Today we travel back to a time when a certain siren was shedding shackles and coming out of her shell.
Christina Aguilera‘s feminist anthem ‘Can’t Hold Us Down’ is this week’s From The Vault pick.
Helmed by Scott Storch and penned by the producer alongside Xtina and Matt Morris, ‘Can’t Hold Us’ saw the singer encourage women the world over to stand together in a bid for respect from the opposite sex.
The fiery track reunited Aguilera with ‘Lady Marmalade’ collaborator Lil Kim and was the 4th single serviced from her sophomore set ‘Stripped.’
Grammy nominated, the song peaked at #12 on the US Billboard Hot 100, #6 in the UK and #5 in Australia; it also reached the Top 20 of many other European countries.
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David Lachapelle – who devised the diva’s ‘Dirrty’ video – directed the 80’s inspired visual . Its theme? A street battle of the sexes, which erupts after a sun-kissed, dark-haired Xtina is groped by a hopeful suitor.
For all its good intent, the video was criticized for being an argued example of “cultural appropriation.” Still, that hasn’t stopped it from amassing views on VEVO and spins on TV channels.
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Another year ends and still no signs of new new music from Christina.
Hopefully, all this waiting means the belter is baking something as inspired and layered as ‘Stripped’ and ‘Back To Basics.’
In the meantime, we’ll keep blasting ‘Can’t Hold Us Down’ and the rest of Aguilera’s back catalogue.
“cats take my ideas and put they name on it. it’s aight tho, they can’t hold me down. i got to keep on movin”
yass Queen Bee, preach! always liked this collab just wished they performed it together.
This is a REAL feminist anthem! Not like when Beyonce chooses to have the word ‘feminist’ in big block letters on her stage or putting the definition of it in the middle of a song that is actually about how flawless she is!
Maybe I shouldn’t have even brought Bey up, but every time I listen to Can’t Hold Us Down I think about what I just wrote above.
Still Love Bey though. She stays slaying!!
Well Beyonce had songs like this throughout her while career plus Destiny’s Maids. I never understood the feminist backlash when it came to Beyonce because she was known as a male basher until her first solo album,it was actually shocking of her singing about being on live at the time.
I don’t recall Bey having any song like this in her catalogue. Feel free to name one (if you can lol).
I think the feminist backlash with regards to Bey is because feminism, in theory, is supposed to be about the collective rather than the empowerment of the individual.
You idiot…..did u miss INDEPENDENT WOMEN, BILLS BILLS BILLS E.T.C THANKS MARK FOR POINTING OUT HIS STUPIDITY.
Even in her solo career….RUN THE WORLD, GROWN WOMAN ( THE CHOICE FOR WOMEN TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT THEY WANT)….P.S THE BACKLASH FROM FEMINISTS DID NOT START UNTIL SELF-TITLED, WHEN BEY GOT VERY S*** AND PROVOCATIVE…..WHICH IN TURN SHITS IN THE FACE OF FEMINISM…WHICH IN HINDSIGHT IS ALLOWING EVERY WOMAN CONTROL HER BODY AND HER ABILITY TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS. I MEAN GLORIA STEINEM SUPPORTS BEYONCE HAD HAS SAID MANY TIMES HOW SHE LOVES HER….THAT IS COMING FROM A LEGENDARY FEMINIST.
The stripped era is iconic
One of the best pop albums since 2000…
Gotta give it to her, she was a very risky artist back then, she didn’t start flopping until she tried to fix in. Oh well, most artists can’t get passed the 3rd album or the 5th year mark. Her, Ashanti, Brandy, Ciara, Gaga, the list goes on.
Agreed…this song should have been a massive hit, don’t know why its wasn’t. XTINA WAS THE S*** BACK THEN, AND HER VOCALS WERE STILL FRESH..NOT THEY SOUND STRAINED AND OVER-WORKED.
Bionic wasn’t risky??
what kind of joke is this??
She released Bionic 11 years after her debut
AND her name was STILL on the top of the game
(before caca’s team sabotaged the whole binoic era, vision and her career’s image).
get your facts straight, h**!
+ don’t even compare her to those Z listed artist you mentioned (expect for caca).
She is still here, and she is coming to snatch 2017
@mark You forgot to mention Aaliyah is in that same boat.
Dont you stan for stinky minaj? That fake booty slüt flopped on her 3rd trash album as well
What kind of Birthday post is this?!
LOOOONG ASS BREAKS.
CHANGE MUSIC DIRECTION.
CHANGE IMAGE DIRECTION.
SO EXPERIMENTAL, SO VERSATILE .. A RISK TAKER.
NO BACK 2 BACK ALBUMS
NO BACK 2 BACK SINGLES.
NO POPCORN MUSIC.
AND STILL LEFT HER MARK IN MUSIC INDUSTRY.
gaga, ariana, selena, demi, miley and many more .. artists that Xtina inspires for many years and will still do 🙂
“Xtinas” issue is she doesn’t release “back to back” – she became so out of touch with her fan base because she failed to release anything for years. In the end people moved on. She segregated herself and caused her own downfall, she always says she has to go “live life” I call this being lazy. She hasn’t toured since 2007
Unfortunately that’s true.
At this point on time 2 year max is the longest break a mainstream artist can take after ending an era.
it’s been more than 4 years since Lotus and we still don’t know ANYTHING about her coming album. sad.
Come on Xtina! The music world misses your slayage.
When will brandy ever slay?
Like stan, like fav, ha Brandy stan. Clocking your tea, troll.
http://thatgrapejuice.net/2016/11/fifth-harmony-star-comes-bisexual-lashes-donald-trump-supporters/
All of your troll names “Monica the flop, Yonce the great, Smelly Rowland, The princess is here, she’s, … Ci-Error”
Get help bish.
Christina is still known as one of the best vocalists ever. Beyonce can sing but she’s never been named one of the greatest vocalists like Xtina. Only thing Bey’s voice has over Xtina is technique. Xtina’s voice is more powerful and versatile but her technique isn’t good.
But Christina’s career will never be able to reach the level of beyoncés because she is too lazy
Bey’s voice is more versatile. She can sing operatic style, jazz, folk/blues, gospel, rock, along with rap/staccato styled singing and r&b/pop. Her technique is far ahead of Xtina’s which makes her a better vocalist. Xtina may be a better singer (to you) but Bey is the superior vocalist.
And bey is a far nicer person!
Nice