Music DVD Review: Christina Aguilera - Back to Basics: Live and Down Under
Written by Clayton Perry
Published February 02, 2008
For performance artists, the stage is what sets the soul on fire. And for singers, especially, the stage is where legends are born and amateurs are put to shame. Without doubt, a poor live performance can quickly bring a singer’s career down in flames. Fortunately, for Christina Aguilera, she has the stage presence and vocal chops to make her fans and even the casual concertgoer feel that they, at the very least, will get their money’s worth. Few contemporary artists can make that claim.
Christina Aguilera’s Back to Basics: Live and Down Under is more than a simple presentation of song and dance; the show, by all measures, is a Broadway-caliber production. Taking the helm as the show’s creative director, Aguilera showcases the depth and breadth of her visual artistry, with a two-hour extravaganza that comes fully equipped with three major scenes buttressed by a state-of-the-art hydraulic system. Aguilera’s versatile catalog of music allows for seamless transitions between each, as the show’s fanciful costumes and monochrome video montages transport the viewer back to an era when simplicity and exuberance co-existed together amongst dazzling lights and even brighter colors.
For two hours, we are welcomed to Aguilera’s circus. At one point, her dancers even take on the roles of a fire juggler, members of a flying trapeze team and a clown on stilts—an artistic touch that adds more fireworks to her spectacular spectacle. The circus that is Live and Down Under could truly lay claim to be “the Greatest Show on Earth,” especially when compared against the shows of her contemporaries.
Sporting a sharp white suit, Christina Aguilera starts her program with Back to Basics’ smash hit, “Ain’t No Other Man.” Passionately hitting—and holding—the song’s very first note, Aguilera implicitly demands command of the stage. With eight background dancers and big-band horn section in tow, her request is promptly granted. Now, the circus can begin.
Crisscrossing between hits from her first two albums, Aguilera seamlessly plugs in material from her Back to Basics sessions. Song after song, Aguilera delivers the goods, with magnificent support from her tireless dancers, wonderful background singers and band of skilled musicians. Highlights include a soul-stirring performance of “Makes Me Wanna Pray,” a reggae-influenced spin on “What a Girl Wants” and a bubbly burlesque cabaret prepared for “Lady Marmalade.” Live performance should always be this good.
Live and Down Under closes with Aguilera’s signature hit, “Beautiful,” followed by a rousing performance of “Fighter.” Once the musical circus ends and the stage lights finally dim, one thing is for certain: Aguilera’s exuberant showcase is a masterpiece that is quite far from being “basic.”
Available exclusively at Best Buy stores and BestBuy.com, the Back to Basics: Live and Down Under DVD package contains two discs with audio options for Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo and 5.1 Surround. Disc One features the live concert and Disc Two offers behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the dancers and musicians, along with Simone Harouche (wardrobe), Stephen Sollitto (hair and makeup), Rob Lewis (musical director), Jordan Bratman and Christina Aguilera.
For performance artists, the stage is what sets the soul on fire. And for singers, especially, the stage is where legends are born and amateurs are put to shame..
The first review of the Back To Basics DVD *** DVD Release tomorr
Music DVD Review: Christina Aguilera - Back to Basics: Live and Down Under
Written by Clayton Perry
Published February 02, 2008
For performance artists, the stage is what sets the soul on fire. And for singers, especially, the stage is where legends are born and amateurs are put to shame. Without doubt, a poor live performance can quickly bring a singer’s career down in flames. Fortunately, for Christina Aguilera, she has the stage presence and vocal chops to make her fans and even the casual concertgoer feel that they, at the very least, will get their money’s worth. Few contemporary artists can make that claim.
Christina Aguilera’s Back to Basics: Live and Down Under is more than a simple presentation of song and dance; the show, by all measures, is a Broadway-caliber production. Taking the helm as the show’s creative director, Aguilera showcases the depth and breadth of her visual artistry, with a two-hour extravaganza that comes fully equipped with three major scenes buttressed by a state-of-the-art hydraulic system. Aguilera’s versatile catalog of music allows for seamless transitions between each, as the show’s fanciful costumes and monochrome video montages transport the viewer back to an era when simplicity and exuberance co-existed together amongst dazzling lights and even brighter colors.
For two hours, we are welcomed to Aguilera’s circus. At one point, her dancers even take on the roles of a fire juggler, members of a flying trapeze team and a clown on stilts—an artistic touch that adds more fireworks to her spectacular spectacle. The circus that is Live and Down Under could truly lay claim to be “the Greatest Show on Earth,” especially when compared against the shows of her contemporaries.
Sporting a sharp white suit, Christina Aguilera starts her program with Back to Basics’ smash hit, “Ain’t No Other Man.” Passionately hitting—and holding—the song’s very first note, Aguilera implicitly demands command of the stage. With eight background dancers and big-band horn section in tow, her request is promptly granted. Now, the circus can begin.
