MTV Interview:
About Herself

MTV News: Why don't you begin by telling a little about yourself.
Christina Aguilera: I was born in Staten Island, New York. But I call my hometown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, because that's basically where I ended up from age eight on. But right after Staten Island... I've lived everywhere from Texas, to Japan for three years, to New Jersey. I'm this traveling girl. My father was in the Army, so I guess I'm an Army brat.

MTV: I was going to ask you about your last name....
Christina: A lot of people wanna perceive [me] as a little white girl, trying to sound however. I'm just singing, like, what feels natural to me and what's most comfortable. And I'm not completely white. I am half Hispanic, half American-Irish. My father is from Ecuador, South America, so I am proud of my Latin roots. I'd like to get the Spanish community involved as well, being that my last name is Aguilera, and record a Spanish album one day and release it. That is really important to me.

MTV: So how long have you been singing and performing?
Christina: I've been singing and performing ever since I was in diapers, basically. I mean, from laying a towel on the floor in the bathroom and using the shampoo bottle as a microphone, to local block parties and talent shows and things like that, and to "Star Search," "[The New] Mickey Mouse Club," and the record deal. 

MTV: Tell us about your "Star Search" experience first.
Christina: It was awesome. I got to meet Ed McMahon, and it was my first time in L.A., and I lost on "Star Search," so that was a little devastating for an eight-year-old. I was up against a twelve-year-old, so I was like, "Not fair!" But it was cool.

MTV: Can you tell me about your experience as a Mouseketeer?
Christina: Being a Mouseketeer on the "Mickey Mouse Club" was cool. I was on for ages twelve and thirteen. I was on the last two seasons, and I was in pretty good company, with fellow Mouseketeers Britney Spears, J. C. and Justin from 'N Sync, Keri Russell from "Felicity." So we all had fun on that show.

MTV: Any funny anecdotes or stories that you have from that?
Christina: There was some crazy things that happened on the set. People were always telling jokes, playing pranks and stuff like that, but... I have to keep certain things secret. 

MTV: Tell us how you ended landed a record deal.
Christina: I landed a record deal simultaneously as I landed the "Mulan" soundtrack. I had just turned seventeen years old and during the same week, I just landed both. I recorded for the "Mulan" soundtrack first and then a few months later I was out in L.A. doing the record for about six months.

MTV: What are your biggest fears about being in the entertainment industry?
Christina: You know, the comparisons kinda bother me, because that takes away from my own artistry and the other person's. We're all individual artists, and that sort of bothers me. Maybe "here today, gone tomorrow" sort of scares me. But I plan on working hard to make sure that doesn't happen. Staying focused.

MTV: How do you distinguish yourself from someone like Britney Spears or some other teen pop idols?
Christina: Well, what's cool is that I'm a fan of Britney Spears. I'm a fan of Mariah Carey, who I've also been compared to, which is amazing. I mean, we are all our own individual artists, you know. I'm not a Britney Spears, and Britney Spears isn't me. But I think especially when people hear more of my music... it'll definitely distinguish who I am. On the upcoming album, it is a pop-R&B album, but I have a lot of soul, and there's some rangy vocals in there, so it gets kinda crazy. We've got everything from mid-tempos to really big ballads.

MTV: Who are your influences?
Christina: I would grow up in the talent shows singing Whitney Houston songs. "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" from, you know, back in '90 or '91 or whenever that was. I have a love for her. I have a love for Mariah Carey. Her style and technique is amazing. Brian McKnight I really admire. He's my favorite male vocalist. As far as blues goes, because I'm a huge lover of blues, R&B, and gospel, I love Etta James. Completely. I have a lot of respect for Lauryn Hill, because she's so heartfelt and deep on everything that comes out of her.

MTV: What's in your Walkman right now?
Christina: The new Limp Bizkit CD. I like Fred Durst, and I love that band. 

MTV: What's in your VCR right now?
Christina: Janet Jackson, "Velvet Rope" tour. I just love watching people's performance videos. And she, being an amazing performer, her and Madonna, I aspire to do my little shows like that one day.

MTV: Are you planning to tour any time soon?
Christina: I am going to be on tour possibly with TLC, a couple of dates with 'N Sync. I'm doing a few things with Lilith Fair, a lot of radio shows. 

MTV: Are you excited to be reunited with some of the guys from 'N Sync on tour? 
Christina: Oh, that's funny. The 'N Sync guys are very cool. I mean, who knows? It's always good to see them, and we will run into each other occasionally, and being that we were all great friends back in the ["Mickey Mouse Club"] days it'll be fun. I do miss Britney, though.

