I have looked at several music artists that have changed their star image throughout their careers and made a huge impact on the music scene today such as Madonna, Elton John and Pink. The image of Christina Aguilera has made a large and controversial impact on today’s music listeners. Christina Aguilera was born on the 18th December 1980 and began her career at a young age as a singer and actor on Disney Channel's television programme the Mickey Mouse Club along Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake. She then went signed to RCA records and released her first song for the soundtrack Mulan. In 1999 she released her first album “Christina Aguilera” which went on to sell over 17million records worldwide. She has released 3 other studio albums “Stripped”, “Back to Basics” and “Bionic” after her first album and has sold 42 million records worldwide making her one of the most successful female artists of all time. Some of her most recognized song was Genie in a Bottle, Dirrty and Lady Marmalade. Aguilera has a strong vocal and has managed to work in all different types of music genres from Pop in her younger years (Genie in a Bottle) to R’n’B (Cant Hold Us Down) to Swing Jazz (Candyman) as well as a bit of Rock (Fighter).
As Christina Aguilera began her career at quite a young age she was very much controlled by her music label to keep her innocence and stay out of controversy so as she began her career it was predominantly pop music to appeal to the younger audience from a 13 – 18 year olds as she was portrayed to be a pop icon. Her look was essential and although she began quite young Aguilera always embraced the female body with wearing revealing clothing to make give her that provocative look but managed to maintain that innocence. It is only when Christina gets control of her music and career we really see the female empowerment brought to her music. She uses her sexuality as an advantage to appeal to women; this can be seen in her video “Can Hold Us Down” when there is a female vs. male conflict throughout the video as they battle each other with a dance competiton.
As Christina Aguilera began her career at quite a young age she was very much controlled by her music label to keep her innocence and stay out of controversy so as she began her career it was predominantly pop music to appeal to the younger audience from a 13 – 18 year olds as she was portrayed to be a pop icon. Her look was essential and although she began quite young Aguilera always embraced the female body with wearing revealing clothing to make give her that provocative look but managed to maintain that innocence. It is only when Christina gets control of her music and career we really see the female empowerment brought to her music. She uses her sexuality as an advantage to appeal to women; this can be seen in her video “Can Hold Us Down” when there is a female vs. male conflict throughout the video as they battle each other with a dance competiton.
As every teenager does when you are growing up you identify who you really are and what you want to do and we saw that straight away from Christina Aguilera. Her star image made a drastic changed when it got to her second album Stripped where she gained serious media attention from her radical change of music as well as image. She embraced her sexuality and brought forefront that she is now a woman and eliminated that girl next door image all of this is shown in her music video “Dirrty”. She began to wear provocative clothing such as a bikini and chaps as well as wearing heavy make and dark colours in her hair. The way her videos have been edited to constantly showing her female power and sexuality reinforces her image as a star, for example in her 2001 collaboration with Lil Kim, Mya, Pink and Missy Elliot “Lady Marmalade” her characteristics of female dominance we displayed with the constant close up shots of her clothing and hair. The consisted of Christina being assisted by her workers as she once again showing how powerful she is with the tantrums she had throughout the video. This is where we see much more of an edgier side of her. The video was performance based video as it had so much detail put into it with her close up dancing with men as well as women such as the shower scene where it was all women.
Throughout Christina’s career there have shown a lot of close-ups in her videos as it tries to create a relationship with her audience and to make the audience see who she really is, this occurs in her very heartfelt song “Beautiful” as Christina is telling a story to alert the world of the message se was trying to convey. In order to get Christina as recognized as possible promotion was essential in make sure she is a global success. As Aguilera has her own unique style and attitude towards certain things, creating her brand needed to include things such as posters, dolls and clothing that will make her an international success.
Aguilera encourages female domination as she wants to send a particular message to all women which can also been seen in her video “Tilt ya head back” where she is the love interest of Nelly and yet again we get to see Christina using her looks and charisma to make the men weak and infatuated by her. The long shots used were to really emphasis on Christina’s body and beauty, this being another example of female empowerment.
As times have changed and women now have a say in society and being just as powerful as men this is now a reoccurring trend when it comes to female entertainers, especially from Christina Aguilera. She has maintained that same positive attitude that women are a dominant force and should embrace the female body which she has spoken about in her videos especially in “Can’t Hold Us Down”.
Aguilera’s videos have all been a bit of narrative as well as being performance and yet they have the same message about girl power which is very much impressive as she will always continue to change her image and genre of music.
In conclusion to all this, Christina Aguilera is a diva and icon and has been a controversial music artist for a long time. The change in style as well as music genre shows her versatilities. From the very bland music videos that were created for when she was young the contemporary songs and videos have really took its toll on today’s music listeners.
Throughout Christina’s career there have shown a lot of close-ups in her videos as it tries to create a relationship with her audience and to make the audience see who she really is, this occurs in her very heartfelt song “Beautiful” as Christina is telling a story to alert the world of the message se was trying to convey. In order to get Christina as recognized as possible promotion was essential in make sure she is a global success. As Aguilera has her own unique style and attitude towards certain things, creating her brand needed to include things such as posters, dolls and clothing that will make her an international success.
Aguilera encourages female domination as she wants to send a particular message to all women which can also been seen in her video “Tilt ya head back” where she is the love interest of Nelly and yet again we get to see Christina using her looks and charisma to make the men weak and infatuated by her. The long shots used were to really emphasis on Christina’s body and beauty, this being another example of female empowerment.
As times have changed and women now have a say in society and being just as powerful as men this is now a reoccurring trend when it comes to female entertainers, especially from Christina Aguilera. She has maintained that same positive attitude that women are a dominant force and should embrace the female body which she has spoken about in her videos especially in “Can’t Hold Us Down”.
Aguilera’s videos have all been a bit of narrative as well as being performance and yet they have the same message about girl power which is very much impressive as she will always continue to change her image and genre of music.
In conclusion to all this, Christina Aguilera is a diva and icon and has been a controversial music artist for a long time. The change in style as well as music genre shows her versatilities. From the very bland music videos that were created for when she was young the contemporary songs and videos have really took its toll on today’s music listeners.
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