The Voice Within
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "The Voice Within" | ||
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| Single by Christina Aguilera | ||
| from the album Stripped | ||
| Released | November 2003 | |
| Format | CD Single, Airplay | |
| Genre | Pop | |
| Length | 5:04 | |
| Label | RCA Records | |
| Writer(s) | Christina Aguilera Glen Ballard |
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| Producer(s) | Glen Ballard | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| Christina Aguilera singles chronology | ||
| "Can't Hold Us Down" (2003) |
"The Voice Within" (2003) |
"Car Wash" (2004) |
| Alternate covers | ||
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| Canadian single cover | ||
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| Remix single cover | ||
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| German pocket single cover | ||
| Audio sample | ||
| Play (in browser) (help·info) | ||
"The Voice Within" is the fifth and final single from Christina Aguilera's sophomore album, Stripped. Released in 2003, the single peaked at #33 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Aguilera's 11th Top 40 hit. The single also peaked at #9 in the UK and #8 in Australia. The single is most known for its simplistic, but critically acclaimed music video that was filmed only in black and white and only with one camera shot. The video was nominated for three MTV Video Music Awards, Best Female Video, Viewer's Choice, and Best Cinematography.
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[edit] Song information
"The Voice Within" was written by both Aguilera and Glen Ballard, and was produced by the latter. The album version of song extends the song about 5 seconds and blends it with the next track, "I'm OK".
Aguilera did not want 'The Voice Within' to be released as the 5th single. She was lobbying for 'Impossible' a track off of 'Stripped' which was produced by Alicia Keys, as she felt it would help her break into the urban market. RCA records wanted to release a big ballad during the holiday season like they did the year prior with 'Beautiful' and felt that 'The Voice Within' was the perfect candidate. Eventually, Aguilera's label made the final decision and the idea of 'Impossible' being the final single was scrapped.
It was performed on the third season of Australian Idol during "Contestant's Choice" week (Top 9) by Roxane LeBrasse. Despite receiving good reviews from the judges, LeBrasse was elminated the next night.
The song was performed later by American Idol 5 runner-up Katharine McPhee during 'Songs from the 21st Century' week (Top 10). During this performance, judge Simon Cowell compared McPhee's abilities to that of Aguilera's, saying the former's performance was almost as good as the original singer. He then said it was medicore during the result show the night after, where McPhee landed in the bottom two.
[edit] Composition and meaning
Much like her hit single Beautiful, The Voice Within holds an inspirational message, especially to young women, as told in the opening line: 'Young girl, don't cry'. The song encourages the listener to 'trust the voice within when there's nobody else' to help you through your problems. Before her performance of The Voice Within in her London concert of Stripped Tour she said this about the song: "One of the things that I truly have had to learn, sometimes the hard way, but that I'd like to share with you is to trust your own instincts no matter what people might say about you, no matter what criticism or what negativity might come your way for just being who you are, and just being yourself, it's so important."
[edit] Remixes
Official Remixes
- "The Voice Within (Almighty Remix) (8:01) - a.k.a. The Voice Within (Almighty Definitive Mix) & The Voice Within (Almighty 12" Club Mix)
- "The Voice Within" (Almighty PA) (8:01)
- "The Voice Within" (Almighty Dub) (7:57)
- "The Voice Within" (Almighty Radio Edit 1) (3:31)
- "The Voice Within" (Almighty Radio Edit 2) (4:01)
- "The Voice Within" (Almighty Mix Show)
Unofficial Remixes by famous remixers
- "The Voice Within" (Bertoldo & Bermudez Club Mix) - remixed by Lenny Bertoldo & Joe Bermudez
[edit] Chart performances
"The Voice Within" proved to be moderately successful, peaking within the top forty of both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot 100 Airplay.
Internationally, the song peaked within the top ten in most countries it charted.
[edit] Charts
| Chart (2003) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S.Billboard Hot 100 | 33 |
| U.S. Top 40 Tracks | 17 |
| U.S. Top 40 Mainstream | 11 |
| U.S. Adult Top 40 | 33 |
| U.S. Adult Contemporary | 16 |
| World Chart Show | 2 |
| UK Top 40 Singles | 9 |
| Argentina Top 40 Singles | 1 (1 week) [1] |
| Austrian Single Chart | 7 |
| Australian ARIA Top 50 Singles | 8 |
| Canadian Singles Chart | 10 |
| Dutch Top 40 | 6 |
| Hungarian Radio Airplay Top 40 | 8 |
| Hungarian Single Sales Chart | 10 |
| Sweden Top 60 Singles | 10 |
| Ireland Top 50 Singles | 4 |
| Mexican Top 100 | 29 |
| Austria Top 75 Singles | 7 |
| Italy Top 50 Singles | 19 |
| Germany Top 100 Singles | 13 |
| Switzerland Top 100 Singles | 3 |
| New Zealand Top 50 Singles | 16 |
| Brasil Top 100 Singles | 25 |
| United World Chart | 7 |
| Christina Aguilera |
|---|
| Discography |
| Albums |
| Christina Aguilera (1999) • Stripped (2002) • Back to Basics (2006) |
| Other Albums |
| Mi Reflejo (2000) · My Kind of Christmas (2000) · Just Be Free (2001) |
| Singles |
| "Reflection" · "Genie in a Bottle" · "The Christmas Song" · "What a Girl Wants" · "I Turn to You" · "Come on Over Baby" · "Pero me acuerdo de ti" · "Christmas Time" · "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely" · "Falsas Esperanzas" · "Lady Marmalade" · "Dirrty" · "Beautiful" · "Fighter" · "Can't Hold Us Down" · "Infatuation" · "The Voice Within" · "Car Wash" · "Tilt Ya Head Back" · "Ain't No Other Man" · "Hurt" · "Tell Me" · "Candyman" · Slow Down Baby |
| Related articles |
| Discography · Awards · B-Sides/Unreleased songs · RCA Records |
