HURT - CHRISTINA AGUILERA
Christina Aguilera’s “Ain’t No Other Man,” in all its incarnations — single release to chart-topping club remixes — was a triple-play triumph of talent reaching its prime, melodic potency and sheer star power. Follow-up ballad “Hurt” dramatically shifts gears from sass to sad, further giving testament to Aguilera’s stupefying gifts as an emotive, mature powerhouse singer. The force of her vocal as she relates the pain of moving past a relationship in ruins is daunting, with a melody and lush production that carries this potential Grammy Award contender into the clouds. “Hurt” reunites C’tina with Linda Perry, who also helmed the victorious ballad “Beautiful,” which hit No. 2 in 2003. Billboard
