Chart Feature: Christina Aguilera
For the fifth segment of the Chart Feature, we thought we’d steer away from the peasantry of signed artists and join the upper class known as the label executives. And it just so happens that Republic Records’ executive Christina Aguilera was due to cover Billboard this week. While her personal style and puking memories aren’t the upper class we had hoped for, her music sales certainly qualify.
Everyone starts with a humble beginning. Actually that’s a lie, not everyone has a humble beginning, and not everyone starts to begin with. But these two aspects definitely apply to Aguilera. Aguilera told us about her start-up: “I really enjoyed working on the single but the aftermath? Not so much". Her debut single ‘Under Her Spell’ reached the number-eight position on the Hot Singles Chart and will be vying again for success on this year’s newest chart feature; the Legacy Chart.
Two years later, Aguilera scored her first number-one single in a surprise reveal as ‘Chronic Chromatic’ topped the Hot Singles Chart. Fading from the charts pretty quickly and currently ineligible for a certification, this track proved (for all the wrong reasons) that you don’t need a number-one to be successful. Aguilera says: “"I like it more than 'Dreamer', let's go with that...”
While ‘Chronic Chromatic’ was incapable of being certified, Aguilera has eighteen other singles that are eligible for either a gold or platinum certification. Her best performing single to date is the P!nk collaboration ‘Delicious’ – claimed to be the ‘Lady Marmalade’ of #PI on Twitter (poor Marina, Florence, Ellie and the other one). On this track, Aguilera says: “I absolutely adore this one. I'd delete Madonna though.”
Evidenced by ‘Delicious’, Aguilera knows the importance of making friends and building relationships within the industry. Other platinum-eligible features she sings on include: ‘You Can’t Sit With Us’ (Katy Perry), ‘Vodka Cranberry’ and ‘Please Don’t Fall’ (‘Rihanna) and ‘Power’ (Erika Jayne). Aguilera feels that: “Collaborating expands the world for any artist and let you get your name out for the public. It takes time for them to know you”.
In fact, Aguilera’s own two platinum-eligible releases are also collaborations. The first of which catapulted Aguilera and her comeback into the industry as she collaborated with Katy Perry, Ariana Grande and Mariah Carey in a ‘Coalition’ against a rival ‘Tribe’, while the latter took Kesha and Erika Jayne for a girls night out which later became Aguilera’s biggest lead hit to date (‘Dance in the Neon Lights’). Aguilera discusses these tracks: “I love both of these songs. I wish I hadn't done 'Coalition' so wrong. And actually, I feel 'Dance' was robbed.”
While to some it may seem that Aguilera is nothing but a feature artist relying on others for success, it’s important to note that she also owns seven top-five solo singles and four top-three albums. The most successful of these records is Aguilera’s fifth album; ‘Blonde’ (#2, Platinum). We asked Aguilera about the origin of this record: “I'm still not sure why I named it 'Blonde'. I adore it, but looking back I would have named it 'Sunset Strip' because of the throwback feel and reference to soul music from the 20s, 30s and 40s.”
Finally, we arrive at Aguilera’s newest album. After three singles from older records that had nothing to do with her current project, Aguilera dropped ‘Legend X’; sadly missing the number-one spot after a re-issue by The Weeknd. Aguilera talks about future plans for the album: “There are none. Get your coins ready though, because my seventh record is coming!”
So it seems that ‘Legend X’ will be another flash in the pan, as Aguilera takes the advice of ancient scholars and continues to move forward. We look forward to seeing new music, even more Twitter feuds and the next Wine Squad eviction from Aguilera in the future.
