Page 29 - ARUBA TODAY

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PEOPLE & ARTS Monday 18 June 2018
On 'Liberation,' Christina Aguilera is resilient

By MESFIN FEKADU and Shenseea, is the per-
Associated Press fect song to play before
Dear Christina, It's been going out; rapper GoldLink,
some time, but I'm glad with lyrical references to
you're back. "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,"
You lost me a bit on 2012's shines just as bright as you
"Lotus" and threw me for a do on "Like I Do"; and "Ac-
loop in 2010 with "Bionic." celerate" is bouncy and fun
Not sure if it is because you (plus, pretty much anything
took six years in between co-starring Ty Dolla $ign at
your last album and your the moment is fire.)
new album, or if you're in a In some ways "Liberation"
different place in your life, reminds me of Mariah Car-
but there's something very ey's "The Emancipation of
special about "Liberation," Mimi," her 2005 comeback
easily one of the year's best album that reminded the
albums though it's barely world to never count out
been out for a day. the diva.
The album is just as pleas- Freedom sounds good on
ant as your 1999 self-titled you, too, Christina.q
debut, as powerful and poi-
gnant as 2002's "Stripped,"
and as layered and soulful Christina Aguilera performs on NBC's "Today" show at Rockefeller Plaza on Friday, June 15, 2018,
as 2006's "Back to Basics." in New York.
"Liberation" has a wide Associated Press
range of styles and sounds,
but it's also masterfully co- from my version of the al- your voice in top form; stant classic, is beautiful,
hesive (apart from the bum, since that's what we "Pipe" is a sexy Quiet Storm raw and honest.
Demi Lovato duet "Fall In can do in 2018). anthem; and "Unless It's And then there are the
Line," which I can't stand But everything else is epic: With You," which closes the jams: "Right Moves," fea-
and therefore deleted it "Twice" continues to show album and feels like an in- turing reggae artists Keida