Vocal ability
Aguilera performing in her Back to Basics Tour in 2006.
Aguilera who is a soprano, has rivaled many of her other contemporaries and has been referred to as the "voice of her generation" and a blue eyed soul singer.[74][75] In the MTV special All Eyes on Christina, John Norris said that Aguilera "has a four-octave vocal range".[76] Aguilera also topped COVE's list of the 100 Best Pop Vocalists with a score of 50/50[77] and came fifth in MTV's 22 Greatest Voices in Music.[78] Aguilera has also been known to sing in the whistle register. A review in an Entertainment Weekly article mentions her "tackling that dog-whistle high note" at the 3:20 mark in the song "Soar" from her album Stripped.[79] Her rendition of "It's A Man's Man's Man's World" at the 49th Grammy Awards ranked 3rd 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".[80] In an interview, Dion described Aguilera as "probably the best vocalist in the world."[81] During the work on Back to Basics, DJ Premier explained, "She really represents true music and true singing. She can belt out notes. She has true lungs."[82] Rolling Stone ranked Aguilera at 58 on their list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time, the youngest singer on the list.[83]
Since her debut in 1999 Aguilera has been compared to the likes of Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston.[84] A review in the Los Angeles Times compared Aguilera's vocal stylings to Barbra Streisand, Gladys Knight, and Aretha Franklin adding, "Aguilera's Streisand-esque tendencies are a good thing; they’re helping her figure out how to become the "great singer" she's been dubbed since she released her first single, the wise-beyond-its-years "Genie in a Bottle", at 18."[85] Although praised for her vocals, Aguilera has been labeled for oversinging in her songs and concerts.[86] Longtime producer and writer, Linda Perry, commented on working on the record, "Beautiful", saying, "I tried to keep it straight. I told her to get rid of the finger waves. Every time she'd start going into "hoo-ha", I'd stop the tape. I'm like, 'You're doing it again.'" Perry ended up using the first take saying, "She had a hard time accepting that as the final track. It's not a perfect vocal -- it's very raw. She knows her voice really well, and she knows what's going on. She can hear things that nobody else would catch."[87]
Aguilera performing in her Back to Basics Tour in 2006.
Aguilera who is a soprano, has rivaled many of her other contemporaries and has been referred to as the "voice of her generation" and a blue eyed soul singer.[74][75] In the MTV special All Eyes on Christina, John Norris said that Aguilera "has a four-octave vocal range".[76] Aguilera also topped COVE's list of the 100 Best Pop Vocalists with a score of 50/50[77] and came fifth in MTV's 22 Greatest Voices in Music.[78] Aguilera has also been known to sing in the whistle register. A review in an Entertainment Weekly article mentions her "tackling that dog-whistle high note" at the 3:20 mark in the song "Soar" from her album Stripped.[79] Her rendition of "It's A Man's Man's Man's World" at the 49th Grammy Awards ranked 3rd 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".[80] In an interview, Dion described Aguilera as "probably the best vocalist in the world."[81] During the work on Back to Basics, DJ Premier explained, "She really represents true music and true singing. She can belt out notes. She has true lungs."[82] Rolling Stone ranked Aguilera at 58 on their list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time, the youngest singer on the list.[83]
Since her debut in 1999 Aguilera has been compared to the likes of Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston.[84] A review in the Los Angeles Times compared Aguilera's vocal stylings to Barbra Streisand, Gladys Knight, and Aretha Franklin adding, "Aguilera's Streisand-esque tendencies are a good thing; they’re helping her figure out how to become the "great singer" she's been dubbed since she released her first single, the wise-beyond-its-years "Genie in a Bottle", at 18."[85] Although praised for her vocals, Aguilera has been labeled for oversinging in her songs and concerts.[86] Longtime producer and writer, Linda Perry, commented on working on the record, "Beautiful", saying, "I tried to keep it straight. I told her to get rid of the finger waves. Every time she'd start going into "hoo-ha", I'd stop the tape. I'm like, 'You're doing it again.'" Perry ended up using the first take saying, "She had a hard time accepting that as the final track. It's not a perfect vocal -- it's very raw. She knows her voice really well, and she knows what's going on. She can hear things that nobody else would catch."[87]
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."[88] She has been noted to constantly changing her sound in her music and lyrical content. Originally marketed as a bubblegum pop singer during the late 90's pop scene, she quickly departed into a broad range of musical genres for her follow-up album Stripped. A review states, "Clearly afflicted with Premature Serious Artist Syndrome, Aguilera wants to demonstrate the range of her interests - vampy soul, quasi-metal, piano-bar intimacy, quiet-storm R&B, bounce-bounce hip-hop, and semi-exotic rock, all of it dutifully accomplished."[89] Although by many she is still considered a pop and contemporary R&B singer despite her range of genres. A review in Allmusic states, "no other teen-pop singer of her era has a better track record than Christina."[90] The majority of the songs are characterized by Aguilera's loud vocals, though she has used breathy and soft vocals.[91]
