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CHRISTINA AGUILERA

Tuesday, February 26, 2002

Christina's new album is 'real'



Christina Aguilera is back in the public eye.

The pop singer bounced back into the spotlight at the Olympic closing ceremonies on Sunday night sporting an outfit racier than those worn by Britney Spears (black, revealing leather).

Christina


But Christina wasn't just trying to shock, she was also debuting "Infatuation", a song from her new album expected to be released in June.

As the singer's clothes help to distance her from other blond singers in the same age group, so will her new music.

"This album is very real," Christina told MTV. "This whole album is very much from me, and it's just on a very real level. It's not a pop-pop record. It's got a lot of soul on it. It's got more R&B. It's got hip-hop influences. It's got rock, which is very interesting, but very much a part of who I am ... It needed to come out, so it's exciting."


Thursday, February 21, 2002

Christina's new song called Grammy worthy



Christina Aguilera has finished recording at least four songs for her new album.

The diva's fans are anxiously awaiting new material from the singer (the full album is expected to drop in June) and one of the producers on the album says "Beautiful", one of the four new songs, is destined for accolades, Rolling Stone reports.

Linda Perry (the former 4 Non Blondes star) produced of "Beautiful", "Cruise", "Make Me Over, Don't Make Me Over", and an untitled track for Christina's official follow-up to her 1999 self-titled debut record.

"'Beautiful' is going to win a Grammy," Perry told Rolling Stone. "I just know it in my heart. It's such a beautiful song -- no pun intended."

Perry went on to say that Christina's new sound is very different from the catchy pop hits that launched her into the spotlight.

"People have been waiting for her record, and she's got an amazing voice on her. The trick with her is to get her to use it differently," the producer said when discussing the new music.

Christina has also been working with producers Glen Ballard (Alanis Morissette, Dave Matthews Band) and Scott Storch.

Fans unwilling to wait for the new music can hear Christina croon one new song, "Infatuation", at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games closing ceremonies this Sunday (Feb. 25).

According to the singer's official website, "Infatuation" isn't the first single from Christina's new album, but it will be "just the kind of exciting sneak preview her fans have been anticipating for months".

The website is also pumping Christina's scheduled performance at the 2002 Grammy Awards next week. Christina, Lil' Kim, Mya, Pink and Missy Elliot will perform "Lady Marmalade" at the show on Wednesday (Feb. 27). The song is nominated for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. Christina's duet with Ricky Martin on "Nobody Wants To Be Lonely" is also nominated in that category.


Friday, February 8, 2002

Christina Aguilera's mom talks to AllPop
 By STEPHANIE McGRATH -- AllPop



Shelly Kearns may be Christina Aguilera's mom but that doesn't mean she spends her days living in luxury and basking in the glow of her famous daughter.

When she called AllPop from her home in the Pittsburgh area, she was busy dealing with her yipping Pappion dogs and her annoyed five-year-old son whose sandwich they'd just stolen. On top of her everyday duties as a mother, Shelly diligently goes through thousands of emails from fans demanding answers to the latest Christina-related rumours. The answers to questions which range from inquiries about the specific locations of her famous daughter's piercings to rumours about explicit adult videos claiming to feature Christina, can be found on the singer's official website - www.christina-a.com.

Shelly, who firmly says she doesn't sugar coat her life, openly discussed the odd and sometimes hurtful rumours surrounding her daughter, Christina's upcoming album and more.

Is overseeing the website a big job?

Huge, tones and tones of questions. The thing that surprises me the most is the rumours. I never realized, I always knew there was such a thing as a rumour mill where celebrities were concerned but I didn't know they cranked them out that quick, and spread them around that quickly. You have to have a thick skin to do what I'm doing but it's fine.

Where is your line, when do you decide that this question is a bit too personal, it's not somewhere I want to go?

We're pretty open people. Christina is kind of like me, pretty much what you see is what's there. After you deal with so many fans, you can kind of get a feel for who isn't really interested in the answer - if you're being baited just because no matter what you say they're going to make something horrible out of it. I pay attention first of all to how it's phrased because that will tell you whether the person is sincere-hearted or if they're just mean spirited and just looking for something.

What's the most common question you're getting these days?

Oh gosh, there's no common thread. They're all so varied as you can probably see by the rumour mill questions. They're everywhere from "Is it true she had an alien's baby"...they're pretty wild.

Are the whole Christina/Britney enemy questions dying off now?

That's pretty common. That's constant. They're dying off a lot more than they used to [though]. For some reason, the media from the very beginning kept ignoring the fact that the two were friends. They were inseparable on the 'Mickey Mouse Club'. I mean literally. Britney's mom Lynne and I lived at each other's apartments practically with these girls back and forth. They're so alike, personality wise. I remember more than once that Christina was furious, crying and everything else because she'd read horrible things about Britney she'd come in and say 'look at this, this isn't fair, she's not like this'. This of course was early on before she realized that you know, no matter what we tell people, if it's not ugly I guess they think it's boring. The truth must be boring because they're great friends always have been always probably will be. She's given interviews and everything else sticking up for Britney but it's funny how that doesn't get spread around.

How did you decide to start answering the rumour questions online?

