"Twice" is a song by American singer Christina Aguilera from her eighth studio album, Liberation (2018).[1] It was released for digital download and streaming on May 11, 2018 by RCA Records as the album's first promotional single.[2][3] Kirby Lauryen wrote the track and co-produced it with Sandy Chila. Upon its release of, music critics were positive towards the track, praising Aguilera's voice and the lyrics. Commercially, "Twice" reached top-forty positions on the digital charts of Australia and Spain. The song was later included in the setlist for The Liberation Tour,[4] Christina Aguilera: The Xperience,[5] and The X Tour.[6]

"Twice"
Promotional single by Christina Aguilera
from the album Liberation
ReleasedMay 11, 2018 (2018-05-11)
Length4:02
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)Kirby Dockery
Producer(s)
  • Kirby Dockery
  • Sandy Chila

Background and composition

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"Twice" was solely written by Kirby Lauryen, while co-producing along with Sandy Chila.[7][8] On May 10, 2018, Aguilera posted a video on her Twitter account in which she teased the release of a song from her then-upcoming eight studio album, Liberation (2018), stating that she loves the song's "raw vocal quality" and the "spiritual emotion and tone" it conveys.[9][10][11] The track was released for digital download and streaming as the first promotional single from Liberation on May 11, 2018 by RCA Records.[1] Musically, "Twice" has been described as a soulful ballad[12][13][14] with a length of four minutes and two seconds.[7] According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, the song is performed in the key of F Minor with a moderately slow tempo of 75 beats per minute. Aguilera's vocals span from E3 to F5.[15]

Critical reception

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Jon Pareles from New York Times said that "Twice" "mournfully ponders sin, forgiveness and redemption".[16] Nicholas Hautman of Us Weekly stated that "Twice" is Aguilera's best song since "Hurt", noting its "contemplative and stripped-down nature".[17] Neil McCormick from The Daily Telegraph considered that Aguilera sounded "like a one-woman Fleetwood Mac" and praised "her rich low notes fluttering effortlessly up to falsetto with no loss of control".[18] During a review for Liberation for PopCrush, Bobby Olivier called "Twice" "a sparse and pensive track" and described the intro of the song as "harmonic".[19] Althea Legapsi from Rolling Stone opined that the lyrics contemplate "the duality that can be found with love",[20] and Mike Nied from Idolator deemed the singer's voice, calling it "as strong as ever before".[21] Zach Johnson of E! Online labelled "Twice" as a "brooding ballad".[11]

Visuals video

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Although the song was never promoted with an official music video, a conceptual visual video—created by Aguilera and her team—was released on May 11, 2018.[22][23][24] It was meant to express the singer's thankfulness for her fans' support, and contains a spiritual, naturalist theme: Aguilera is seen submerged in water, and those scenes are followed by close-ups of flowers.[22] Aguilera called the visuals "personal" and believed they "set a tone behind the feel of the music as a kind of backdrop".[22][23] She said the video was shot because she "felt inspired by the themes of duality and inner struggle in 'Twice'".[22][23]

Live performances

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Aguilera performing the song during 2018's Liberation Tour

On June 9, 2018 Aguilera performed the track for the first time at the Genentech Gives Back benefit concert in San Francisco.[25][26] Other songs presented on stage included Liberation singles "Accelerate" and "Fall in Line".[25] Aguilera promoted "Fall in Line" during 2018's New York Fashion Week on September 9. Before she sang the song, celebrity drag queen Sasha Velour acted out the lyrics of "Twice".[27]

The song was included in the setlist for Aguilera's 2018 Liberation Tour.[4] The singer's rendition at the Radio City Music Hall on October 4, 2018 was called "killer" by The Star-Ledger's Bobby Olivier.[4] In 2019, "Twice" was also performed during a concert residency Christina Aguilera: The Xperience,[5] and The X Tour in Europe and Mexico.[6][28] The X Tour's arrangement was met with critical acclaim, praised by Metro,[29] Berliner Morgenpost,[30] and FrontView Magazine.[31] In July 2021, Aguilera performed "Twice" during her two night show at the Hollywood Bowl with Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.[32][33][34]

Accolades

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Year Ceremony Category Result Ref.
2018 AMFT Awards Best Pop Solo Performance Won [35]

Charts

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Chart (2018) Peak
position
Australia Digital Tracks (ARIA)[36] 35
France (SNEP)[37] 169
French Digital Singles (SNEP)[38] 164
Indonesian Digital Songs (LIMA)[39] 1
Spain Physical/Digital (PROMUSICAE)[40] 31
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[41] 42

