Aguilera made certain to entertain everyone at the show, even those poor souls who were dragged by their girlfriends. The show contained trapeze artists, a circus sideshow, fireworks and a chance to be seduced by Christina and her posse of dancers to Nasty Naughty Boy, just to name a few.

I take pride in my taste in music. Im extremely critical. I listen to whats good, not popular; those whove got talent, not dumb luck.

Now for something that may shock you. I went to the Christina Aguilera concert and it kicked ass.

Upon the release of Back to Basics in August, I became a closet Christina fan, but now I am proud to admit that her double-disc album has made its way into the top 10 in my collection. Her maturing musical taste is attributed to her maturing attitude.

While her opening acts, Danity Kane and the Pussycat Dolls, came on stage wearing costumes that left very little to the imagination, Aguilera appeared wearing a flattering yet sophisticated white pantsuit.

She did many questionable wardrobe changes, but she deserves credit for beginning the concert focusing on the music, not her body.

She is no longer the reluctant pop star from her self-titled debut.

She is no longer the feminist slut from Stripped.

Christina is the married musician. Her music is filled with devotions to her new husband as well as dedications to her musical predecessors. All this is shone through in her concert.

Aguilera made certain to entertain everyone at the show, even those poor souls who were dragged by their girlfriends. The show contained trapeze artists, a circus sideshow, fireworks and a chance to be seduced by Christina and her posse of dancers to Nasty Naughty Boy, just to name a few.

Had there not been the extra attention-grabbers, the music would have sufficed. The deeply-rooted music honors undeniably inspirational musicians such as Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Aretha Franklin during one of the opening songs, Back in the Day.

Later she commemorates the Andrews Sisters Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy by adjusting the lyrics to create a hormone-charged rendition she calls Candyman. Each song, even ones from previous albums, was sung to a jazz band and many were accompanied by back up singers.

Songs that were not a tribute to other artists were often tributes to people in her personal life or about overcoming hard times.

The most heart-wrenching part of the set came when she performed Oh Mother. The song was written about her mothers triumph over spousal abuse and was performed in front of a vivid dramatization playing on the video screen.

Ignore her past as a member of the Mickey Mouse Club with Britney Spears, as a pop princess, and as a feminist whore. Dont dismiss Aguilera because previous albums were sold based on promiscuity as opposed to talent, or because her last appearance at the Bradley Center was with Justin Timberlake.

Take her for what she is now � an artist.

By Mary Makowski

Special to the Post

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