| "What a Girl Wants" | ||||
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| Single by Christina Aguilera | ||||
| from the album Christina Aguilera | ||||
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| Released | September 4, 1999 | |||
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| Producer(s) | Guy Roche | |||
| Christina Aguilera singles chronology | ||||
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| "What A Girl Wants" on YouTube | ||||
"What a Girl Wants" is a song recorded by American singer Christina Aguilera for her self-titled debut album (1999). Written by Shelly Peiken and Guy Roche, the song was completed and pitched to RCA Records executive Ron Fair as "What a Girl Needs"; it was renamed "What a Girl Wants" and given to Aguilera.
The original version was released as the album's second single in Japan on in 1999, by Arista Records Japan.[2] However, a newly produced re-recorded version was sent to contemporary hit radio in the United States on November 8, and later internationally instead.[3][4] A Spanish version of the song, titled "Una Mujer", was included on Aguilera's second studio album Mi Reflejo (2000).
The song was described as a pop and R&B track and had similarities to "Genie in a Bottle". It received positive reviews from music critics, who described it as a "light" song and compared Aguilera's vocals on the track to those of Mariah Carey. Commercially, the song became her second consecutive US Billboard Hot 100 number-one single, and also topped the charts in Brazil, Canada, New Zealand, and Spain; the song is recognized as the first Billboard Hot 100 number-one single of the 2000s. The single eventually earned gold certifications in countries including Australia, Belgium and Sweden, as well as being certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
A music video was directed by Diane Martel, who had also directed her previous video for "Genie in a Bottle". The video features Aguilera dancing in a room with female friends whilst being viewed by their boyfriends, and includes a scene where she is dressed as a medieval-style princess. In December 1999, the video reached pole position on the US music video chart TRL. Aguilera has performed the song at events such as the US Jingle Ball and the MTV New Year's Eve Special in 1999,[5] as well as her tours including the Christina Aguilera: In Concert (2000–2001), the Stripped Live... on Tour (2003), the Back to Basics Tour (2006–2008), the Liberation Tour (2018), and most recently on both The X Tour and Christina Aguilera: The Xperience in 2019. In 2024, a cover of "What a Girl Wants" was released featuring Sabrina Carpenter.
- ^ "Christina Aguilera carving out her own niche". Jam!. Sun Media. September 29, 1999. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "ホワット・ア・ガール・ウォンツ – クリスティーナ・アギレラ" (in Japanese). Japan: Oricon. September 4, 1999. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
- ^ "What A Girl Wants - Christina Aguilera" (PDF). Radio & Records. November 5, 1999. p. 42,43. Retrieved February 3, 2023 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "Gavin Top40/Rhythm: Impact Dates". Gavin Report. No. 2279. November 8, 1999. p. 8.
- ^ "MTV New Year's Eve Party (1999)", Turner Classic Movies (TCM)