It’s been some time since we’ve heard from Christina Aguilera. Six years to be exact. Now she’s back showcasing a single entitled “Accelerate” from her upcoming eighth studio album, Liberation, set to release June 15th.
This track is aptly named. Joining efforts with 2 Chainz and Ty Dolla $ign, Aguilera gives fans a beat that is fast, unapologetic and explicit.
Christina has never been one to filter her music or videos. And with “Accelerate,” she continues her hypersexualized stampede by delving once more into what the fast life entails, including money, power and sexual gratification.
The video opens with harshly edited black-and-white scenes that flash between Christina sensually caressing her hair and suggestively licking milk out of a glass. That scene’s briefly interrupted by a camera shot of her breasts covered with black tape as the song begins, “Hide it ’til we feel it/Then we feel it, ’til we fight it, yeah/Hold it ’til we need it, never leave it/Didn’t want it, yeah.”
More scenes continue to flash, quickly, jarringly and erotically. We see Christina in a suit (with, ahem, no top underneath), as well as rolling on the ground. We see her licking her fingers suggestively. She also pulls down her shirt to show cleavage as she sings, “We got moola, power, we on fire tonight/Gonna get it how we want it/’Cause we ’bout it, ’bout that life.”
Now she picks up the pace lyrically, demanding a sexual encounter: “Accelerate, c’mon babe/Pick up your speed/ … That’s what I need.” Ty Dolla $ign chimes in, “Another shot/You comin’ home with me/F— all these drugs, f— all these clubs/What’s wrong with me?” (Whatever Ty Dolla $ign is getting at with that last question, it’s not explained here—though it doesn’t seem like a bad question to ponder.)
And just when you thought things couldn’t get any nastier, 2 Chainz chimes in with raps about marijuana use and explicit sexual encounters. Meanwhile back in the video, Christina’s covered in a sticky substance as the camera ogles her almost completely uncovered torso. Sexual gestures throughout the video give it a pornographic vibe, even though full nudity is (barely) avoided.
After watching the video for “Accelerate” I felt three things: First, it’s extremely suggestive, objectifying and degrading. Second, this is nothing new for Christina, which is sad; she’s talented and beautiful, and she shouldn’t feel compelled to bare everything (visually and lyrically) for the sake of her “art.” Finally, the entire video is about a fast life and all that comes along with it, but Christina looks sad and empty in the end.
It’s possible that was the point all along, if we’re being really charitable. Then again, maybe I’m just reaching too far for an interpretation here. Either way, I wish Christina Aguilera didn’t feel the need to objectify herself to explicitly to get a point across.
Then again, she’s been doing that for a long time now, so this sensual song and video should hardly come as a surprise.
Kristin Smith joined the Plugged In team in 2017. Formerly a Spanish and English teacher, Kristin loves reading literature and eating authentic Mexican tacos. She and her husband, Eddy, love raising their children Judah and Selah. Kristin also has a deep affection for coffee, music, her dog (Cali) and cat (Aslan).