It's funny because everything sort of morphed into that. Way back, when she did some things with Keizo (a Japanese singer) before 'Mulan', she was on a couple of his shows on tour in Japan, she was on an album of his. I didn't even know how to work the computer, and I just kind of poked around to see if there was anything out there about him, seeing if they said anything about her. Next thing you know she was signed to RCA and she'd done 'Reflection' for 'Mulan' so I learned on my feet as I went, 'oh gee, I didn't know that fans were out there talking to each other about anybody.' That's how computer illiterate I was. Just kind of poked around about 'Reflection' and out popped a site that somebody had done about 'Reflection' and Christina. And I went 'Oh, this is cool' you can imagine in the beginning. I actually found out you could contact the webmaster and I talked to her and then they asked me for an interview, the more popular she got the more I kind of saw things. I used to , in the very beginning when the first few websites came out, I remember emailing the webmasters to thank them because that's a lot of work. And then they thought that was cool cause I was a mom, so little by little you kind of keep contact and it grew and grew to the point where I would have notebooks of which fan sites were strong in photos cause they would call me and ask me. Livedaily.com asked me for an interview and it turned into a message board and everything took a life of it's own.

Was part of your reason [for answering questions] was that if you can answer rumour questions you can have an amount of control [over the rumours]?

Oh sure, well after I got to do it I realized why no one else does it. Very, very hard work. What shocked me the very most when Christina became famous and any celebrity family will tell you the same thing I'm sure, when reality really sets in, your world, your perception of reality that you had accepted your whole life, is really rocked. You lose your footing a bit. It's kind of scary. Cause wow, I had no idea that this isn't really the way it seems to be, you know, that I can't always believe my evening news. My evening news just a couple of months ago announced that I was crippled and bedridden and Christina dropped her tour - what tour? She's not on tour - and she rushed to my bedside, to give you an example. I had no idea not to believe radio DJs. Well good grief, they're worse than the National Enquirer. That is I think, why I maintained contact with the fans. I was thinking that I've seen other parents try this but it's so painful so hard. But you have to put it in perspective, it's just theses kids don't understand. When we were not famous, you always wondered what was it like. So I thought, 'well I'll help them to realize what it is like', it's not all sugar but it's not all bad. It's fun, of course it's fun but at the same time I saw a lot of stage mothers when I was coming up through the ranks with Christina. You know, when you have a child that's like Christina or Britney, I saw the same thing in her, they have this passion about what they love doing. I don't care if they weren't getting paid anything, they'd still be doing this stuff. Even with all the rumours, they're still there, cause they love it. Now, if you have a child like that, sure do whatever you can to help them toward their goal. But my point with the rumour mill and all this other stuff is to show people too, if you're just pushing your child because you or Aunt Martha wants her to be a famous singer, she might make it, and if it's not truly in her heart, make sure you understand what she's going to be subjected to. Cause if it's in her heart, she'll be fine with it, she'll deal with it and she'll still be very happy cause she wouldn't be happy being anything else. But if it's not in her heart and you push her, it's going to really hurt her.

Was there ever a point when the rumours started coming in that you talked to her about trying something else, considering a career that was less high profile?

Christina


If you know Christina, the type of in-born thing that I'm talking about, [for] everybody in our family who knows her, it's laughable, she is singing, it's just in her. Even if she's not in front of the camera anymore it'll still be her.

When she was really young, when she was a little girl, we were very confused because kids would be all upset because it was okay if she was out doing little league or cheerleading or something, but fame seemed to flip them out because apparently it threatened them for some reason. Now back then, she'd come home from school in tears because somebody was mean or threatened this or that and I said 'Well sweety, are you sure you want to do this, I'm behind you a hundred percent if you want to but make sure' It was never a question, she would look at me and say 'Well how come they can do cheerleading and I can't do singing? I thought it was about what you want to do.' And I thought, well, okay, she's ten and she makes more sense than anyone else. That was the only time, those days way back in elementary school. [that Shelly questioned the career path].

What do you think it is about people like Christina that make people have to know how many piercings they have and feel like they have a right to know that information?

It's a weird phenomena, we've often wondered that ourselves, especially teen pop. It's like in their minds they morph you into a non-emotional life form, they realize on some level that you're a human being but somehow it doesn't register in there. I get more letters of people saying: 'Well, you should have thought of that before you became famous. Once you become famous you have no privacy."

I don't think people are inherently mean, I think they simply don't understand because they just don't take the time to think it through enough because it doesn't affect their lives personally enough to do that. I don't know what makes them go after people like Britney...like Justin...well, the boys don't get attacked like the girls do which is a thing that basically really ticks us off but anyway. Not because we think they should but the whole point is, wait a minute now if you're going to let up with them, let up with us too.

You know, people have very encapsulated lives, we all do in a sense. It's just that the people in the lime light get to see a lot larger of a portion of society than most people and as a result it just kind of opens your eyes. It's a blessing in a way cause you get to see a lot more. As a result though, they [some fans believing rumours] don't understand how silly some of these things get and if they did, they wouldn't tend to believe things so readily. If they realized how many things are made up - dozens a day....

As far as the adult-tape rumours go, you released a statement on the website, is there anything else you want to say about the rumour?

Anytime something is that big and you know it's a fake, what is your first tendency? [To say] 'Well, that's ridiculous'. We got so many letters about that it became easier just to say let's just post something on the website so everybody can just see all at once. Most people are just really good people, but they don't'realize, you don't realize see the underside, the dark side of people until you're a celebrity, as a result I think that kind of makes people believe. You relate to somebody according to what you would do so you don't realize that there's so many slimy people out there who would just do horrible things if it makes a buck. Celebrities are such prime targets because nobody can reach them to verify anything. That's what I'm doing on the internet for her. Just ask me, I'll tell you. People say, 'You're always saying no that's not true' and I say 'The minute you actually ask me something that I know she did do I'll tell you, no problem'.

Do you have to check with her sometimes?

Yeah, all the time. I do that quite a bit, matter of fact there was some sort of magazine article that splashed her across the front and said, 'No I'm not a virgin', I called her up and she said 'Mom I never even interviewed with that magazine before.

Have you found that being really up front about your answers, have helped to taper off the really bizarre rumours?

No, they never really taper off so you have to kind of accept the fact that there is an facet of people who seem like they need to believe things or else I don't think these fairy tales would be conjured up so often. For some reason, if you are successful in anything, you're going to threaten the guy next to you who isn't as successful even if you're the nicest person in the world, just you being successful is going to tick people off. Those are the people who are going to be out to get you. It's really sad, they don't know you, if they'd take that energy and focus it on themselves, they'd be where you are too. All you can do it answer honestly and I think the vast majority of people out there are not the yucky ones. But, they're the ones you notice the most cause they're right in your face. What I do is hard but it's worth it because I get Christina in contact safely with thousands of people and she's able to answer people through me and people are able to get true facts because we're sincerely not sugar coaters.

One example of that, is on the site when you were talking, quite frankly about your ex-husband and Christina's father and the abuse [Shelly suffered in that relationship]. How did you make that decision?

It's funny because I just kept quiet for a while until I saw where Christina wanted to go with it and she was very open. Plus, we discussed it. Plus, not to mention, it wasn't helping not to say anything. I know celebrities who are in very abusive home life situations and you've never heard about it. Because, my gosh it does open you up to a lot of cruel people. Just nastiness. But, at the same time you would not believe the amount of people from people who were in it when they read our story and are now having the strength to get out. You never know what little thing you say that will help somebody get out of a dangerous situation. It's worth anything to help somebody get out of where we used to be.

You're writing a book, what's it about?

It's kind of an odd book, I don't know how to explain it. It's not just a sugary bubble-gum thing where 'She was born, Dec. 18, Staten Island and her favourite colour is blah-blah,' that'll be in there for the fans but I'm also giving my experience kind of like I do on the website. Basically, what it's like. I basically pay attention to what people ask me the most like 'How do I help my daughter get famous?'.

What do you tell someone, when they ask you [how you helped Christina get famous] ?

I tell them what I did. I come from a very sport-minded only town. If you're sports you're a hero here but if you're fine arts, 'They're like, yeah well, okay prove to me I should be impressed,'. When Christina was young I kind of learned real quickly that this was sort of out of my control, that she was going to be this, that God was kind of guiding everything stuff would land in our laps and I thought, 'Oh, okay I'm supposed to do this,'. So I kind of figured this was what she wanted to be and she never, ever wanted to be anything else. I didn't know what to do at all, I was clueless. So what I did was went to bookstores, libraries, and read everything I could get my hands on written by professionals in the industry and that helped tremendously. I tell them about the good books out there, I tell them about mind-sets, you have to be able to visualize what you want.

What can you tell us about [Christina's upcoming] album?

Christina is excited about this album because it's much more her. Where they guided her in teen pop before, her heart has been in teen pop and R&B soul. They wanted to keep it more strictly pop before where now she's able to get those influences into her music more and not to mention it's her music because she's writing it.

Have you heard the music? Are you happy with it?

Yes, very much. It's funny because each piece is different, it's not one of these records that you put on and they all sound the same. It's great because it all comes from different parts of her and that's what she wanted to do, draw from different parts of her experiences. This one might be addressing the pain she's gone through, this other one might be addressing how cool this is, life, when you get your dream. [It's] from a more deeper perspective.

Can you confirm the June release date?

We're basically shooting for a summer release although they kind of pinned down June and we didn't expect that. But that was fine because we were kind of shooting for a summer release anyway.

When she's writing, does she come to you during the process, read lyrics to you?

Yeah, she does. Last time, she'll sit on the floor, and she'll sing something for me, and she'll go, 'What do you think, I can't make up my mind between this and this,' but most of the time she has these things completed and she just wants to get my feedback.

Are there any guest stars on the album?

She was telling me a couple, yes, that people are going to be pleased about.


Tuesday, January 22, 2002

Christina's mom pleads for privacy



Christina Aguilera's mother Shelly is politely telling fans to stop asking about pornography and piercing rumours.

Shelly, who regularly answers fan questions on her daughter's official website, is often asked to explain rumours about Christina's romantic life, clothing choices and, most recently, stories about adult websites advertising explicit material featuring the singer.

Recently, several fans posed questions to Shelly asking about Christina's multiple piercings and wondered where, specifically, they could be found. This obviously annoyed Shelly, who used the questions as a means to address a larger issue about rumours and gossip and respecting privacy.

"If you stop to think about it, it makes no sense and is highly disrespectful to demand details of one's personal life," she wrote. "People don't go up to a world-famous architect and say, 'I heard you like tattoos, but some are hidden. I think we should know precisely where each on is. So ... where are they?'

"Or the Nobel Prize-winning physician, hounded by reporters demanding to know the 'real' story on where he ate the night before. You won't see that, will you? So, why show respect to them, and not to actors, actresses and singers? Celebrities, like anyone else, can share the details they want to, and keep private whatever parts of their lives they wish."

Once the issue of privacy was out of the way, Shelly did actually answer a question about a difficult issue for Christina and the rest of her family. When one fan asked about rumours that the singer had been molested, Shelly denied it but did admit that Christina had been abused by her birth father.

"My ex husband Fausto was very cruel and abusive towards us. The majority of the abuse was directed toward me, but she did end up in the middle a few times trying to protect me," Shelly wrote. "That's why the first chance I had, I fled with my 2 girls and never went back."

In lighter Christina news, Shelly said that previous reports that her daughter's new album will be released in June haven't been confirmed yet.

"Now that's not to say we won't make it!," Shelly wrote. "If all goes well. Either way, it shouldn't be far off that month at all."

-- AllPop


Tuesday, January 8, 2002

Christina Aguilera's lawyer fights 'sex tape' rumour
By STEPHANIE MCGRATH -- AllPop



Two websites that were hosting sexually explicit footage and claiming it was of pop star Christina Aguilera have removed the content from their sites, a move Aguilera's lawyer views as "a complete admission that it was in error".

Aguilera's lawyer, Carla Christofferson, says a woman calling herself Amanda Cole supplied the material to the websites, which are both hosted by the same company. Cole claimed that she was hired as a photographer by Aguilera's management, which gave her X-rated access to Aguilera. Christofferson says Cole never worked for the singer.

"Basically she pulls out photographs that have been taken of Christina by other people, claims them as her own and then makes up a story that she had been hired, they had become friends but then Christina started getting jealous of her and started treating her poorly, and this was the parting shot that she went and took this video of Christina and her boyfriend," Christofferson told AllPop on Tuesday. "She spun a whole story to try to give it credibility, and the entire story was false."

After viewing the tape herself, Christofferson is absolutely certain that the woman in the online video is not Aguilera.

"When you look at the video, in addition to showing the person from the back -- except for one shot that I think she mistakenly put in there where you swing to the side, which is one of the reasons you can tell that it's not Christina -- there's also a mirror in front of the person that is doing the act, so the mirror should have the front shot of the face. And when they do sort of the teaser, you can sort of see, so you would think that you would see the face but they have blocked that out. They've made it a clear reflection because it would show that it wasn't Christina. [Also] any of Christina's fans know how little she is, and this woman is not that little, she just has blond hair."

A letter was sent to the websites, instructing them to remove the material and requesting contact information for Amanda Cole. Christofferson says her firm is still trying to decide whether it will pursue legal action against the sites that hosted the sexually explicit material and claimed it was of Aguilera.

She sounds more certain about plans for Cole.

"We're waiting for contact information regarding the alleged photographer, because we will be pursuing legal action against that person," she says.

Meanwhile, a second rumour involving a sexually explicit video tape of Aguilera continues to show up in print and online. A man calling himself Rick Miller sent AllPop.com the following e-mail, claiming he was in possession of a video tape that showed himself and Aguilera engaging in sexual activity:

"I regret to inform you that your report of a Christina Aguilera sex tape hoax is incorrect. As I personally am the so-called 'lucky bastard' who conned Miss Aguilera into the sack, I am fervently pursuing anyone who contradicts my story," reads the e-mail.

Christofferson says she hadn't heard of Miller prior to the e-mail, although she had heard rumblings about someone claiming to have a sexually explicit tape that included footage of Aguilera.

But, she says, "... no one has seen this tape. Christina says that there is no such tape, and we think that it's pretty telling that this person is just going around telling people to trust him. We are right now trying to pursue all leads we can to track this person down to take action against them for defamation or anything else we need to do to stop this type of rumour from circulation."

If Miller really does have a tape, it would be better for him if it is a fake.

"Frankly, I'd be happy to take a look at whatever he claims to have, as well, because, one, I would bet that it's not what he claims, and if it was, he's in a whole lot more trouble ... it's criminal [his alleged 'sex video'], so he should really hope that he's committing defamation."

But Christofferson quickly points out that her client insists "there is no such thing out there".

The entire issue was originally brought to Christofferson's attention by Aguilera's mother Shelly, who was alerted to the online footage's existence by one of the singer's fans.

Christofferson says that both Aguilera and her mother are understandably upset by Cole's claims.

"A lot of people won't take the time to figure out that it's false, and this is completely trying to cast Christina in a light that she doesn't deserve and shouldn't be put under," she says.

-- AllPop


Monday, January 7, 2002

Aguilera denies 'sex tape' story



Christina Aguilera's camp says sexually explicit video footage of a woman purported to be the singer is a hoax.

For the past few weeks, rumours of a "sex tape" featuring the pop star have migrated across the Net. The man who made the videotape claims the woman is Christina and that she didn't know he was taping her.

According to her official website, however, it's just one nasty lie.

"It has recently come to our attention that certain pornographic websites are posting sexually explicit photographs and video footage on the Internet fraudulently representing that it is Christina," reads the statement. "The video clips advertised on the websites are of a woman with blonde hair shown only from the back - the person in the video is not Christina."

