Yahoo Lifestyle “You Lose The Authenticity There”: Christina Aguilera Said It’s “Corny” When Artists “Do Things Intentionally” To Stay “Relevant”
Christina Aguilera is all about keeping it real — literally.
In a new interview with Paper magazine, Christina reflected on her pop stardom and considered the importance of “truth” in every stage of her decade-spanning career.
“I have to feel strong in my message and my core and what I’m doing out there. I think it’s been apparent throughout my career that I’ve taken risks and chances,” she said, adding that she’s avoided being “one dimensional” even though it’s easier to “play it safe for public perspective.”
“That’s where I started with Stripped, showcasing every side of myself unapologetically,” she said, referring to her 2002 album, which marked a distinct shift toward sexuality away from her Disney roots. “From ‘Dirrty’ to the vulnerability of ‘Beautiful’ to the strength of ‘Fighter.’ It caused a lot of commotion and conversation, but I welcomed it,” she added.
Now more than ever, major stars face pressure to reinvent themselves between album cycles to keep their careers fresh and exciting for fans. But, when asked about the role of pop stars in today’s culture, Christina said she finds it “corny” when artists “do things intentionally for pop culture, noise and for attention to stay quote-unquote ‘relevant.’”
“That becomes its own weird animal that gets away from artistry, period,” she said. “So you can be a pop artist and genuinely do what you do, and still come through with messages and change it up.”
Speaking for herself, she added, “I never was interested in making the same record over and over again, that’s my worst idea of music. It’s part of our jobs as musicians to see where music is moving and see what’s happening socially. It really is about connecting and trying to bring people together.”
In light of this, Christina said she’s tried hard to “stay away” from “the formulaic pop route.”
“When you get into a space where it becomes about a gimmick, when it becomes about trying to fit a mold, when it becomes about trying too hard to get a charted record, you lose the authenticity there,” she said, stressing the importance of following “your gut” when it comes to your own projects.
“Yes, I do pop music. Yes, I love writing things that people can sing along to. I’ve done things for soundtracks or that fit a specific genre and a purpose for clubs that are free and not as deep as I would personally go,” she acknowledged. “But when it comes to making my albums, that’s how you really connect.”
You can read Christina’s full Paper magazine interview here.
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