Yeah, I know the title is a bit over the top....But if I humbly say so myself this is a pretty objective and at times positive dissection of Aguiler'a current career choices...When u click the link below, check out some of the responses from the Christina fans....They are ride-or-die...ha!....Hope you guys dig it....Enjoy...

VIBE: Experts Offer 7 Ways Christina Aguilera Can Save Her Career

Shhh… You hear that? It’s the sound of Christina Aguilera headed for a career freefall. At least that’s what seemingly the entire blogosphere would have you believe. Indeed, it’s been a tough month for the powerhouse vocalist. Aguilera’s lurid first single “Not Myself Tonight” limped to the no. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100, an unusually low placement for the multi-platinum, chart-topping veteran performer. The track’s equally brazen video was collectively dismissed for its over-the-top sex shop fantasies. Meanwhile, an early preview of Aguilera’s upcoming electro sound clash-centered album Bionic (due out June 8) only intensified talk amongst critics and fans that X-tina was merely swagger-jacking nemesis Lady Gaga—the same pop-dominating behemoth she recently chided as “fun to look at” in Out magazine. When Aguilera announced plans to postpone her summer tour on May 25, just days after tickets went on sale, citing the oft-used term “prior commitment,” the knives were out as skeptics blamed the performers’ poor box office returns.

But Aguilera’s detractors would do well to remember that there’s a reason why she has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide in just 10 years. Still, VIBE recognizes no one is above receiving a bit of career advice, which is why we rounded up some of the most respected (and feared) bloggers, editors, and music industry powerbrokers in the biz. Amos Barshad, assistant editor at New York Magazine’s Vulture site; Billboard’s associate editor Monica Herrera; in-demand songwriter and Aguilera collaborator Claude Kelly; and the notorious Perez Hilton all give their diverse takes on how Christina Aguilera can prove the doubters wrong.—K. Murphy

7. Let’s (Not) Get Dirrty

During Christina’s two-year sabbatical from the dizzyingly evolving pop music landscape, blush-inducing “it girl” antics were being raised to Madonna-like levels. Indeed, the naughty daughters of the Material Girl were intent on playing a game of top this, bitch!!!: Britney Spears offended pro-censorship lobbyist the Parents Television Council with her slyly-titled, did-she-just-spell-'f*ck'? track “If U Seek Amy”; a sneering Rihanna, clad in S&M wear, cursed like a sailor on shore leave in Las Vegas on her latest album Rated R; and Lady Gaga… hell, is there even enough space here? Which is why Aguilera’s oversexed Euro-pop-driven first single “Not Myself Tonight,” with its freaky bi-sexual imagery and F-bomb (surprise!), came off as a transparent bid to play catch-up to the rest of the bad chick pack. And that’s before you even take a gander at the song’s erotic bondage-and-fetish-wear-obsessed video.
But when you are blessed with glorious vocal chops that makes Mariah Carey ball up in a corner and cry at night, there’s no need for you to one-up the leather-chap wearing, bump & grind theatrics of 2002’s “Dirrty.” “When a pop star has their first child and they say that the new album is inspired by birth and family, you really don’t expect your first single to be about kissing on boys and girls,” Billboard’s Herrera says. “It seemed a little out of synch with what she was talking about.”

6. Remember, Your Fans Are STANS

Somewhere between the hardcore throw-a-cage-of-doves-in-the-air followers of the legendary King of Pop Michael Jackson and the she-can-do-no-wrong-even-in-Yaki boosters of Beyoncé is the Christina Aguilera fan. These fiercely loyal subjects would slap up the gratingly annoying Kesha if Aguilera coldly instructed them to do so (I’ll gladly start the petition). Such unconditional backing should enable Aguilera to weather the current storm of criticism.
“I think the talk about her career being in trouble is an exaggeration,” says New York Magazine’s Barshad, who experienced the wrath of the singer’s ride-or-die fans first hand when he wrote a May 31 blog backed by the headline Does Christina Aguilera Have A Lady Gaga Problem? “When you read some of the fan comments online you realize that she has a strong fan base that will buy whatever she does for a long time.” Even Perez, who is no stranger when it comes to criticizing Christina’s most recent artistic decisions, agrees. “I would give away Bionic for free as a thank you to her fans,” he offers. “Even if everything she’s doing right now seems to be exploding in her face, a good number of those fans have remained loyal.”

