This is an original 35mm color transparency of Christina Aguilera, LIl' Kim, Mya and Pink from the set of the "Lady Marmalade" video from Baz Luhrmann's "Moulin Rouge."
In May 1999, Aguilera released "Genie in a Bottle", the lead single off her long-awaited debut album, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for five consecutive weeks and became the second best-selling single of 1999.[34] The song became an international success, increasing Aguilera's popularity worldwide, topping the charts in over 20 countries.[35] The single also attracted the attention of conservatives including celebrities such as Debbie Gibson that spoke out against its lyrical content, and was eventually considered "too provocative" to be sung by a teen idol.[36][37] Due to the criticism, Radio Disney replaced the song with a censored version.[38] The song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.[39]
Aguilera's self-titled debut album, Christina Aguilera, was released on August 24, 1999, to critical praise, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200.[40] It catapulted Aguilera into fame globally and sold over ten million copies in its first year.[41] It was later certified eight times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA),[42] and it has sold over 17 million copies worldwide.[43][44] Originally, Aguilera's desire was to create material directly inspired by R&B and soul, but the label opted for a more teen pop production due the genre's high financial return in the late 1990s.[45] At the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards, Aguilera won the Best New Artist category for which Time credited the award for "[helping] certify her credentials as a real singer".[46]
In October 2000, Aguilera also released her third studio album, My Kind of Christmas, her first Christmas album, which reached number one on the US Top Holiday Albums chart.[60][61] The album received generally polarised reviews at the time but has since gone on to retrospectively receive praise.[62][63] Aguilera starred in a holiday special, My Reflection, which aired on December 3, 2000, on ABC.[64] Aguilera's commercial success saw her being named the 2000 Top Female Pop Act by Billboard.[65] The same year, she also filed a fiduciary duty against manager Steve Kurtz for "improper, undue, and inappropriate influence over her professional activities".[66] She eventually hired Irving Azoff to manage her career, aiming for control of her career and image.[66]
In August 2001, Warlock Records released Just Be Free, a demo album recorded by Aguilera between 1994 and 1995 while she was looking for a recording deal following the end of The All-New Mickey Mouse Club (MMC).[75]
She filed a suit against the label and the album's producers aiming to
stop the release of the album; however, both parties came to a
confidential settlement to release the album, in which Aguilera lent out
her name, likeness, and image for an unspecified amount of damages.[76]
2002–2004: New image with Stripped
With a new management, Aguilera started moving away from her teen pop niche and began working on a new project.[77] She cultivated a new image by adopting the alter ego Xtina, dyeing her hair black, and sporting several tattoos and body piercings.[78] Aguilera's new persona was widely criticized by media outlets.[79][80][81] In September 2002, she released the controversial song, "Dirrty", which garnered mixed reviews and peaked as number 48 on Billboard Hot 100.[45] The song's accompanying music video generated controversy for depicting overtly sexual fetishes,[82] and attracted the attention of conservative organizations and moralists who sought to have the video banned on MTV.[83] The video also sparked protests in Thailand and was eventually banned on the country's local television.[84][85] Despite the backlash, "Dirrty" topped the charts in the UK and Ireland,[86] and has gone on to become a cult classic.[87]
Aguilera's fourth studio album, Stripped, followed with a release on October 22, 2002.[88] She also executive produced and co-wrote the majority of the songs.[88][89] Upon release, the album received generally mixed reviews but found commercial success and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, and eventually was certified five times platinum by the RIAA.[90][42] In the UK, Stripped sold over two million copies and became the second highest-selling album by an American female artists in the 2000s.[91][92] Since then, it was reported the album sold 12 million copies globally.[93][94]
In June 2003, Aguilera co-headlined The Justified & Stripped Tour alongside Justin Timberlake.[99] The joint tour visited North America solely, attracting an audience of 546,483 and grossed over $31.8 million.[100] It ranked sixteenth on Billboard's list of Top 25 Tours of 2003.[101] Later that year, she also embarked on The Stripped Tour in Europe, Asia, and Australia.[102] Her performances at the Wembley Arena were taped, broadcast on WB Network and eventually sold as a video album under the name Stripped Live in the U.K.[102]
In early 2004, it was reported that she would return to North America
to perform a second leg of her tour but was eventually canceled due to a
vocal cord injury.[103]
In August 2003, at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, Aguilera opened the show singing "Like a Virgin" and "Hollywood" alongside Britney Spears.[104] Halfway through the performance, she was joined by Madonna whom they both kissed, consequently making the performance highly publicized.[105] Various media outlets retrospectively considered it one of the "most iconic" VMAs performances of all time.[106] In 2008, MTV listed the performance as the number-one opening moment in the history of MTV Video Music Awards,[107] while Blender magazine cited it as one of the twenty-five sexiest music moments on television history.[108] In November of that year, Aguilera hosted the 2003 MTV Europe Music Awards.[109] She received widespread media attention for dressing up as a nun and being undressed to reveal her underclothes while performing the slutdrop dance style.[110] She was later was named Top Female Pop Act of 2003 by Billboard.[111]
In August 2004, Aguilera recorded a cover of "Car Wash" alongside rapper Missy Elliott for the soundtrack of the DreamWorks film Shark Tale.[112] She also voiced a Rastafarian jellyfish in the film.[113] That September, Aguilera contributed vocals to "Tilt Ya Head Back" with rapper Nelly.[114] The songs respectively reached number 63 and 58 on the Billboard Hot 100.[67]
Aguilera's fifth studio album, Back to Basics, was released as a double album in August 2006.[122] The album was inspired by 1920s–1950s music and was described as a "throwback with elements of old-school [music] combined with a modern-day twist".[123] The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 making it Aguilera's first album to top the chart since 1999.[124] It also debuted atop the charts in numerous countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, and the UK.[125] The album received positive reviews and was nominated a Best Pop Vocal Album at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards.[126][127][128][129] The album was later certified double platinum by the RIAA,[42] and sold over 5 million units worldwide.[130][131] "Hurt" and "Candyman"
were released as singles following the album's release and became
top-ten hits on various international charts, and peaked top-thirty on
Hot 100.[132][67]
At the end of November 2006 until October 2008, Aguilera embarked on the Back to Basics Tour which visited North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania.[138] The tour received positive reviews and was divided into acts inspired by juke joints and the circus.[139]Rolling Stone
highlighted its "numerous sets and costumes changes" emphasizing
Aguilera's "evolution from bubblegum starlet to dirrty vixen to her
current incarnation as retro-styled soul siren".[140] With earnings around 48.1 million, the tour was the highest-grossing concert tour by a female in 2007.[141] Additionally, the performances at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre were taped, broadcast on VH1 and sold as a video album under the title Back to Basics: Live and Down Under.[142]
In April 2008, Aguilera appeared in Martin Scorsese's documentary, Shine a Light (which chronicled a two-day concert by The Rolling Stones at the Beacon Theatre), where she performed "Live with Me" with Mick Jagger.[150] In September, she released "Keeps Gettin' Better" set to feature on her first then-upcoming greatest hits album of the same name.[151] The song received mixed reviews but found commercial success debuting at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 making it her highest debut on the chart at the time,[152] and has since sold 1.156 million digital copies in the US.[153] She performed the song live at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards alongside a medley.[154]Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade of Hits was released in November 2008 to positive reviews, debuting at number nine on Billboard 200 and was later certified gold by the RIAA.[155][42]
The compilation added two original songs (its title track and
"Dynamite") and also featured remakes of "Genie in a Bottle" and
"Beautiful".[156][157] By late 2008, Aguilera stated that she had begun working on a new album.[158]
2009–2011: Bionic, Burlesque and The Voice
In 2009, at the end of the 2000s, Aguilera was named the twentieth best "Artist of the Decade" by Billboard, and was nominated for the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Act Ever.[159][160] At the end of 2009, Aguilera stated that her then-forthcoming sixth studio album originally titled Light & Darkness would be released in March 2010.[161] However, by February 2010, Aguilera stated that the album would be retitled and would be released in June.[162] In April 2010, Aguilera released the lead single, "Not Myself Tonight" which peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100.[163][67] She performed the song live on The Oprah Winfrey Show.[164] This was followed by the album's second single, "Woohoo" featuring rapper Nicki Minaj.[163] A music video was planned but was eventually scrapped.[citation needed]
Aguilera released her sixth studio album, Bionic, on June 6, 2010 which debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, and topped the European and the UK charts.[165][166] The album was inspired by electronic music,
and was described by her as a project "about the future" noting that it
was inspired her her son who "[motivated] her to want to play and have
fun".[167] It received generally mixed reviews by critics who called it "strong, but only in parts".[168] It was later certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and sold approximately over one million copies globally.[42][169] "You Lost Me" and "I Hate Boys" were released as singles in the following month of June.[163] A tour was planned for the album but was postponed and later cancelled due to prior commitments.[170]
In early 2011, Aguilera omitted a few lines while performing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XLV, which led to extensive media coverage.[183]
She apologized for the incident saying, "I got so caught up in the
moment of the song that I lost my place [...] I can only hope that
everyone could feel my love for this country and that the true spirit of
its anthem still came through".[184] That same month, Aguilera performed a tribute to Aretha Franklin at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards.[185] After the performance, Aguilera's heels got caught on her train and she nearly fell.[186]
During the third season of The Voice in September 2012, Aguilera debuted "Your Body" as the lead single from her then-upcoming seventh studio album.[201] The song received critical acclaim and reached reached number one on the US Dance Club Song chart and 34 on the Billboard Hot 100.[202] The album, titled Lotus,
followed in November 2012, in which Aguilera described the record as a
"rebirth" of herself after the personal struggles she overcame.[203] Contemporary reviewers found the album generic and conventional, as opposed to Aguilera's previous experimental ventures.[204][205] Despite this, Lotus peaked at number 7 on the Billboard 200 and has sold 303,000 copies in the US as of 2019.[206] "Just a Fool" with Blake Shelton was released as the album's second single and received positive reviews.[207] The two performed the song live on The Voice and on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.[208]
Following a departure from Interscope in favor of Universal Motown Records, her fourth studio album, Liberation (2007) was met with critical and commercial failure. Amid the leak of the album in Japan, she parted ways with the label following its release. In 2008, under the mentorship of J. Prince, Harrison established her own label, Planet 9.[10] Her fifth and sixth studio albums, Sugar & Spice (2008) and K.I.S.S. (Keep It Sexy & Simple) (2011) catered to the Japanese market as her most pop and club oriented recordings to date.[11][12] Beginning in 2014, she released a trio of R&B–rooted extended plays (EPs) independently: With Love (2014), Sweet XVI (2014), and Love Elevation Suite (2015). In 2016, her seventh album, Smoove Jones received a nomination for Best R&B Album at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards. Its follow-up, T.K.O. (The Knock Out) (2018), commemorated the twentieth anniversary of her debut album.
Additionally in late 1999, Mya began production on an album that would eventually become Fear of Flying, which involved a variety of producers, including Rodney Jerkins, Swizz Beatz, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, and Wyclef Jean. The title was partially inspired by Erica Jong's same-titled 1973 novel, which shared a lot of similarities toward female sexuality and development of second-wave feminism. Mya, who did some writing on her debut album, was heavily involved in the production of Fear of Flying, from writing and recording to producing, mixing, and mastering.[35] Released in April 2000 to mixed reviews, Fear of Flying debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200 with first week sales of 72,000 copies. Upon initial release, its first single "The Best of Me" featuring Jadakiss had underperformed on the charts and suffered from the dreaded sophomore slump.[36] The album's second single, the confrontational "Case of the Ex", proved to be a different matter. "Case of the Ex" became Mya's international breakthrough hit, topping the Australian Singles Chart for two consecutive weeks,[37]
while reaching number two and three in the US and the United Kingdom, respectively, and in turn, solidified Fear of Flying as a hit.[38][39]
After the release and success of Fear of Flying and "Lady Marmalade", Mya began to dabble into acting with a small supporting role in the musical film, Chicago (2002), based on the stage-musical of the same name. Directed by Rob Marshall,
it grossed more than $306.8 million worldwide and was critically
lauded, winning Mya several awards in the ensemble categories, including
the Critics' Choice Movie Award and the Screen Actors Guild Award.[52] In March 2003, Mya appeared on hip hop alternative group Jurassic 5's
remix version of the song "Thin Line". Chosen as their second single
and more R&B driven, "Thin Line" addressed the tension that often
exists in platonic male-female relationships.[53]
2003–2007: Moodring and Liberation
In July 2003, Interscope released Mya's third studio album, Moodring. It sold more than 113,000 copies in its first week and peaked at number three on the US Billboard
200, surpassing Mya's previous effort first-week sales. The album
displayed an array of different emotions exploring Mya's playful and
sexual side. The bulk of Moodring was co-written and co-produced by Mya and influenced by different subjects and music stylings including pop rock, soul, hip hop, R&B, and quiet storm. The first single, the Missy Elliott-produced "My Love Is Like ... Wo" became a top twenty hit on the Billboard Hot 100, while its accompanying music video showcased a more sexy and risqué side of the singer. The second single, mid tempo track "Fallen", failed to duplicate the same success, but reached the top forty on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Moodring
stayed on the United States chart for eighteen non-consecutive weeks
and went on to be certified gold, selling 589,000 copies to date.[7][54][55]
In 2004, she had two small roles in the dance musical Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights and romantic comedy-drama film Shall We Dance?. In the films, she played a Latina lounge singer named Lola Martinez and the fiancée of a ballroom dancing student. While Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, a re-imagining of the 1987 blockbusterDirty Dancing, tanked at the box office, Shall We Dance?, a remake of the 1996 Japanese film of the same name,[56] became a box office hit, grossing $170,128,460 worldwide.[57][58] Subsequently, the same year, Mya began working on her fourth studio album. Originally conceived as a project called Control Freak, the album's first version was actually scheduled for a mid-2005 release,[59] but was eventually shelved when Mya decided to leave her management and A&M Records in fall 2005.[60] In 2005, she had a supporting role in Wes Craven's horror filmCursed, starring Christina Ricci and Joshua Jackson. In the film, Mya played a young victim by the name of Jenny Tate. Although Cursed tanked at the box office, it earned her a nomination in the Best Frightened Performance category at the 2005 MTV Movie Awards.[61][62] Mya guest starred in season two of NCIS.[63]
2008–2013: Sugar & Spice, Beauty & the Streets and K.I.S.S. (Keep It Sexy & Simple)
In 2008, Mya co-starred in the Bill Duke-directed drama thriller film Cover in which she portrayed an AIDS victim named Cynda. The film dealt with the subject of men who are on the down-low in society and opened at selective theaters and grossed $79,436 in the United States.[71][72] Her next film, the direct-to-dvdromantic comedy film Love For Sale. Starring opposite Jackie Long and Jason Weaver, Mya played a college student named Kiely in a bad relationship.[73] Following her departure from Universal Motown, Mya continued working on new material under her own independent imprint Planet 9
and contracted with Japanese R&B label Manhattan Records, a
division of Lexington Group, to release new material. Her fifth studio
album and first project for the label, Sugar & Spice, received a Japan-wide release in December 2008.[74] Specifically recorded for the Asian music market, it was preceded by the single "Paradise" and spawned a reissue edition, released in 2009.[74]
In early 2011, she appeared on French DJ and record producer Cedric Gervais's single "Love Is the Answer".[83][84][85] Following the collaboration with Cedric Gervais, Mya released the solo single "Fabulous Life",[86] which served as the first single from the Japanese version of her sixth studio album titled K.I.S.S. (Keep It Sexy & Simple),[87] released in April 2011 in Japan.[88] Production on the project was primarily handled by Cleveland native producer Young Yonny with additional contributions from Japanese musicians Jeff Miyahara and Daisuke Imai, Chuck Harmony and longtime collaborators Carvin & Ivan. As with Sugar & Spice, Mya took full creative control of the album and lent a hand in the songwriting process, co-writing and executive producing.[89] The album debuted at number 72 on the Oricon Albums Chart.[90] A US version of K.I.S.S. (Keep It Sexy & Simple), featuring several new recordings, was released in December 2011 via iTunes,[91] with up-tempo track "Earthquake" featuring Trina serving as the album's lead single.[92] It debuted and peaked at number 74 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[93]
Career
In 1994, B.I.G. was instrumental in introducing and promoting the Brooklyn-based group Junior M.A.F.I.A. Jones, who had adopted the stage name Lil' Kim, was a member of the group. The group's debut album, Conspiracy, was released to mediocre reviews and moderate sales on August 29, 1995, but debuted at number eight on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling 69,000 copies in its first week of release. Wallace wrote and ghostwrote most of the album's material.[17] Three hit singles came from Conspiracy: "Player's Anthem," "I Need You Tonight," and "Get Money."[18] The RIAA certifiedConspiracy a Gold album on December 6, 1995. "Player's Anthem" and "Get Money" were certified gold and platinum respectively.[19] Lil' Kim's increasing popularity as a member of Junior M.A.F.I.A. allowed her to start a solo career shortly after the Conspiracy album was released. By late 1995, she began working on what would become her debut album, Hard Core.
1996–2002: Hard Core and The Notorious K.I.M.
After a year with Junior M.A.F.I.A., Lil' Kim began her solo career
by making guest performances on R&B albums and recording her debut
album, Hard Core, which was released in November 1996. The album debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200, the highest debut for a female rap album at that time,[20] and number 3 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums,[21] selling 78,000 copies in its first week of release and has sold over 5 million copies worldwide.[17]
It was certified double platinum by the RIAA on March 14, 2001, after
having been certified gold on January 6, 1997, and platinum on June 3,
1997.[22]
The album's lead single "No Time," a duet with Combs, reached the top spot of the BillboardHot Rap Tracks chart[15] and was certified gold by the RIAA.[22] The following single was "Crush on You,"
a remixed version of the track that appeared on Hard Core. A remix of
the album's track "Not Tonight" saw Lil' Kim team up with Missy Elliott, Angie Martinez, Da Brat, and Left Eye of TLC with the song peaking at 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was part of the soundtrack to the Martin Lawrence movie Nothing to Lose, nominated for a Grammy Award, and certified platinum.[22] She became the first female rapper to have three consecutive number ones on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart.[23]
In one stockholders' meeting of Warner Bros. Records, activist C. Delores Tucker
criticized the label "for producing this filth," referring to perceived
graphic sexual content in Lil' Kim's lyrics, and labeling them "gangsta
porno rap."[24] In 1997, Lil' Kim promoted Hard Core by performing on P. Diddy's "No Way Out" tour.[25]
The tour continued through to 1998 and became one of the
highest-grossing hip-hop tours of all time, grossing an estimated $16
million.[26] That same year, she launched her own label, Queen Bee Entertainment.[27]
From 1998 to 2000, Lil' Kim continued working under the
management of B.I.G.'s best friend, Damion "D-Roc" Butler's "Roc
Management," touring and modeling for various fashion and pop culture
companies including Candie's, Versace, Iceberg, and Baby Phat. Her outfit at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards received widespread media attention, fueled by the "shocked" response of presenter Diana Ross, who approached and jiggled Kim's exposed breast on national television. The Washington Post considered that the incident solidified Lil' Kim's "image of sexual fearlessness" and her career as "a fashion trendsetter."[27]
On June 27, 2000, Lil' Kim released her second album, The Notorious K.I.M.
The album marked a new image and revamped look for the rapper. Despite
the limited success of its singles, the album debuted at number 4 on the
Billboard 200 and number 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, selling 229,000 copies in its first week.[17] It was certified platinum by the RIAA, four weeks after its release.[22]
It was on this LP that the well-known hip-hop feud between Lil' Kim and
Foxy Brown escalated. In 2001, Lil' Kim teamed up with Christina
Aguilera, Pink, and Mýa to remake "Lady Marmalade," which was originally
written about a bordello in New Orleans and performed by the group Labelle (which included diva Patti LaBelle) 25 years earlier.[28]
The song was recorded for the Moulin Rouge! film soundtrack, released in April 2001, and stayed at number 1 on the Billboard
Hot 100 for five weeks. The song also went to number 1 in 50 countries
around the world. This was a major accomplishment for female rap, as
well as for Lil' Kim, who scored her first number 1 Hot 100 hit[citation needed] and became the second solo female rapper in history to hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.[28]
"Lady Marmalade" also garnered Lil' Kim her first Grammy Award. The second single, "Kimnotyze," was released as the lead single of record producer DJ Tomekk's compilation album Beat Of Life, Vol 1. It was released in Switzerland, Austria, and Germany
only. The song was successful, becoming Lil' Kim's third consecutive
top 10 hit in Germany after her number 5 hit "Lady Marmalade."
In 2002, Lil' Kim recorded a new entrance theme for then World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Women's Champion Trish Stratus entitled "Time to Rock 'n Roll," which was used during broadcasts, until Stratus' retirement. The single was released on WWE Anthology, a compilation of entrance theme music to various professional wrestling superstars.[29]
Lil' Kim released the song "What's The Word" in mid-2002. Despite not
having an official release, it went on to peak at number 9 on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[30] It would later be released on the Japan edition of her third studio album, La Bella Mafia, as a bonus track.
2003–2005: La Bella Mafia
On March 4, 2003, Lil' Kim released her third studio album, La Bella Mafia. It debuted at number 5 on the Billboard 200, selling 166,000 copies in its first week,[31]
giving Lil' Kim her second consecutive top 5 album. The album received
generally positive reviews from critics, receiving a score of 65 on Metacritic.[32] A buzz single, "Came Back For You," was released ahead of the album, the music video for the song featured reality television personality Victoria Gotti.[33]
The first single, "The Jump Off," featuring Mr. Cheeks, peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. Follow up single, "Magic Stick," featuring 50 Cent, peaked at number two on the Billboard
Hot 100, staying there for three weeks. The song did not have a
commercial release or a music video but was successful due to high radio
airplay, peaking at number one on the BillboardAirplay chart. A third US-only single, "Thug Luv," featuring Twista, was released in the last quarter of 2003 and peaked at number 60 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The album was certified platinum in the US,[22] selling over 1.1 million copies.[34]
Lil' Kim promoted the album with a string of concerts, which also featured DMX and Nas.[35]
Lil' Kim was nominated for five Source Awards and won two ("Female
Hip-Hop Artist of the Year," and "Female Single of the Year"). The album
also got two Grammy Award nominations for Best Female Rap Solo
Performance ("Came Back For You") and Best Rap Collaboration ("Magic
Stick"). She was also nominated for Best Pop Collaboration with singer
Christina Aguilera for the song "Can't Hold Us Down," from Aguilera's album Stripped.
Greg Thomas, an English professor at Syracuse University,
began teaching "Hip-Hop Eshu: Queen B@#$H Lyricism 101." Lil' Kim
herself was a guest speaker. Professor Thomas considered Lil' Kim's
lyrics "the art with the most profound sexual politics I've ever seen
anywhere."[36]David Horowitz criticized the course as "academic degeneracy and decline."[37] Lil' Kim also made an appearance on the multi-platform videogame Def Jam: Fight for NY.
Lil' Kim provided voice-overs for her part in the storyline, where the
player may fight an opponent to have Lil' Kim as their girlfriend.[38]
In 2004, Lil' Kim recorded a cover of "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" which was used as the opening theme for Victoria Gotti's reality series Growing Up Gotti. That same year, Lil' Kim was featured on the remix of "Naughty Girl" by Beyoncé. In December 2004, Lil' Kim began recording a pilot for a VH1 reality show titled 718 Makeover.[39][40] The 718 in the title is the area code for Brooklyn, where she grew up. The show did not make it to air.
2005–2008: Prison, The Naked Truth and Ms. G.O.A.T
Lil' Kim released her fourth album, The Naked Truth, on September 27, 2005, while serving a federal prison sentence. It earned her a 5 mic rating from The Source, making her the only female rapper to ever receive a 5 mic rating. The album debuted at number 6 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 109,000 copies in its first week of release,[41] giving Lil' Kim her third top 10 debut on the chart. The Naked Truth did not sell as well as her previous works, it only managed to reach a gold certification by RIAA. She said that her prison sentence left her with no time to promote the project.
The music video for The Naked Truth's first single, "Lighters Up," was number one on BET's 106 & Park for two weeks. "Lighters Up" was a Top Ten hit on the BillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks
chart. The single also reached number 67 on the German Single Chart,
number 12 on the UK Top 75 and number 4 on the Finland Single Chart. The
second single, "Whoa" was released on February 17, 2006. It reached
number 22 on Airplay.
On March 9, 2006, BET premiered the show Lil' Kim: Countdown to Lockdown,
which was filmed before Lil' Kim headed to prison. The show became the
highest rated premiere in BET history, averaging 1.9 million viewers.[42] In May 2006, Debbie Harry
released a song in tribute to Lil' Kim called "Dirty and Deep" in
protest of her conviction. The song was available for free from her
official website. Dance Remixes, her first compilation album, was released on June 6, 2006. The album featured remixes of songs from The Naked Truth and Hard Core.
A limited pressing released only in the US, it received no
promotion, due to Lil' Kim being in prison at the time of release, and
failed to chart. On August 31, 2006, Lil' Kim presented the award for
Best Male Video at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards, it marked her first televised appearance since being released from prison.[43] She also made appearances on the show The Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll and Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious in 2007 and 2008 as a judge.
In January 2008, Lil' Kim announced that she had parted ways with Atlantic Records,
choosing to release future projects independently. She stated she had
no hard feelings toward Atlantic, but felt comfortable enough with her
knowledge of the music business to do it alone.[44] Lil' Kim released her first mixtape, Ms. G.O.A.T., an acronym for "Greatest of All Time,"[45][46] on June 3, 2008.[47] It was produced by New York City DJs Mister Cee and DJ Whoo Kid.[48] Among critics, the mixtape received generally positive reviews.[49][50][51] It has been called a representation of Lil' Kim's return to the streets.[52] Tito Salinas of All Hip Hop says "Lil' Kim shows that her time behind bars did not rust all of her swag away" on Ms. G.O.A.T.[50] On the other hand, Ehren Gresehover of New York Mag
says that although one of the tracks "The Miseducation of Lil' Kim" is
not bad, he wished it was Lauryn Hill making a comeback instead.[53]
2009–2011: Dancing with the Stars and Black Friday
On March 10, 2009, the song "Girls" by Korean singer Seven
featuring Lil' Kim was released through digital stores as his U.S.
debut single. Lil' Kim appeared in the music video that was released on
the same day. "Girls" was produced by Darkchild. On March 24, 2009, she released the song "Download" featuring R&B singers T-Pain and Charlie Wilson.
It was written by Lil' Kim and T-Pain and produced by Trackmasters. The
song samples "Computer Love" by Zapp. Although it missed the Hot 100,
it did chart on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, peaking at number 21.
Lil' Kim appeared on the eighth season of reality seriesDancing with the Stars, which began airing on March 9, 2009. She was paired with professional dancer Derek Hough. They were eliminated on May 5, 2009, against Ty Murray and his partner Chelsie Hightower,
putting Lil' Kim at fifth place among all thirteen contestants that
season. Her elimination was met by many boos from the audience, as she
was a consistent high-scorer and fan favorite.[54]
On February 16, 2010, the Ludacris song "Hey Ho," which featured Lil' Kim and Lil Fate, was released as a promo single for his seventh studio album Battle of the Sexes.[55]
In June 2010, Lil' Kim started her 2010 Tour, her first headlining tour
since 2000. It took her across the US, as well as Canada and Europe.
Lil' Kim released her second mixtape, Black Friday,
on February 14, 2011. The video for the title track was released on
February 16, 2011. The mixtape received mostly negative reviews from
critics. It was made available for purchase via PayPal. In May 2011, Lil' Kim performed in South Africa as part of the music festival ZarFest alongside Fat Joe, Timbaland, and Ciara.[56]
On June 19, 2011, Lil' Kim performed alongside G-Unit member Shawty Lo and hinted a possible working relationship with G-Unit Records. That same month the song Lil' Kim, along with Rick Ross, was featured on titled "Anything (To Find You)," by R&B singer Monica was leaked. The song, which samples the Notorious B.I.G.'s "Who Shot Ya?,"
initially featured just Lil' Kim, but her second verse was removed to
make room for Ross. Her vocals were then removed fully due to
contractual issues with B.I.G.'s estate.[57]
In August 2011, Lil' Kim performed four dates in Australia as part of the WinterBeatz Festival alongside Fabolous, Mario, 50 Cent and G-Unit.
During the August, 17 date in Perth, she joined 50 Cent on stage for a
performance of "Magic Stick." It marked the first time the pair had
performed the song together.[58] On November 28, 2011, Lil' Kim released a buzz single called "I Am Not the One." She also announced that she would release an EP, but it was later shelved for unknown reasons.[59]
2012–2016: Hard Core mixtape and Lil Kim Season
In the summer of 2011, Lil' Kim began recording material for her
fifth studio album. She had previously been under a restriction banning
her from releasing new material as a result of her settlement with
Trackmasters, but it had now been lifted.[60][61][62] On Valentine's Day 2012, Lil' Kim released the song "If You Love Me" produced by Prince Saheb of Knockout Entertainment as a gift to her fans. That same month, it was announced she would make her return to the stage on BET's Rip the Runway.[63] It marked her first televised performance in years.