References

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  1. ^ a b "Christina Aguilera New Music: Ballad "Twice" Released". Entertainment Weekly. May 11, 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
  2. ^ "Christina Aguilera's 'Twice' Is Here: Listen". Billboard. May 11, 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
  3. ^ White, Jack (May 16, 2018). "Christina Aguilera and Demi Lovato release their much-anticipated collaboration Fall In Line". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c Olivier, Bobby (October 6, 2018). "Christina Aguilera's 1st tour in a decade is a fierce return to the diva throne: review". The Star-Ledger. Advance Publications. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  5. ^ a b Nied, Mike (June 1, 2019). "Christina Aguilera Launches 'The Xperience' Residency: See The Setlist". Idolator. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Christina Aguilera Brings 'The X Tour' to Europe". So Sugary. July 14, 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-07-19. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Liberation by Christina Aguilera". United States: iTunes Store. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  8. ^ "Liberation by Christina Aguilera". United Kingdom: iTunes Store. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  9. ^ "Here is another of the many moods of #Liberation..." Twitter. Twitter, Inc. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  10. ^ "Christina Aguilera Bares Her Soul On Vulnerable New Ballad 'Twice'". MTV. May 16, 2018. Archived from the original on July 27, 2018. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  11. ^ a b Johnson, Zach (May 11, 2018). "Christina Aguilera Goes Back to Basics With the Ballad 'Twice'". E! Online. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  12. ^ Nolfi, Joey (May 11, 2018). "Hear Christina Aguilera's powerful new ballad 'Twice'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  13. ^ Copperman, Joshua (June 15, 2018). "Stream Christina Aguilera's New Album Liberation". Spin. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  14. ^ Diller, Nathan (May 11, 2018). "Christina Aguilera's New Song "Twice" Is So Vulnerable That It's Making Fans Emotional". Bustle. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  15. ^ "Christina Aguilera "Twice" Sheet Music in F# Minor (transposable)". Musicnotes.com. 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  16. ^ Jon, Pareles (June 13, 2018). "Christina Aguilera Exults in Her Voice on 'Liberation'". The New York Times. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  17. ^ Hautman, Nicholas (June 13, 2018). "Christina Aguilera Reclaims Her Status as an 'Irrepressible Force' on New Album 'Liberation': Review". US Weekly. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  18. ^ McCormick, Neil (June 16, 2018). "Christina Aguilera, Liberation review: great voice, shame about the songs". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  19. ^ Olivier, Bobby (June 16, 2018). "Christina Aguilera's 'Liberation': A Return To Soul + Monster Ballads (Review)". PopCrush. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  20. ^ Legapsi, Althea (June 14, 2018). "Hear Christina Aguilera's New Reflective Ballad 'Twice'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  21. ^ Nied, Mike (May 10, 2018). "Christina Aguilera Bares Her Soul On Emotional Ballad "Twice"". Idolator. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  22. ^ a b c d Miller, Jordan (May 11, 2018). "Get Swept Away To Christina Aguilera's New Visual For 'Twice'". Breathe Heavy. Archived from the original on May 15, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  23. ^ a b c Nunes, Caian (May 11, 2018). "Christina Aguilera lança vídeo conceitual para a nova música 'Twice'". POPline (in Portuguese). POPline Produções Artisticas & Comunicação LTDA. Archived from the original on May 15, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  24. ^ "VIDEO: Wizualizacje do utworu 'Twice'". Christina Aguilera (in Polish). May 13, 2018. Archived from the original on July 20, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  25. ^ a b "Christina Aguilera Concert Setlist at Genentech Gives Back – San Francisco, CA, USA – June 9, 2018". Setlist.fm. Archived from the original on 2020-07-25. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  26. ^ "ZDJĘCIA/VIDEO: KONCERT CHARYTATYWNY #GENENTECHGIVESBACK". Christina Aguilera (in Polish). June 10, 2018. Archived from the original on 2020-07-25. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  27. ^ Weaver, Hilary (September 10, 2018). "Nicki Minaj Let Christina Aguilera and Drag Queens Bring the Drama at Opening Ceremony". Vanity Fair. Condé Nast. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  28. ^ "Christina Aguilera Releases New Song 'Haunted Heart'". RCA Records. September 27, 2019. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  29. ^ Jack, Malcolm (November 11, 2019). "Concert review: Christina Aguilera". Metro. DMG Media. Archived from the original on 2019-11-11. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  30. ^ Neuhaus, Nils (July 12, 2019). "Christina Aguilera lässt die 2000er wieder aufleben". Berliner Morgenpost (in German). Funke Mediengruppe. Archived from the original on 2019-07-13. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  31. ^ "Christina Aguilera's X Tour kan het niet waarmaken in Antwerps Sportpaleis". FrontView Magazine (in Dutch). The Top of Music vzw. July 9, 2019. Archived from the original on 2021-07-19. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  32. ^ Aniftos, Rania (July 17, 2021). "Christina Aguilera Reimagines Her Biggest Hits With the LA Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2021-07-17. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  33. ^ Cashmere, Paul (July 18, 2021). "Christina Aguilera Performs With Orchestra At Hollywood Bowl". Noise11.com. The Noise Network. Archived from the original on 2021-07-18. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  34. ^ "Christina Aguilera Blazes Sold-Out Hollywood Bowl Shows / Dazzles With 'Dirrty,' 'Fighter,' & More". That Grape Juice. Townsquare Music. July 18, 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-07-18. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  35. ^ "Winners – AMFT Awards". AMFT Awards. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  36. ^ "ARIA Digital Tracks Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. May 20, 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-05-24. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  37. ^ "Christina Aguilera – Twice" (in French). Les classement single. Archived from the original on May 24, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  38. ^ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés − 2018 − Semaine du 18 Mai" (in French). SNEP – Top Singles Téléchargés. May 18, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  39. ^ "Indonesian Top Digital Songs Chart by LIMA – May 18th, 2019". LIMA. May 18, 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  40. ^ "Spanish Song Sales: Week of May 20, 2018". spanishcharts.com. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  41. ^ "Christina Aguilera Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
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