CHRISTINA AGUILERA BIONIC REVIEW

So I've just previewed the new Christina Aguilera album Bionic and although I really hate to be a Hater, I am hard-pressed to say that it left much of an impression on me. The collection which includes 15 tracks and three interludes is simply too long, without any coherence.  One minute it's hip-hop.  One minute it's acoustic.  One minute it's electro. I'm a strong supporter of having diverse influences, but this fourth studio effort is directionless.

Aguilera has opted for edge on this effort, going against her famous brand of melody and unapologetic big  stylized vocal flourishings.  I have always been of the mindset to never change a recipe that works; only improve upon it. The Aguilera I love most is her circa What a Girl Wants up to The Voice Within; she was Pop and unashamed of it.  This was an artist who could pack a stadium with her voice, sheer talent and girl next door personality.  The singer today boasts she "has nothing to prove" with an out-of-nowhere bravado which she attributes to having become a Mother.  And if this is what Parenthood does to you, I want no part of it and I'm sure hoards of her young female fans will be terrified.  Needless to say, it is not surprising to hear she has decided to cancel postpone her summer Bionic Tour.

CHRISTINA AGUILERA: MILKING MOTHERHOOD

So I've been following Christina Aguilera's promotional campaign for new album Bionic and I cannot stress enough the importance of post-secondary education.  While recording an interview and performance last week at Radio City Hall for Oprah, she indicated how being a mother has made her feel even sexier about her body. "As women, our bodies go through such amazing things and we are superhuman...  we give life, we give birth, we are our child's source of everything. Our bodies are not our own for a time period.... but then when we get them back, you feel that much stronger."  I'm not quite sure that's a common sentiment amongst most women, but she seems to have written the book on Motherhood.  

What's even more disturbing is amidst criticism against her overtly sexual image since becoming a new mother, she mentioned today on Entertainment Tonight: "my sexuality is something that is a part of me and I will never hide it."   Reportedly, her sex life is even better now she claims. In Press Releases through Sony Music she's gone on about how "fresh and sexy" this new album will be, while on the same token saying that this album is completely dedicated to and inspired by her son Max.  Uhh... that's just disgusting, sorry. I'm just not seeing the connection between birthing a child and the need to parade around in bondage gear. It's a bit of a hard-sell.

Aguilera sings about "kissing boys and the girls" as a married woman and goes on all-out Festival of Moanery for half of new single Not Myself Tonight  and I haven't even gone into the Music Video, which is an exxxperience in itself.  I'm no prude but Aguilera just makes me want to bust out my old confused Chinese man accent and go, "Waa daa hell you tawking aboww?".

Is it just me or is Aguilera milking (pardon the pun) this Motherhood thing a little too much?

(Photo credit: Sony Music)

VIDEO: CHRISTINA AGUILERA - NOT MYSELF TONIGHT | NEW MUSIC: NOT MYSELF TONIGHT (JODY DEN BROEDER REMIX)

Ahh! Finally an improvement over its lacklustre original version – Jody de Broeder saves the day with this stomper of a remix for Christina Aguilera’s new single Not Myself Tonight. den Broder’s sound is more of a fit to where she is trying to go with this new album of hers. Although it’s still not quite up to the standard of classic Aguilera, it’ll have to do for now considering the boastful press releases surrounding new album Bionic. Check it out below, courtesy of our friends at Sony Music.

And of course, how could I forget to mention her just-released bondage-themed video for the track with plenty of girl-on-boy/girl action? The Madonna/Gaga comparisons are inevitable especially with director Hype Williams having worked with the latter. And of course physically speaking, both artists being platinum blonde with a taste for the provocative so one cannot help but compare. Well done, but done well by others before her....

NEW MUSIC: CHRISTINA AGUILERA - NOT MYSELF TONIGHT

As announced last week, Christina Aguilera's first single from new album Bionic, Not Myself Tonight, was premiered on her official website earlier this evening.  Although much of the Blogosphere is raving about the track, I'm still on-the-fence with this Polow De Don-produced single.  It is essentially an electro-refreshing of her 2002 single Dirrty with some added Britney/Janet come-hitherness.  

Aguilera definitely sounds much more in her element here though than on recent efforts like Keeps Gettin' Better and Dynamite, allowing her vocals to soar fully.  And we can thank God she got her wartime era itch scratched on her 2006 studio album Back to Basics, as we can welcome her back into the realm of pop relevance once again.

Surely this is just a teaser and I'm expecting her to pull out the big guns on forthcoming singles.  The single will be on iTunes Tuesday, April 13, 2010 and Bionic will be in stores June 8, 2010.

Preview Not Myself Tonight in full below courtesy of Sony Music:

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS CHRISTINA AGUILERA?

Christina Aguilera has been on my mind a lot these days, so I decided to Google her quickly and it looks like she is busy wrapping up her next RCA Records studio album Bionic, which will pick up where she left off with her more recent single Keeps Gettin' Better, in the electro dance-pop direction.   Although I myself feel that this isn't her forté necessarily, I respect her artistic direction.  she needs full arrangements that will showcase that superb gift of a voice she has.  Bionic is due tentatively this April, although nothing she releases will ever top her gem of a sophomore album Stripped which I recently listed as one of the past decade's best.

Aguilera has began pre-production on Burlesque from director Steve Antin (brother of Robin, founder of The Pussycat Dolls) November also.  You know how much I love musicals, so I will be awaiting its November 2010 release via Sony Screen Gems eagerly.  The film stars Cher (!!!!) who acts as Aguilera's mentor and the amazing Stanley Tucci plays the Cabaret-inspired club's owner.  The film apparently will have lots of Bob Fosse influence which I loved so much in CHICAGO and NINE.  Grey's Anatomy hunk Eric Dane, known more of late for the world's most boring sex tape, just signed on too.  Veronica Mars and Forgetting Sarah Marshall star Kristen Bell who also stars in the film, was quoted recently as having said that this film is going to "turn her into a lesbian".  Well, if that's any indication, I think I'm going to love it.

Can't wait to hear more.  The above photo (WENN Photos) of Cher and Aguilera was taken the first day of filming on-set yesterday.  Kudos to the respective Paparazzi on a job well done!