Strong, sexy Christina Aguilera returns
By Han Sang-hee
Staff reporter
She may have added a few more roles to her already colorful resume, including loving wife and mother, but these haven't retired Christina Aguilera from the pop scene. With her fourth studio album ``Bionic,'' she's ready to prove she's still got it.
The pop princess has surprised fans around the world over the past 11 years, evolving from the innocent girl with the strong voice (``Christina Aguilera,'' 1999), to the sexy, fearless diva (``Stripped,'' 2002) to a classic Hollywood beauty (``Back to Basics,'' 2006).
The 29-year-old is currently pushing the envelope further with a brand new look, that is maybe a bit too sexy and provocative for her teenage fans, but stronger and more comfortable than her previous albums.
``The meaning behind the album title `Bionic' is very layered. It means to me having bionic body parts, in particular the vocal cords are highlighted in the album art work. And then you have bionic coming from the notion of just being super highly electronically charged and excited about the future. And also it's the way I see women. We are superhuman in so many ways. We give birth, we give life, we do it all, and I mean we wear many different hats. We work at the same time, we raise our families, we hold down our forts and becoming a new mom since then has also contributed to the bionic meaning of the album,'' she said through a email interview with the local press.
Promotional photos for the new album were released weeks before the actual disc, and they proved that Aguilera was not scared nor burdened to try something new, especially when it came to her look. On opening the CD case photo of her fiery red lips will probably give you an idea of what is in store.
The album insert shows her in shiny black leather, fiery red lipstick and, in some, nothing at all. Many critics and the press have pointed out that the concept resembles Lady Gaga's, but in terms of the songs, she made sure to make the music the ``Christina-way.''