Aguilera has often cited that she prefers working with producers that other artists haven't approached, saying "I don't necessarily go to the main people that are the No. 1 chart-toppers in music."[92] She has however collaborated and worked with several known artists and producers in the hip-hop and R&B genre. Her 2006 release, Back to Basics included producer DJ Premier known for his work with Gang Starr. The New York Times exclaims, "Her decision to work with the low-key DJ Premier was also a decision to snub some of the big-name producers on whom pop stars often rely."[93]
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."[88] She has been noted to constantly changing her sound in her music and lyrical content. Originally marketed as a bubblegum pop singer during the late 90's pop scene, she quickly departed into a broad range of musical genres for her follow-up album Stripped. A review states, "Clearly afflicted with Premature Serious Artist Syndrome, Aguilera wants to demonstrate the range of her interests - vampy soul, quasi-metal, piano-bar intimacy, quiet-storm R&B, bounce-bounce hip-hop, and semi-exotic rock, all of it dutifully accomplished."[89] Although by many she is still considered a pop and contemporary R&B singer despite her range of genres. A review in Allmusic states, "no other teen-pop singer of her era has a better track record than Christina."[90] The majority of the songs are characterized by Aguilera's loud vocals, though she has used breathy and soft vocals.[91]
Aguilera has often cited that she prefers working with producers that other artists haven't approached, saying "I don't necessarily go to the main people that are the No. 1 chart-toppers in music."[92] She has however collaborated and worked with several known artists and producers in the hip-hop and R&B genre. Her 2006 release, Back to Basics included producer DJ Premier known for his work with Gang Starr. The New York Times exclaims, "Her decision to work with the low-key DJ Premier was also a decision to snub some of the big-name producers on whom pop stars often rely."[93]
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."[94] The majority of her album, Back to Basics, pays tribute to James and other pop standard singers who many originated from the 1950s. In her early years she listened to vintage jazz, blues, and soul music.[95] The album included an unreleased song, "Slow Down Baby", which sampled a Gladys Knight & the Pips song. A review in The Guardian declared, "Practically everything recorded before Aguilera was born blurs into one amorphous genre, which she categorises, somewhat inadequately, as "fun music".[96] Aguilera has also named Madonna and Janet Jackson as two of her biggest influences "for being re-inventive and being brave as strong females, to explore whatever, even if they do get bad press. It's just like they were fearless."[97] Her other musical influences include Aretha Franklin,[98] Whitney Houston,[99] and Nina Simone.[100]
Aguilera cites the musical The Sound of Music and its lead actress, Julie Andrews as an early inspiration for singing and performing.[101] She mentioned the "Golden age of Hollywood" as another inspiration in which she says, "I'm referencing Marlene Dietrich, Marilyn Monroe, Carole Lombard, Greta Garbo, Veronica Lake".[102] In her music video for "Ain't No Other Man" she plays her alter ego, "Baby Jane" in reference to the film Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?[103] The film's stars included actresses Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.
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."[94] The majority of her album, Back to Basics, pays tribute to James and other pop standard singers who many originated from the 1950s. In her early years she listened to vintage jazz, blues, and soul music.[95] The album included an unreleased song, "Slow Down Baby", which sampled a Gladys Knight & the Pips song. A review in The Guardian declared, "Practically everything recorded before Aguilera was born blurs into one amorphous genre, which she categorises, somewhat inadequately, as "fun music".[96] Aguilera has also named Madonna and Janet Jackson as two of her biggest influences "for being re-inventive and being brave as strong females, to explore whatever, even if they do get bad press. It's just like they were fearless."[97] Her other musical influences include Aretha Franklin,[98] Whitney Houston,[99] and Nina Simone.[100]
Aguilera cites the musical The Sound of Music and its lead actress, Julie Andrews as an early inspiration for singing and performing.[101] She mentioned the "Golden age of Hollywood" as another inspiration in which she says, "I'm referencing Marlene Dietrich, Marilyn Monroe, Carole Lombard, Greta Garbo, Veronica Lake".[102] In her music video for "Ain't No Other Man" she plays her alter ego, "Baby Jane" in reference to the film Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?[103] The film's stars included actresses Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar