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August 4 , 2002 VH1's
'Driven: Christina Aguilera' :
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Christina |
Hit VH1 series 'Driven' continues with all-new episode looking at the formative years of superstar singer Christina Aguilera. Latest episode spotlights never-before seen video footage, home movies and family photos, plus new interviews with parents, families, music executives and others
Like many others, she was born with an indelible talent. Unlike most others, Christina Aguilera knew it - and honed the amazing vocal gift that would eventually land her a Grammy Award for Best New Artist, beating out Britney Spears, Kid Rock and Macy Gray.
'Driven' brings the music world's biggest icons' unknown pasts to life with video footage and photos that the public has never seen, plus interviews with those special people who played integal roles in their development as artists and individuals, providing a rare glimpse at what they were really like.
There's no such thing as an overnight success - over time, like a jigsaw puzzle, pieces are added, small breakthroughs are made, and eventually the picture of a pop star begins to take shape. 'Driven' traces that process from chilhood to the first glimmer of stardom, through the eyes of those who knew the artist best and helped in amazing ways - teachers, friends, family members and creative partners. With each episode of 'Driven' dedicated to a single artist, the show looks at the stars' blueprints for success and what propelled them to achieve it despite the obstacles that lay in their paths.
'Driven: Christina Aguilera' returns to the singer's earliest years, from her birthplace of Staten Island, through her years as an army brat in Texas, Japan and New Jersey, and to her adopted hometown of Rochester, PA, where she first began to uncover and focus the singular talent that would make her a local star, and lead her to The New Mickey Mouse Club ensemble cast (alongside Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake, which furthered her desire to record an album before she graduated from high school).
Within the four walls of her bathroom, Christina belted out the 'high E above middle C' for a demo tape that ultimately became her star-turning vehicle. In the span of one week, Christina was chosen to sing 'Reflection' on the 'Mulan' soundtrack and was signed to RCA, and, in time, produce that stunning debut album that would climb to the very top of the charts.
'Driven: Christina Aguilera' features rare and never-before-seen video footage and photos - spotlighting home movies as well as footage from school talent shows (including Christina's 1989 audition for the Jude Pohl Talent Showcase), Star Search, The New Mickey Mouse Club, local TV and cable shows (including rare footage of Christina singing at a 'Kids Against Drugs' benefit with Walt Maddox at age 11), live performances (such as singing the National Anthem at the Pittsburgh Pirates season opener and performing in Japan with the Japanese pop star Keizo Nakanishi), rehearsals and recording sessions.
The show also features new interviews with Christina's mother and stepfather, family members, school friends and classmates, fellow performers, management, producers, and talent scouts, including former Mouseketeer Nikki DeLoach, RCA Music Group chairman Bob Jamieson, musical director and producer Ron Fair, superstar songwriter-producer Diane Warren, 'Mulan' writers-producers Matthew Wilder and David Zippel, 'Genie In A Bottle' writer-producers Steve Kipner and David Frank, RCA Records V.P. of Video Lou Robinson, and many others who were a part of Christina's towering success.
'Driven: Christina Aguilera' is the tale of a little girl from Pittsburgh with a passion for music. She wanted only one thing: to share her voice with the world. Years later, Aguilera's dreams came true.
Interview highlights include:
Christina's mom Shelly Kearns: 'My mom was the first one who brought my attention to Christina's singing. I was so focused on existing, and trying to survive my marriage, that it never dawned on me that this was an extraordinarily talented little girl.'
Jude Pohl, host of Jude Pohl's Talent Showcase in Pittsburgh: 'Other kids would drop out of the talent contest when they realized they would be competing against Christina. It was almost not fair to send anybody against her.'
Noelle Bannister, a competitor on Jude Pohl's Talent Showcase: 'I knew she wasn't just your average 9 year old. She had the talent, and the drive, and the focus of someone who was going to do something.'
Penny Householder, Christina's first grade teacher: 'She was just so much better than everybody else - head and shoulders above everybody. She had this wonderful talent.'
Walt Maddox, formerly of the 60's doo-wop band The Marcels, who befriended 10 year-old Christina and fostered her talent as a singer: 'Once you saw Christina and heard Christina, there was just no way you could ever forget the voice of this little kid.'
Pittsburgh TV host Larry Richet: 'She was not only singing the song, but she had the moves, her body was just going with the song. And I thought, 'There's no way this is a kid - this is some sort of trick.'
Matt Casella, casting director for The New Mickey Mouse Club: 'She pretty much kept her eye on the ball, and knew it was a job, and knew she was there to do her best.'
Bob Jamieson, President of RCA Records who signed Christina to the label: 'She's a strong woman. And has opinions and she'll express those opinions. This is not a woman that's gonna sit in a corner and do what people tell her to do.'
'Driven' ia a production of VH1.