"In addition, the person who claims to have taken the video is not, and has never been, associated with Christina or her management. Christina's legal representatives have contacted the website hosts, and Christina plans to vigorously pursue all necessary action against the individuals responsible, including, if necessary, initiating criminal proceedings. We regret that there are individuals who engage in such fraud with no regard for the injury to Christina's feelings or reputation."

-- AllPop


Monday, January 7, 2002

Christina asks fans for patience



Although reports say Christina Aguilera's next album will be out in June, an online message from the diva herself avoided confirming any information about the new CD.

In a "Happy New Year" message to her fans, found on her official website, Christina explains that she doesn't feel comfortable telling fans dates or track listings because there's a possibility that all the info could change before the album actually hits the stores.

"I know everyone is really anxious to hear about the new album, but there isn't really anything I can tell you that I haven't already said," Christina writes, "just because the fine details change so many times before an album is released. Things like song titles and track listings, etc. ... much of whatever I'd tell you now about those things would change by release date anyway. I do want to thank you all for your support and patience, though, as you've given me the time needed to make this album the most special yet. That has meant a lot to me. This one is for you guys."

In an online diary entry on the website, Christina's mother Shelly says her daughter had played some of the songs from the album for her.

"One in particular really brought tears to my eyes," Shelly writes. "It hit close to home. This album is well worth the extra time and effort she's putting into it for you all. She's certainly put her heart into these songs."

-- AllPop


Thursday, January 3, 2002

New Christina Aguilera album scheduled for June



Christina Aguilera fans now have a tentative release date for the singer's new album.

An RCA Records spokesperson told MTV that Christina's next album, which she's been working on since September in a Los Angeles studio, will probably be released in June.

Producers Glen Ballard (Alanis Morissette, No Doubt), Rockwilder (Jay-Z, Redman), keyboardist Scott Storch (Dr. Dre, Bubba Sparxxx), and Linda Perry (formerly of 4 Non Blondes) have all been working on the album, MTV reports.

"It's taking time, but it's all for you," Christina says in a message posted on her official website. "I hope that when it is released, that you will remember that I recorded every word in it as my thank you to all of you for always standing by me, and for being the most loyal, wonderful fans any artist could ever be blessed to have."

All of Christina's new songs are waiting for titles, and the spokesperson said that a single is expected to be released in April or May. Fans will be able to hear a sneak preview of the new music when Christina performs at the Winter Olympic Games' closing ceremonies.

Christina's most recent release was the disputed album "Just Be Free", which was made up of demos the singer recorded when she was a young teenager. Her previous releases include "Mi Reflejo," "My Kind Of Christmas", and her self-titled debut.

-- AllPop


Wednesday, December 12, 2001

Christina writes her fans



Christina Aguilera is gushing about her wonderful fans and thanking them dozens of times for helping her win awards, but the pop singer still isn't dishing on when her new album will be arriving.

"It's taking time, but it's all for you," Christina says in a message posted on her official website. "I hope that when it is released, that you will remember that I recorded every word in it as my thank you to all of you for always standing by me, and for being the most loyal, wonderful fans any artist could ever be blessed to have."

Christina's holiday message to her fans says that she's doing a lot of writing on the new album, and using ideas and working with people that her fans "might not expect".

The singer adds that she is planning to launch a world tour once the new album is in stores.

"America has a great energy and it's my home," Christina writes, "but travelling around the world is so different. There is an energy that is unexplainable. They can get pretty crazy in Europe and Asia, and I enjoy their energy level because it's so insane. I really love being in Japan. It's kind of like a second home, because I spent some time there when I was growing up."

The rest of the message goes on to thank her fans for remembering her birthday, helping her collaborations with Ricky Martin and the "Moulin Rouge" crew become hits and helping her win awards, and for being generally supportive.

"I wonder whether you guys realize just how important you all are and what a direct role you play in inspiring me to success," she says. "Every award I've won, I've won because of you."

In addition to the message to her fans, Christina's website is celebrating the holiday by posting an MP3 of Christina singing "What Child Is This" when she was 11, a list of Christina's Favourite Holiday Dishes by her mom Shelly (fruit & nut Jell-O, homemade noodles, chocolate pie), and Christina's Christmas Photo Gallery, which features snaps of her holiday radio appearances and performance at the White House.

-- AllPop


Thursday, November 22, 2001

Christina's mom clarifies rumours



Christina Aguilera has been busily recording her next album and, for the most part, has been out of the public eye. But that doesn't mean the rumours about the tiny pop diva have died down.

Christina's mother Shelly recently posted responses to several rumours about her daughter on Christina's official website.

First of all, if you've heard any rumours that Shelly isn't well and that Christina is taking time off from work to be with her, the rumours are completely false.

"I'd like to clarify that I am in no way, shape or form bedridden or crippled, or unhealthy in the least," Shelly writes. "While I sincerely appreciate everyone's concern, please know that the reports of my being ill are utter nonsense."

The website also confirms Christina's reported appearance at the upcoming 2002 Winter Olympics. When Christina was asked to sing the Olympic theme song penned by David Foster, she originally wasn't going to perform due to a busy schedule. But now the pop diva has agreed to sing for the athletes.

Finally, although millions of Christina fans are clamouring for details about her new album and its release date, Shelly says she has no new information for them yet.

