Christina Aguilera #8 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Women in Music ‘11

Some Q&A with Moses Stone and Geoff McBride, new members of #TeamXtina!

Q. You know The Voice is known as a singing competition, so what made you take the brave step in going in there with a rap act?
A. Moses: I think it definitely was a brave and bold move by myself, but I think it’s time for hip-hop to be recognized in a lot of the competitions that’s out right now. There’s not much for hip-hop artists to showcase their talents and the show is technically called The Voice and I feel with every song and every artist it’s been on lyrics and it’s based on emotion and it’s been on connecting with the audience and I feel rapping is the same thing…it’s poetry and it’s certain cadence in a person’s tone and delivery and the way they speak and the way they protect themselves and that is the same as using your voice and singing and nowadays everything is built together and hip-hop is definitely a big part of music and me personally, I thought it was time to step and do something different and get to the forefront. I really want to represent hip-hop…I want to represent pushing the boundaries and envelope between all artists. It was a blessing I got picked by my amazing coach Christina and I’m truly honored and truly blessed and happy to be on her team.

Q. What was it about Christina that made you choose her over Cee Lo?
A. Geoff: My decision came down basically to the one who I thought had more interest. I remember Cee Lo saying that he was looking for a powerful female singer. I wasn’t aware of who had gone on, but I knew that if I walked on the stage and I wasn’t exactly what he wanted than I wouldn’t have that opportunity. I was shocked that he did turn around, but I chose Christina simply because she turned around in the beginning and she was there until the end and that’s really what I based my decision on.

Q. And how excited are you to work with Christina, who her herself is known for having a beautiful, strong voice and huge vocal range much like yourself?
A. Geoff: Very, very excited to work with Christina. I think that the journey is just beginning, so we’ll see what’s in store.

source: Xtina-Web

“The Voice” has signed Christina Aguilera for a third season as NBC considers launching that season in the fall instead of waiting until 2013, TheWrap has learned.

That scheduling decision would have the show, now a midseason hit, airing at the same time of year as Fox’s “X Factor.”

Aguilera is the first of the four “Voice” judges to re-up her contract, which TheWrap last week reported amounted to a pricey $10 million, far more than “X Factor” judges earn on Fox.

But one insider close to the show said Aguilera’s contract was for under $10 million.

Aguilera has been signed to tape the shows from September through December, according to a person close to the negotiations.

An NBC spokesman said no decision has been made about whether the show would air in the fall. But NBC insiders said the network was “considering” airing “The Voice” then.

One insider said NBC hopes to bring back the entire judges’ panel — Aguilera, Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green and Blake Shelton.

“We’re really pleased with the entire cast,” the person said. “You look at [the] ratings and it’s no accident.”

The show was a breakout hit for NBC in April when it hurried it to air and got the jump on the debut of Fox’s fall singing show, “X Factor.” NBC considered airing the current, second season of “The Voice” at the start of the 2011-12 season, but decided the turnaround time would be too fast.

“The Voice” has become NBC’s highest-rated show besides NFL broadcasts.

In its season two premiere Sunday, following the Super Bowl, it earned NBC’s strongest ratings for an entertainment show in six years. Monday’s episode earned the network’s best ratings in its timeslot in nearly eight years, excluding the Olympics.

In its first season,”X Factor” scored a 4.3 rating/12 share in the advertiser-sought 18-49 demographic and averaged 12.6 million total viewers, compared to an 8.5/23 and 25.2 million for “Idol” last year.

After just two episodes, “The Voice” actually has higher average ratings than “Idol” this season — but its ratings are severely skewed by its post-Super Bowl premiere. Monday’s episode of “The Voice” scored a 6.6 rating in the demo and 17.7 million viewers; Sunday’s scored a 16.3 rating and 36.7 million.

source: The Wrap

The Voice Season 2 - Coaches Performance [Prince Medley]

Will The Voice judge join ‘Birthday Cake’?

If there’s one thing Rihanna has shown us over the past couple of years (besides a fondness for the smell of, erm, “sex in the air”), it’s that she isn’t exactly against collaborating with other artists.

Now it seems Christina Aguilera is next on her list, after the ‘You Da One’ hitmaker posted a series of tweets to her Twitter account suggesting a hook-up with the talent show judge will be released in the very near future.

Referencing a short track on her new albumTalk That Talk that is expected to be re-released as a full-length song, she said: “Would yall be mad if Birthday #CAKE became a single?

“Now here’s the trick question! #IF I put collaborator on it, who would u wanna see lick the icing off????? #CAKE”

Appearing to reference one of Aguilera’s most successful singles, she teased: “I need somebody #DIRRRTY on my Birthday #CAKE ;) lol”

source: Entertainment Wise // via Xtina-Web.com

Behind the Scenes of the Coaches [The Voice] 

NBC pulls out all the stops for the signing competition’s Season 2 return promo running during Sunday’s big game.

Premiering right after Sunday’s Super Bowl, The Voice already has an amazing lead-in to its Season 2 premiere after the game. But, that didn’t stop NBC from creating a commercial worthy of the big game.

The Voice - Vocal Kombat (by NBC)

THE VOICE SEASON 2 TODAY! 

Interview with Adam Lavine, Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton The Ellen Degeneres show.

Christina is on the cover of Latina’s March issue! Some details from the magazine:

On getting married and divorced at a young age:“Was I too young? Not at all. I did the exact right thing at the time….I definitely wasn’t too young. I have always been older than my age.”

On growing older: “I was on the set of a film and the choreographer was 19 and I looked around at all the dancers and I was like, ‘Whoa! I’m the oldest person in this room. When did that happen?’”

On reconnecting with her father:  “I’ve talked about how rough things were for me and I’m sure he’s heard it. He can’t be thrilled about it. So maybe one day we can do lunch…I’m 31 years old now. Maybe it’s time.”

On resting up from the intensity of shooting The Voice:“When I’m shooting The Voice, it’s intense. On a day like today, my ex has my son and we are not shooting, so I slept and I just slept. I love doing everything in my bed.  Eating, sleeping…It’s my domain and my throne…I do it all in my bed.”

On how she handles gossip and brutal reviews:  “I don’t read them. Ever…Why read what people are saying—good or bad?”

On criticisms of not being Latina enough:  “I’ve dealt with that my whole life. I don’t speak the language fluently. And I’m split right down the middle, half Irish and half Ecuadorean. I should not have to prove my ethnicity to anyone. I know who I am.”

On planning another Spanish-language album: “All I know is no one can tell me I’m not a proud Latina woman…I dove headfirst into a Spanish-language album for that reason and I’m planning another one even though I don’t speak the language. I’m sure that doesn’t sit well with some people.”

source: Xtina-Web.com

Christina Aguilera Sings ‘At Last’ at Etta James Funeral 

The funeral of R&B legend Etta James was a star-studded affair, with appearances by Stevie Wonder and Christina Aguilera.

The event was held yesterday in the City of Refuge Church in Gardena, California.

Aguilera was a long-time admirer of James, and paid tribute to her idol by singing James’s signature song “At Last.” It’s a tune that has been much covered over the years; notably, Beyonce sang it while President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama took their first dance at an inaugural ball in Washington, D.C. (Beyonce also played James in the 2008 movie “Cadillac Records.”) The song was written in 1941 and James popularized it in the early 1960s.

“There’s a line in this song that says ‘I found a dream that I could speak to,’” Aguilera said before she began to sing. “And for me that dream, all my life, has been Etta James.”

Aguilera delivered a full-throated rendition, with minimal accompaniment. Her vocal swoops and growls drew appreciative cheers and whistles from the funeral goers.

Aguilera’s singing often spurs debate. Last year, her live version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” was roasted by some commentators when, caught up in the passion of the song, she fumbled a few lines. And her vocal runs during an Aretha Franklin tributewere so masterful, she may have overshadowed the other divas sharing the stage.

While Beyonce’s version of “At Last” was warm and urbane, Aguilera’s take on the song was hot and urban. Her fiery interpretation has won over some gospel lovers, but alienated some listeners who found her vocals overdone, and have sounded off across the web.

“Thank you Etta James for the inspiration–I love you,” Aguilera said at the end of her performance.

You can listen to the song here. What did you think of Aguilera’s version? How did you feel about Beyonce’s take? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

source: Wall Street Journal

Christina Aguilera At Etta James Funeral (by deadman476)

8 days until The Voice season 2 starts! woohoo