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NEWS > EVERYONE ELSE > ETHNIC VIOLENCE IN KYRGYZSTAN FLARES; CHRISTINA AGUILERA’S NEW ALBUM FLOPS
ETHNIC VIOLENCE IN KYRGYZSTAN FLARES; CHRISTINA AGUILERA’S NEW ALBUM FLOPS
June 13 2010
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan – Off the map and hardly known by the majority of the world, Kyrgyzstan has been facing one of the worst crises in the nation’s history all by themselves. The former Soviet republic, considered by many to be an undiscovered 
jewel of Asia, has exploded in rioting and ethnic violence in recent weeks. What began as government protests has unravelled into complete chaos with cities across the country burning and ethnic Uzbeks fleeing across the border in fear for their lives. Thus far the principle regional power, Russia, has declined pleas for military aid to help quell the violence.
On the other side of the world the long-awaited new album from Christina Aguilera, ‘Bionic’ dropped into stores this week to less than stellar reviews and apparently very poor sales. Her first record since the tepid ‘Back to Basics’, ‘Bionic’ promised to be a return to her pop roots but has resulted in disappointment amongst many critics. Perhaps more importantly the new record has found itself without an audience most of whom have moved onto other artists in the eight years since her last pop record, 2002’s blockbuster ‘Stripped’. Now Aguilera is finding out the hard way that being out of the spotlight for so long can make it very difficult to return.
“It’s an interesting album to be sure. There is a lot of collaboration with very distinct artists and the beat is very up tempo but there is also this feeling like it is a kind of Frankenstein mish-mash of sounds that ultimately result in very little. Her voice is just as powerful as always but the end result is very mediocre,” said Scrape TV Music analyst Dylan Chambers. “Perhaps it is her time away from the scene, perhaps it is her personal life, perhaps it is just her talent waning. We may never know for sure but whatever the reason the end result is tired and unfocussed. It is a far cry from her heyday.”
Rolling Stone gave the album two and half stars. Exact sales data is not yet available but early word indicates a less then favourable response from listeners.
“The reality is the majority of her audience has grown up and a though many of them still like pop music, a lot has happened in the last eight years and many new artists have come around and consumed their listening time. For younger listeners the reality is tastes have changed and a thirty-year old woman simply doesn’t have the same appeal of Miley Cyrus or Taylor Swift,” continued Chambers. “It’s a tough road to try and achieve long-term success in any creative form but music is particularly brutal. He hasn’t helped herself by being away for so long. I realize she has taken the time off to start a family but she did it in her prime creative and popular years and that is going to haunt her career for the long term.”
Immediate sales numbers will likely not be affected by the turmoil in Kyrgyzstan as the album was not due to be released there until later in the year.
“Like everything in music the sales numbers are going to be affected by a number of things. It’s not just the music that’s changed, it’s also the nature of the industry. Four years is a long time for things to stay the same and that’s exactly why they haven’t. Aguilera will realize that with this album and have to pursue other options if she wants to not only stay in the public eye but also continue to make money,” continued Chambers. “Touring will be a big part of that and is going to become more and more important for music artists. Of course you have to have an audience to do that, which she appears to be lacking. Hopefully much of the turmoil that is occurring in the world, whether it’s the war in Afghanistan or the oil spill, will have calmed down enough by next year for her concerts to be a success but we will have to see.”
Aguilera has been promising the people of Kyrgyzstan a tour since 2002 but much of her audience is Uzbek, who are being systematically slaughtered.
Emil Uliya, International Correspondent
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