news archives

August 22, 2006 - BackToBasicsHa writes "The first thing I would like to mention is that I have purchased Back to Basics, and the album is absolutely incredible. I have been listening carefully to each song, from disc 1 and disc 2. There is no over-singing, (and if there is *to some people* it's far less than Stripped). Every song is packed with energy, and realness. I have enjoyed the CD for one day, and I'm sure I'll still be enjoying it 4 or 5 years from now." Read more.

August 22, 2006 - Christina Aguilera and Jessica Biel visited the Ed Sullivan Theatre for an appearance on 'The Late Show with David Letterman' in New York City on Wednesday (August 16). Check out pictures here.

August 22, 2006 - Dan Aquilante of the New York Post reviewed Christina Aguilera's new album 'Back To Basics', giving the disc an impressive four out of four stars. Aquilante writes, "A curmudgeon might toss a wet blanket on Aguilera's fire, accusing the singer of creating an unfocused collection that makes no effort to connect the dots between the jazz of the '20s and the soul divas of the '60s. But that's a losing argument. She isn't trying to teach us a scattershot history of pop - she's just an entertainer. And these new songs produced in old styles are very entertaining." He added, "Even though Aguilera reveals little about herself, 'Back To Basics' is a testament that she has more depth then Beyonce and more staying power than Britney." Read more.

August 22, 2006 - Popdirt.com's previous poll asking what your favorite pop song for the summer has been saw Christina Aguilera's 'Ain't No Other Man' lead the pack with 39.4%, while Justin Timberlake's 'SexyBack' -- which was a late addition to the poll -- came in second with 18.3%. Nelly Furtado's 'Promiscuous', which has been radio's song of the summer, came in third with 17.3%. Check out the complete results here.

August 22, 2006 - Jim Farber of the New York Daily News reviewed Christina Aguilera's new album 'Back To Basics', which he claims the singer "ends up sounding less like a legend than like Mariah Carey gone snoot." Farber explained, "It's a massively ambitious sprawl of a CD that, unfortunately, bumbles into becoming pop's most groaning white elephant since Yes' 'Tales From Topographic Oceans'. It's needy, overstated, self-indulgent and will not end." Read more.

August 22, 2006 - Sandro Monetti of Sky News reports Christina Aguilera's raspy voice on her new album 'Back To Basics' was achieved by downing booze before recording to change her sound.

August 22, 2006 - Ahead of its release on Tuesday (August 15), MTV.com's The Leak is featuring Christina Aguilera's new double album 'Back To Basics'. Listen to both CDs in full here.

August 22, 2006 - The Times of London caught up with Christina Aguilera, and asked the singer that considering she began singing in public aged seven, should she be a complete nutcase by now? "No, no, no," she cackled. "I'm pretty down to earth. You could ask my husband [Jordan Bratman]. I have some weird insecurities that I'm probably not going to get into   in fact, I'm definitely not going to get into." Read more.

August 22, 2006 - Christina Aguilera spoke with MTV News about how her musical peers have suffered an early end to their marriage after appearing on reality television shows. "My heart goes out to that whole situation," she said. "It's a whole different ball game. I feel, when you do open yourself up to that whole thing, and it must be very difficult. You're open to all the judgement in the world. At least now, I can say: 'You don't know my situation and it's very private, special and sacred to me.'" And it will remain private for Aguilera and hubby Jordan Bratman. "We've been approached but my marriage and my relationship with my husband is something that I really want to protect," the 25-year-old said.

August 22, 2006 - Brandon Voss of HX magazine caught up with Christina Aguilera for a Q&A, and asked the singer about pop newcomer Paris Hilton. "Even though we do very different things, Paris and I, I think it's great that she goes for what she wants," Aguilera said. "I've gotta give anyone credit for that." As for her Mickey Mouse Club rival Britney Spears, Aguilera remarked, "As soon as we got on the scene, people saw blonde hair and navels and compared us. But I knew that eventually our bodies of work would differ. I think that she's in a beautiful time in her life right now - she's a mother, and I think it's great." Read more.

August 22, 2006 - During a press junket with TheShowBuzz.com, Christina Aguilera discussed her latest album 'Back to Basics' and her relationship with husband Jordan Bratman. Watch the interview clip here.

August 22, 2006 - britluvah107 writes "More promotional images for Christina Aguilera's new album 'Back to Basics' have been released on the web. Check them out at christinaaguilera.to."

August 22, 2006 - John Norris of MTV News sat down with Christina Aguilera to get her take on 'Back to Basics'. Watch the interview at MTVOverdrive.

August 22, 2006 - Yahoo! Music is featuring a 'Fan's Only Version' of Christina Aguilera's new single 'Ain't No Other Man', off the double album 'Back To Basics'. Watch it here.

