get it on with her, but nothing too explicit and I also love the spoken bit: "Don't ya wanna be the one tonight?/We can do exactly what you like/Don't ya wanna be just you and me?/We can do what comes naturally/I got a thing for you/Got my mind made up/And I'm serious/Never been more, baby/Don't show it but its real/And it's right here!"

The Mulan single 'Reflection' is a soaring self-esteem anthem and 'I Turn To You' is a sentimental power ballad penned by Diane Warren. Both are pretty schmaltzy, but Christina kills them with her chops and that makes them less syrupy.

The sensual 'So Emotional' is R&B with a taste of jazz track about a guy who makes Christina feel like she's on an emotional rollercoaster: "You take me high or low, you know/I'm never sure which way you're gonna go/You're such a mystery to me/But baby, hot or cold, you got a hold/Of my imagination/I think you know what I mean."

The fluid 'Love For All Seasons' is addictive with lyrics promising to be the "Rain in your Summer" and "The chill in your Fall", "The fire in your Winter" and "The sun in your Spring" to a guy she's crushing on.

'Somebody's Somebody' isn't a song that I would purposely seek out, but I'll listen to it when it comes on (and just did). Neither the production or the lyrics are that interesting, but Christina's voice makes it palatable.

'When You Put Your Hands on Me' is pretty, but nothing more than a filler. Not the best I've heard from her, but far from the worst either! The "talk box" is unnecessary and borderline annoying though, in truth.

'Love Will Find a Way' is too Radio Disney for my taste, but 'Blessed' is a well sung ballad that could be dedicated to God or loved ones or both: "I know I'm truly... Blessed for everything you've given me/Blessed for all the tenderness you show/Do my best with every breath that's in me/Blessed to make sure you never go."

To my mind though, Christina's shining performance comes in the form of the closer 'Obvious' - "Can you hear it in my voice?/Was it something I let slip?/Does the whole world know?/Isn't it obvious?/I'm the one who's in control/Now I'm acting like a fool/Do my feelings show?/Is my face aglow?/Isn't it obvious?/That I don't know what I'm doing anymore?/I'm feeling like a little girl/Caught up in emotions/I'm out of control/Isn't it obvious?"

Her voice carries so much confusion and sorrow that it also previews the aura around her next record, the harder-edged Stripped.

In closing, the best thing about her debut is Christina's vocals are restrained. She still hits her fair share of notes and belts and runs, but it's pleasing to the ear.

Like the old adage says, less is more. Stripped, for my money, let everybody know Christina was here to stay, but she wasn't too shabby on the record that put her foot in the door either!

Throughout her career, Christina has won six GRAMMY Awards and sold more than 43 million records worldwide. She has achieved five No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart making her the fourth female artist to top the chart over three consecutive decades (1990s, 2000s, and 2010s).

She has received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and holds the prestigious honor of being the only artist under the age of 30 included in Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of the 100 greatest singers of all time.

In 2011 she entered the world of television as a coach on NBC’s Emmy Award nominated show The Voice.

Aguilera has served as global spokesperson for Yum! Brands’ World Hunger Relief effort since 2009 and has helped raise over $150 million for the World Food Program and other hunger relief agencies.

In May 2019 she began her residency, The Xperience, at the Zappos Theatre at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas and is also touring Europe on The X Tour throughout 2019.

Click Here To Purchase the Picture Disc Vinyl Album

Click Here For Christina Aguilera’s D2C Store

www.ChristinaAguilera.com

www.LegacyRecordings.com





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