Bionic: utilizing electronic devices and mechanical parts to assist humans in performing difficult, dangerous or intricate tasks. Long-established pop star Christina Aguilera seems to have forgotten the “human” part of that definition.
In Aguilera’s fourth studio release, Bionic, she turns to a playful blend of electronic and dance music, but this latest reinvention may be the least successful of all her musical personas. What has seemed to sustain Aguilera through the years is her ability to make pop music soulful, her voice easily imbibing even the most insipid of lyrics with emotional depth. Bionic largely lacks this soulfulness, instead charged with synthesizers and tacky, sexual lyrics.
Aguilera certainly takes an “in-your-face” approach here. The lyrics are so aggressively erotic at times that the results are laughable: just try not to smirk while listening to “Woohoo,” featuring young star Nicki Minaj and lyrics like, “All the boys think it’s cake when they taste my woohoo.”
That’s not to say that Bionic has no genuine and enjoyable moments. Tracks “I Am” and “You Lost Me” are positioned together near the end of the album, and they form a blessed island of respite from electronic sounds and titillating lyrics. Both slower and filled with sincerity, the two songs give a glimpse of the woman who became an international pop sensation.
The biggest problem with Bionic is it’s trying to reinvent Aguilera so hard it doesn’t feel like her anymore. It’s clear after Bionic that to further evolve, Aguilera needs to pin down the humanity she’s trying so desperately to change in the first place.
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