The Voice Within
Encyclopedia
"The Voice Within" is a song written by Christina Aguilera
and Glen Ballard
, with production by Ballard. It was released as the fifth and final single from Aguilera's second album, Stripped on December 23, 2003. The single peaked at #33 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Aguilera's seventh Top 40 hit. The single also peaked at #9 in the UK and #8 in Australia. The single is most known for its simplistic, but critically acclaimed music video that was filmed in black and white as a single continuous camera shot.
, and was produced by the latter. The album version extends the song about five seconds and blends it with the next track, "I'm OK". An alternate edit clocking in at 4 minutes and 26 seconds appears on the compilation album Totally Hits 2004
. Aguilera did not want "The Voice Within" to be released as the fifth single. She was lobbying for "Impossible", a track from Stripped, which was produced by Alicia Keys
, as she felt it would help her break into the urban market. RCA Records
wanted to release a big ballad during the holiday season like they did the year prior with "Beautiful" and felt that 'The Voice Within' was the perfect candidate. Eventually, Aguilera's label made the final decision and the idea of 'Impossible' being the final single was scrapped. Aguilera's, voice range spans from D3 to F♯5.
The song's music video
was directed by David LaChapelle
and produced by LaChapelle Studio and MMG. It opens with a close-up
of Aguilera and zooms out to her wearing a slip
and sitting in an abandoned prop
room. In one continuous black-and-white
shot, Aguilera walks through several rooms, exits the building, and finally lays on a light box. The video was filmed at a deserted theater in downtown Los Angeles
, California
. It is inspired by neorealist
works. "The Voice Within'" was the eleventh video for Aguilera to appear on TRL. The video hit number one twice and spent thirty-seven days on the countdown. The video was nominated for three 2004 MTV Video Music Awards
, Best Female Video, Viewer's Choice, and Best Cinematography.
during "Contestant's Choice" week (Top 9) by Roxane LeBrasse
. Despite receiving good reviews from the judges, LeBrasse was eliminated the next night. The song was performed later by American Idol 5 runner-up Katharine McPhee
during 'Songs from the 21st Century' week (Top 10). During this performance, judge Simon Cowell compared McPhee's abilities to that of Aguilera's, saying the former's performance was almost as good as the original singer. He then said it was mediocre during the result show the night after, where McPhee landed in the bottom two. In How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?
finalist Meliz Serman performed this in the second week. Her performance was not strong and she was put into the bottom two, only to be saved by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The song was then used in 2010, when Jessica Robinson performed it in Over the Rainbow
. The song was later performed in the film The Voice Within by Regina Fuller and the title was borrowed for the film.
It was also covered by a Hong Kong singer G.E.M. The Nolans covered this song on their 2009 'I'm In The Mood Again' tour.
Canadian CD single
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994...
and Glen Ballard
Glen Ballard
Glen Ballard is an American songwriter and record producer, best known for co-writing and producing Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill , which won Grammy Award for "Best Rock Album", and "Album of the Year" amongst others, and is ranked by the Rolling Stone amongst The 500 Greatest Albums of...
, with production by Ballard. It was released as the fifth and final single from Aguilera's second album, Stripped on December 23, 2003. The single peaked at #33 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Aguilera's seventh Top 40 hit. The single also peaked at #9 in the UK and #8 in Australia. The single is most known for its simplistic, but critically acclaimed music video that was filmed in black and white as a single continuous camera shot.
Background
"The Voice Within" was written by both Aguilera and Glen BallardGlen Ballard
Glen Ballard is an American songwriter and record producer, best known for co-writing and producing Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill , which won Grammy Award for "Best Rock Album", and "Album of the Year" amongst others, and is ranked by the Rolling Stone amongst The 500 Greatest Albums of...
, and was produced by the latter. The album version extends the song about five seconds and blends it with the next track, "I'm OK". An alternate edit clocking in at 4 minutes and 26 seconds appears on the compilation album Totally Hits 2004
Totally Hits 2004
Totally Hits 2004 is an album in the Totally Hits series. This was the third and final album not to contain a Billboard Hot 100 number-one hit.-Track listing:#JET - "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" 3:37#Maroon 5 - "Harder to Breathe" 2:55...
. Aguilera did not want "The Voice Within" to be released as the fifth single. She was lobbying for "Impossible", a track from Stripped, which was produced by Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook , better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She was raised by a single mother in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan in New York City. At age seven, Keys began playing the piano...
, as she felt it would help her break into the urban market. RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
wanted to release a big ballad during the holiday season like they did the year prior with "Beautiful" and felt that 'The Voice Within' was the perfect candidate. Eventually, Aguilera's label made the final decision and the idea of 'Impossible' being the final single was scrapped. Aguilera's, voice range spans from D3 to F♯5.
Music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was directed by David LaChapelle
David LaChapelle
David LaChapelle is a photographer and director who works in the fields of fashion, advertising, and fine art photography, and is noted for his surreal, unique, sexualized, and often humorous style.-Early life:...
and produced by LaChapelle Studio and MMG. It opens with a close-up
Close-up
In filmmaking, television production, still photography and the comic strip medium a close-up tightly frames a person or an object. Close-ups are one of the standard shots used regularly with medium shots and long shots . Close-ups display the most detail, but they do not include the broader scene...
of Aguilera and zooms out to her wearing a slip
Slip (clothing)
Slip is a woman's undergarment worn beneath a dress or skirt to help it hang smoothly and to prevent chafing of the skin from coarse fabrics such as wool...
and sitting in an abandoned prop
Theatrical property
A theatrical property, commonly referred to as a prop, is an object used on stage by actors to further the plot or story line of a theatrical production. Smaller props are referred to as "hand props". Larger props may also be set decoration, such as a chair or table. The difference between a set...
room. In one continuous black-and-white
Black-and-white
Black-and-white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, is a term referring to a number of monochrome forms in visual arts.Black-and-white as a description is also something of a misnomer, for in addition to black and white, most of these media included varying shades of gray...
shot, Aguilera walks through several rooms, exits the building, and finally lays on a light box. The video was filmed at a deserted theater in downtown Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It is inspired by neorealist
Neorealism (art)
In art, neorealism was established by the ex-Camden Town Group painters Charles Ginner and Harold Gilman at the beginning of World War I. They set out to explore the spirit of their age through the shapes and colours of daily life...
works. "The Voice Within'" was the eleventh video for Aguilera to appear on TRL. The video hit number one twice and spent thirty-seven days on the countdown. The video was nominated for three 2004 MTV Video Music Awards
2004 MTV Video Music Awards
The 2004 MTV Video Music Awards aired live on August 29, 2004, honoring the best music videos from the previous year. The show took place at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami, Florida, and, unlike in previous years, had no host.-Video of the Year:...
, Best Female Video, Viewer's Choice, and Best Cinematography.
Cover versions
It was performed on the third season of Australian IdolAustralian Idol
Australian Idol is a Logie Award-winning Australian singing competition, which began its first season on July 2003 and ended its run in November 2009. As part of the Idol franchise, Australian Idol originated from the reality program Pop Idol, which was created by British entertainment executive...
during "Contestant's Choice" week (Top 9) by Roxane LeBrasse
Roxane LeBrasse
Roxane LeBrasse was an Australian singer who reached #91 on the ARIA Singles Chart with "Sexy"....
. Despite receiving good reviews from the judges, LeBrasse was eliminated the next night. The song was performed later by American Idol 5 runner-up Katharine McPhee
Katharine McPhee
Katharine Hope McPhee is an American pop singer, songwriter, actress, model, and television personality. She gained fame as a contestant on the fifth season of the Fox reality show American Idol in 2006, eventually finishing as the runner-up.Her self-titled debut album was released on RCA Records...
during 'Songs from the 21st Century' week (Top 10). During this performance, judge Simon Cowell compared McPhee's abilities to that of Aguilera's, saying the former's performance was almost as good as the original singer. He then said it was mediocre during the result show the night after, where McPhee landed in the bottom two. In How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?
How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?
How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? was a British television talent series, that was broadcast on Saturday evenings on BBC One between 29 July and 16 September 2006. It documented the search for a new, undiscovered musical theatre performer to play the role of Maria von Trapp in the 2006 Andrew...
finalist Meliz Serman performed this in the second week. Her performance was not strong and she was put into the bottom two, only to be saved by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The song was then used in 2010, when Jessica Robinson performed it in Over the Rainbow
Over the Rainbow (2010 TV series)
Over the Rainbow is a British television talent series which aired on BBC One from March to May 2010. It documents the search for a new, undiscovered musical theatre performer to play the role of Dorothy in the forthcoming Andrew Lloyd Webber stage production of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and a...
. The song was later performed in the film The Voice Within by Regina Fuller and the title was borrowed for the film.
It was also covered by a Hong Kong singer G.E.M. The Nolans covered this song on their 2009 'I'm In The Mood Again' tour.
Track listing
CD maxi-single- "The Voice Within" [Album Version] — 5:04
- "The Voice Within" [Single Edit] — 4:15
- "Beautiful" [Fug Remix] — 5:47
- "Can't Hold Us Down" [Da Yard Riddim Mix] — 4:16
Canadian CD single
- "The Voice Within" [Album Version] — 5:04
- "Can't Hold Us Down" [Da Yard Riddim Mix] — 4:16
Official remixes
- AlmightyAlmighty RecordsAlmighty Records is a British recording label and remix production team founded in 1989, releasing their first single in the same year. Producing mainly Dance-Pop and Hi-NRG music, the label is best known for releasing remakes and remixes of mainstream pop songs...
Remix — 8:01 [a.k.a. Almighty Definitive Mix & Almighty 12" Club Mix] - Almighty PA — 8:01
- Almighty Dub — 7:57
- Almighty Radio [Edit 1] — 3:31
- Almighty Radio [Edit 2] — 4:01
- Almighty Mix Show
- Bertoldo & Bermudez Club Mix - 9:22
- Radio Edit featured on Totally Hits 2004Totally Hits 2004Totally Hits 2004 is an album in the Totally Hits series. This was the third and final album not to contain a Billboard Hot 100 number-one hit.-Track listing:#JET - "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" 3:37#Maroon 5 - "Harder to Breathe" 2:55...
- 4:26
Chart performance
| Charts (2003) | Peak position |
|---|
Year-end charts
| Chart (2003) | Rank |
|---|---|
| UK | 195 |
| Chart (2004) | Rank |
| Austria | 37 |
| Switzerland | 35 |
Release history
| Country | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| United States | November 13, 2003 | CD single |
| United Kingdom | January 13, 2004 |