5. Write It Down: Everyone Slumps

Aguilera has been commanding the spotlight since her 1999 Mickey-Mouse-Club-or-bust debut single “Genie In A Bottle.” When you’ve been performing in the notoriously fickle pop music biz for that long, you are bound to experience a misstep or two. “Madonna went through a slump with her American Life album,” says Perez. “Britney went through a slump. And look at Kelly Clarkson…she had that awful album that didn’t do too well. It’s natural to go through slumps. Hopefully Christina gets better advice and makes smarter choices when she comes back on the scene with newer material.”

4. Don’t Scrap Bionic

Even if some critics and music fans are confused and utterly unimpressed by the sparse, beeping futuristic production and decadent lyricism found on Bionic, there are always the ballads. The soaring and at times haunting songs “All I Need,” “Lift Me Up,” “Stronger Than Ever, and “I Am (Stripped)” represent some of Aguilera’s most introspective and challenging work to date. “The ballads are beautiful and Christina is a shoe in for that,” testifies Kelly, who wrote six tracks on Bionic. “It’s a more mature approach. She hits the notes more delicately.”
Besides, abruptly shutting down an album release just because of early lukewarm reaction equates to waving a white flag. “Remember, we saw the same criticism with Jay-Z’s last album Blueprint III with some of the tracks that were leaking,” Herrera says of Jigga’s much scrutinized release, which went on to garner positive reviews. “I think we have to wait to hear all the music first before we call it a flop.”

To read the rest of the list go to: here it is

[Edited 6/3/10 7:28am]

u forgot the link!

here it is

murph said:

Yeah, the title is a bit over-the-top, but if I humbly say so myself, it's pretty objective....Peep the Christina fans' responses...They are ride-or-die....lol

The thing is that NOTHING anyone points out has any merit, because this situation is nothing more than pure HYPE, its ways to get the "blogs" going and make people who have no clue on music all of a sudden talk as if they are Musical experts. VIBE is the last magazine that should be talking about direction in music since it drove hip hop into the shit hole its in now, by who it gave its "facetime" too. So this article is like a crack dealer complaining that there are crackheads.

And again people and magazines and blog assholes talk as if an album is going to "destroy" someones career, like christina isnt going to be able to get work if this album misses going gold or something or that has any relevance. Thing is that if there was no Lady GaGa than all these articles would be gone and Christina would be a "visionary" but this whole nonsense is started because someone did something earlier and sold , and now someone is else is doing things in that vein so its viewed as desperation, bearing in mind that the one being copied is as original as Lenny Kravitz or Joss Stone.

So whether this album sells or not, its book and story is already written, Useless Magazines like Vibe and others collected money on BS articles like this and have no merit as judges to begin with, no one does. And thing is that "career over" is nonsense, the only basis for all of this "career talk" is selling point, and that is no way to judge, Ryan Adams has a career about 25 albums worth and has only had one gold album, tell him he has no career and he will beat the fuck out of you and show you what its about. Thing is that Christina has the talent to do singing, she is still well respected by the likes of Andrea Boccelli and Herbie Hancock and tons that are veterans and that respect will keep you out there. Too bad VIBE and others have no clue on what a "career is".

lastdecember said:

The thing is that NOTHING anyone points out has any merit, because this situation is nothing more than pure HYPE, its ways to get the "blogs" going and make people who have no clue on music all of a sudden talk as if they are Musical experts. VIBE is the last magazine that should be talking about direction in music since it drove hip hop into the shit hole its in now, by who it gave its "facetime" too. So this article is like a crack dealer complaining that there are crackheads.

And again people and magazines and blog assholes talk as if an album is going to "destroy" someones career, like christina isnt going to be able to get work if this album misses going gold or something or that has any relevance. Thing is that if there was no Lady GaGa than all these articles would be gone and Christina would be a "visionary" but this whole nonsense is started because someone did something earlier and sold , and now someone is else is doing things in that vein so its viewed as desperation, bearing in mind that the one being copied is as original as Lenny Kravitz or Joss Stone.

So whether this album sells or not, its book and story is already written, Useless Magazines like Vibe and others collected money on BS articles like this and have no merit as judges to begin with, no one does. And thing is that "career over" is nonsense, the only basis for all of this "career talk" is selling point, and that is no way to judge, Ryan Adams has a career about 25 albums worth and has only had one gold album, tell him he has no career and he will beat the fuck out of you and show you what its about. Thing is that Christina has the talent to do singing, she is still well respected by the likes of Andrea Boccelli and Herbie Hancock and tons that are veterans and that respect will keep you out there. Too bad VIBE and others have no clue on what a "career is".

You didn't read any of the piece did u?....lol

I guess calling Aguilera "the greatest voice of her generation" is BS, huh?....I recognize that you are a passionate fan.....But you have to be objective.......And it also helps to read something entirely before jumping off the building...Trust me, life is easier that way...

