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Music News: Christina Aguilera: 5th studio album anticipation
Member Since: 9/7/2008
Posts: 12,807
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Christina Aguilera's life of chaos and pain
If you think that Christina Aguilera's headline-grabbing divorce last month from music-executive husband Jordan Bratman is going to keep the pop singer from enjoying the opening of her first movie, you don't know Christina.
The singer, who plays a small-town girl with a big-city voice in the movie musical "Burlesque," has been through difficult times before, and she insists that she will get through this.
"I've had some element of struggle or pain or chaos since the day I was born," she told The Orange County Register in her Los Angeles hotel suite.
"I grew up in a household with a lot of chaos; where I didn't feel safe or stable. I never had a father figure in my life, and I had to work through that. I felt alienated at home and at school, and I had to work through that. There are good days, and there are hard days. You get through them."
See photos of Christina Aguilera in "Burlesque" and through the years
Aguilera, who turns 30 next month and is the mother of a 3-year-old son named Max, has made no secret of her dysfunctional childhood, during which her parents split and she was raised by her mother and grandmother.
Although her last album did not sell up to the standards she has set for herself, she has sold more than 30 million albums and won four Grammys. She was the only singer under 30 to make Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 greatest singers of all time.
Aguilera is making her acting debut in "Burlesque," which opens Wednesday. She plays a wide-eyed innocent who moves to Los Angeles to start a new life, and wanders into a financially strapped lounge run by Cher. Although she starts as a waitress, she soon graduates to performer.
After all, she's got that voice, which got her professional gigs at 6, a big break on the TV show "Star Search," a spot on Disney Channel's "The Mickey Mouse Club" and a recording contract while she was still a teenager.
During this interview, she relaxed on a sofa with a blanket covering her legs and her small dog sitting next to her. She explained how she gets her through tough times, what Cher said to her when they met and what she'd like that Angelina Jolie has.
ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: Were your little-girl dreams exclusively about music, or were there acting dreams as well?
CHRISTINA AGUILERA: They were strictly music-related, although all forms of performing and entertaining were goals that were always on my mind.
Q. But nothing specifically about acting?
A. I auditioned for things when I was a kid. I auditioned for the movie "My Girl," and didn't get it. But singing was my first love.
Q. Was there a "aha" moment sometime in your life when you opened your mouth and discovered that voice?
A. There really wasn't. I was singing all the time, like on buses and other public places, and didn't think anything of it. But people reacted to it. They'd stop my mom and tell her I had a good voice.
Q. Were you aware of that reaction?
A. Not really. I was singing as a release.
Q. A release from what?
A. A pretty chaotic childhood. It was an escape from the environment I was in.
Q. So, there was no moment when you realized that you possessed something special?
A. Honestly, I started having professional gigs at 6 years old, so there was no big moment. It all just kind of happened.
Q. That voice coming out of that little body must have freaked people out.
A. I was singing at a block party when I was seven, and this man came up behind me and unplugged my microphone because he didn't believe it was my voice. It was so mean to do to a seven-year-old.
Q. When did you realize that you could actually make a living at singing?
A. When I was six, I guess (laughs).
Q. Whose career did you want?
A. I was a big fan of Whitney Houston at the time. I loved Janet Jackson. And I was a big Michael Jackson fan.
Q. It's interesting that you liked two singers who were also actresses?
A. Yeah, I guess you're right. But I wasn't thinking about acting in the beginning. I wanted to get the singing right first, and then wait for the right project to expand my horizons. I knew "Burlesque" was the right project when I read it.
Q. Why?
A. I've always been fascinated with the idea of burlesque. I have a collection of books on burlesque.
Q. You do?
A. I love the sensuality and beauty of burlesque. And I love the female empowerment that comes along with it. I have always been in love with the idea and art form of burlesque.
Q. So, I guess that accepting this role as your movie debut was a no-brainer?
A. When I met Steven (director Steven Antin) and saw how he intended to shoot the film and capture women's beauty in such a classic way, I wanted to do it. I liked his vision.