Crisscrossing between hits from her first two albums, Aguilera seamlessly plugs in material from her Back to Basics sessions. Song after song, Aguilera delivers the goods, with magnificent support from her tireless dancers, wonderful background singers and band of skilled musicians. Highlights include a soul-stirring performance of “Makes Me Wanna Pray,” a reggae-influenced spin on “What a Girl Wants” and a bubbly burlesque cabaret prepared for “Lady Marmalade.” Live performance should always be this good.
Live and Down Under closes with Aguilera’s signature hit, “Beautiful,” followed by a rousing performance of “Fighter.” Once the musical circus ends and the stage lights finally dim, one thing is for certain: Aguilera’s exuberant showcase is a masterpiece that is quite far from being “basic.”
Available exclusively at Best Buy stores and BestBuy.com, the Back to Basics: Live and Down Under DVD package contains two discs with audio options for Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo and 5.1 Surround. Disc One features the live concert and Disc Two offers behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the dancers and musicians, along with Simone Harouche (wardrobe), Stephen Sollitto (hair and makeup), Rob Lewis (musical director), Jordan Bratman and Christina Aguilera.
OUTSTANDING REVIEW!
Credit: Saba
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ALL FOR HER FANS!!!!!!
Christina Aguilera will greet fans and autograph copies of her newly released Back to Basics - Live and Down Under concert DVD at the West Hollywood Best Buy on Tuesday, February 5th from 7pm-9pm. As you know, this is Christina's first public appearance since the birth of her son in mid-January! We anticipate huge fan support as Christina steps out in support of her DVD release! Christina looks forward to greeting her fans and signing lots of autographs!
Credit: Aron
Even if you can't make it, be sure to pick up her terrific concert dvd out this February only at Best Buy!!
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Cash Queens of 07
1. Madonna- $72 million
2. Barbra Streisand- $60 million
3. Celine Dion- $45 million
4. Shakira- $38 million
5. Beyoncé- $27 million
6. Gwen Stefani- $26 million 7. Christina Aguilera- $20 million
8. Faith Hill- $19 million
9. Dixie Chicks- $18 million
10. Mariah Carey- $13 million
11. Hilary Duff- $12 million
12. Avril Lavigne- $12 million
13. Martina McBride- $12 million
14. Britney Spears- $8 million
15. Carrie Underwood- $7 million
16. Nelly Furtado- $7 million
17. Fergie- $6 million
18. Jennifer Lopez- $6 million
19. Sheryl Crow- $6 million
20. Norah Jones- $5.5 million
Credit: Aron
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Post #3659
Adam Levine and Pete Wentz On Christina
From RollingStone magazine, Grammy Predictions Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
Adam Levine (Maroon 5): Feist, Amy, Christina all this girls are amazing, but the truth is that Christina is best singer of all this singers, all people are amazed with her.
Pete Wentz (Fall Out Boy): I will love to give the grammy to Feist, but the Grammy have some doubts about her performance, I bet for Christina, she is one of the contemporanies voices of this lasts years.
Credit: Oziee
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This concert was amazing. And the teaser just got me really excited. Counting down the days to February 5th!!!!!!!
Take a look at the sneak peak of the DVD that just leaked:
HOLY SH*T!!! The Recording Academy paid a full print ad in USA Today thanking Christina for her 'legendary' performance of It's A Mans World last year!
"THANK YOU CHRISTINA FOR REINTRODUCING OUR JAWS TO THE FLOOR".
Rolling Stones move new album from EMI
By Joshua Chaffin
Guy Hands’ attempts to prevent an exodus of talent from EMI have suffered a blow with the Rolling Stones’ decision to release their new album through rival Universal Music.
The album, Shine A Light, will be released in March, and will accompany a Martin Scorsese film of the same name that features two live shows the band performed in New York in 2006.
***This might mean we have a *NEW* duet with Christina & The Rolling Stones on their new album this year. Legendary!
Dear fans,
Today is a very joyful and special day for Jordan and I as we welcome our first son into this world.
In honor of our love for each other and our growing family, I have put together a special video for the song "Save Me From Myself" off my Back to Basics album. This video is very dear to me as it includes actual footage from our personal wedding video!
Just a little something to say "thank you" for your undying love and support. It is in no small part because of you that I live such a blessed and wonderful life!
Christina Aguilera to do first postpartum interview with Ryan Seacrest on Tuesday
Christina Aguilera, 27, will be calling in to Ryan Seacrest's radio show on 102.7 KIIS FM tomorrow morning. This will be the singer-songwriter's first interview after giving birth to son Max Liron Bratman three weeks ago. You can listen in on kiisfm.com right after 7 am PST/10 am EST.
Sarah will be transcribing the baby parts of the interview for those that can't listen in.