Poor Christina - long considered pop's bit of rough. Next to Britney she was always going to come across as a little bit filthy. Especially when she paraded around the charts in those 'Dirrty' leather chaps.
But it's all change in camp-Aguilera. Gone are the bare butt-cheeks and raunchy dance moves and in come the sophisticated black outfits and a sombre piano ballad.
For a singer who has based much of her career on a carefully constructed image, 'Beautiful' marks a massive, but succesful change in direction. The track - written by Pink hitmaker Linda Perry - is an anthem for inner beauty. It's about looking beyond appearance and celebrating what's within.
In keeping with the lyrics, the music is stripped of needless fluff - Christina's voice more than capable of carrying the song next to the simple plod of the piano and a light smattering of strings. Whatever you might think of her, one thing's for sure - the girl can sing.
Britney had better watch her back, there's a new Princess of Pop in town.
