[Review] christina Aguilera - Accelerate

Post by: Diva Devotee

Over the years Christina Aguilera has become more well known for her stints on The Voice than her musical output. This was much to the chagrin of her fans, who really wanted a new album. Well, today she's deemed the Fighters worthy, blessing them with the title of her eighth studio album, Liberation, and (depending on its success, I'd imagine)the lead single Accelerate.

Any good? Read on and find out...

Christina Aguilera Has An Ugly Tone. There, I said it.

Post by: Diva Devotee

Can we finally admit that Christina Aguilera manufactured, Kermit tone is ugly? I've always known it, and I'm pretty sure I've mentioned a preference for her natural voice. However I don't think I've explicitly called it ugly before. So there you are, cards on the table.

What am I talking about, exactly? Let's use yesterday's (not the best) tribute to the glorious Whitney Houston at the American Music Awards to illustrate. The Voice I'm alluding to rears its fat head during the first verse of I Will Always Love You. Prior to that, though pitchy and not keeping time with the instrumentation*- both issues continue throughout- her voice was more naturally placed. The tone here was beautiful, lighter, youthful and sweet. It only made the off-putting sound that followed more startling. And to those who think this Kermit tone is not produced through dubious methods, note the spoken parts she interjects the medleys with. They are of a lighter timbre that is much more akin to her true voice.

Christina Aguilera Returns With Sia-Penned "Telepathy"

Disco is my genre, so when I read Christina Aguilera's new track Telepathy dabbled in the '70s sound, I was so ready for it.

Penned by Sia and produced by Stargate, the track immediately brought to mind Daft Punk's Get Lucky, with a similar guitar loop and tempo. Not a great start. However, Christina's vocal styling saved it from becoming too derivative, with falsetto notes, runs and edgy belts out in force. They're just not executed to the usual standard you'd hear on a Christina Aguilera studio cut- sounding somewhat sloppy. (Admittedly that could be the fault of the mix.)

Christina Aguilera Delivers First Live Showing Of "Change" to Kimmel

Christina Aguilera released Change, a few weeks back in a response to the devastating shooting at the Orlando Pulse nightclub.

Christina Aguilera Releases New Music in Tribute to Pulse Nightclub Victims

With the world still reeling from the despicable shooting at an Orlando nightclub, where 49 of its patrons senselessly lost their lives, many, including myself, are still at a loss as to how to process the events of last Sunday.

Perhaps dealing with it in the only way she knows how, Christina Aguilera has taken to her own art, releasing a new, uplifting, song called Change. Whereas it sends out a message of hope and change in a more generic fashion (no shade), the Diva also released a statement addressing the shootings specifically:

Christina Aguilera Duet Kills Ariana Grande's Set @ The Voice Finale !!! (In A Bad Way)

We can forgive Ariana Grande for being slightly lethargic during her showing of Into You and Dangerous Woman at The Voice. Coming off of the back of her brilliant set at the Billboard Music Awards, it wasn't entirely unexpected that she had a little less bounce in her step. Perhaps that's why Christina Aguilera was added to the musical soup - to spice it up.

[Shock] Pink Calls Christina Aguilera "...Best Singer Of Our Generation"!!!

Now I've heard everything!

Promoting her stint on The Voice -where she acted as an advisor- Pink gave Christina Aguilera a MASSIVE compliment, calling her, "one of the best singers of our generation"! Excuse me for being a little shocked, it's just not something I thought I'd ever hear from the Missundaztood singer.

Their issues supposedly go way back. Initially starting from their first meeting on the Lady Marmalade collaboration, it was a beef that grew more personal when the Dirty one poached Pink's friend and collaborator- Linda Perry- for her own project. I thought this was a petty spat that would see me through to my grave, keeping me warm for all eternity. But nope, looks like it's over.

What a wondrous time to be alive.

[Masterclass] Learn How To Sing the Christina Aguilera Way! "Technique is only a quarter of it", apparently...

You've always wanted to sing like Christina Aguilera, do not even lie about it! Well, now you have the chance to be taught how by none other than the Diva herself! The Lord is good.

Yes, Ms. Aguilera is finally capitalising on her unique skills as a vocalist by offering lessons online. Want a taster of what to expect? Well, watch as the Diva vaguely explains to us plebs what a vocal slide is. You don't just get dry-ass theory on this revolutionary course, though. Xtina also demonstrates the technique for us, first hand! ( Headphone listeners be warned!)