Respect homie...

[Edited 6/3/10 7:57am]

murph said:

lastdecember said:

The thing is that NOTHING anyone points out has any merit, because this situation is nothing more than pure HYPE, its ways to get the "blogs" going and make people who have no clue on music all of a sudden talk as if they are Musical experts. VIBE is the last magazine that should be talking about direction in music since it drove hip hop into the shit hole its in now, by who it gave its "facetime" too. So this article is like a crack dealer complaining that there are crackheads.

And again people and magazines and blog assholes talk as if an album is going to "destroy" someones career, like christina isnt going to be able to get work if this album misses going gold or something or that has any relevance. Thing is that if there was no Lady GaGa than all these articles would be gone and Christina would be a "visionary" but this whole nonsense is started because someone did something earlier and sold , and now someone is else is doing things in that vein so its viewed as desperation, bearing in mind that the one being copied is as original as Lenny Kravitz or Joss Stone.

So whether this album sells or not, its book and story is already written, Useless Magazines like Vibe and others collected money on BS articles like this and have no merit as judges to begin with, no one does. And thing is that "career over" is nonsense, the only basis for all of this "career talk" is selling point, and that is no way to judge, Ryan Adams has a career about 25 albums worth and has only had one gold album, tell him he has no career and he will beat the fuck out of you and show you what its about. Thing is that Christina has the talent to do singing, she is still well respected by the likes of Andrea Boccelli and Herbie Hancock and tons that are veterans and that respect will keep you out there. Too bad VIBE and others have no clue on what a "career is".

You didn't read any of the piece did u?....lol

I guess calling Aguilera "the greatest voice of her generation" is BS, huh?....I recognize that you are a passionate fan.....But you have to be objective.......And it also helps to read something entirely before jumping off the building...Trust me, life is easier that way...

Respect homie...

[Edited 6/3/10 7:57am]

Read it.... the article is over at the title, VIBE has no merit, and im not even close to being a fan of hers at all. Its just the same nonsense articles where VIBE or Rstone point out what you have to do to save your career, nonsense. What im pointing out is where these music magazines get their basis for nonsense articles like this, calling her the "voice" of a generation and then saying heres what you have to do to save your career is a total wash out of ideas, her voice is her career so theres nothing to save......if they are talking about saving "sales" then thats useless in this mindset because people are still living in 1999 were they think artists sell millions in a week a month a year even, so again, useless points from a magazine that has no merit

lastdecember said:

murph said:

You didn't read any of the piece did u?....lol

I guess calling Aguilera "the greatest voice of her generation" is BS, huh?....I recognize that you are a passionate fan.....But you have to be objective.......And it also helps to read something entirely before jumping off the building...Trust me, life is easier that way...

Respect homie...

[Edited 6/3/10 7:57am]

Read it.... the article is over at the title, VIBE has no merit, and im not even close to being a fan of hers at all. Its just the same nonsense articles where VIBE or Rstone point out what you have to do to save your career, nonsense. What im pointing out is where these music magazines get their basis for nonsense articles like this, calling her the "voice" of a generation and then saying heres what you have to do to save your career is a total wash out of ideas, her voice is her career so theres nothing to save......if they are talking about saving "sales" then thats useless in this mindset because people are still living in 1999 were they think artists sell millions in a week a month a year even, so again, useless points from a magazine that has no merit

I'm going to stop u here...."The article is over at the title"....Respectfully, I have to say that you lose all credibility when you go that route...Again, I respect the fact that you are a hardcore Christina fan...But things are not always that black and white....or simple...

How does saying Christina is the greatest voice of her generation a total wash of ideas? If anything it makes perfect sense when dealing with the main problem with Bionic: That a vocal talent like Aguilera should not bury her incredible voice in MIA and Peaches-like songs that stress attitude more than her chief attribute, which is her remarkable vocal chops...

The reason why I know you (and some of the other hardcore X-Tina fans) are not thinking objectively or with a level head is you keep bringing up record sales, when not one of the folks QUOTED mentioned sales at all...All the constructive and (at times positive) criticism is mostly about art, homie...Nothing more, nothing less...

Again, I challenge you to read the entire piece as you leave your fandom at the door...Peace...

