Stripped (Christina Aguilera album)
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| Stripped | ||
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| Studio album by Christina Aguilera | ||
| Released |  October 28, 2002 October 29, 2002 |
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| Recorded | 2001–2002 | |
| Genre | Pop/Rock/R&B/Soul | |
| Length | 77:48 | |
| Label | RCA | |
| Producer(s) | Christina Aguilera (also executive), Glen Ballard, Jasper Cameron, E. Dawk, Rob Hoffman, Heather Holley, Steve Morales, Balewa Muhammad, Linda Perry, Rockwilder, Scott Storch | |
| Professional reviews | ||
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| Christina Aguilera chronology | ||
| Just Be Free (2000) |
Stripped (2002) |
Back to Basics (2006) |
Stripped is the second English studio album (fifth overall) by American pop singer Christina Aguilera, released in 2002. It reached the top five of the album charts in both the United States and United Kingdom and features two UK number-one hits in "Dirrty" and "Beautiful". Despite not reaching the number one spot in the UK, Stripped had placed number seventy-three in UK's best-selling albums of all time, selling 1,850,852 copies. The raunchy themes of the album attracted the most publicity – not all positive – though Aguilera insisted that the title and subject matter reflected her emotions more than her body. The songs with that as a theme include: "Beautiful", "Fighter", "The Voice Within", "Infatuation", "Loving Me 4 Me", and "I'm OK". The album was listed as one of 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die by the book of the same name, edited by Robert Dimery.
"Dirrty" earned Christina Aguilera a Grammy Award nomination for "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals" in 2003. The album was nominated for "Best Pop Vocal Album", "Can't Hold Us Down" was nominated for "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals", and "Beautiful" earned Aguilera her third (fourth counting the Latin Grammy Award she won in 2001) Grammy Award, "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 2004. It was also nominated for "Song of the Year" which Linda Perry was the only one nominated because she wrote it by herself. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) presented a special award for inclusion to her in February 2003 for the positive images of gay and transgender people. In accepting the award in February 2003, Aguilera said that "the song 'Beautiful' is about being or feeling unaccepted for merely being yourself, yet knowing through any hardships, we are all beautiful despite the differences or insecurities. My video captures the reality that gay and transgender people are beautiful, even though prejudice and discrimination against them still exists."
"Make Over" became the subject of controversy when critics commented on its similarity to a 2000 Sugababes' single called "Overload". When Stripped was originally released, Aguilera and Linda Perry were listed as the song's writers. Some time later ASCAP also gave additional credits to Sugababes writers Jonathan Lipsey, Felix Howard, Cameron McVey, and Paul Simm. The link was never publicly admitted but "Make Over" was removed from the track listing of Aguilera's subsequent DVD, Stripped Live in the UK.
Christina Aguilera recorded the song titled "I'm OK". The song is a personal account of her emotionally distressing childhood. She speaks about her father and her painful memories from her early life.
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[edit] "Dirrty" and sex
Initial indications of a raunchier image for Aguilera were demonstrated in her appearance in the video for a remake of the 1975 Labelle's hit "Lady Marmalade". The video showed Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mýa, and Pink dressed in lingerie. In late August 2002, "Dirrty", the first single from Stripped, was leaked on the Internet and radio stations. The song was a hip-hop-influenced track, based on rapper Redman's 2001 single "Let's Get Dirty (I Can't Get in da Club)", which features DJ Kool. As a play on the similarities, Redman was featured on the track, rapping for one verse of the song.
On September 30, the music video for "Dirrty" premiered on MTV in the United States. The video features a scantily-clad Aguilera, dancing lecherously with members of both sexes in a run-down, underground boxing venue. Due to the sexually relatively explicit nature of the video, it was heavily criticized by other musicians, as well as the media. In response, Aguilera pointed out the video is more about power and control, later stating "I may have been the naked-ass girl in the video, but if you look at it carefully, I'm also at the forefront. I'm not just some lame chick in a rap video; I'm in the power position, in complete command of everything around me. To be totally balls-out like that is, for me, the measure of a true artist." There's also a scene where she participates in a boxing match. Although European MTV channels shown the unedited video, the United States and some Asian MTV channels show an edited version of the video with some of the raciest footage omitted. However, the "Dirrty" video was banned in Thailand for containing Thai-language posters that said "Thailand's Sex Tourism" and "Young Underage Girls" – references to Thailand's much-criticized, tourist-driven sex industry –, during the boxing ring sequence. The producers and director of the video, David LaChapelle, claimed to be ignorant of the meaning of the posters, and sent public apologies.
