The Mirror’s Rebecca Twomey joined Christina Aguilera in Ischgl, Austria for a live show like no other at altitude in the ‘Ibiza of the Alps’ before showing Taylor Swift how to cover political topics in the right way
We’re at 4,500 ft and Christina Aguilera admits she’s scared of heights. What could possibly go wrong? She’s doing a once-in-a-lifetime concert on the top of a mountain at Austrian ski resort, Ischgl, in May, in front of 20,000 fans ankle-deep in snow waiting to see if her lungs can sustain their strength at altitude.
Christina, 45, tells us: “I can’t ski…I’m very afraid of heights.” Not that it stops her giving her last breath to what she does best: entertain.
She opens her set with Dirrty with the same energy of 20 years ago, looking just as incredible in a leotard as she did two decades ago. Her voice more mature, and her performance a little more polished, this gig proved there ‘aint no other (wo)man’ to perform in this setting.
Seeing artists of Christina’s calibre often involves a painful (and pricey) waiting game online for tickets. And that’s if they don’t lip sync their way through things. No such chance here.
From the first note to the last, Christina gives every emotion and every ounce of energy to her hour-long set in the snow. There are tears during her rendition of Say Something, mine, not hers and incredible dancing to Lady Marmalade, Candyman and Fighter – Christina’s, not mine this time.
A product of the Disney factory of stars, Christina was unfairly pitted against Britney Spears for most of her early career. But with the resilience so few former child stars possess, Christina proved at this Ischgl concert what superstar really means.
Perhaps it was the setting – you can’t really have a bad time when under blue skies with temperatures in the mid 20s and snow on the ground complete with a mountain vista. You could pretty much listen to Baby Shark here and have the time of your life.
But having a true performer there makes it one of the most memorable musical experiences of my life. As she goes through the hits from her catalogue of nine albums (from Beautiful to Genie In a Bottle) she refuses to let her dancers do the work, she’s energised for every single move but also, she sings. Really sings from her heart and it can’t be easy with less oxygen but you’d never know if it is a struggle. Unlike some more vocal celebrities, (cough, Taylor Swift) Christina avoids wading into politics. Instead, she simply says: “There’s a lot of crazy stuff happening, and that’s why it’s so important for us to come together even if it’s just for a few minutes of music, and love and fun we can all come together and celebrate.” Sickly sweet? Perhaps. But intention is everything.
Christina in Ischgl on top of the mountain let fans escape their stresses in the most serene of settings. Rather fitting than that she ends things on Let Their Be Love. It may be four years – and counting – for new music from her, but if this gig is anything to go by it’ll be more than worth the wait.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: mirror.co.uk
