Addendum: The Dirrty Years
Two thousand two was the year my world exploded with pop culture and I was a sponge that soaked it all up. However, there was one event that stood out from the rest, the music video to Christina Aguilera’s “Dirrty” featuring Redman, I was blown away, the song was epic, the imagery- I didn’t even know people were allowed to dance like that. I swore I was in love with Xtina, she was going to be the girl that I would tell others I had a crush on and everyone would believe me then that I was straight. (https://www.pechugavintage.com/blogs/news/tagged/vh1)
“In retrospect, the David LaChapelle-directed video is an essential artifact of the early 2000s pop music landscape, representative of turn-of-the-century bubblegum superstars shedding their baked-on wholesomeness and embracing a more mature image.” (read scandalous),” writes Jason Lipshutz in Billboard.
Christina’s change inspired other pop artists to be true to themselves and leave behind a past where every detail of her life was controlled.
Twenty years after the premiere of the video, several female artists have claimed their right to feel free with their own bodies and openly express their sexuality. In 2020 Cardi B’s WAP with Megan Thee Stallion was one of the most successful (and controversial) songs of the year for being a statement in favor of female pleasure. It would not have been possible without the foundation laid by Dirrty.
“The female body is something that I think is beautiful, and it’s about how you own it, really, and not exploit it for a man’s pleasure,” Aguilera told Billboard. “If you own your own body and your own confidence, then it becomes empowering.”
(http://www.lamezcla.com/home/christina-aguileras-dirrty-20-years-of-a-pop-revolution/)
It’s Your Anniversary: Christina Aguilera’s ‘Dirrty’ Video Still Has an Impact 20 Years LaterIn September of 2002, Christina Aguilera made arguably the most perfect 180 turn from pop princess to pop xes symbol. She wasn’t the first to do it. Britney Spears had done something similar the year before with “I’m A Slave 4 U” — but Christina did it best. She even had the other pop acts following her lead, and still does today. when she released the song “Dirrty,” she made it clear she was done playing coy. She was owning her xesual side and putting it front and center. I was 16, and my mind was blown.I hadn’t been particularly attracted to Christina before, but that song — and especially the music video — changed my mind. If there was any doubt in my mind that I was attracted to women, that video cemented it. Christina’s push to take ownership of her xesual image became a cornerstone of my ownership of my xesual identity. It’s hard to believe that it was 20 years ago! (more at https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/20-years-later-christina-aguilera%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98dirrty%E2%80%99-video-still-has-more-impact-than-most-popstars.5040214/#post-86185142)
