by Raquel Arnold

Created on: August 01, 2010

"Bionic" should have been the big comeback for one-time pop princess Christina Aguilera. A more mature, polished image and grown-up, sultry songs would have catapulted the songstress into stardom once more.

Instead, it was another oversexed, auto-tuned laced cookie cutter album.

As a child of the 90's, I was subjected to the teen pop phenomenon and all of its many members. Among them were Britney Spears, *N'sync, Backstreet Boys and of course, Christina Aguilera.

And yet, there has always been something genuine about Aguilera that the other former pop starlets didn't have. Perhaps it is the ability to blow any of them out of the water with her naturally amazing voice. Even from the transition from pop sensation to the 'dirrty' X-tina, I have always followed her career in hopes that she would produce a mind-blowing album that would finally showcase just how unique her voice is.

Instead of moving on to more mature material, Aguilera has decided to jump onto the current pop trend. While she may not be the pop powerhouse that Lady Gaga, Rihanna or any of the new starlets of today are, I believe that her fans wanted something more. At almost thirty years old, Aguilera has been a mother and wife for some time now. Her life has, it is assumed, changed drastically from her days of being on tour with other acts, most of whom have also hit the thirty mark (Or even passed it, in some cases.)

While Aguilera herself seems to have become more poised and sure of herself as a person, it does not reflect in her music, which is a shame. I have longed for the days when Aguleira would release another goose bump inducing song like "Reflection," a song that was recorded in 1998 for Disney's "Mulan." That slow, soft ballad fully showcased her musical talent and made her a star in my eyes before she even debuted her self-titled album in subsequent years that made her a household name.

As entertainers age in Hollywood, the boundaries of which they are and are not supposed to push become harder to figure out as they age, and some continue to push no matter how old they get (see: Madonna, Cher, etc.)

If Aguilera never reaches the heights she once did, it should not be seen as a failure but instead, as a cue to elevate her love and passion for music. To think outside the box and go beyond the pop trends of today.

Learn more about this author, Raquel Arnold.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.