MARCH 2001
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THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2001
Current Chart Status
The Billboard Hot 100:
"Nobody Wants To Be Lonely" rises one from 17 to 16 this week.
Hot Latin Tracks:
"Pero Me Acuerdo De T�" falls from 14 to 18 this week.
The Billboard Latin 50:
'Mi Reflejo' slips from 7 to 9 this week.
Christina: Genie In A (Coke) Bottle
What's next, Jessica Simpson shilling for RC Cola?
Just three days after Britney Spears gyrated for Pepsi during the Oscar telecast, Coca-Cola has announced that her teen-popster rival, Christina Aguilera, will have a Coke and a smile for its next batch of commercials.
The Atlanta-based cola giant says Aguilera will begin appearing in the TV spots this May. She'll also take part in its summer 2001 promotion, where, in addition to a $1 million grand prize, Coke drinkers will get the chance to meet the pop princess and hang out with her during a video shoot. Other prizes will include a hoops game with Laker Kobe Bryant and a trip to the NFL Pro Bowl with ESPN's Chris Berman.
But Coke insists it's not copying Pepsi. The company first signed Aguilera last year, though it was solely for a spot that aired in Latin America. Now, with the company adding some $300 million to its advertising budget, the 20-year-old singer will join a host of other big names to hawk the soda pop this summer, including Wallflowers singer Jakob Dylan.
"The program in Latin America was real successful, so we're looking forward to working with her here," says Coca-Cola spokesman Scott Williamson.
Just last month, Spears announced she was joining the Pepsi generation and the cola competitor would sponsor her upcoming world tour.
Aguilera and Spears have followed strikingly similar career paths. Both started out on The Mickey Mouse Club and, after scoring successful debut albums, both were nominated for Best New Artist at the 2000 Grammy Awards (which Aguilera ended up winning).
The cola connection would seem to make perfect sense. Just like Coke and Pepsi, fans of Britney and Christina are a fiercely loyal bunch, unwilling to admit to liking both, all while proudly berating the rival as a cheap, flavorless knockoff. (Of course, the cynics also add that both products are just different recipes for the same ultra-sugary guilty pleasure. And both help spawn mild forms of addiction in America's children.)
But by taking advantage of the pop rivalry, Coke's deal with Christina promises to spark a marketing battle not seen since the great 'N Sync-and-McDonald's/Backstreet Boys-and-Burger King wars of 2000.
Aguilera will have her work cut out for her: Spears made a memorable impression on Oscar viewers Sunday, as she wiggled and strutted (while sporting a Pepsi-logo navel ring) for her much-hyped commercial, which also featured former Senator Bob Dole.
Meanwhile, Williamson says the new Aguilera ads have not yet been produced. We'd like to suggest a tagline:
"What a Girl Wants: To Buy the World a Coke."
Source: E! Online
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FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 2001
Current Chart Status
The Billboard Hot 100:
"Nobody Wants To Be Lonely" falls from 13 to 17 this week.
Hot Latin Tracks:
"Pero Me Acuerdo De T�" rises one from 15 to 14 this week.
The Billboard Latin 50:
'Mi Reflejo' holds at 7 this week.
'Marmalade' Getting Airplay
Christina's most recent collaboration, a remake of "Lady Marmalade" with Mya, Pink, Lil' Kim and Missy Elliott from the forthcoming Moulin Rouge soundtrack, is now receiving radio airplay. Be sure to request it on your local station. The song is up now in the Audio and Lyrics sections. The video for the song was reportedly shot this past weekend.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2001
Current Chart Status
The Billboard Hot 100:
"Nobody Wants To Be Lonely" holds at 13 this week.
Hot Latin Tracks:
"Pero Me Acuerdo De T�" falls from 8 to 15 this week.
The Billboard Latin 50:
'Mi Reflejo' holds at 7 this week.
Billboard Latin Music Award Wins
Christina won the Billboard Latin Music Awards in the categories of Pop Album Of The Year, Female for 'Mi Reflejo' and Pop Album Of The Year, New Artist for 'Mi Reflejo.'
Source: The Official Christina Aguilera Website
Video Is A Cabaret For Aguilera, Pink, Mya, Lil' Kim
By Tina Johnson and Teri vanHorn
Lil' Kim, Pink, Mya and Christina Aguilera will re-team this weekend to bring their collaboration on the '70s disco hit "Lady Marmalade" to life in a cabaret-style video.
Pink predicted the clip will be like a "circus on acid."
"The video's going to be dope," Aguilera said. "We're going to be having cabaret costumes. It's something you've never seen from us before. So, it's going to be fun."
The clip will be shot in Los Angeles on Saturday with director Paul Hunter (Jennifer Lopez, Aguilera).
Mya said the video "has to be crazy" to match up with the Baz Luhrmann-directed movie "Moulin Rouge," which is set in Paris in 1899. The song is the lead single from the film's soundtrack.
