The label reportedly spent $1 million on writers, producers and voice lessons. Shelly Peiken (left), co-wrote the hit "What a Girl Wants" and the single version of "Come on Over", while Diane Warren (right) wrote " I Turn to You", a cover of the All-4-One song, which became a hit in Aguilera's voice, and "Somebody's Somebody"Ĭhristina Aguilera was recorded between 19, with Ron Fair serving as the album's executive producer. "Reflection" was written and produced by Matthew Wilder and David Zippel, whom later co-wrote with Aguilera "We're a Miracle". The label laid the foundation for the album immediately and started presenting Aguilera with tracks for her debut album, which they later decided would have a January 1999 release. Due to the success around the recording of "Reflection", RCA wished for Aguilera to record and release an album by September 1998 to maintain the "hype" surrounding her at that time. She later called the experience "amazing". Despite growing increasingly exhausted during the recording sessions, when she heard that a 90-piece orchestra would be arriving to record the instrumental she begged to stay and witness the event. To record the song, she flew to Los Angeles for roughly a week. After successfully hitting the note, which she called "the note that changed my life", she was given the opportunity to record the song. Aguilera spent hours recording a cover of Whitney Houston's " Run to You", which included the note she was asked to hit. Īfter she was asked to hit a musical note required for "Reflection", she thought that the song could be the gateway into an album deal. When Aguilera met with us, she didn't care that she was auditioning for a record deal she got into a performance zone that you see in artist much more mature than she is. She was put on this earth to sing, and I've worked with a lot of singers. . When asked about the song and Aguilera, RCA executive Ron Fair commented, recording the record for about six months". I recorded the Mulan soundtrack first and then a few months later I was out in L.A. I had just turned seventeen years old, and during the same week, I just landed both. After being given the opportunity to record the theme to the 1998 film Mulan named " Reflection" it was reported she had gained a record deal with RCA with Aguilera saying "I landed a record deal simultaneously as I landed the Mulan soundtrack. Furthermore, Aguilera embarked on her debut headlining concert tour in 2000.Ĭhristina Aguilera approached record label RCA Records, then having financial difficulties, and was told to contact Disney. The album spawned four hit singles " Genie in a Bottle" peaked atop the record charts in 21 countries, including the US Billboard Hot 100, while two subsequent singles, " What a Girl Wants" and " Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)", also topped the chart and " I Turn to You" reached number three. The album earned Aguilera the Grammy Award for Best New Artist at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards. It remains Aguilera's best-selling album, with sales of over 14 million copies worldwide. The album was certified octuple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and has sold over nine million copies in the US and is one of the best-selling female albums. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 253,000 copies. It was later included on the List of 200 Definitive Albums in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The album received mostly positive reviews, with critics praising Aguilera's vocal performance, technique and comparisons towards Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. Contributions to the album's production came from a wide range of producers, including David Frank, Ron Fair, Guy Roche, Robin Thicke, Diane Warren, Matthew Wilder and Aaron Zigman. Its music incorporates dance-pop and teen pop genres, with a few songs featuring strong elements from soul and contemporary R&B. After recording " Reflection", the theme song for the 1998 Disney film Mulan, RCA laid the foundation for the album immediately and started presenting Aguilera with tracks for her debut album, which they originally decided would have a January 1999 release. It was released on August 24, 1999, by RCA Records. " Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)"Ĭhristina Aguilera is the debut studio album by American singer Christina Aguilera.