August 22, 2006 - Kurt B. Reighley of MSN Music argues "Christina Aguilera is a bona fide musician." Reighley explained, "Her days as a 'teen pop sensation' are long over. She turns 26 this year. She has built a credible pop catalog, one that has shown growth and a willingness to take risks. She has not dallied with TV shows, or children's books or pug rescue charities. Who among her contemporaries can say the same?" He argued that Britney Spears "would have to mount a one-woman production of Wagner's Ring Cycle to accrue anything close to credibility at this point," while Jessica Simpson continues her habit of "desperate recycling" with 'A Public Affair', "a cheap imitation of a Madonna classic." Read more.

August 22, 2006 - Christina Aguilera performed on 'Good Morning America' at Bryant Park in New York City on Friday (August 18). Watch a performance of 'Beautiful', a report on the singer, a feature article, and photos at ABCNewsgocom. Additional television and fan recorded video from the show is available at YouTube. Check out pictures here.

August 22, 2006 - Christina Aguilera was photographed at the Ivy restaurant in Beverly Hills, California on Wednesday (August 16). Check outpictures from RexFeatures.

August 22, 2006 - Anonymous writes "What I've always liked about Christina is that she somehow manages to stand above the rest of her pop star peers (Britney, Justin, Jessica Simpson), solely because of her voice. Her album Stripped was a masterpiece. For once we finally got to know a little more about Christina Aguilera. With Back to Basics, I was hoping to get something more out of Christina, like the jazz/blues music that she constantly advertised her album to be. To my surprise, it wasn't." Read more.

August 22, 2006 - Janet Charlton's Hollywood reports that when Paris Hilton and Jenna Jameson hit Hyde in Hollywood earlier this month, the heiress was chugging right out of a Grey Goose vodka bottle and began kissing and dancing provocatively with the porn queen. Christina Aguilera, who also allegedly enjoyed a steamy make-out session with Hilton after the 2004 VMAs, joined her dancers for a table-top dance off. Read more.

August 22, 2006 - CNN's Denise Quan spoke with Christina Aguilera about her new album 'Back To Basics' and hubby Jordan Bratman. Watch the brief segment here.

August 22, 2006 - Christina Aguilera visited 'The Late Show with David Letterman' on Wednesday (August 16) to perform her new single 'Ain't No Other Man'. Afterwards, she spoke briefly with Dave about her trumpet wielding dancers, her "nice Jewish boy" hubby Jordan Bratman, and exchanging gifts with her former 'Mickey Mouse Club' co-star Britney Spears. Watch the footage at YouTube (performance / interview).

August 22, 2006 - Paris Hilton tells MTV News she's not worried about her debut album, set for release next Tuesday, is sandwiched between Christina Aguilera's 'Back to Basics' came out this past Tuesday, while Jessica Simpson's 'A Public Affair' hits stores August 29th. "I love all the girls' music out right now," Hilton said. "I listen to them and love them, and I just want everybody to do well. I'm not competitive. I'm happy for everybody." Read more.

August 22, 2006 - The New York Daily News reports Christina Aguilera was all over hubby Jordan Bratman at her 'Back to Basics' album launch at Marquee Tuesday. During the bash, pal Marc Jacobs presented her with an oversized shopping bag containing what appeared to be his entire fall collection of handbags, while Christina presented Jacobs with a campy young gentleman. Read more.

August 22, 2006 - Christina Aguilera visited with Robin Roberts of 'Good Morning America' in a segment aired Wednesday (August 16), ahead of her Friday performance on the morning program. Aguilera discussed her new album 'Back To Basics' and the song she dedicated to her mother, her marriage to Jordan Bratman, exchanging wedding gifts with her former 'Mickey Mouse Club' co-star Britney Spears, when she plans on babies, and her love for performing. Watch the segment at YouTube.

August 22, 2006 - Christina Aguilera and Hilary Duff visited 'Total Request Live' on Tuesday (August 15) at MTV Studios in New York City. Watch video from their appearances and check out pictures here.

August 22, 2006 - Christina Aguilera and Paris Hilton were both spotted roaming New York City on Wednesday (August 16). Aguilera was outside Ed Sullivan Theater before her performance on 'The Late Show with David Letterman', while Hilton struck a few poses outside music store FYE before her in-store promotional appearance. Watch footage from TMZ.com.

August 22, 2006 - MTV News reports Christina Aguilera, The All-American Rejects, and Pharrell Williams have been added as performers on the MTV Video Music Awards line-up. The show is set to air from New York's Radio City Music Hall on August 31 at 8 p.m. Read more.