The art direction will anachronistically merge a hip-hop sensibility with the film's French cabaret setting, thanks to some props and costumes actually used in the movie, according to Hunter's office. Tina Landon (Janet Jackson, Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez) will choreograph the dance-oriented clip.
Missy Elliott, who produced the song, will also make an appearance.
Aguilera said she embraced the idea of collaborating with Elliott, Pink, Mya and Lil' Kim on the track as soon as it was pitched to her.
"I'm a fan of all of theirs, and just to be in the same song doing something with them - collaborating, which I love to do, is a really big thing for me," she said. "And it's cool to be out there before my next album comes out there, too."
"Lady Marmalade" was originally recorded by '70s group LaBelle, who took it to #1 in 1975.
"Moulin Rouge," starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor, should hit theatres in May. The film is not related to the 1952 movie of the same name that starred Jose Ferrer as artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, although that character, played by John Leguizamo, is in this version, too.
Source: SonicNet.com
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THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2001
Tune Them In--Or Try Them On
It's just not enough to be a beautiful superstar pop culture singer anymore. This month, diva-ettes Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez were featured in the pages of `Women's Wear Daily' for their beauty business ventures.
According to WWD's 'Beauty Biz' supplement, a new line of teen cosmetics called Fetish by Christina Aguilera will make its debut this month. The line, a product of New Dana Perfumes Corp., is a resurrection and revamping of a makeup and fragrance line put out by Renaissance Cosmetics in the late '90s. Look for music/makeup tie-ins such as a CD case that doubles as a lip gloss and eye shadow collection and includes a CD by the 20-year-old songstress. The line will have its initial launch at Sears, and will later be carried by Walgreens and other stores.
Meanwhile, WWD reported that Andy Hilfiger, Tommy's kid brother, is in negotiations with Lopez and Spears. His new company, Music Entertainment Fashion Inc., plans to make celebrity clothing lines and may begin with a junior sportswear line for 19-year-old Spears and a jeans line (J.Lo) for Lopez, who at 30 has already become known for her risk-taking flair for high fashion.
Source: The Baltimore Sun
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TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 2001
Christina Opens mtvICON
MTV's first annual mtvICON show, this year dedicated to Janet Jackson, will start off with Christina opening the show. Pictures of Christina from the event have been added to the Photos section. 'mtvICON: Janet Jackson' premieres tonight on MTV at 8pm EST.
Billboard Latin Music Award Nominations
The finalists for the eighth annual Billboard Latin Music Awards - to be held April 29 in Miami Beach, Florida - have been announced, according to Billboard. Christina received three nominations in the following categories:
POP ALBUM, FEMALE
- Christina Aguilera, Mi Reflejo
- Paulina Rubio, Paulina
- Shakira, MTV Unplugged
- Thalia, Arrasando
POP ALBUM, NEW ARTIST
- Christina Aguilera, Mi Reflejo
- Azul Azul, El Sapo
- Oscar de la Hoya, Oscar de la Hoya
- OV 7, CD00
BILLBOARD LATIN 50 ARTIST
- Christina Aguilera
- Marc Anthony
- Shakira
- Son By Four
The Billboard Latin Music Awards will be broadcast on the Telemundo network from Jackie Gleason Theater of the Performing Arts in Miami Beach. The ceremony will take place three days after the April 24-26 Billboard Latin Music Conference.
Source: SonicNet.com
International TV Special Release
In May, Avanti International will be releasing the Home Video of Christina's TV Special [My Reflection] in the following territories: France, Eastern Europe, Germany, UK, Spain, Netherlands, Australia, Sweden, Mexico, Portugal, Brazil, Japan and Asia. It also includes behind the scenes footage from her childhood, the filming of her video 'Come on Over' and the 'MTV Diary of Christina Aguilera.'
Source: The Official Christina Aguilera Website
Mi Reflejo Sales, Single Info
Christina's Spanish album 'Mi Reflejo' continues to sell extremely well with Top 20 album positions in Spain, Mexico, Venezuela, Argentina and Chile. The single ["Pero Me Acuerdo De T�"] is also #1 in Mexico and Venezuela. Thanks to all her fans! Sales are also good in Asia with over 60,000 units sold so far.
The next Spanish single is "Falsas Esperanzas." The video for this single will be a live video taken from Christina's TV special from December. This is the strongest and most commercial track on the album!
'Mi Reflejo' has debuted at #80 on Japan's albums chart. This is quite an accomplishment for a Spanish language album in Japan. Sales are at 32,000 CDs and growing. The single "Falsas Esperanzas" is #41 on the airplay chart and growing.
Source: The Official Christina Aguilera Website
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THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2001
Current Chart Status
The Billboard 200:
'Christina Aguilera' drops out of the top 100 from 89 this week.
The Billboard Hot 100:
"Nobody Wants To Be Lonely" rises one from 14 to 13 this week.
Hot Latin Tracks:
"Pero Me Acuerdo De T�" jumps from 11 to 8 this week.
