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.
***************
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.
***************
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.