In March 2012, during an interview with MTV's Sucker Free, Lil' Kim revealed that contract issues with production duo Trackmasters
were the reason behind her album delay, saying ."..contractually, by
the courts, I could not record any music – I wasn't supposed to put any
music out."[64] On March 23, 2012, the song "Keys to the City," a collaboration with Young Jeezy,
was leaked to the Internet. Lil' Kim first mentioned the song during an
interview with MTV's RapFix, saying "I have a song with another
celebrity person that I know the world and my fans are gonna love...
It's vintage Kim mixed with the new Kim." During the same RapFix
interview, Lil' Kim also revealed another song, titled "I'm Ready,"
which she hopes to do with rapper 50 Cent. Lil' Kim also commented on
the direction of her music, saying she was in "Kanye West mode," adding
."..You do whatever you want to do ...it's all about taking chances."[65] Lil' Kim kicked off her Return of the Queen Tour on May 17, 2012, to positive reviews.[66]
In a radio interview at Miami's 99 Jamz, Lil' Kim stated that her book, The Price of Loyalty, was on hold to coincide with the release of her new album.[67][68] During an interview with XXL
on April 26, 2013, she revealed that she does not have a name for the
album yet, but the first official single would be out by mid year.[69] Lil' Kim described the single, produced by Bangladesh, as "different" and "sweet dessert."[69][70] On July 11, 2013, Lil' Kim released the Rockwilder-produced single "Looks Like Money" as a free download for her fans on her birthday.[71]
On July 26, 2013, Lil' Kim announced and released the cover art for a new mixtape, Hard Core 2K13, which would also serve as a sequel to her critically acclaimed debut album, Hard Core.[72]
The mixtape was originally set to be released on October 31, 2013, but
for then unknown reasons, was pushed back. To make up for not releasing
the mixtape, Lil' Kim released the singles "Dead Gal Walking" and "Kimmy
Blanco" to the public, along with the track list. The track list
revealed collaborations with French Montana, Miley Cyrus, Jadakiss, and Yo Gotti.
On August 2, 2014, Lil' Kim announced via her Twitter page that she would launch a concert tour to promote her forthcoming Hard Core Mixtape.[73] Throughout the remainder of August, Lil' Kim released a number of remixes to popular songs, including Beyoncé's and Nicki Minaj's collaboration on "Flawless," seemingly as a diss to Minaj, reigniting the feud between the two rappers.[74][75]
On September 11, 2014, the Hard Core mixtape was released as free download on Kim's official website.[76] In an interview with Revolt TV
on the same day, she revealed that she, Iggy Azalea, and T.I. would
collaborate on a song sometime in the future, saying "I don't know if
it's going to be for my album or if we're just going to…we have other
plans for it as well. But, I think we're going to do a double release."
In the same interview, she explained why the mixtape was pushed back
twice, stating "When this project was supposed to come out I had got
pregnant. I didn't know. [...] Once I became fully pregnant, I was
working in the studio but at one point I couldn't work anymore,
obviously."[77]
In 2016, her fourth mixtape Lil Kim Season was released.[78] On the mixtape, she freestyles over several popular beats, Drake's "Summer Sixteen," Rihanna's "Work," and Desiigner's "Panda."[79] It received mixed reviews from critics.[80][81] Jen Yamato from The Daily Beast wrote, "if anything, Lil Kim Season
indicates that Kim's got her sights set on returning in a big way—and
that she's collecting collaborators who might help her achieve it."[82]
2017–present: Girls Cruise and 9
In February 2017, Lil' Kim announced via her Instagram and an interview that she was working on a new album.[83] Singer Faith Evans featured her on the song "Lovin You for Life" on the album The King & I, released on May 19, 2017.[84] That same month, Lil' Kim along with Eve and Trina was featured on the remix of "I'm Better" by Missy Elliott. In November, Lil' Kim released a promotional single "Took Us a Break,"[85] and was featured on the song "Wake Me Up" by rapper Remy Ma.[86] In March 2018, Lil' Kim released another promotional single, "Spicy," featuring rapper Fabolous.[87]
On July 11, 2018, Lil' Kim released the single "Nasty One" from her highly anticipated album, but ultimately the track was not included on the album.[88] That same day during an interview with Billboard, she said the album would be released in November of that year.[89] A remix for the single was released on October 26, 2018, and featured Kranium, HoodCelebrityy, and Stefflon Don.[90]
In September 2018, she announced that the debut single for her
album "Go Awff" would be released at a later date. The song was
eventually released on February 15, 2019. That same month, Kim was
spotted in Barbados with fellow hip hop stars Mýa and Chilli, friends Char DeFrancesco (husband to Marc Jacobs and one of Kim's best friends) and Tiffany, as well as MTV personalities Pretty Vee and B. Simone from MTV's Wild 'n Out.[90]
It was later revealed that this was part of a VH1 reality show, Girls Cruise,
for which Kim would serve as an executive producer. The show followed
the group as they set sail to embark on a 10-day cruise in the
Caribbean, visiting the countries of Barbados and Trinidad just in time for Carnival
festivities. It also documented the group's bonding and new friendships
with one another. The show premiered on July 15 with approximately 1.2
million viewers and ran for 11 episodes. It is unclear if there will be
another season of the series.[91][92]
In March 2019, Kim revealed that her new album would be titled 9
and added "There's a lot of meaning behind that." Later that month, she
announced that the album would be released on May 17, 2019.[93] After a minor setback with her record label, eOne Music,
that caused the album not be released on the original planned date, the
project was postponed. On September 27, 2019, Kim released a second
single, "Found You," featuring City Girls and O.T. Genasis.
The album later became available for pre-order on all digital-download
platforms on October 4, 2019 (along with the track "Pray For Me"
featuring Rick Ross and Musiq Soulchild), with a release date of October 11, 2019.[94]
Upon its first week of release, the album charted on the
R&B/Hip-Hop and Rap Album Sales, Digital Albums, Top Albums Sales,
Independent Albums and Rap Album Sales.[95][96] However, the album failed to chart on the Billboard 200 due to selling less than 1,000 copies, and no song from the album landed on the Hot 100 or Bubbling Under.[97][98] During one of the reunion episodes for Girls Cruise,
Kim revealed that the album would be a two-part project, stating "I
recorded so many songs. I have a part one and a part two." She also
shared that her co-star, the Instagram comedian Vena "Pretty Vee"
Excell, would appear on the record.[99]
In October 2019, Kim revealed that she would collaborate with Missy Elliott and Paris Hilton on the follow-up to 9.[100][101] In an interview with New York Radio 103.9, Kim confirmed that the City Girls would be involved with the follow-up to 9. She also stated that she would "love" to have Pretty Vee host her tour.[102] On her November 8, 2019 appearance on The Real, Kim again confirmed that Paris Hilton and Missy Elliott would appear on 9's follow-up; she said the song "sounds like a classic Missy Elliott record but 'now.'"(1:20[103])
Alecia Beth Moore (born September 8, 1979), known professionally as Pink (stylized as P!nk), is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She is known for her rock-influenced pop songs and powerful voice.
Alecia Beth Moore was born on September 8, 1979,[11] in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, to emergency room nurse Judith Moore (née Kugel)[12] and insurance salesman James Moore.[13][14][15][16] She has described herself as an "Irish-German-LithuanianJew";[17][18][19] her mother is Jewish.[20] Although a healthy baby, she developed asthma that plagued her through her early years.[21] When Pink was a toddler, her parents began having marital problems; they divorced before she was 10.[22]
Pink was trained as a competitive gymnast between the ages 4 and 12.[23][24] She attended Central Bucks High School West.[13] In high school, Pink joined her first band, Middleground, but it disbanded upon losing a Battle of the Bands
competition. As a teenager, she wrote lyrics as an outlet for her
feelings, and her mother commented, "Her initial writings were always
very introspective. Some of it was very black, and very deep, almost
worrisome."[21]
Pink began performing in Philadelphia
clubs when she was about 14 years old. She adopted her nickname "Pink"
as her stage name around this time. She has given different explanations
about how she came to be given that nickname, which she has had since
she was a child.[25][26]
At 14, she was convinced to audition to become a member of the
all-female group Basic Instinct, and earned a spot in the lineup.
