La Fuerza
La Fuerza (English: The Strength) is a Spanish language extended play (EP) by American singer Christina Aguilera. It is the first of three parts which will form Aguilera's ninth studio album and second Spanish language album. The album serves as a follow up to her eighth studio album "Liberation" (2018) and her second studio album and first Spanish-language album "Mi Reflejo" (2000). The EP was released on January 21, 2022, and is her first solo EP, after her 2003 split EP with Justin Timberlake, "Justin & Christina". Collaborators for the EP include producers Frederico Vindver, Jean Rodríguez  as well as singers Becky G, Nicki Nicole and Nathy Peluso, who are featured on the EP's lead single. "La Fuerza" was preceded by the release of three singles: "Pa Mis Muchachas" with Becky G, Nicki Nicole featuring Nathy Peluso, "Somos Nada", and "Santo" with Ozuna. Background. In 2000, Aguilera released her second studio album "Mi Reflejo", her first Spanish-language album. The album went on to be ranked number ten on the "Billboard"'s Top 20 Latin Albums of All Time. "La Fuerza" marks Aguilera's return to Spanish-language music since her second album "Mi Reflejo", released  nearly 22 years prior and which topped the "Billboard" Top Latin Albums and Latin Pop Albums charts where it spent 19 weeks at the top of both charts and was later certified 6× Platinum (Latin field) by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), becoming the best selling Latin pop album of the year. Aguilera began teasing the release of her second "overdue" Spanish-language album two decades later in 2021 noting in a "Health" magazine interview that: Aguilera took advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to retreat to Miami, Florida in a COVID-safe writing camp with the intention to  pay homage to her Ecuadorian heritage through making her ninth studio album in Spanish. The album was made in four weeks, with the first song made being the album's lead single, "Pa' Mis Muchachas". Aguilera further teased the release of the album in an interview with Insider in September 2021. She revealed that she'd filmed the first two music videos for the singles. To make the album, Aguilera went to Miami where she recorded music with different collaborators. Aguilera revealed that she planned to release the album "throughout the next year in sort of six song increments every  few months". In an interview with the "Los Angeles Times", Aguilera revealed that the album would be released in three pieces, confirming that the first part of the album would be titled "La Fuerza" and that it would celebrate her power as a woman. She revealed that she'd be releasing music until the end of 2022. Music and lyrics. "La Fuerza" is a Latin EP, influenced by dance-pop, piano ballads, ranchera, urbano music, cumbia, guaracha and reggaeton. The EP begins with "Ya Llegué" (English: "I'm Here") which was described as a "sultry futuristic track" which "gradually turns  into a hard-hitting reggaeton". Aguilera samples her 1999 hit single "Genie In a Bottle", changing the lyrics to 'Like a genie in a bottle? Never'". This song is followed by the lead single, "Pa' Mis Muchachas" (English: "For My Girls") featuring Becky G, Nathy Peluso and Nicki Nicole. On working on the song, "Pa' Mis Muchachas" Aguilera noted that the song "serves as an homage to women". She added that, "We wanted to make sure that this was definitely a representation of Latin women who are the strength of a family, the backbone. In the song we mention that  I'm a woman that is strong because I was raised by a woman that was strong and so was she before that. It's something that gets passed down by generations. I chose Nathy, Becky and Nicki because of the strength they exude". During an interview with "Ocean Drive" magazine, Aguilera said "funnily enough, "Pa' Mis Muchachas" was the very first song we wrote and recorded for this album. Right from the start, in my very first session at Maestro Julio Reyes Copello's studio, the energy was undeniably special. The guitar strings, the lyrics, intensity and passion within  the song poured out of everyone. I was introduced to Nathy, Nicki and Becky, and there was no doubt in my mind that they were the perfect muchachas for this track." "Somos Nada" (English: "We Are Nothing"), is a "stripped-down piano-led nostalgic ballad that puts her deep, powerful tone at the forefront". The track was called a "signature" Aguilera song where she "delivers a raw and emotional performance". "Santo" (English: "Holy") follows up as a song about "two people who are hooked on each other". The track features Puerto Rican singer Ozuna whose "crisp, sugary vocals and [Christina 's] vocal range make for the perfect perreo that later transitions to a hip-shaking cumbia. "Como Yo" (English: "Like Me") utilizes an experimental Latin pop sound. It is a "club-friendly dance-pop track with thumping beats explores a different side of Xtina’s musical trajectory". The EP ends with "La Reina" (English: "The Queen") which was called the "album's anthem". Aguilera " brings all her powerful, gifted vocals to deliver a heartfelt ranchera that perfectly transmits the popular phrase 'What's a king without his queen?'". Singles. On October 19, 2021, Aguilera began posting clips of the EP 's lead single and its accompanying music video on her social media. "Pa' Mis Muchachas" (English: "For My Girls") was released on October 22, 2021, alongside its music video. The song is a collaboration between Aguilera, Becky G and Nicki Nicole, and it features Argentine singer and songwriter Nathy Peluso. Aguilera noted that the video is a "first episode of a long story to come [...] This is a celebration of individuality. This is a story about strength, about how to let your hair down. About rediscovering yourself along the way". The second single, a piano ballad titled "Somos Nada" (English : "We Are Nothing"), was released on November 18, 2021, alongside its music video. The song was written by Aguilera, Mario Domm, Sharlene Taule and Federico Vindver. Aguilera performed the first two singles at the 22nd Annual Latin Grammy Awards, accompanied by Becky G, Nicole and Peluso. "Santo" (English: "Holy") featuring Puerto Rican singer Ozuna was released on January 20, 2022, as the EP's third single. Critical reception. Upon release, the album received positive reviews. "La Fuerza" was named the best album of the week by "Billboard Argentina". Reviewing the EP for "Rolling Stone", Lucas Villa wrote that Aguilera's  vocal prowess is extraordinary in any language, and labelled its ballads as "highlights", considering "La Reina" the best song on the record. "Billboard" described "La Fuerza" as "not only an homage to her [Aguilera's] Latin roots but a project full of passion, innovation, exploration and, of course, powerhouse vocals." Josh Weiner, writing for "Atwood Magazine", praised the EP for its quality and gave it a 8.5/10 score. The reviewer opined that "La Fuerza" "is nineteen minutes of excellent, fully-realized music", and cheered Aguilera for "embracing an exciting new artistic identity". Weiner concluded his review by claiming that "seeing  the veteran performer shake things up so drastically in this late phase of her career is massively impressive". Pip Ellwood-Hughes of "Entertainment Focus" claimed that "hearing her [Aguilera] singing in Spanish again is a joy and this collection of songs is better than anything she’s released in years". Enrique Cerros from "NEIU Independent" gave "La Fuerza" a 5/5 score, and noted that it is "a successful comeback for Aguilera, and it can be considered her best work to date". "The Tab"'s Harrison Brocklehurst applauded the EP for its "excellent Latin bangers" and for the reggaeton beats that  help Aguilera's voice "truly soar". Commercial performance. "La Fuerza" debuted at number two on the US Latin Pop Albums chart and at 14 on Top Latin Albums chart with 4,000 album-equivalent units sold of which 2,000 were pure album copies. According to "Vogue Portugal", the EP reached number one on the Portuguese Digital Albums chart. Track listing. Notes