Q. Have you ever seen a burlesque show in person?
A. Yes, I went to Forty Deuce in Los Angeles, and I've been to Crazy Horse in Paris.
Q. Do you think in another time and place, you might have been a burlesque performer?
A. (giggles) Who knows? I've done a lot of things. In another time and place, I could have been a doctor.
Q. You mentioned Whitney and Janet. I wondered if Cher was ever a performer you admired?
A. As I got older, I started noticing her. I think the first time I really noticed her was in that music video on the ship with all those sailors. She was singing "If I Could Turn Back Time" in a body suit with the butt cut out (giggles). I remember my grandma not being a fan, and not letting me watch it. I wasn't allowed to watch Cher or Madonna. But I guess Cher had some influence on me, judging from the butt-less chaps I wore in "Dirrty" (laughs).
Q. I wonder if there are grandmothers out there right now who won't allow their grandchildren to watch you because of your sexy outfits?
A. I'm sure there are.
Q. Could you describe your first meeting with Cher?
A. I went in for a dance rehearsal on the Sony lot. I had sweat pants on and my little flat shoes, and my son on my hip. The studio head came up to me and said, "Oh, you've got to meet Cher." She was on another soundstage rehearsing for her Vegas show. I told him I wasn't dressed to meet Cher. I needed high heels. I needed to feel good about myself to meet Cher.
Q. But you met her anyway?
A. Yes. I worked up the nerve.
Q. What happened when you met?
A. Well, I had told the studio head to stalk and beg Cher to do the movie. I told him to tell her that I was such a big fan that I would drink her bath water if she did the movie. So, when we were introduced, I said: "Yes, I'm the one who wants to drink your bath water."
Q. And what did she say?
A. She laughed. And then she said, "I'm going to tell you what Meryl Streep told me when I first worked with her ("Silkwood"). Meryl said: 'Welcome, I'm so glad you're here.' That was so sweet of her to say. Then she gave me a hug. We bonded immediately. It was like a Cher and Christina love-fest after that.
Q. Once filming started, what was she like?
A. Priceless information. Stories for days on end. The energy she exudes on set. The way she works. How free she is in experimenting in different ways she does things. And personally, she had great advice.
Q. Like what?
A. She's been there; done everything. And lived to tell the story. She's amazing.
Q. Cher has had to deal with tabloids and paparazzi most of her life. You've had your share of dealings with the tabloid media recently. Did she offer any advice on that?
A. As far as the paparazzi is concerned, you know what you're in for. At this point, I have my own system for that. Cher and I had more personal talks about love and relationships. She has been through the gamut of marriages and divorces, and I consider her a wise woman. She's someone I look to as a mentor, both personally and professionally.
Q. How serious is your acting career?
A. Oh, very serious. I have the itch now. I'm not sure I'll do another musical. I'd like to do something different, like Angelina Jolie's character in "Girl, Interrupted." I think it would be fun to toy around with something so different for me.
Q. But a musical was a good place to start for you, wasn't it? It was comfortable?
A. It was familiar because Ali (her character) and I have the same voice. But I've never worked so hard in my life. I never danced before. The schedule was intense. I felt bounced around like a ping pong ball. I was working 17-hour days. Every couple of weeks, they had to take in my clothing because I was losing weight from all the work.
Q. You should start the "Star-in-Your-Own-Movie" diet.
A. How about the overworked-and-exhaustion diet?
Q. Besides this exhaustive schedule, you've had an unbelievably stressful year. How are you getting through it?
A. The way I always have. I've had some element of struggle or pain or chaos since the day I was born. I grew up in a household with a lot of chaos; where I didn't feel safe or stable. I never had a father figure in my life, and I had to work through that. I felt alienated at home and at school, and I had to work through that. I'm used to having my moments. There are good days, and there are hard days. You get through them. Working sometimes helps, but friends help me the most. A good support team is the only thing that really helps.
Q. And your little boy helps?
A. If he's happy, I'm happy.
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http://www.ocregister.com/entertainment/-276559--.html
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Member Since: 9/7/2008
Posts: 12,807
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DJ Premier Using Christina’s Studio To Work With Chaka Khan
Speaking of working with other artists, I heard you’re doing a full-length album with Chaka Khan.