Ultimately, the group disbanded without releasing any material.[27]
Career
1995–1998: Career beginnings
At 15, Pink and two other teenage girls, Sharon Flanagan[28] and Chrissy Conway, formed the R&B group Choice. A copy of their first song, "Key to My Heart", was sent to LaFace Records in Atlanta, Georgia, where L.A. Reid
overheard it and arranged for the group to fly there so he could see
them perform. Afterward, he signed them to a recording contract with the
label. Since the three girls were under 18 at the time, their parents
had to cosign the contract. The group relocated to the label's
then-headquarters in Atlanta
to record an album. Despite it failing to see a commercial release,
their song "Key to My Heart" appeared on the soundtrack to the 1996 film
Kazaam. During a Christmas party, Reid gave Pink an ultimatum: "go solo or go home." Choice subsequently disbanded in 1998.[29]
1999–2002: Can't Take Me Home and Missundaztood
After
Choice disbanded, Pink signed a recording contract with LaFace Records
and began working on her first solo album with producers such as Babyface, Kandi Burruss and Tricky Stewart.[30] Her first solo single, "There You Go", was released in February 2000 and became her first top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it peaked at number seven.[31] Internationally, the song also charted inside the top ten in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.[32] In April, Pink's album, Can't Take Me Home, was released to commercial success. It peaked 26 on the Billboard 200 chart, and was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for two million units shipped in the United States.[33][34]
It also went platinum in the United Kingdom and multi-platinum in
Australia and Canada, while selling over four million copies worldwide.[35][36] Critical reception to the album was mixed.[37] The album's second single, "Most Girls", peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100[31] and became her first chart-topping single in Australia.[38] "You Make Me Sick" was released as the final single and reached number 33 on the Hot 100.[31]
Tired of being marketed as another cookie cutter
pop act, as well as eager both to be seen as a more serious songwriter
and musician and to perform the type of music she wanted to, Pink took
her sound in a new direction and sought more artistic or creative
control during the recording of her second album, Missundaztood.[45] She recruited Linda Perry, former singer of 4 Non Blondes (one of Pink's favorite groups in her teenage years).[46] Pink moved into Perry's Los Angeles home where the pair spent several months writing songs for the album.[47] Perry co-wrote and co-produced the album with Dallas Austin and Scott Storch, and according to VH1's Driven program, Antonio "LA" Reid of LaFace Records was not initially content with the new music Pink was making. The album, named Missundaztood because of Pink's belief that people had a wrong image of her,[46] was released in November 2001.[48]
In mid-2003, Pink contributed the song "Feel Good Time" to the soundtrack of the film Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, in which she had a cameo appearance as a motocross race ramp owner/promoter. Featuring electronic music artist William Orbit, it became Pink's first single to miss the top 40 on Billboard's
Hot 100 chart, although it was a hit in Europe and in Australia. It was
later included on non-US editions of Pink's third album, Try This, which was released on November 11, 2003. Eight of the 13 tracks were co-written with Tim Armstrong of the band Rancid.
Linda Perry was featured on the album as a writer and musician. Despite
the album reaching the top ten on album charts in the US, in Canada, in
the UK, and in Australia, sales were considerably lower than those of Missundaztood. However, it did go platinum in the US. The singles "Trouble" and "God Is a DJ" did not reach the US top 40 but did reach the top ten in other countries, and "Last to Know" was released as a single outside North America. "Trouble" earned Pink the Grammy award in Best Female Rock Vocal Performance category at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards, and "Feel Good Time" was nominated for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.[44] She toured extensively on the Try This Tour through Europe and Australia, where the album was better received.
During the same period, Pink co-wrote the song "Take A Picture" with Damon Elliott which was released on Mýa's album Moodring. In 2005, Pink collaborated with Lisa Marie Presley on the track "Shine", released on Presley's second album Now What. Pink took a break to write the songs for her fourth album, I'm Not Dead,
which she said she titled as such because "It's about being alive and
feisty and not sitting down and shutting up even though people would
like you to."[55] Pink worked with producers Max Martin, Billy Mann, Christopher Rojas, Butch Walker, Lukasz Gottwald, and Josh Abraham
on the album. The album's release through LaFace Records in April 2006
was a substantial success throughout the world, particularly in
Australia. The album reached the top ten in the US, the top five in the
UK, No. 1 in Germany, and was No. 1 in Australia for two non-consecutive
weeks.
The album's lead single, "Stupid Girls",
was Pink's biggest US hit since 2002 and earned her a Grammy Award
nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Its music video, in
which she parodies celebrities such as Lindsay Lohan, Jessica Simpson, Mary-Kate Olsen, and Paris Hilton,[56] won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Pop Video. Subsequent singles "Who Knew" and "U + Ur Hand"
were substantial hits in Australia and Europe, and they later became
top ten singles in the US. in 2007. The non-US singles were "Nobody Knows", a minor hit in the UK, Australia and Germany; "Dear Mr. President", an open letter to the US President George W. Bush which featured the Indigo Girls and became a No. 1 hit in Belgium as well as a top five hit in Germany, Australia, and other countries; "Leave Me Alone (I'm Lonely)", a UK top 40 and Australian top five entry; and "'Cuz I Can".
The album has sold over 1.3 million copies in the US, as well as over
700,000 copies in Australia. The album proved very popular in Australia,
with six top five singles and a record-breaking 62 weeks in the top 10;
so far the album has gone 10 times platinum.
In support of the album, Pink embarked on the world I'm Not Dead Tour,
for which ticket sales in Australia were particularly high; she sold
approximately 307,000 tickets in Australia, giving her the record for
the biggest concert attendance for an arena tour by a female artist.[57] One of the London shows on the tour was taped and released as a DVD, Pink: Live from Wembley Arena, where she sang Linda Perry's "Whats Up?". In 2006, Pink was chosen to sing the theme song for NBC Sunday Night Football, "Waiting All Day for Sunday Night", which is a take on "I Hate Myself for Loving You" by Joan Jett.[58] She contributed a cover of Rufus's "Tell Me Something Good" to the soundtrack of the film Happy Feet, and lent her name to PlayStation to promote the PSP, a special pink edition of which was released.[59]
Pink collaborated with several other artists in 2006 and 2007, when she opened for Justin Timberlake on the American leg of his FutureSex/LoveShow Tour. She sang on the Indigo Girls album Despite Our Differences. She was featured on India.Arie's song "I Am Not My Hair" from the Lifetime Television film Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy. She wrote a song, "I Will", for Natalia's third album, Everything and More. "Outside of You", another song she co-wrote, was recorded by dance-pop singer Hilary Duff and released on her 2007 album Dignity. Pink recorded a song with Annie Lennox and twenty-two other female acts for Lennox's fourth solo studio album, Songs of Mass Destruction; titled "Sing", it was written as an anthem for HIV/AIDS, according to Lennox's website.[60] In December 2007, a special edition Pink Box, which comprises her second to fourth albums and the DVD Live in Europe, was released in Australia. It reached the top twenty on the albums chart and was certified Gold, selling over 35,000 units.[61]
Moulin Rouge! premiered at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival, where it competed for the Palme d'Or[7]
and was released in theaters on 25 May 2001 in Australia and on 1 June
2001 in North America. The film was praised for Luhrmann's direction,
the performances of the cast, its soundtrack, costume design, and
production values. It was also a commercial success, grossing $179.2
million on a $50 million budget. At the 74th Academy Awards, the film received eight nominations, including Best Picture, and won two (Best Production Design and Best Costume Design). Later critical reception for Moulin Rouge! remained positive and has been considered by many to be one of the best films of all time, with it ranking 53rd in the BBC's 2016 poll of the 100 greatest films of the 21st century.[8][9] A stage musical adaptation premiered in 2018.