During the first few months of promoting Stripped, she took part in photo shoots for the magazines Maxim, Rolling Stone, and CosmoGirl!. Many of the photographs featured her nude or semi-nude. She denied the image change was a matter of publicity, claiming that it better reflected her true personality than did the image she cultivated in 1999. She told German paper Netzeitung, "I like having sex. It's fun... I love experimenting with my sexuality. I want to try out as much as possible. It would be wrong of me to hide this side of my personality. I have fun being sexy and tough at the same time."
[edit] Chart success
Ironically, unlike Madonna, the raunchy image negatively affected the sales of the album upon release. The album debuted at number two in the U.S. selling about over 330,000 copies but quickly began to slide down the charts. However, upon the release of "Beautiful" and later hit singles, sales increased and the album ended up being a top seller in 2003. It is now certified 4x Platinum by the RIAA in January 2005[1] and has currently sold over 4 million copies.
The staying power of the album was also shown in the UK, where the album was consistently in the top twenty between late 2002 and mid-2004.
In December 2004, Stripped was certified 3x Platinum by the IFPI[2] for shipments of three million copies inside Europe, of which, 1,850,000+ million were sold in the UK alone and the album was certified 6x Platinum.[3] It peaked at number six in Germany and after spending seventy-seven weeks inside the Top 100 the album was certified 3x Platinum and peaked at number ten in Greece. It is also quadruple Platinum in Australia despite only reaching a peak of number seven. It is 2x Platinum in Canada. Stripped has sold 9 million albums worldwide by the end of 2006.
[edit] Singles
The five singles released from Stripped are the following:
- "Dirrty" is a hip-hop-influenced song about not being afraid to conform to one's own standards. The track went to number one in the UK and Ireland, and was a top ten hit in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, and Australia. It only reached forty-eight on the Billboard Hot 100, reflecting the early sales backlash.
- "Beautiful", perhaps Aguilera's best-known single to date, is a ballad about not letting others' negativity affect oneself. This Linda Perry-written, cello-driven, classically-flavored track was called one of the best pop recordings ever made by Simon Cowell.[4] The video garnered great attention, as it touched on the subjects of anorexia nervosa, homosexuality, and cross-dressing. It went to number one in the UK, Canada, Ireland, and Australia as well as making the U.S. top five and adult contemporary chart. "Beautiful" earned Aguilera the award for "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance" at the 2004 Grammy Awards. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) presented her a special award in February 2003 for including positive images of gay and transgendered people in the video.
- "Fighter" is a rock-influenced track that Christina wrote about the on again off again relationship between her and former manager Steve Kurtz as well as to others who wronged her in the past. It thanks those who had put her through this, because (as the name suggests), it has made her a stronger person. The video shows Christina slowly emerging, first as a worm, then changing to a moth. This is to signify the change in her musical style, and the change in herself as a person. It went to number twenty on the Hot 100 and reached the top ten on world airplay charts. It was directed by Floria Sigismondi – who was popular for her previous work with Marilyn Manson – and features a guitar sound by Dave Navarro. "Fighter" is most noted for its extreme rawness and vocal range. The single was particularly popular because people felt they could relate to Christina's harsh backlash towards those that had treated her badly.
- "Can't Hold Us Down" is a collaboration with rapper Lil' Kim that describes and condemns the existence of the double standard in society's views of men and women. The video ties in with the theme and features the duo in the Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, wearing heavily 1980s-inspired hip-hop clothing and taking on a rowdy group of guys with some help from their friends. It was another top five hit internationally and reached twelve on the Hot 100. The song has a hip-hop feel to it, with a rap featured by Lil' Kim, this stepped away from Christina's typical soulful sound.
- "The Voice Within" is a ballad about turning to one's self if all else fails. The video features a black-and-white, one-shot take of Aguilera wearing a thin white slip dress, walking out of an abandoned theater. It is very simplistic, but was critically acclaimed. It peaked at thirty-three on the Hot 100 and nine in the UK.
The track "Infatuation" was released in later 2003 exclusively to Spain to promote the concert in Barcelona (October 22). However, the single wasn't a success due to a lack of promotion (it only reached number twenty one).
