Christina Aguilera Dazzles With Diamonds and ‘Burlesque’ at Opulent Vegas Residency Opening
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What better way to enter 2024 than with Christina Aguilera leading a Las Vegas crowd in some self-affirmations to the beat of her song “Vanity?” “Damn, I look sexy. Damn, I look good,” the singer said. “There’s no shame in giving yourself a little extra love.”
Aguilera marked her return to Las Vegas after 2019’s 10-month The Xperience with a sexier, Burlesqueier, and more intimate show at the Venetian’s Voltaire Belle de Nuit, a newly opened venue, christened in November by Kylie Minogue.
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During Sunday’s New Year’s Eve show, Aguilera commanded a 90-minute spectacle that celebrated Aguilera’s ever-so-stunning vocals and Vegas show(wo)manship. Following an extravaganza of burlesque performers, contortionists, and acrobats, the lights dimmed at 11:30 p.m. and a starry-night visual intro welcomed Aguilera dressed in a jaw-dropping, towering red gown to open the show with Bionic‘s “Not Myself Tonight.” In the crowd, Aguilera welcomed some celebrities — Paula Abdul shimmied her way through “Ain’t No Other Man” — and OG fans alike.
Between quick changes for “Your Body,” Aguilera showcased her effortless vocals with a cover of Shirley Bassey’s 007 theme “Diamonds Are Forever” as she sat in a white, cloud-like chair and a sparkly, black ensemble. The diamond theme returned at the end of the show with a cover of “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” the lyrics playing into the luxury of the entire evening, as the singer strut down a catwalk, surrounded by dancers and live sax and trumpet players.
“How about that for a beautiful New Year’s Eve?” Aguilera told the crowd, before playing “Glam” live for the first time.
“There are days when you don’t feel so glam and have to look yourself in the mirror and say, ‘Damn I look sexy. Damn, I look good,” she said.
Things sure took a sexy turn after she performed “Genie in the Bottle” and transitioned from a shimmering silver minidress into a dominatrix-style corseted look for all to watch for a cover of Lesley Gore’s “You Don’t Own Me” from atop a bed. “Where are my dirty people tonight?” Aguilera asked after a sapphic moment with one of her dancers. (Aguilera’s vocals on the Gore classic are unmatched.)
The snazzy, elegant Voltaire — decorated with its floating globes and color-changing lights — also served as a perfect place for a Burlesque singalong from Aguilera, as the star paid homage to her character Ali from the 2010 film with several of the songs on the setlist. Aguilera performed a rendition of “Guy What Takes His Time,” sang an impressive cover of Cher’s “Welcome to Burlesque” — slightly changing the lyric to “Welcome to Voltaire” at one point — and of course a performance of “Lady Marmalade.” (Here, the singer rocked some shades and added a few stunning adlibs to her fan-favorite collab with Mya, Lil Kim, and Pink.)
The singer also reimagined her biggest hits “Fighter” — led by a bonny orchestral intro — and “Beautiful,” which featured a new arrangement, and captured the singer in a black outfit and gorgeous red cape as she effortlessly hit high notes over the track’s self-empowering lyrics.
The clock ran on Christina’s time. Halfway through her set, after snapping selfies with fans in the crowd and strutting her way through the venue, Aguilera held up a glass of champagne and started a 10-second countdown surrounded by her dancers for a slightly delayed welcome to 2024.
“I look forward to bringing Las Vegas a new show that fuses music, sophistication and art in ways I have never performed before,” Aguilera previously said of the residency. On New Year’s Eve, Aguilera more than delivered.
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