Mariel Concepcion, N.Y.
From exposing her erotic side on her 2002 "Stripped" album to
emulating pinup dolls in videos like "Candy Man" and "Ain't No
Other Man" on "Back to Basics" in 2006, Christina Aguilera is all
about reinventing herself.
Now, with the Nov. 11 release of "Keeps Getting Better: A Decade
of Hits," which will be sold exclusively in Target, the 27-year-old
singer is reinventing some old hits.
The album includes new versions of "Genie in a Bottle" and
"Beautiful," titled "Genie 2.0" and "You Are What You Are
(Beautiful)," respectively, plus the new songs "Keeps Getting
Better" and "Dynamite." Staples such as "Dirty," "Come on Over" and
"Hurt" also appear.
Produced by longtime collaborator Linda Perry, the new and
remixed tracks all feature "futuristic sounds with beats driven
more toward dance music," Aguilera says. "This time around, I'm
playing with this superhero element based on the fact that fans
have grown up with me since I was 17 and have continually supported
my changes throughout the years."
The album—which follows recent Target exclusives with John
Legend, Carrie Underwood and the Jonas Brothers—will come in
standard and deluxe editions, the latter including a DVD with
videos for all the tracks on the album. Fans who pre-order from
Target.com will receive "Keeps Getting Better" as a free download,
and those who buy the album will also get a free ringtone for the
song.
"I can't even believe what I was able to call it—time really
flies," she says. "I constantly change my image. I'm a very visual
artist and am constantly trying something new. Luckily, from what I
can tell from reading letters and conversing with them when on
tour, my fans love and are always open to my love for change. It's
a really gratifying moment for me and such an opportunity to be
free and let go."
Beyond marking Aguilera's first decade in the business, "Keeps
Getting Better" serves as a sneak preview for the artist's next
studio album, which she says will arrive in summer 2009 and will be
mostly produced by Perry.
"With my last album, I had music that was very '20s, '30s and
'40s, and was very detailed and part of a very specific genre and
sound," she says. "But with this new album, I wanted to go in a
completely opposite direction—a very futuristic, robotic sound and
computer-sounding vocals. I'm experimenting with my voice in ways
I've never done before, almost like a technical, computer-generated
sound, which is different for me because I'm the type of vocalist
that just belts. I'm always inspired by new things because I get
bored."
"The album is very pop and very upbeat, and it's inspired by
[Andy] Warhol and the late-'60s scene," says RCA senior VP of
marketing Scott Seviour, who adds that Aguilera has been in the
studio as often as she can, considering she became a mother in
January. "Once you hear the new material you'll have a very clear
idea what the direction of it is."
Aguilera is planning to tour next year. Her last outing in
2006-07 was promoted by AEG Live and grossed $48 million, drawing
607,568 fans to 63 shows, according to Billboard Boxscore.
In addition, Aguilera—who recently introduced her first
stateside fragrance, Inspire—is already working on a new perfume
slated to hit stores next year. "There are a few more things in the
works," she says, "But those are surprises."
Christina Aguilera: Better And 'Better'
November 14, 2008 03:13 PM
Mariel Concepcion, N.Y.
From exposing her erotic side on her 2002 "Stripped" album to emulating pinup dolls in videos like "Candy Man" and "Ain't No Other Man" on "Back to Basics" in 2006, Christina Aguilera is all about reinventing herself.
Now, with the Nov. 11 release of "Keeps Getting Better: A Decade of Hits," which will be sold exclusively in Target, the 27-year-old singer is reinventing some old hits.
The album includes new versions of "Genie in a Bottle" and "Beautiful," titled "Genie 2.0" and "You Are What You Are (Beautiful)," respectively, plus the new songs "Keeps Getting Better" and "Dynamite." Staples such as "Dirty," "Come on Over" and "Hurt" also appear.
Produced by longtime collaborator Linda Perry, the new and remixed tracks all feature "futuristic sounds with beats driven more toward dance music," Aguilera says. "This time around, I'm playing with this superhero element based on the fact that fans have grown up with me since I was 17 and have continually supported my changes throughout the years."
The album—which follows recent Target exclusives with John Legend, Carrie Underwood and the Jonas Brothers—will come in standard and deluxe editions, the latter including a DVD with videos for all the tracks on the album. Fans who pre-order from Target.com will receive "Keeps Getting Better" as a free download, and those who buy the album will also get a free ringtone for the song.
"I can't even believe what I was able to call it—time really flies," she says. "I constantly change my image. I'm a very visual artist and am constantly trying something new. Luckily, from what I can tell from reading letters and conversing with them when on tour, my fans love and are always open to my love for change. It's a really gratifying moment for me and such an opportunity to be free and let go."
Beyond marking Aguilera's first decade in the business, "Keeps Getting Better" serves as a sneak preview for the artist's next studio album, which she says will arrive in summer 2009 and will be mostly produced by Perry.
"With my last album, I had music that was very '20s, '30s and '40s, and was very detailed and part of a very specific genre and sound," she says. "But with this new album, I wanted to go in a completely opposite direction—a very futuristic, robotic sound and computer-sounding vocals. I'm experimenting with my voice in ways I've never done before, almost like a technical, computer-generated sound, which is different for me because I'm the type of vocalist that just belts. I'm always inspired by new things because I get bored."
"The album is very pop and very upbeat, and it's inspired by [Andy] Warhol and the late-'60s scene," says RCA senior VP of marketing Scott Seviour, who adds that Aguilera has been in the studio as often as she can, considering she became a mother in January. "Once you hear the new material you'll have a very clear idea what the direction of it is."
Aguilera is planning to tour next year. Her last outing in 2006-07 was promoted by AEG Live and grossed $48 million, drawing 607,568 fans to 63 shows, according to Billboard Boxscore.
In addition, Aguilera—who recently introduced her first stateside fragrance, Inspire—is already working on a new perfume slated to hit stores next year. "There are a few more things in the works," she says, "But those are surprises."