MTV: What are your plans for Lilith Fair?
Christina: I am not going to be singing "Genie in a Bottle" at all. It's a time where I think I can get in front of a bunch of women and really sing my heart out to just piano and vocal. It's just a piano and a mic and that's it. I'll get bluesy with Etta James' "At Last," which is one of my favorite songs.

MTV: If you weren't singing, what would you be doing right now?
Christina: I can't really picture me doing anything else besides what I am doing now. I don't know, but something funny. I always wanted to work the window at a drive-thru fast food restaurant. I always thought it was a cool thing to do. 

MTV: Last question. If you could describe yourself as one animal, what would it be? 
Christina:This is a funny question. I guess, everyone says that I remind them of a cat. Like, I'm sort of laid back all the time, but when I get onstage, it's like, I sort of pounce... it's like I come alive. So I can surprise people like that. So I guess a little kitty cat.

 MTV Interview:
The Tour With TLC

Chris Connelly: What is this tour like for you to be on?
Christina Aguilera: Well, this is my second show so far with TLC, so I am so excited to be on with them. They're sweet girls. Tiny! I'm like, oh my gosh, they're tiny like me. [Laughs] So it's really, really cute. They're cool girls. I met Chilli. She's very, very sweet. It's a fun show. I got my band out here with me. I got my dancers who drive the girls crazy. Little twists and turns, and also I'm doing something a little unexpected and introducing the kids to Etta James. Doing a cover called "At Last."

MTV: Is that right? My God, wow.
Christina Aguilera: Just piano, vocals.

MTV: Wow. Well, the young people ought to know about Etta James, don't you think?
Christina Aguilera: A lot don't, you know what I mean? But what is cool is that I've done this song as an encore sometimes before, and I was like, "Your parents might know this, you guys might." Younger fans don't. But what's cool is that they all really seem to get into it whenever I do it, and they appreciate the realness of it, I think. You know, that I'm just naked out there without anything. No dancers, no band. It's just me and a mic, and it's about being a vocalist.

MTV: Is this a good audience for you? I mean, a lot of people are obviously coming out to see you. [There are] lot of fans of TLC who might not know your work so well.
Christina Aguilera: Right, right. Well, it's good, because it gives me a chance to invite them in to see what I'm about and to know that it's just more than just "Genie In A Bottle." It's more than just a pop song with a catchy hook. It's so much more than that.

MTV: Have you met all the girls in TLC yet?
Christina Aguilera: No, I haven't. But I have met Chilli, I mentioned earlier, and she's adorable. She's really sweet. She's like, "Yeah, we're happy to have you aboard. Are you excited?" And I was, of course, like, "Yes!" And Dallas [Austin, producer] was very cool too, actually. Said he wants to be on the next record, so, um, hopefully... [Laughs] I'll hold him to that.

MTV: I interviewed Usher once, who was, like, finishing up the Mary J. Blige tour, and he had never met Mary J. Blige.
Christina Aguilera: Really?

MTV: It can be tough to get to meet the headliner sometimes.
Christina Aguilera: It is tough sometimes! But Chilli was really welcoming. I saw her at the Grammy announcements, [where] she was also an announcer, and she was very cool.

MTV: Have you been at all concerned about all the excitement connected with TLC? All the back and forth?
Christina Aguilera: The drama? [Laughs]

MTV: Exactly.
Christina Aguilera: There's always drama no matter what, but, you know, it seemed pretty cool, but before I came out, I know I had management fly out, and they were going to check out the show and see what the vibe was like, and it was cool. I mean, who knows? A lot of press wants to create drama too. I know that.

MTV: Us? Us? Us create drama? Us?
Christina Aguilera: [Laughs] No. But it's cool. It will be a fun show.

MTV: You didn't hear any bottles getting broken backstage? Nobody calling anybody any names?
Christina Aguilera: I didn't hear any of that, any of that so far. Who knows? But everything's cool.

MTV: Kind of disappointing, but what can you say. [CA laughs] Do you ever look at your schedule? I mean, just the things I know you're doing before the Grammy Awards, and you think, "How am I going to do all this? There's so much I have to do before then." What's that like for you?
Christina Aguilera: At times it really is overwhelming. I mean, the schedule alone, and the loneliness of it too. You're living out of suitcases, hotel rooms, you know? Different city every day, and it's tough.

MTV: What do you take on the road to make it seem like home, so it's less distancing, it's not so much like you're isolated?
Christina Aguilera: Mmm... I do keep a journal that keeps me in touch with myself, and I'm always writing down thoughts and ideas, which then I turn into song lyrics and things like that. But also, my priest gave me this cross from back home, which I keep under my pillow sometimes. I'm afraid of the dark, so... it's just as a little bit of protection

more interview: Her Hit Album and Team Works