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From pop star to pop icon. Christina Aguilera just reached a career milestone and marked the moment with the help of Instagram.
The Grammy-winning singer joined the social networking site to launch a new music feature, which allows users to add songs to their profile.
Last month, Aguilera — along with *NSYNC, Alicia Keys and Destiny's Child — jumped on Instagram's #tbt trend by sharing some of their early 2000s hits. Instagram unveiled the new music profile feature on Aug. 22 . Users can add music by clicking 'edit profile' from the Profile tab and 'add music to your profile'. Instagram allows users to post up to 30 seconds of a song.
When it comes to Y2K nostalgia, Aguilera tops the charts. Back in 1999, when news of a “computer glitch” flooded the news cycle and sparked fears of a global digital blackout, a new era of pop music emerged. Aguilera may be known for her powerful vocals, but she's also a fashion icon. Her mix of cute crop tops, skinny bootcut pants and legendary leather tees epitomized Y2K style.
Christina Aguileraher self-titled debut LP, arrived on August 24, 1999, four months before the turn of the millennium. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and has sold over 9 million copies stateside and 14 million worldwide. “Genie in a Bottle,” the album's platinum single, topped the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. The single didn't win a Grammy, but Aguilera won Best New Artist that night. Accepting her award – in a sparkly butterfly dress and sparkling eye shadow – 19-year-old Aguilera gave a tearful acceptance speech, marking a candid moment for a young pop star who is genuinely surprised to receive one of music's top honors.
More than two decades later, Aguilera's career has evolved into different genres of music and new ventures. The mother-of-two, who co-founded sexual wellness brand Playground in 2022, has turned the page on a new chapter. In celebration of her debut album, Bulletin board caught up with Aguilera via email to reflect on the project's silver jubilee, the end of her Las Vegas concert and more.
What do you like about Instagram's new music feature?
Instagram's new music feature couldn't have come at a better time! As I celebrate the 25th anniversary of my debut album, there's no better way to connect with my fans and followers than to share a favorite song on my profile. It really gives everyone a chance to be expressive and soundtrack their lives alongside the posts.
Aside from your own hits, what's one of your favorite songs from the early 2000s?
There are many great songs from it [time period]and some of my favorites include Kelis' Milkshake and Caught out there. I also really liked the taTu's All the things he saidand I remember listening to a lot of Outkast, Missy Elliott, and Korn, as well as various Neptunes stuff.
Reflecting on the 25th anniversary of your debut, what makes you most proud of the album and what did it teach you about yourself?
It's hard to believe it's been 25 years! I'm very proud of how the album introduced me to the world and how well it was received. I was young, but I knew I wanted to make music that had depth, meaning and scope – so this album was the perfect foundation for a career that I'm forever grateful for.
Looking back on your debut to date, how do you think your sound has evolved over the years?
As I have always been drawn to different musical genres and styles, my sound has evolved in many ways as I have experimented with everything from pop to jazz to soul and R&B, Latin music and more. However, at the core, it has always been about finding new ways to express myself, my experiences, stories and feelings sonically. Over the years I have grown more confident in taking artistic risks and being unapologetically authentic.
You recently finished your run in Sin City. What do you enjoy most about your shows in Las Vegas?
What I love most about Las Vegas right now is how intimate the shows are! The space is a special, magical space that [allowed] to connect with my fans in a personal, energetic way that I hadn't been able to experience before. Every night [was] a celebration of music and freedom with a unique, new, diverse crowd – and I was able to create new arrangements of the music to fit the room.
What is one of your most memorable performances from your debut era? A music video, a photo shoot or a moment on the red carpet.
One of my most memorable looks is probably from the “Genie in a Bottle” music video. The orange pants and beaded top really stand out to me. I had a lot of fun experimenting with different styles in the “Come On Over” video, especially the blue patterned pants and I started playing with my hair color. It was just the beginning of me having fun with my style and exploring new looks over the years, which I still love to do.
I've always liked it Christina Aguilera album cover. How did the art of photography come about? How long did it take to shoot?
Thank you! For the cover we wanted to create something fresh and timeless. it was always about keeping it simple and we honestly didn't think too much about the album cover the way I did for future albums. The shoot was relatively quick, but the point was to find the essence and perfect moment of who I was at the time.