Some websites have said the album is scheduled for Dec. 4, while others expect it in February. Shelly writes that the Dec. 4 date is definitely not right, while February hasn't been confirmed yet.

"It's just because the nature of the business is such that so very, very many things are changed before the album is actually finished, that it's just impractical to give any details before everything is totally finished," she writes.

"Otherwise, people would get annoyed quickly because everything we'd have told you will change about a hundred times before the album is actually finished. You have no idea ... it's quite a process. Most of the details end up being switched around or pulled or changed in some way before going to market, and that involves everything from the title to lyrics to melodies to which songs are used to mixes to album covers ... and the list goes on. So, you see, that is why you don't hear much of anything until everything is totally finished."

-- AllPop


Thursday, November 8, 2001

*Nsync, Christina to serenade athletes



*Nsync and Christina Aguilera are supporting sports during the upcoming 2002 Winter Olympics.

The two pop acts will perform during the Games' closing ceremonies in Salt Lake City on Feb. 24, MTV reports. Bon Jovi, Harry Connick Jr., Josh Groban, and Charlotte Church also plan to perform at the University Of Utah stadium.

Tickets for the ceremony range between $320 and $885.

More performers are expected to be added to the closing ceremonies show in the coming weeks.

In more *Nsync news, police think over 200,000 concert-goers will turn up for the *Nsync and Friends Benefit Concert in Florida on Nov. 11, MuchMusic reports.

Other artists performing at the benefit include Mpress, Dante Thomas, Tito Puente Jr., and Deborah Cox.

Proceeds will go to families of the victims of the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks in the U.S.

-- AllPop


Wednesday, October 31, 2001

Christina wins Latin Grammy



Christina Aguilera this week picked up the Latin Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Album for "Mi Reflejo".

The blond pop star was scheduled to announce the Latin Grammy winners with Jimmy Smits on Tuesday (Oct. 30) in Los Angeles, but a case of the flu prevented her from attending the press conference, Rolling Stone reports.

Christina is working on the follow-up to her self-titled debut album.

Below is the complete list of 2001 Latin Grammys winners:

Record of the Year Alejandro Sanz, El Alma Al Aire

Song of the Year Alejandro Sanz, "El Alma Al Aire"

Best Male Pop Vocal Album Alejandro Sanz, El Alma Al Aire

Best Female Pop Vocal Album Christina Aguilera, Mi Reflejo

Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album Sindicato Argentino Del Hip Hop, Un Paso A La Eternidad

Best Rock Solo Vocal Album Juanes, Fijate Bien

Best Flamenco Album Vicente Amigo, Ciudad De Las Ideas

Best Rock Album by a Duo or Group With Vocal Aterciopelados, Gozo Poderoso

Best Norteño Album Ramón Ayala Y Sus Bravos Del Norte, Quémame Los Ojos/Amigos Del Alma

Best Traditional Tropical Album Celia Cruz, Siempre Viviré

Best Ranchero Album Pedro Fernández, Yo No Fui

Best Grupero Album Limite, Por Encima De Todo

Best Pop Album by a Duo or Group With Vocal Armando Manzanero, Duetos

Best Merengue Album Chichi Peralta, ...De Vuelta Al Barrio

Best Pop Instrumental Album Nestor Torres, This Side of Paradise

-- AllPop


Tuesday, October 16, 2001

Christina Aguilera quiets album rumours



Don't believe any rumours you may have read about Christina Aguilera's new album. The singer says they're not true.

According to her official website, Christina has not settled on a release date for the album, although she does expect it to be out early in the winter of 2002.

Fan speculations about possible song titles and collaborations are also being (politely) dismissed, and a line in the news section of the pop diva's site reads: "Many producers and collaborators have also been mentioned, both on news sites and on thousands of postings on Christina's message boards. But Christina does not want to give away any of the CD's many great surprises."

Christina told MTV in an earlier interview that she's taking her time on the new album because she has a lot to say.

"I wanted some time to really get to know who I am after these past two years that have been so crazy - so I'd have something to really write about, so I'd know how to dig deep," she told MTV. "I have things to say. I'm 20 now and I feel like I've been through 10 years of things over the past two. It's been a really crazy two years, so I really, really wanna take time and make this record personal - something that I really feel and that I'd want my fans to feel".

In more Christina news, the singer's family has posted a comment about the U.S. tragedies on her website.

"There are no words to describe how heartsick Christina and I and the rest of our family is over this nation's tragedy. We would like to express our deepest support and sympathy for those who have lost loved ones in this horrific event. And for those wonderful men and women with the emergency crews who risk their lives daily to help, God bless you all. You make us so proud to be American, " reads part of the message.

-- AllPop


Monday, October 1, 2001

Christina in studio



Pop diva and Grammy winner Christina Aguilera won't be left behind in the wake of all the new releases from her pop contemporaries -- she's hard at work on a new album.

Aside from Christina's participation in the hit single "Lady Marmalade" from the "Moulin Rouge" soundtrack, 2001 has been a quiet year for the blond singer.

Last year she released her Spanish album "Mi Reflejo" and the holiday release "My Kind Of Christmas", and now she's finally working on a proper follow-up to her 1999 debut "Christina Aguilera".

A publicist told MTV that Christina is in the studio but that her new album won't be available until next year.

"I haven't actually had a second album yet," she told MTV in an earlier interview. "I did the Latin album and my Christmas album -- side projects all within themselves -- but I'm really excited to be writing my next album, collaborating with other people and going to a different place with it. It's going to a more personal place."

Although there's been no word yet on who Christina will work with for her new album, she has said she'd like to team up with Gwen Stefani, Moby, Lenny Kravitz, and Timbaland.

A posting on her official website however, says Christina will not be working with Kravitz this time around.

"Christina is not working with Lenny Kravitz on her new album," reads the web posting. "She is the studio right now working on the new CD and she is a big part of the writing process for this album, so she has been collaborating with many people on the project. Unfortunately, Lenny Kravitz is not involved this time."

Meanwhile, Itaal Shur who was a co-writer on Santana's hit "Smooth", said during the summer that he was writing for her album.

-- AllPop


Wednesday, September 5, 2001

Christina to co-host Latin Grammys
 By STEPHANIE McGRATH -- AllPop

Pop diva Christina Aguilera will co-host the Second Annual Latin Grammy Awards this year.

Christina will be joined on stage by actor Jimmy Smits. The ceremony will air Tuesday (Sept. 11) on CBS.

Musical acts who are set to perform during the broadcast include Nelly Furtado, Jennifer Lopez, Lou Diamond Phillips, Marc Anthony, and Destiny's Child.

Christina, who released a Spanish-language album last year, previously won a Grammy for Best New Artist. She is working on a new English-language album.

-- AllPop


Thursday, August 2, 2001

Disputed Christina album release date confirmed
 By STEPHANIE McGRATH -- AllPop

Christina Aguilera fans will go back in time with the pop diva on Aug. 21.

On that date "Just Be Free," an album recorded when the singer was 14 and 15 years old, will finally be released.

As AllPop previously reported, Christina tried to prevent the release of "Just Be Free" and only recently reached an agreement with the parties involved in the release of the album: Warlock Records, Platinum Recording Group, LLC, JFB Music, Inc., Robert Allecca and Michael Brown.

Part of the settlement between Christina and Warlock stipulated that the album and any promotional material surrounding it must contain this message from the singer herself:

"Just Be Free" was recorded when I was only 14 and 15 years old. At that young age, I made the recordings as a possible stepping stone to a career in music, which is my ultimate passion. They were made just so that I could get my foot in the door of the music business. I did not intend that the recordings would be widely released, especially after I signed with a major record label. I have not updated or finished the versions recorded in my childhood and they are being released "as is," although I tried to prevent the release for several years. The recordings do not in any way reflect my current musical taste and where I am as an artist. The growth and vocal development I experienced as I matured into young adulthood is not reflected in the recordings. The album of new recordings that I intend to release this fall will be the album that truly reflects my artistry, my vision and my passion. The "Just Be Free" recordings will hopefully be a footnote in a musical career that I dream will last for many years to come."

A message posted on Christina's official website says that Christina is currently in the studio working on her new album.

"... she is a big part of the writing process for this album, so she has been collaborating with many people on the project," reads the posting.


Tuesday, July 3, 2001

Disputed Aguilera album to be released
 By STEPHANIE McGRATH -- AllPop

A collection of songs recorded by a very young Christina Aguilera will see the light of day after all.

Christina has reached a settlement with Warlock Records that will see her much disputed album, "Just Be Free", in stores either on the 14th or 21st of August.

The pop diva and her management were suing Warlock and the other parties involved in the album's release for improper use of her name and likeness for their own profit and other issues.

The material on the album was recorded when Christina was 14 and 15. When the dispute began, Christina's lawyer Carla Christofferson said the singer was upset about the release of her early recordings because they were "not of the quality that she wants her fans to have".

Although Christofferson and Warlock Records Inc.'s Adam Levy refused to comment on the financial details of the settlement, they did say that Christina will lend her image and likeness to the release as part of the final agreement.

Christofferson says that the album will feature a photo the singer chose herself, which shows Christina when she was 14 or 15, the same age she was when she recorded that album. The final agreement also allows Christina to make a statement on the album explaining the material to her fans.

"It just explains that it was made when she was 14 and 15 and that since that time she feels like she's developed as an artist and she just wants her fans to understand that it was when she was 14 and 15," says Christofferson about the statement.

Levy called the final agreement "a good settlement" and said he thinks it is fair to both the original owners of the recordings and to Christina.

"It was the right thing for everybody to do I think," says Levy. "Christina knows that these guys [the original producers] did work on this record and it was recorded and they do have rights to it and we were sensitive to the fact that she should be able to control her name and likeness. No one is completely happy with any settlement. She might have preferred for the record never to come out but at the same time she's involved and it is what it is."

"I think people are satisfied with what went on," laughs Christofferson from her California office when asked if Christina's team was pleased with the settlement. "They were going to put it ["Just Be Free"] out one way or another and this way Christina got to make a statement on the album and she's happy about that."

Below is the track listing for "Just Be Free" according to a Christina Aguilera fan site:

  • 1. Just Be Free
  • 2. All I Want To Do
  • 3. Running Out Of Time
  • 4. The Way You Talk To Me
  • 5. Believe Me
  • 6. By Your Side
  • 7. Move It
  • 8. Our Day Will Come
  • 9. Dream A Dream
  • 10. Make Me Happy
  • 11. Move It (dance remix)
  • 12. Believe Me (dance remix)
  • 13. Just Be Free (bonus track - Spanish version)

    • Tuesday, July 3, 2001

    The Christina Aguilera interview
     By STEPHANIE MCGRATH -- All Pop

    TORONTO -- Christina Aguilera looks tired and incredibly tiny. Sipping from a glass of orange juice to fight off a cold that forced her to cancel a recent European appearance, the 19-year-old Grammy-winning singer sounds a bit overwhelmed as she lists her upcoming projects.