[Edited 6/3/10 9:30am]

Thanks for sharing the article Murph. I read the whole piece. It was good hearing from other industry cats perspective on an artist like CA. Perez Hilton's opinion is irrelevant to me but everyone else brought valid points, mostly don't upstage your voice in an effort to be current.

murph said:

lastdecember said:

Read it.... the article is over at the title, VIBE has no merit, and im not even close to being a fan of hers at all. Its just the same nonsense articles where VIBE or Rstone point out what you have to do to save your career, nonsense. What im pointing out is where these music magazines get their basis for nonsense articles like this, calling her the "voice" of a generation and then saying heres what you have to do to save your career is a total wash out of ideas, her voice is her career so theres nothing to save......if they are talking about saving "sales" then thats useless in this mindset because people are still living in 1999 were they think artists sell millions in a week a month a year even, so again, useless points from a magazine that has no merit

I'm going to stop u here...."The article is over at the title"....Respectfully, I have to say that you lose all credibility when you go that route...Again, I respect the fact that you are a hardcore Christina fan...But things are not always that black and white....or simple...

How does saying Christina is the greatest voice of her generation a total wash of ideas? If anything it makes perfect since when dealing with the main problem with Bionic: That a vocal talent like Aguilera should not bury her incredible voice in MIA and Peaches-like songs that stress attitude more than her chief attribute, which is her remarkable vocal chops...

The reason why I know you (and some of the other hardcore X-Tina fans) are not thinking objectively or with a level head is you keep bringing up record sales, when not one of the folks QUOTED mentioned sales at all...All the constructive and (at times positive) criticism is mostly about art, homie...Nothing more, nothing less...

Again, I challenge you to read the entire piece as you leave your fandom at the door...Peace...

[Edited 6/3/10 9:11am]

Well u totally didnt read my post, u say im a fan where clearly i said in the post im not, i could care less about her, and I HAVE many times on this forum said that she has a good voice but doesnt know how to sing, and have pointed out alot of her issues. And also someone that disagrees when someone puts something out is always called "a fan" or some other dumb term which again is people dismissing people that have a better angle on someone, but thats another topic.

"This article is over at the title" is me saying they lose their merit right there. The Term "experts" who? who are the experts on a career? Second a Career is not defined by sales, that is the biggest issue that is not getting through, sales and career have nothing to do with each other. And im not saying this as a fan, which is the usual lame comeback, im saying this because every other week there is a nonsense article like this on what artists can do to save their "careers", again career is not over because of an album, nor is a career made because of an album or two.

So look back at my post and see that u missed or mis-read my being a fan of hers, could care less about her, im pointing out the arrogance of a magazine that has no merit or expertise to point anything out, also misses and contradicts itself within its own article and magazine.

"Make up with GaGa" that is the stupidest crap i have ever seen, how is that "musical" how is that even relevant? and better yet why is that relevant, so if they make out, all of a sudden this album is good? give me a break with this nonsense, who brought VIBE back from the dead anyway?

Just because someone disagrees with someones point doesnt mean they are a fan, clearly that is tunnel vision thinking. And also as i said before, most fans of an artist are better suited to give opinions on "creative" work than an outsider, and yes that is true. Im not going to ask someone who hates Ryan Adams what they think of the new Ryan Adams.

And all of these experts are not even creative artists in their own right, one shouldnt even be allowed to read magazines let alone write for one. So all these points of change this, sing that, change the angle, you might as well get Joan Rivers to tell her to where a certain dress.

[Edited 6/3/10 9:32am]

lastdecember said:

murph said:

I'm going to stop u here...."The article is over at the title"....Respectfully, I have to say that you lose all credibility when you go that route...Again, I respect the fact that you are a hardcore Christina fan...But things are not always that black and white....or simple...

How does saying Christina is the greatest voice of her generation a total wash of ideas? If anything it makes perfect since when dealing with the main problem with Bionic: That a vocal talent like Aguilera should not bury her incredible voice in MIA and Peaches-like songs that stress attitude more than her chief attribute, which is her remarkable vocal chops...

The reason why I know you (and some of the other hardcore X-Tina fans) are not thinking objectively or with a level head is you keep bringing up record sales, when not one of the folks QUOTED mentioned sales at all...All the constructive and (at times positive) criticism is mostly about art, homie...Nothing more, nothing less...

Again, I challenge you to read the entire piece as you leave your fandom at the door...Peace...

[Edited 6/3/10 9:11am]

Well u totally didnt read my post, u say im a fan where clearly i said in the post im not, i could care less about her, and I HAVE many times on this forum said that she has a good voice but doesnt know how to sing, and have pointed out alot of her issues. And also someone that disagrees when someone puts something out is always called "a fan" or some other dumb term which again is people dismissing people that have a better angle on someone, but thats another topic.