We spoke while I was on tour four months ago and I told her that I would love to be in charge of the project. She said she was cool, but she wanted to work out of LA and didn’t have a studio to work at. So I called Christina Aguilera and asked if I could borrow her studio and she said, “Yeah, no doubt.” She asked me how long I needed. I said about 10 days. So now we’re just trying to find out the right month that works for me because I only tour at the end of the year and plus I decided to drop this album at the last minute to drop this compilation because I really thought that I’d have an album ready to drop in 2010 and I didn’t. So I decided to drop a compilation album.
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http://www.djpremierblog.com/2010/11...th-chaka-khan/
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Member Since: 9/7/2008
Posts: 12,807
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Member Since: 10/8/2009
Posts: 4,844
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Originally posted by .::Andreita::.
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I'd kill for a Chaka/Christina collabo.
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Member Since: 8/3/2010
Posts: 71,871
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Originally posted by Legendtina
I'd kill for a Chaka/Christina collabo.
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Through The Fire 2.0
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Member Since: 5/17/2006
Posts: 6,429
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Originally posted by Legendtina
I'd kill for a Chaka/Christina collabo.
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I would cry tears of joy if that happen
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 9/24/2009
Posts: 70,975
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Member Since: 2/27/2007
Posts: 2,420
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Originally posted by Razzle
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its gonna be so fun and christina looks gorgeous
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Member Since: 2/18/2007
Posts: 12,501
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Happy Birthday?
so this episode will air December 18th?
or Happy Anniversary Wedding instead?
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Banned
Member Since: 11/17/2010
Posts: 841
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 4/4/2010
Posts: 10,437
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Quote:
Originally posted by Chaystic
so excited!
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Welcome!!
We're excited as well! It's the starting of a new chapter, just like Christina says
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Member Since: 6/25/2004
Posts: 18,867
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Originally posted by .::Andreita::.
Zach that always happens to me...for example in one Xtina thread weeks ago, the haters were terrible on Xtina, totally disrespecful, offensive...and i posted this "A person who enjoy other person's fail is sick!! Glad i'm not like that...." Wich is totally true, and i get reported...this haters hate when you tell them how sick they are...they hate to see their own situation...they hate their lifes...whatever...try to enjoy with the normal-positive people here, there are a lot...
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Same thing happened to me too when I was defending Jessica Mauboy when haters were calling her out her name when she didn't even diss Katy Perry.
I agree about how the haters can't take it when you tell them off. They just expect you to come for their fave or whoever is in their avatar/sig.
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Member Since: 9/7/2008
Posts: 12,807
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New pic:
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Member Since: 9/7/2008
Posts: 12,807
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Mark Abrahams Pic For InStyle US, December
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Member Since: 9/5/2010
Posts: 4,381
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Thanks Andreita
InStyle looks to be the photoshoot of the year for me
oh and I love you guys
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Member Since: 2/18/2007
Posts: 12,501
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gotta get InStyle US
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Member Since: 9/23/2009
Posts: 26,796
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I hope Chrissy gets it together. After that Pink interview last night, it just occurred to me that she has humbled herself and while she's making attempts to better herself, some of her musical peers aren't giving her that chance to redeem herself. Christina may have said some mean or crazy things before, but she's changing herself - she's a mother now, and she's going through a really tough time...she's a different woman now...and I hope she finds some success again.
Her next CD will be so emotional and real....I just can't... Another 'Beautiful' or 'Reflections'.
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Member Since: 9/27/2010
Posts: 22,568
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Originally posted by .::Andreita::.
New pic:
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So beautiful :heart:
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Member Since: 9/7/2008
Posts: 12,807
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Originally posted by Roman
Thanks Andreita
InStyle looks to be the photoshoot of the year for me
oh and I love you guys
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I love u too!
Quote:
Originally posted by ifyouseekLEM
I hope Chrissy gets it together. After that Pink interview last night, it just occurred to me that she has humbled herself and while she's making attempts to better herself, some of her musical peers aren't giving her that chance to redeem herself. Christina may have said some mean or crazy things before, but she's changing herself - she's a mother now, and she's going through a really tough time...she's a different woman now...and I hope she finds some success again.
Her next CD will be so emotional and real....I just can't... Another 'Beautiful' or 'Reflections'.
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Member Since: 9/7/2008
Posts: 12,807
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