Plot
In 1900 in Paris,
Christian, a young writer depressed about the recent death of the woman
he loved, begins writing their story on his typewriter.
A year earlier, he arrives in the Montmartre district of Paris to join the Bohemian movement. He suddenly meets Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and his troupe of performers who are writing a play called Spectacular Spectacular. After Christian helps them complete the play, they go to the Moulin Rouge where they hope Christian's talents will impress Satine, the star performer and courtesan,
who will in turn convince Harold Zidler, the proprietor of the Moulin
Rouge, to let Christian write the show. However, Zidler plans to have
the wealthy, powerful and unscrupulous Duke of Monroth sleep with Satine
in exchange for potential financing to convert the club into a theater.
That night, Satine mistakes Christian for the Duke and attempts
to seduce him by dancing with him before retiring to her private chamber
with him to discuss things privately, but eventually Christian reveals
his true identity. After the Duke interrupts them, Satine claims that
the two of them and the Bohemians were rehearsing Spectacular Spectacular. Aided by Zidler, Christian and the Bohemians improvise a story for the Duke about a beautiful Indian courtesan who falls in love with a poor sitar player she mistook for an evil maharaja.
Approving the story, the Duke agrees to invest, but only if Satine and
the Moulin Rouge are turned over to him. Later, Satine claims not to be
in love with Christian, but he eventually wears down her resolve and
they kiss.
During construction at the Moulin Rouge, Christian and Satine's
love deepens while the Duke becomes frustrated with all the time he
thinks Satine is spending with Christian working on the play. To calm
him, Zidler arranges for Satine to spend the night with the Duke and
angrily tells her to end their affair. She misses the dinner when she
falls unconscious, leading a doctor to diagnose a fatal case of consumption.
She does try to end things by telling Christian that their relationship
is endangering the production, but Christian writes a secret song to
include in the show that affirms their unending, passionate love.
At the final rehearsal, Nini, a can-can dancer jealous of
Satine's popularity, hints to the Duke that the play represents the
relationship between him, Christian, and Satine. Enraged, the Duke
demands that the show ends with the courtesan marrying the maharaja,
instead of Christian's ending where she marries the sitar player. Satine
promises to spend the night with him after which they will decide on
the ending. Ultimately, she fails to seduce the Duke due to her feelings
for Christian, and Le Chocolat, one of the cabaret dancers, saves her
from the Duke's attempt to rape her. Christian decides that he and
Satine should leave the show behind and run away to be together while
the Duke vows to kill Christian.
Zidler finds Satine in her dressing room packing. He tells her
that her illness is fatal and that the Duke is planning on murdering
Christian, and that if she wants Christian to live, she will cut him off
completely and be with the Duke. Mustering all her acting abilities,
she complies, leaving Christian devastated.
On the opening night of the show, in front of a full audience,
Christian denounces Satine and vows to give her to the Duke before
walking off the stage, but Toulouse-Lautrec cries out from the rafters,
"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in
return." This spurs Satine to sing their secret song, causing Christian
to change his mind. After Zidler and the company thwart several attempts
by the Duke and his bodyguard to kill Christian, the show ends with
Christian and Satine proclaiming their love as the Duke permanently
storms out of the cabaret. The audience erupts in applause, but Satine
collapses after the curtains close. Before dying, she tells Christian to
write their story so she will always be with him.
In the present, the Moulin Rouge has closed down and is in
disrepair; Zidler, the Duke, the Diamond Dogs, and the Bohemians are
gone; and Christian finishes his and Satine's story, declaring their
love will live forever.
Moulin Rouge! was influenced by an eclectic variety of comic and melodramatic musical sources, including the Hollywood musical, "vaudeville, cabaret culture, stage musicals, and operas." Its musical elements also allude to Luhrmann's earlier film Strictly Ballroom.[11]
. . . we went to this huge, ice
cream picture palace to see a Bollywood movie. Here we were, with 2,000
Indians watching a film in Hindi,
and there was the lowest possible comedy and then incredible drama and
tragedy and then break out in songs. And it was three-and-a-half hours!
We thought we had suddenly learnt Hindi, because we understood
everything! We thought it was incredible. How involved the audience
were. How uncool they were – how their coolness had been ripped aside
and how they were united in this singular sharing of the story. The
thrill of thinking, 'Could we ever do that in the West? Could we ever
get past that cerebral cool and perceived cool.' It required this idea
of comic-tragedy. Could you make those switches? Fine in Shakespeare – low comedy and then you die in five minutes. . . . In Moulin Rouge!, we went further. Our recognisable story, though Orphean in shape, is derived from Camille, La Boheme – whether you know those texts or not, you recognise those patterns and character types.[14]
In the DVD's audio commentary, Luhrmann revealed that he also drew from the Greek tragedy of Orpheus and Eurydice. The filmmakers projected the Orpheus figure onto Christian by characterizing the latter as a musical genius
whose talent surpassed that of everyone else in his world. The film's
use of songs from the mid- to late 20th century in the 1899 setting
makes Christian appear ahead of his time as a musician and writer. Moulin Rouge!′s
plot also parallels that of the myth: "McGregor, as a poet who spouts
deathless verse . . . , descends into a hellish underworld of
prostitution and musical entertainment in order to retrieve Kidman, the
singing courtesan who loves him but is enslaved to a diabolical duke. He
rescues her but looks back and . . . cue Queen's 'The Show Must Go On.'"[15]
The character of Satine was based on the French can-can dancer Jane Avril.[20] The character of Harold Zidler shares his last name with Charles Zidler, one of the owners of the real Moulin Rouge. Satie was loosely based on the French composers Erik Satie and Maurice Ravel. Môme Fromage, Le Pétomane, and Le Chocolat share their names with performers at the actual cabaret. Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo and Rita Hayworth were cited as inspirations for the film's "look."[19]
Production began on 9 November 1999 and was completed on 13 May 2000,[24][25] with a budget of $50 million.[5] It was shot on the sound stages at Fox Studios in Sydney.[26]
Filming generally went smoothly, but Kidman broke her ribs twice when
she was lifted into the air during the dance sequences. She also
suffered from a torn knee cartilage resulting from a fall during the "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" production song.[19] Kidman later stated in an interview with Graham Norton
that she broke a rib while getting into a corset by tightening it as
much as possible to achieve an 18-inch waist, and that she fell down the
stairs while dancing in heels.[27] The production overran its shooting schedule and had to be out of the sound stages to make way for Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (which also starred McGregor). This necessitated the filming of some pick-up shots in Madrid.[28][29]
In the liner notes
to the film's Special Edition DVD, Luhrmann writes that "[the] whole
stylistic premise has been to decode what the Moulin Rouge was to the
audiences of 1899 and express that same thrill and excitement in a way
to which contemporary movie-goers can relate."[30] Both Roger Ebert and The New York Times compared the film's editing and cinematography to that of a music video and noted its visual homage to early Technicolor films.[31][18]
Music
Marsha Kinder describes Moulin Rouge! as a "brilliant," "celebratory," and "humorous" musical and aural pastiche due to its use of diverse songs.[32]Moulin Rouge! takes well-known popular music, mostly drawn from the MTV Generation, and juxtaposes it into a tale set in a turn-of-the-century Paris cabaret.[30]
Kinder holds that keeping borrowed lyrics and melodies intact "makes it
almost impossible for spectators to miss the poaching [of songs] (even
if they cannot name the particular source)."[33]
Luhrmann had intended to incorporate songs by The Rolling Stones and Cat Stevens into the film, but could not obtain the necessary rights from these artists. When Stevens denied consent for the use of "Father and Son" due to religious objections to the film's content, "Nature Boy" was chosen as its replacement.[19]
Release and reception
Originally set for release on Christmas 2000, 20th Century Fox eventually moved the release of Moulin Rouge! to Summer 2001 to allow Luhrmann more time in post-production.[35][36]Moulin Rouge!premiered at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival on May 9, 2001, as the festival's opening title.[1]
Moulin Rouge! opened in the United States at two theaters in New York and Los Angeles on May 18, 2001.[1] It grossed US$167,540 on its opening weekend.[5][2] The film then expanded to a national release on June 1, 2001.[1] It generated $14.2 million, ranking in fourth place behind Pearl Harbor, Shrek and The Animal.[37] In the United Kingdom, Moulin Rouge! was the country's number one film for two weeks before being displaced by A.I. Artificial Intelligence.[38] During its fifth weekend, it reclaimed the number one spot.[39] The film remained so until it was dethroned by American Pie 2 in its sixth weekend.[40]Moulin Rouge! has grossed $57,386,369 in the United States and Canada and another $121,813,167 internationally[2] (including $26 million in the United Kingdom[41] and $3,878,504 in Australia[42]).