    "Right now, we're getting ready to finish up the Latin album, which I've been in Miami recording for a few weeks now," Aguilera says, "translating a few songs from my debut album and putting a new twist on some new material - -a new R&B/salsa kind of a twist. There will be a lot of very versatile things on that record coming out in the fall."

    She takes a deep breath before rattling off the rest of her plans in one long, uninterrupted list.

    "Then I'm working on the Christmas album on the side ... doing a duet with one of my favourite idols, (blues legend) Etta James, for that one which I'm really excited about, as well, preparing for the tour and of course, in the meantime, writing and coming up with new ideas, new areas to explore for this second album, the follow-up to my debut album."

    But before the new album is recorded, Aguilera plans to release at least two more singles from her debut: "So Emotional" in the fall and "Come On Over" as soon as "I Turn To You", her current hit, "runs its toll," she says.

    Aguilera also plans to re-record "Come On Over".

    "We're going to head back in the studio, give it more of an edge, R&B it up a little, maybe rock it out a little, give it a lot of different new directions and get it out there," she says excitedly.

    The teen star's songs aren't the only things she wants to re-invent. Sitting in her hotel room in a glittery 'Rock Star', midriff-bearing T-shirt, and pulling on her now trademark platinum tresses, she claims her current look won't be around forever.

    "I'm experimental by nature," Aguilera says about her image, "...always exploring my creativity. Right now we want to keep it pretty simple. On 'Come on Over', we're going to edge out the make-up a little bit more. I love what Gwen Stefani (of No Doubt) does with herself and her image and making it a little different, but she's still glamorous at the same time. She's a glamorous rock chick, and that's really attractive to me, that's really cool - -experimenting with different hair colours, hair styles, not afraid to be daring and funky, just changing it up."

    Aside from experimenting with hair colours, Aguilera also plans to break new ground on her second album, which she says will be released in 2001.

    Some might wonder if she's feeling the pressure to live up to the success of her self-titled debut, which shot up the charts and earned her a Grammy for Best New Artist. But Aguilera has big plans.

    "There's still a lot to be accomplished, that was a dream of mine of course - to win a Grammy," she admits, remembering how her knees shook as she took the stage to accept the award. "But my long-term goal is to become an all-around entertainer. I look up to great performers such as Madonna and Janet Jackson, who've taken on the stage, the studio and the screen and have been successful in all three while maintaining their strength as positive female artists who aren't afraid to take chances and be daring and experimental and sexy, yet not ... you know, they still have a power about them. They're still dominating as females and not being vulnerable in their sexuality, which is really cool."

    Lofty goals for such a young star, and hearing the minute singer discuss the different aspects of female sexuality and her long-term goals, it's easy to forget that she is only 19, until she's asked about her rumoured romantic interest in fellow music star Enrique Iglesias.

    "Right now I'm pretty single," she insists. "I'm just so focused on what

    I have career-wise on my plate, it's kind of like overload with the tour and the Spanish album and the Christmas record. My career is my boyfriend."

    She's used that line before and knows it, but she smiles for a moment and lets her human side shine through her slick, rehearsed answer.

    "But I do have fun on the side. Enrique and I have actually maintained friendship since the Super Bowl [where they both performed] and he's a sweetheart, sent me flowers when I was sick and everything over the past two weeks," she says. "He's just...he's a wonderful person, really down-to-earth and for as gorgeous as he is, you wouldn't expect him to be. It's really cool talking to someone like that."

    That seems to be the extent of the Enrique relationship, but Aguilera is quite open about her romantic past..

    "I fell in love for the first time over the past year," she says. "That's also been a learning and growing experience for me. But right now it's just I had to get back to my own independence and stay focused on what was important and that's my career, above all, for me right now. But it [love] is a really amazing thing. It turned my world upside down for a second. I was like, 'What is this?' And it still pretty much has."

    Is the love over?

    "Not necessarily," she says. "I don't think you forget your first love, that's what everybody says. You always have that little glass that goes across your heart when you think about it ... but it's not like that. It's a cool relationship right now."

    After successfully downplaying the much publicized romance rumours, Aguilera tackles the question that very young pop fans want to know: Are

    Aguilera and Britney Spears, who were in the Mickey Mouse Club together, friends or competitors?

    "I have not been able to talk to Britney at length since we were best friends on the Mickey Mouse Club," she says. "I miss her a lot. I think she's a really sweet girl who's really talented. When we cross paths we definitely say 'hey'. I miss the girl. Someone did my make-up for the July issue of Rolling Stone and the guy was going to see Britney in a week and I told him to give her my phone number, so I gave it. We'll see if she calls. There's no hard feelings or competition like everybody thinks there is."

    The words are barely out of Aguilera's mouth before she's whisked away to her next interview. Stifling a cough and taking a deep breath, she readies herself for more questions. This is Aguilera's life, and she shows no signs of slowing down.