The Billboard Latin 50:
'Mi Reflejo' falls from 3 to 7 this week.
O-Town Answer Britney or Christina
Dan Miller: Overall, Christina.
Ashley Angel: Britney. Because I think she's talented and she's just having fun with it. She has a really good attitude.
Trevor Penick: I have to stick with what I've said since Day One and it'll never, ever change: Britney.
Erik-Michael Estrada: Mi amiga Latina Christina!
Jacob Underwood: I'm big that if you're in the music business, you should sing. So I'm gonna say Christina.
Source: People.com
Genie Out Of The Bottle
By Sudhish Kamath
She might not have taken home a single Grammy nomination this year, but with her performance, the little girl sure would have taken home stolen hearts.
Like she did, last year, during her live concert on the Vancouver tour. For all you desi fans of Christina Aguilera, Channel V0 has good news. The youth channel is playing Genie, granting you most of your wishes on the teeny-bopper who shot to fame last year, as she took home the Grammy for Best New Artiste. Yes, that was the night she came to the Grammys without a prepared speech, extremely confident that she would not win!
The news? Yes, Channel V0 will bring that Vancouver concert to your homes Wednesday evening (5 p.m.) in its 'Very V0 Special'. Christina, dressed in a white genie costume, complete with a jewelled forehead and a I-Dream-Of-Genie ponytail, along with six dancers, the channel says, will explode on stage with the smash single "Genie in a bottle."
The girl surely knows "What a girl wants", and she probably also knows what the boys want, considering that she sold over eight million copies of her debut album worldwide.
After all, Christina Aguilera has been crooning ever since she was six. At eight, she is supposed to have appeared on 'Star Search'. Ten, and she sang the American National Anthem for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Penguins.
Twelve, and Christina joined the ensemble cast of the New Mickey Mouse Club, appearing on the Orlando-based show with Britney Spears, J.C and Justin (of now 'N Sync') and Keri Russel (Felicity).
With more concerts round the world, all Christina wanted to do was have her own album recorded before she graduated from high school. Not only did she do that, she also had her singles climbing up the charts.
The programme this evening will have more sound-bytes from the girl herself, featured in a 6 minute interview. So if you are more 'Crazy' about Christina than Britney, 'Come On Over', sit right in front of the idiot box.
Source: The Hindu
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MONDAY, MARCH 5, 2001
Carson On Christina's Attitude
"Christina's constantly had to fight being in Britney's shadow. She walks like a diva, so people think she has an attitude problem. I've never had a problem with her, but I don't have a real sense--by the time people come on TRL, its like they're behaving well in front of their parents. But whether you like her or not, the one thing that has really propelled her is sheer talent" --Carson Daly
Source: YM Magazine; BonnieM10
Major Pop Stars To Appear On Lenticular Motion Products
TORONTO, March 2 /CNW/ - Segami Images Inc., a leading commercial digital and photographic imaging solutions company, is pleased to announce the signing of several agreements to produce lenticular motion consumer products for major pop artists Christina Aguilera, the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC.
Segami has secured the worldwide distribution rights for the development of eye-catching impressions of Christina Aguilera and the North American rights for the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC. A wide variety of products including a minimum of four motion cards will be created for each artist and will be available on the market this spring in Canada, US and Europe. In addition, Segami has entered into an agreement with a leading sales/service organization in the US to distribute the motion picture products to retail outlets.
Lenticular motion products will take the artist's image adding motion with 3D, or flipping their image with morphing effects that create motion in the picture. Available to corporate and retail customers, these products involve multi-dimensional views, alternating images, and/or the appearance of motion from combined images.
"We are thrilled to manufacture premium, promotional and merchandising products for some of entertainment's best known companies such as Warner Bros., Consumer Products Canada, Sony Music and Nike who recognize the promotional power that can be generated for their artists, products and brand. It keeps them one step ahead of the competition," said Ron Benson, President and CEO, Segami Images Inc.
The lenticular motion products range in size from a postage stamp up to a bus shelter poster. The distributor will prominently display these products at various trade shows throughout North America. The US distribution includes department stores, sporting goods chains, mass merchants as well as amusement parks and surf shops.
Lenticular motion imaging products are sold directly to companies as a marketing tool to convey an effective message with impact. Segami's in-house creative and lenticular imaging experts can offer assistance in assembling these spectacular imaging pieces, offering promotional value in wide-format for ad agencies, corporations, retailers, plus exhibit and display organizations.
Over the coming months, Segami anticipates making further announcements on signing a roster of exciting new artists and groups to be featured on motion imaging cards.
Source: Segami Images Inc.
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THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2001
Current Chart Status
The Billboard 200:
'Christina Aguilera' falls from 89 to 94 this week.
The Billboard Hot 100:
"Nobody Wants To Be Lonely" holds at 14 this week.
Hot Latin Tracks:
"Pero Me Acuerdo De T�" holds at 11 this week.
The Billboard Latin 50:
'Mi Reflejo' jumps from 5 to 3 this week.