Moulin Rouge! received generally positive reviews from critics. Roger Ebert
rated the film 3.5 stars out of 4, remarking that "the movie is all
color and music, sound and motion, kinetic energy, broad strokes,
operatic excess."[31]Newsweek
praised McGregor's and Kidman's performances, stating that "both stars
hurl themselves into the movie's reckless spirit, unafraid of looking
foolish, adroitly attuned to Luhrmann's abrupt swings from farce to
tragedy. (And both sing well.)"[43]The New York Times
wrote that "the film is undeniably rousing, but there is not a single
moment of organic excitement because Mr. Luhrmann is so busy splicing
bits from other films" but conceded that "there's nothing else like it,
and young audiences, especially girls, will feel as if they had found a
movie that was calling them by name."[18]All Things Considered
commented the film was "not gonna be for all tastes" and that "you
either surrender to this sort of flamboyance or you experience it as
overkill."[44][45]
Moulin Rouge! holds a rating of 66/100 at Metacritic based on 35 reviews.[46] At Rotten Tomatoes,
the film holds a 74% "Fresh" rating based on 258 reviews, with the
critics' consensus saying, "A love-it-or-hate-it experience, Moulin Rouge is all style, all giddy, over-the-top spectacle. But it's also daring in its vision and wildly original."[47] In December 2001, the film was named the best film of the year by viewers of Film 2001.[48]Entertainment Weekly
ranked it #6 on its list of the top ten movies of the decade, saying,
"Baz Luhrmann's trippy pop culture pastiche from 2001 was an
aesthetically arresting ode to poetry, passion, and Elton John. It was
so good, we'll forgive him for Australia."[49][50] In 2008, Moulin Rouge! was ranked #211 on Empire's 500 Greatest Movies of All Time.[51] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.[52]
Home Theater Forum rated the DVD release of Moulin Rouge! as the best DVD of 2001.[53] Luhrmann had hand-picked the features and behind-the scenes footage for the two-disc DVD edition.[54]
Analysis
Postmodern
Scholarly commentators have interpreted Moulin Rouge! as an exemplary postmodern film, citing its methods of aesthetic expression, symbolism, and ties to both fine art and pop culture as evidence.[55][56]
The film's music also contributes to its postmodern aesthetic. Notably,
Moulin Rouge! combines mid-to-late 20th Century melodies and lyrics
with a narrative set in fin de siècle France.[33]
The use of famous popular songs in a new, original context requires
audiences to reinterpret their significance within the framework of the
narrative and challenge the assumption that music's symbolism is static.[57][58]
Moulin Rouge! also makes ample use of other postmodern filmmaking techniques, including fragmentation and juxtaposition. As the film's protagonist, Christian is the primary source of Moulin Rouge!'s
story line and many portions of the story are told from his point of
view. However, the narrative is fragmented on several occasions when the
film deviates from Christian's perspective or integrates a flashback. Moulin Rouge! also juxtaposes a play-within-a-film (Spectacular Spectacular)
with the film's events themselves to draw parallels between the plot of
the play and the characters' lives. This culminates in the "Come What
May" sequence, which reveals the development of Christian and Satine's
relationship alongside the progression of Spectacular Spectacular's rehearsals.[59]
Postmodernism is also evident in Moulin Rouge!'s homage to Western musicals, Bollywood masala films, and music videos, as well as Luhrmann's film Strictly Ballroom.[60]
Feminist critique
It has been argued that, despite the film's postmodern stylings, Moulin Rouge! is not a feminist text because the death of its female protagonist (Satine) serves as a plot device that upholds patriarchical perspectives in storytelling.[61]
"Coup d'État"/"Finale" (The Show Must Go On/Children of the
Revolution/Your Song/One Day I'll Fly Away/Come What May) – Christian,
Satine, and Cast of Spectacular Spectacular
Jamie Allen contributes additional vocals to the "Elephant Love Medley".[79] "Love Is Like Oxygen" and "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" are only spoken dialogue; they are not actually sung in the medley.
"Your Song" is performed by Ewan McGregor and Alessandro Safina, who contributes additional lyrics in Italian.[79]
As early as November 2002, Luhrmann revealed that he intended to adapt Moulin Rouge! into a stage musical. A Las Vegascasino was the reputed site of the proposed show.[82] Luhrmann was said to have asked both Kidman and McGregor to reprise their starring roles in the potential stage version.[83]
In 2008, a stage adaptation entitled La Belle Bizarre du Moulin Rouge ("The Bizarre Beauty of the Moulin Rouge") toured Germany and produced a cast recording.[84]
In the 2017–18 figure skating season, at the 2018 Winter Olympics, Canadian skaters Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir performed two selections from Moulin Rouge!,
interpreting the story of Christian and Satine through "The Show Must
Go On", "El Tango de Roxanne", and "Come What May". Their performance
won the gold medal in the team and the individual events.[92] At this event, Virtue and Moir became the most decorated skaters of all time.[93]
Andrew, Geoff (7 September 2001). "Baz Luhrmann (I)". Guardian interviews at the BFI. The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 May 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
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Schwartz, Missy; Slezak, Michael; Snierson, Dan; Stack, Tim; Stroup,
Kate; Tucker, Ken; Vary, Adam B.; Vozick-Levinson, Simon; Ward, Kate (11
December 2009). "The 100 greatest movies, TV shows, albums, books,
characters, scenes, episodes, songs, dresses, music videos, and trends
that entertained us over the past 10 years". Entertainment Weekly. No. 1079/1080. pp. 74–84.