From The Vault journeys back to the year 2003, when a certain rising diva was releasing one of her most acclaimed tracks.

This week’s pick is Christina Aguilera’s ‘The Voice Within.’

The ballad was the fifth and last single to be serviced from Xtina’s game-changing LP ‘Stripped.’

Christina penned the cut alongside Glen Ballard, who also handled the production.

Because of its inspirational theme, it was compared to the work of the likes of Whitney Houston and especially Mariah Carey – both of whom respectively dominated the airwaves years prior with songs like ‘The Greatest Love Of All’ and ‘Hero.’

Though not as big as its predecessors, the track was a moderate success around the world, peaking at #33 on home-soil and entering the Top 10 in both Canada and the UK, at #10 and #9 respectively.

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After directing the visuals for previous singles ‘Dirrty’ and ‘Can’t Hold Us Down,’ the mighty David LaChapelle handed the reign once again to illustrate the soaring track.

The result was a monochrome, one take affair where the singer left her raunchy persona at the door to reveal herself in a raw, naturalistic manner.

It praised by critics who seriously enjoyed its more stripped back approach and was nominated for various VMAs in 2004.

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We long for the days Ms. Aguilera would be at every opening of a door performing something, somewhere.

With new album ‘Liberation,’ we really thought that by telling the masses that she was back to being a full-time musician that she also meant promoting her music. But obviously we were wrong…

Still, the ‘Liberation Tour’ is something to look forward to, as well as the end of lengthy gaps between projects.

Let’s hope the voice within her keeps her on that very path this time around.

Your thoughts?