"This article is over at the title" is me saying they lose their merit right there. The Term "experts" who? who are the experts on a career? Second a Career is not defined by sales, that is the biggest issue that is not getting through, sales and career have nothing to do with each other. And im not saying this as a fan, which is the usual lame comeback, im saying this because every other week there is a nonsense article like this on what artists can do to save their "careers", again career is not over because of an album, nor is a career made because of an album or two.

So look back at my post and see that u missed or mis-read my being a fan of hers, could care less about her, im pointing out the arrogance of a magazine that has no merit or expertise to point anything out, also misses and contradicts itself within its own article and magazine.

"Make up with GaGa" that is the stupidest crap i have ever seen, how is that "musical" how is that even relevant? and better yet why is that relevant, so if they make out, all of a sudden this album is good? give me a break with this nonsense, who brought VIBE back from the dead anyway?

Just because someone disagrees with someones point doesnt mean they are a fan, clearly that is tunnel vision thinking. And also as i said before, most fans of an artist are better suited to give opinions on "creative" work than an outsider, and yes that is true. Im not going to ask someone who hates Ryan Adams what they think of the new Ryan Adams.

And all of these experts are not even creative artists in their own right, one shouldnt even be allowed to read magazines let alone write for one. So all these points of change this, sing that, change the angle, you might as well get Joan Rivers to tell her to where a certain dress.

[Edited 6/3/10 9:32am]

Nah...I think you are a fan.....But it's all good...U r cool with me, homie....

murph said:

lastdecember said:

Well u totally didnt read my post, u say im a fan where clearly i said in the post im not, i could care less about her, and I HAVE many times on this forum said that she has a good voice but doesnt know how to sing, and have pointed out alot of her issues. And also someone that disagrees when someone puts something out is always called "a fan" or some other dumb term which again is people dismissing people that have a better angle on someone, but thats another topic.

"This article is over at the title" is me saying they lose their merit right there. The Term "experts" who? who are the experts on a career? Second a Career is not defined by sales, that is the biggest issue that is not getting through, sales and career have nothing to do with each other. And im not saying this as a fan, which is the usual lame comeback, im saying this because every other week there is a nonsense article like this on what artists can do to save their "careers", again career is not over because of an album, nor is a career made because of an album or two.

So look back at my post and see that u missed or mis-read my being a fan of hers, could care less about her, im pointing out the arrogance of a magazine that has no merit or expertise to point anything out, also misses and contradicts itself within its own article and magazine.

"Make up with GaGa" that is the stupidest crap i have ever seen, how is that "musical" how is that even relevant? and better yet why is that relevant, so if they make out, all of a sudden this album is good? give me a break with this nonsense, who brought VIBE back from the dead anyway?

Just because someone disagrees with someones point doesnt mean they are a fan, clearly that is tunnel vision thinking. And also as i said before, most fans of an artist are better suited to give opinions on "creative" work than an outsider, and yes that is true. Im not going to ask someone who hates Ryan Adams what they think of the new Ryan Adams.

And all of these experts are not even creative artists in their own right, one shouldnt even be allowed to read magazines let alone write for one. So all these points of change this, sing that, change the angle, you might as well get Joan Rivers to tell her to where a certain dress.

[Edited 6/3/10 9:32am]

Nah...I think you are a fan.....But it's all good...U r cool with me, homie....

Sorry not even close. Just not a fan of magazines that offer opinions that have no cred at all, from people in the magazine that really have no cred. This article is no exception, Rolling Stone has done many where they call in experts on "career", and rolling stone lost its cred about 20 years ago

I haven't heard it yet so its going to be easy for me to agree with the person in the article who mentioned how early it is yet. But I remember folks were saying how Rihanna's Rated R was a flop, until they released, "Rude Boy." Now Def Jam is rereleasing Rated R as a remix record off the success of that one single. So, who knows, maybe there's a more radio friendly song on there that'll catch fire. IDK

That's the thing about artistry. You gotta be able to take full responsibility of its success or failure. Can't point fingers back at the label because they supported your vision. Her label probably trusted her instincts since Back To Basics won critic acclaim for them following through on the throwback vision.

Hey, at this point they just have to see what happens while putting their best foot forward.

lastdecember said:

murph said:

Nah...I think you are a fan.....But it's all good...U r cool with me, homie....

Sorry not even close. Just not a fan of magazines that offer opinions that have no cred at all, from people in the magazine that really have no cred. This article is no exception, Rolling Stone has done many where they call in experts on "career", and rolling stone lost its cred about 20 years ago

Ah, so this is all about "experts," huh?.....Gotcha....Preach on...