August 22, 2006 - Christina Aguilera's 'Stripped' record producer Scott Storch is firing back at the singer for her track 'F.U.S.S.', where she sings, "I thought I knew who you were, I see now you were a lesson to learn." Storch told In Touch magazine: "It's pretty pathetic that she would do a song like this. I worked on half of her last CD and sold her millions of copies. Obviously, she cares more than I do that I didn't do this album. But I can't blame her, with an album full of fillers, oversinging and lame Vegas-like cabaret music." Storch, who produced Paris Hilton's debut album added: "You should fire your management for letting me slip through your fingers."

August 22, 2006 - LuAnn writes "Disc two of Christina Aguilera's "Back to Basics" album is beyond any established standard or criteria for pop music." Read more.

August 22, 2006 - In celebration of Christina Aguilera's new album 'Back To Basics' being released, MTV aired a special featuring the singer discussing the project and performing 'Ain't No Other Man', 'Oh Mother', and 'Candyman'. Watch the show at YouTube.

August 22, 2006 - Christina Aguilera caught up with Buck Wolf of ABC News, where the singer credited her marriage to music executive Jordan Bratman for helping her move into the next phase of her career. "He is my life partner, but he's also my best friend," Aguilera says. "The relationship is my backbone and such a support system for what I do.   We've grown together a lot over the past 4 1/2 going on five years together now... It's a really beautiful time for both of us." Read more, including a mention of popdirt.com's previous poll which found 'Ain't No Other Man' voted song of the summer, here.

August 22, 2006 - The Sun caught up with Christina Aguilera in a Q&A and asked the singer why 'Back To Basics' was so long in the making. "I'm very detail-oriented, so I had to really take time with it," Aguilera explained. "It's a big album. I always try to come back with something new and try to evolve as an artist and as a visionary. It was quite a journey making this record and getting the old glam look visually to go along with all that. But what we came up with, I'm super-proud of." Read more.

August 22, 2006 - Neil Sean of Sky News reports that despite being offered the highest payout ever to a pop star, Christina Aguilera has turned down Playboy's offer to pose nude. "We're in shock because she's not known as a prude," an insider said. "We're keeping our fingers crossed that she might change her mind." Read more.

August 7, 2006 - Shakira and the Red Hot Chili Peppers lead this year's MTV Video Music Awards nominations with seven each, followed closely by Madonna and Panic! at the Disco, both with five nods. Christina Aguilera is next with four. Panic! are also one of the first artists confirmed to perform on the show, joining an all-star cast that also includes Justin Timberlake, Beyonce Knowles, T.I., Ludacris and the Killers. Read more, including a complete list of nominees, at MTV.com.

August 7, 2006 - ContactMusic.com reports Christina Aguilera says she'd have a hard time competing in the current batch of TV singing shows liks 'American Idol'. "It's great for the kids to show their talents - and if this is really what they want to do, that's a great way to start," Aguilera, who once competed in 'Star Search', explained. "I'm not sure I'd enter now if I was trying to make it, though. The judges are so critical - I would be too afraid to fail!"

August 7, 2006 - Tiffany Bakker of The Daily Telegraph spoke with Christina Aguilera, where the singer discussed her willingness to be open about the family violence circumstance she grew up in before her mother Shelly left her then husband Fausto. "I'm always inspired to talk, and I think it's important for me   therapeutically so   to talk about my past with abuse," she explained. "I feel it's only right to talk about a subject that in society is so hush-hush, you know, with neighbors not getting involved, but these are people's lives. I think it's good to remember your pain to some degree so you can learn from it. That drives me to go further and be better than ever just because I never want to go back there again. I'm driven to exceed anyone and everybody's beliefs of what I can do   even myself. So I'm a dreamer as well." Read more.

August 7, 2006 - Dorian Lyskey of The Guardian reviewed Christina Aguilera's new double album 'Back To Basics', giving it a two out of five star rating. Lyskey said, "Aretha Franklin didn't build her reputation on songs about being Aretha Franklin, yet this album sinks under the weight of Aguilera's self-obsession. The problem with attaining colossal success in your teens is that the narcissism of adolescence segues into the narcissism of celebrity with no time for a sharp intake of reality. Like Madonna, Aguilera purports to reveal her inner self without the insight to make those revelations enlightening." Read more.

August 7, 2006 - Christina Aguilera spoke with Grazia magazine about her love for hubby Jordan Bratman. "I've never been so in love, so happy or felt so alive," the singer revealed. "I start to cry when I think of everything he has brought into my life. It still feels overwhelming to have married that one person who I completely love and adore." As for being "Mrs. Bratman", Aguilera said, "The title takes you off guard a little bit at the beginning, but to call someone your husband is a pretty amazing feeling."

August 7, 2006 - Christina Aguilera was on the phone with KIIS FM's 'On Air with Ryan Seacrest' in Los Angeles on Friday (August 4) to promote her new double album 'Back To Basics'. She talked about her love for '20s and '30s music, her reaction to Justin Timberlake's kind words to Ryan about her being the best singer of this generation, her "marketing genius" hubby Jordan Bratman, baby plans, checking dinner bills, and more. Download and listen to the interview here.