[Watch] Christina Aguilera Sings "Beautiful" and Duets With Seth Macfarlane On "New York, New York"

It's Christmas time and Christina Aguilera is out to play, serving up two helpings of live showings in one week!

First up we have her rendition of New York, New York which she sang with  Seth Macfarlane for the laughably titled Live at Sinatra: Voice for a Century.

Jessie J Vs Christina Aguilera: Which is the Queen Of The Vocal Run?

Click on either to go to their vocal profile!

Melisma can be an impressive and beautiful touch to a vocal line, when used with musicality and intelligence. It can of course be a force for evil too, destroying lives and homes when used excessively. The problem is, what is considered too much to some can be not enough for others. This is the power of subjective taste.

[Watch] Ariana Grande Impersonates Christina Aguilera and Celine Dion On The Tonight Show

Ariana Grande rocked up to The Tonight Show where she gave an interview that I did not watch. What she also did was play the Wheel Of Musical Impressions with host Jimmy Fallon. Now that I did watch!

[Duelling Divas] "Lady Marmalade"

Lady Marmalade was a smash hit for LaBelle in 1975 and featured the scandalously suggestive chorus of "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi (ce soir)?". At the time of release, Patti Labelle -who handled the lead- claimed she never really understood the français, saying: "I didn't know what it was about. Nobody, I swear this is God's truth, nobody told me what I'd just sung a song about."

Christina Aguilera Delivers Controlled (and Gorgeous) Vocal On "Anywhere But Here"

Christina Aguilera's contribution to Finding Neverland: The Album (Songs From the Broadway Musical) has been uploaded to YouTube in its entirety.

Christina Aguilera Duets With Rascal Flatts @ 50th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards

If you're a fan of Christina Aguilera's heavier, darker timbre, you're going to love the Diva's performance at the 50th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.

[New Music] Christina Aguilera - The Real Thing

Christina Aguilera's contribution to Nashville, the TV show she has just joined, has hit the webz.

With a rock edge and a driving beat, The Real Thing places the Diva's vocal style in a genre it locks into perfectly. But it isn't just full-on, high octane belting that fill the 3 minute-shy song. There's plenty of peaks and valleys crammed in too, so variety is present not only in the production, but also the vocal.

[Watch] Christina Aguilera Imitates Cher, Britney And Shakara on The Tonight Show

Christina Aguilera joined Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon for a chinwag yesterday.

It was during this sit-down that an invitation to partake in a reoccurring segment, the Wheel of Musical Impressions, was extended to the Diva. And being the shady Queen good sport that she is, Christina delved headfirst into the game, delivering vocal imitations of Cher, Britney Spears and Shakira.

Christina Aguilera And Nas Open NBA All Star Game

Christina Aguilera opened the NBA All Star Game with a medley of New York-centric songs at Madison Square Garden, yesterday.

[Quiz] Which Diva "Whistled" What?

The highest part of the voice- AKA the "whistle" register- is often thought of as nothing more than a freakish extension of a person's range. So devoid of character and individuality that it adds precious little to a vocal, bar a chance for showboating. Blasphemy, I say!!

We here at DivaDevotee are a (mostly) proud bunch of flageolet lovers (hehehe), who I'm sure think can attribute a whistle tone to a particular singer with relative ease. (Me included!) But let's find out if this is true, with the 9 question quiz below!

Simply listen to each example, check the Diva's name and submit your answer to find out if you were correct or not. It would be cool if you could tot up your score and post it, along with any other whistle-related discussion, in the comments.

So watcha waiting for. Give your ears a workout.

[Duellng Divas] "Baby, It's Cold Outside"

Since it is the season, I thought this latest addition to the Duelling Divas series should be somewhat related.

We've already had a Christmas battle [See: O Holy Night], so this time I've found a winter classic that is pertinent to the coldest season of the northern hemisphere, but isn't holiday related. A bonus of this pick is that it's been covered by such a wide range of singers, over such a large period of time, that we'll get to deal with Divas who don't usually get a look in on the blog.

Before we get to the music, here's a quick blurb from Wiki on the song:

[Watch] Christina Aguilera Sings "Beautiful " For Science!

Some of you must be craving a bit of Christina Aguilera! Well, let me quench your parched plains with this live performance of Beautiful, recorded at The 2015 Breakthrough Prizes. What's that, you ask? Here's the gist, pinched from the BBC website: