OVERVIEW

This is Christina's Spanish-language CD (there is no English on the CD at all) and I have been playing it at least once a week for the last year or so. Generally speaking, this is a brilliant album and everyone should have it - I suspect when her new music comes out next month, there'll be a resurge of interest in this album.

It has a mix of American-sounding and Latin songs and Christina's voice is absolutely amazing. The actual packaging of the disc is quite annoying, the CD cover etc. is silver and the photography on the outside doesn't make the singer look at all attractive. The disc design is cool; it's red with lots of dots on it. The booklet inlay has the lyrics and some nicer photos on it, but it is very difficult to fold up again once it's been undone! But that's just a trivial flaw...

I'll come onto the songs shortly, but first of all I have to say that Christina came in for a lot of criticism for making a Latin CD - they (her critics in the media) said she was just taking advantage of having a father who was Puertorricano, and that she couldn't actually speak Spanish. This was made worse when she appeared on MTV Mexico and had to have an interpreter translate for her.

Well, to set the record straight, she is mainly and English speaker but her mother has said when she was a little girl the only language the family spoke at home was Spanish, and now Christina is trying to relearn as much as possible. I don't doubt her motives, and this CD has sold very well in Latin America, USA and Spain, so how good is it, and what is left after the hype? For me, this CD hasn't aged since two years ago, I'm sure it will still be cool in years to come.

THE TRACKS

Apart from 2 videos (Por Siempre Tú and Genio Atrapado) there are 11 audio tracks:

1. Genio Atrapado

This is the Spanish version of Genie in a Bottle and it is a very good start to the CD. It is simultaneously sexy and upbeat. There's probably a bit too much repetition of "Vamos vamos", but it isn't too long and this track is at least a 7/10 - one of the albums strong songs.

2. Falsas Esperanzas

Falsas Esperanzas is genuine música latina, it is very upbeat and dancy and gives Christina a chance to hit the really high notes.

3. El Beso del Final

Sincere, sultry and very emotional. This has a BRILLIANT chorus ("Anoche yo sentí que me bestaste diferente y me quedé..."). You will have this in your head for hours, trust me! And the way this song ends is also excellent. A classy, sexy number full of heartache and lovesickness which is 10/10 without doubt.

4. Pero Me Acuerdo de Tí

This might not be everyone's cup of tea at first, but it does grow on you. The chorus is a bit weak, but the tune of the verses is nice and catchy, and Christina's vocals range over the full spectrum - deep and reflective to fully-fledged diva-ish loud melodrama (some non-fans would say screeching). Above average but not the best on the CD.

5. Ven Conmigo (Solamente Tú)

This is Come on Over in Spanish, and it is good, just as good as the English one, maybe a bit better with lyrics like "No me agas esperar / Contigo quiero estar, ser tuya nada más...". Maybe the word "baby" repeated all the time is a bit annoying in a Spanish song but that's my sole complaint. 9/10, I think.

6. Si No Te Hubiera Conocido

This is a top-class duet with the male vocals provided by Luis Fonsi who has a strong voice that works well with Christina. This is a typical Christina song - it starts normal and by the end escalates into melodramatic bawling "cohorahzon!" but it is all controlled very well and I feel that this song has a kind of "traditional" sound to it. It is definately catchy and it's the kind of thing you will find yourself singing in the bathroom out of key and annoying your neighbours/family. But in the hands of the professionals, this is 10/10 stuff. Not very original, but has the feel of a classic anyway.

7. Contigo en la Distancia

This is yet another powerhouse love song, very tunefull and emotional. This is what Christina Aguilera does best. The big finish is worth the wait.

8. Cuando No Es Contigo

It starts off slow and ends up a dance track. If you buy this CD because you like Ricky Martin style heavy beat Latin dance music, go straight to this song, it will have you dancing around the room. "Cuando no es no es..." is repeated all the way through in the background. Another above-average track.

9. Por Siempre Tú

A lovely slow declaration of love (I'm not fluent in Spanish so it could be a declaration of lunacy for all I know, but I assume it roughly means the same as the English version I Turn to You since it has an identical video). It is warm and relaxing, and sounds a bit like the Michael Jackson song 'You Are Not Alone'. This isn't really a Spanish Spanish song, it's more like a universal ballad. By this CD's standards it's quite good, and surely it more than makes up for what's coming next...

10. Una Mujer

It's 'What a Girl Wants' in Spanish. I HATE THIS ANNOYING TEENYBOPPER SONG!!! I wish there was some way you could erase tracks from CDs! This is absolute garbage and isn't worthy of being on the album let alone being made into a video and released! What was she thinking? 0/10 Skip past this bolony.

11. Mi Reflejo

The title track and perhaps the best song. It is happy and sad simultaneously, it is pensive, celebratory yet melancholy. It is a "got there in the end" kind of song and Christina's voice is at it's very best here. A perfect ending for this CD, unique and high quality.