August 7, 2006 - Christina Aguilera's new album 'Back to Basics' features the track 'Still Dirrty', clarifying the singer's racy side hasn't been put out to pasture. "I was in my creative cave working on this record and I was hearing 'Oh, now she's in love, she's cleaned up her act'," Aguilera tells The Herald Sun of the inspiration for the song. "I thought, OK, hold up there! I'm going to fall in love with someone who embraces all those qualities, not squashes them. That's what that song is about, I can embrace it even more. I'm a happier person and those provocative qualities will never be erased. Women should embrace their sexuality rather than cower themselves down to what a male's perspective of what a woman's sexuality should be." Read more.

August 7, 2006 - Christina Aguilera's forum at LiveDaily.com is in a uproar after the singer's new album 'Back To Basics' leaked to the internet ahead of its August 15th release date. Many fans have commented on the album after illegally downloading as they pledged to buy the double album anyways, while others urged RCA to bump up the release. Check out several related discussions here.

August 7, 2006 - Christina Aguilera spoke with the New York Times about her decision to have DJ Premier produce tracks on her new album 'Back To Basics', while taking a shot at Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo in the process. "I have no interest in working with the Neptunes," Aguilera said. "A lot of what's on the radio sounds the same because everyone is using the same producers. Music is suffering because nobody wants to step out on a limb and go for something different. Everyone wants to stay in their safety box," which Aguilera said she has absolutely no interest in doing, even if it means upsetting her label. "When we played the first single for the label," DJ Premier recalled, "they didn't think that's the way she should start the project. But she was like: 'I don't care. This is the one.' That's why I love her, because she doesn't give a damn what anyone thinks." Read more.

August 7, 2006 - ContactMusic.com Jermaine Dupri spoke at a press presentation for girlfriend Janet Jackson's new album '20 Years Old' on Monday (July 24), where he hit out at Janet's younger contemporaries Britney Spears, Beyonce Knowles, and Christina Aguilera. "Only Janet records sound like her," Dupri said. "I always look and think, 'Where's Beyonce going to be in 20 years?' It's hard for me to visualize. I don't put them on the same plane. Janet doesn't go for the same typical cars and street videos. She was the reason we started to watch TV. She's back to her full capacity and blowing it out to the level. Artists just need to make good music. I said to Janet, 'All you got to do is sing.' Britney and Christina are all copycats of one person."

August 7, 2006 - Christina Aguilera visited GMTV to discuss why she got rid of her piercings, how she keeps in good shape, and when she plans on becoming a mother. Watch the interview here.

August 7, 2006 - Christina Aguilera was photographed leaving Movida nightclub in London, England on Saturday (July 22), later arriving at Sanderson Hotel. Check out pictures here.

August 7, 2006 - Christina Aguilera was photographed leaving the Sanderson Hotel and heading for an appearance on MTV UK's 'Total Request Live' in London, England on Wednesday (July 19). Check out pictures from GlobePhotos.

August 7, 2006 - Paul Croughton of Arena magazine was on hand for Christina Aguilera's 'Back To Basics' media launch, and wasn't impressed with the singer's smell. "She's tiny. Big heels, white calf-length jeans, tank top, white vest, Fifties blonde 'do', lots of lipstick: hot," he writes. "But my God she stunk like a 12-year-old girl's bedroom on school-disco night. Why do women do that? It was a perfectly pleasant smell, you understand, but unnecessarily pungent   you could practically see the fog of eau de parfum that surrounded her, like mosquitoes at twilight, through the spotlights on stage." Read more.

August 7, 2006 - Christina Aguilera spoke with Newsweek, where she admitted her self-titled debut wasn't something she's too proud of. "Trust me, I thought that record was fluffy too," the singer said. "It was made for that pop time when there was no real substance behind the music." The married singer also spoke about avoiding her father Fausto. "He tries to send letters every once in a while, but I have amazing people around me now and I'm happy, so I don't really long for that relationship," she said. "I just don't see the need." Read more.

August 7, 2006 - Neil Sean of Sky News reports Christina Aguilera is set to go head-to-head in the UK singles chart with Paris Hilton. Aguilera refused to change her 'Ain't No Other Man' release date to avoid a clash with 'Stars Are Blind'. "She is no competion, believe me," Aguilera sniffed. "Talent will always win out." But Hilton countered, "I have loved Christina since I was little but the time has come for something new. I am that (something new)."

August 7, 2006 - Christina Aguilera was photographed outside Nobu on Thursday (July 20) in London, England. Check out pictures from FilmMagic.

August 7, 2006 - Christina Aguilera was photographed outside a London hotel on Tuesday (July 18). Check out pictures from FilmMagic.

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