[edit] Track listing
- "Stripped Intro" – 1:39
- "Can't Hold Us Down" (featuring Lil' Kim) (Christina Aguilera, Scott Storch, Matt Morris) – 4:15
- "Walk Away" (Christina Aguilera, Scott Storch, Matt Morris) – 5:47
- "Fighter" (Christina Aguilera, Scott Storch) – 4:05
- "Primer Amor Interlude" – 0:53
- "Infatuation" (Christina Aguilera, Scott Storch, Matt Morris) – 4:17
- "Loves Embrace Interlude" – 0:47
- "Loving Me 4 Me" (Christina Aguilera, Scott Storch, Matt Morris) – 4:36
- "Impossible" (Alicia Keys) – 4:14
- "Underappreciated" (Christina Aguilera, Scott Storch, Matt Morris) – 4:00
- "Beautiful" (Linda Perry) – 3:58
- "Make Over" (Christina Aguilera, Linda Perry) – 4:12
- "Cruz" (Christina Aguilera, Linda Perry) – 3:49
- "Soar" (Christina Aguilera, Rob Hoffman, Heather Holley) – 4:45
- "Get Mine, Get Yours" (Christina Aguilera, Steve Morales, Balewa Muhammad, David Siegel) – 3:44
- "Dirrty" (featuring Redman) (Christina Aguilera, Dana Stinson, Balewa Muhammad, Reggie Noble, Jasper Cameron) – 4:58
- "Stripped Pt. 2" – 0:45
- "The Voice Within" (Christina Aguilera, Glen Ballard) – 5:04
- "I'm OK" (Christina Aguilera, Linda Perry) – 5:18
- "Keep on Singin' My Song" (Christina Aguilera, Scott Storch) – 6:29
[edit] Mexican edition
The Mexican edition of Stripped doesn't contain "Get Mine, Get Yours" but instead its Spanish-language version, "Dame Lo Que Yo Te Doy" ("Give Me What I Give You"). It also appears as a B-side to the "Beautiful" CD single.
[edit] Alternate covers
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[edit] Personnel
- Christina Aguilera - vocals, background vocals
- Alex Al - bass
- Maxi Anderson - background vocals, choir, chorus
- Glen Ballard - guitar
- Alexandra Brown - background vocals
- Matt Chamberlain - drums
- Darryl Dixon - horn
- Richard Dodd - cello
- Crystal Drummer - background vocals
- Uriah Duffy - bass
- Mike Elizondo - bass
- Aaron Fishbein - guitar, electric guitar
- Damon Fox - keyboard
- Larry Gold - conductor
- John Goux - guitar
- Gary Grant - horn
- Lili Haydn - violin, viola
- Jerry Hey - horn
- Dan Higgins - horn
- Charles Hines - background vocals
- Rob Hoffman - guitar, Fender Rhodes
- Russell Jackson - bass
- Paul Alexandre John - drums
- Randy Kerber - keyboard
- Alicia Keys - piano, background vocals
- Eric King - background vocals
- Michael Landau - guitar
- Brian MacLeod - drums
- Tarus Mateen - bass
- Brian Frazier Moore - drums
- Dave Navarro - guitar
- Linda Perry - bass, guitar, piano, strings
- Greg Phillinganes - piano, Hammond organ
- Shanti Randall - viola
- Bill Reichenbach, Jr. - horn
- David Siegel - keyboard
- Alfie Silas - background vocals
- Ramon Stagnaro - acoustic guitar
- Mike Stinson - drums
- Ahmir Khalib Thompson - drums
- David Warner - electric tenor guitar
- David Watson - horn
- Arthur White - guitar
- Maxine Willard Waters - background vocals
[edit] Production
- Producers: Christina Aguilera, Glen Ballard, Jasper Cameron, E. Dawk, Rob Hoffman, Heather Holley, Steve Morales, Balewa Muhammad, Linda Perry, Rockwilder, Scott Storch
- Executive producers: Christina Aguilera, Ron Fair
- Engineers: Scott Campbell, David Guerrero, Rob Hoffman, Linda Perry, Oscar Ramirez, Shane Stoner, Wassim Zreik
- Assistant engineers: Brian Douglas, Alex Gibson, Jay Goin, Anthony Kilhoffer, Aaron Lepley, Rafael Serrano, Kevin Szymanski, Davy Vain, Scott Whiting, Ethan Willoughby
- Mixing: Tony Maserati, Peter Mokran, Dave Pensado
- Mixing assistants: Rich Balmer, Tony Flores, David Guerrero, Jaime Sickora, Ethan Willoughby
- Mastering: Brian Gardner
- A&R: Ron Fair
- Instrumentation: Alicia Keys, Linda Perry
- Production coordination: Jolie Levine-Aller
- Orchestra production: Rob Hoffman
- Music contractor: JoAnn Tominaga
- Chart: Orion Crawford
- Pro-tools: Davy Vain
- Programming: Rob Hoffman
- Drum programming: Steve Morales, Linda Perry
- Arrangers: Christina Aguilera, Glen Ballard, Jasper Cameron, E. Dawk, Steve Morales, Balewa Muhammad
- Choir arrangement: Anson Dawkins, Eric Dawkins
- Orchestral arrangements: Bill Ross
- String arrangements: Ron Fair, Larry Gold, Linda Perry
- Art direction: Jeri Heiden, Glen Nakasako
- Design: Jeri Heiden, Glen Nakasako
- Photography: Miranda Penn Turin
[edit] Charts
