I love Christina Aguilera, & I am not ashamed to say it!

 Here's why...

"I Am"

I am timid and
I am oversensitive
I am a lioness
I am tired and defensive
You take me in your arms
And I fall into you
I have insecurities
You show me I am beautiful

Love me or leave me
Just take it or leave it
It's not that I'm needy
Just need you to see me

Take me, free me, see through to the core of me
Take me, free me, there will be no more pretending

I am temperamental and
I have imperfections and
I am emotional
I am unpredictable
I am naked
I am vulnerable
I am a woman
I am opening up to you

Love me or leave me
Just take it or leave it
It's not that I'm needy
Just need you to see me

Take me, free me, see through to the core of me
Take me, free me, there will be no more pretending

Now I stand before you with my heart in my hands
I'm asking you to take me just the way that I am
Please lay down your arms, do you know me?
Make me feel safe from harm

Take me, free me, see through to the core of me
Take me, free me, there will be no more pretending

I am temperamental and
I have imperfections and
I am emotional
There'll be no more pretending


I downloaded her new album on iTunes last week.  While she was promoting it she talked about being in an "Electronica" phase.  And let me tell you, she was not kidding about it.  The first time I listened to it I was cleaning.  I wasn't paying particular attention to the music, & I wasn't really sure how I felt about it.  Then suddenly, I found myself singing little hooks from the chorus of some of the songs.  It's not the kind of thing you'll listen to with a good book & a glass of wine, but it's cute & catchy.


More importantly, it's just "her."  Pop culture be damned, she does her own thing; be it crazy hair, weird make-up, revealing outfits, etc.  Even after all these years, & endless comparisons to a certain "Lady" we're all a little goo-goo for, she's true to herself.


Amidst all the upbeat, techno "Electronica" songs there are a few traditional "Listen to me sign my mother effin' heart out!" ballads.  And there, nestled somewhere between "Sex for Breakfast" & "I Hate Boys" is the song I mentioned in the beginning.  I was captivated when I heard it, just like I was the first time I heard "Beautiful."


I think we all have days where we feel like we're not good enough & nothing goes the way we want it to.   It's comforting to know that someone so beautiful, so powerful & so in control feels the same way too.  For me, it puts a lot in perspective.  It reminds me I'm not alone in feeling that way, & I can't let that feeling rule my life.


So call me silly if you must, I've been hearing it since I was 14 (when "Genie in a Bottle" was released).  But, as my good friend Mel always says, "There's no shame in my game."  I will continue to be X-Tina's biggest fan, no matter what phase comes next.