| Chart (2002/2003) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard 200 | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Internet Albums | 2 |
| Australia ARIA Top 100 Albums | 7 |
| Australia ARIA Top 40 Urban Albums | 1 |
| Austria Top 75 Albums | 10 |
| Canada Top 50 Albums | 3 |
| France Top 150 Albums | 49 |
| Germany Top 100 Albums | 6 |
| Italy Top 50 Albums | 16 |
| Netherlands Top 100 Albums | 3 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Top 50 Albums | 5 |
| Sweden Top 60 Albums | 13 |
| Switzerland Top 100 Albums | 9 |
| UK Top 75 Albums | 2 |
| United World Chart | 8 |
[edit] Awards
[edit] 2003
| Awards ceremony | Award |
|---|---|
| Blender Magazine | Woman of the Year |
| Channel [V] Taiwan Music Video Awards | Popular Female Video - Beautiful |
| Crust-Busting Your Way To An Awesome Life Radio Show | Crust-Busting Artist of the Month (October) |
| GLAAD Media Awards | Special Recognition Award |
| HX Awards | Dance Song of the Year - Beautiful (Peter Rauhofer Mix) (Peter Rauhofer) |
| Latina Magazine | Women of the Year (#3) |
| MOBO Awards | Best Video - Dirrty |
| MTV Europe Music Awards | Best Female |
| MTV TRL Awards | TRL Evolution Award |
| MVPA Awards | Best Styling - Dirrty (Trish Summerville) |
| MVPA Awards | Best Make-Up - Dirrty (Troy Jensen & Sharon Gault) |
| Q Awards | Best Single - Dirrty |
| Smash Hits Poll Winners Awards | Best Female Solo Artist |
| Sugar Magazine | Inspirational Girls Top 100 (#1) |
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice Summer Tour - Justified And Stripped |
| Teen People Readers' Choice Awards | Best Tour - Justified And Stripped |
| Teen People Readers' Choice Awards | Best Booty-Shakin' Song - Dirrty |
| Teen People Readers' Choice Awards | Most Empowering Anthem - Can't Hold Us Down |
| Teen People Readers' Choice Awards | Best Image 180° |
| TMF Awards - Belgium | Best Album International - Stripped |
| TMF Awards - Belgium | Best Female Artist International |
| TMF Awards - Belgium | Best Video International - Fighter |
| TMF Awards - Holland | Best Female Artist International |
| Top Of The Pops Awards | Singer of the Year |
[edit] 2004
| Awards ceremony | Award |
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| BMI Pop Awards | Miss Independent |
| Glamour Women of the Year Awards | Woman of the Year |
| Grammy Awards | Best Female Pop Vocal Performance - Beautiful |
| Groovevolt Music & Fashion Awards | Album of the Year - Stripped |
| Groovevolt Music & Fashion Awards | Song of the Year - Beautiful |
| Groovevolt Music & Fashion Awards | Video of the Year - Beautiful |
| Groovevolt Music & Fashion Awards | Most Fashionable Music Video - Can't Hold Us Down |
| JUNO Awards | Video of the Year - Fighter (Floria Sigismondi) |
| Musicnotes | Song of the Year - Beautiful (Linda Perry) |
| MVPA Awards | Best Styling - Dirrty (Trish Summerville) |
| NRJ Radio Awards - Scandinavia | Best Pop |
| MTV Asia Awards | Favorite Female Artist |
| MVPA Awards | Best Pop Video - Fighter (Floria Sigismondi) |
| MVPA Awards | Best Styling - Fighter (Carol Beadle & Trish Summerville) |
| MVPA Awards | Best Make-Up - Fighter (Francesca Toulet) |
| MVPA Awards | Best Cinematography - Fighter (Christopher Soos) |
| Rolling Stone Music Awards | Readers' Top Ten Singles - Beautiful (#2) |
| Rolling Stone Music Awards | Best Female Performer, Readers' Pick (#1) |
| Rolling Stone Music Awards | Best Video, Readers' Pick - Beautiful (#2) |
| Rolling Stone Music Awards | Best Tour, Readers' Pick - Justified And Stripped (#1) |
| TMF Awards - Holland | Best Female Artist International |
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- All Music Guide Christina Aguilera article
- GLAAD media release
- WikiMusicGuide Stripped Page
- MTV News article on kissing controversy
Studio albums: Christina Aguilera · Stripped · Back to Basics
Other albums: Mi Reflejo · My Kind of Christmas · Just Be Free
Singles: "Reflection" · "Genie in a Bottle" · "The Christmas Song" · "What a Girl Wants" · "I Turn to You" · "Come on Over Baby" · "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely" · "Lady Marmalade" · "Dirrty" · "Beautiful" · "Fighter" · "Can't Hold Us Down" · "Infatuation" · "The Voice Within" · "Car Wash" · "Tilt Ya Head Back" · "Ain't No Other Man" · "Hurt" · "Tell Me"
Related: Discography · Awards · B-Sides/Unreleased songs · RCA Records
