Keeps Gettin' Better
"Keeps Gettin' Better" | ||||
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Sony Music | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Linda Perry | |||
Christina Aguilera singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Keeps Gettin' Better" on YouTube |
"Keeps Gettin' Better" is a song by American singer
Upon its release, "Keeps Gettin' Better" received generally mixed reviews from music critics but nonetheless achieved international success on the charts. It became Aguilera's highest debut on the US Billboard Hot 100 at number seven, marking her 8th Top 10 hit. Internationally, the song reached number 2 in Turkey, number 4 in Canada and number 14 in the UK, while charting within the top 20 in Austria, Croatia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan and Slovakia. Additionally, "Keeps Gettin' Better" topped the US Dance Club Songs chart.
The accompanying
Background
"Keeps Gettin' Better" was released almost a year after Aguilera gave birth to her first son, Max. She told
I wanted to give [fans] a little sneak preview of what's to come [with the VMA performance]. The vein of the new material is a futuristic take on what is inspiring me at the moment ... and it's got a very pop-art feel, visually. [There's a] throwback to Andy Warhol and all the colors and vividness and bright boldness that was in that artwork. I'm a big collector of pop art and graffiti art at this point, too — D*Face and Banksy, also Roy Lichtenstein ... and it's been very fun venturing off into that zone.[3]
Composition
"Keeps Gettin' Better" was written by Aguilera and Linda Perry, while production was done by the latter.[4] It is an electropop song,[5] written in the key of F minor.[6] Aguilera's vocals in the track span from the note of F3 to the note of C5.[6] Meanwhile, Shahryar Rizvi from the Dallas Observer described it as electroclash.[7] The song has also been noted by The Times as an "electro-glam" number.[8] Described as a "muscular, percussive arena-ready" track,[9] the song garnered comparisons to Goldfrapp's Supernature album and Britney Spears' song "Womanizer".[5][8] An "instantly engaging" electropop beat begins the track;[10] it additionally features "space-age sounds" in response to its futuristic concept,[9] with a "throbbing" synth line.[8] Lyrically, themes of female empowerment and being a superhero are dominant on the track. Aguilera sings, "Some days I'm a super bitch".[1][11] The lyrics derive from Aguilera's experience as a mother. While talking to MSN, she said:
After having my own child, it's pretty amazing what females are capable of. We're Supergirl, we do it all: we give the love, we give the milk. On the other hand, I'm running a business. I'm running my career. That comes with being labeled a bitch. If that's what I'm gonna be called by being assertive and knowing who I am and what I want out of life, then so be it. I will wear that label proudly. For me it's about turning that word into a positive.[1]
Critical reception
"Keeps Gettin' Better" received generally mixed reviews from
Gavin Martin from
Chart performance
"Keeps Gettin' Better" sold 143,895 legal downloads in its first week dated September 30, 2008, debuting at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 a few weeks later.[20] This has become Aguilera's highest debut on the chart and became her first top ten hit since "Ain't No Other Man" in 2006.[20] As of August 2014, it has sold 1.156 million digital copies in the US.[21] The song has performed well on the Canadian Hot 100 chart; it debuted at number 16,[22] and a week later the song became the "Greatest Airplay, Sales Gainer", peaking at number four.[22] However, the track only spent one week within the top ten.[22] It debuted and peaked at number 21 in Swedish Singles Chart,[22] and reached number 14 in the United Kingdom.[22] On September 21, 2008, the song debuted and peaked on the Australian ARIA Charts at number 26.[22] "Keeps Gettin' Better" reached number two on the Turkish Singles Chart, as reported by Billboard Türkiye in November 2008.[23]
Music video
Background
Directed by
Synopsis
The music video starts with multi-colored, digital waves which then merge into a scene where Aguilera is sat in an editing suite overlooking a sound and edit board. Pressing flashing buttons, multiple large screens stand in front of the desk and correspond to her choice of button selected. The first images shown on the screens feature Aguilera as Catwoman, a futuristic blue-haired character, and a 1960s-influenced hippie, before focusing on the 1960-inspired character. The blond character is shown to be holding an old-fashioned handheld video camera filming scenes of high-rise buildings, all the while showing shots of Aguilera editing the onscreen projection. The blond hippie-inspired character is then seen in a second setting, riding a bicycle through a grassy field at times performing dance movements to the song and lip-synching.
Aguilera then takes a
Reception
Gil Kaufman from MTV News called the video "geektastic".[24] Popjustice also gave the video a positive review, saying: "The video's a riot of costume changes, makeovers, multiple 'scenarios' and Christina even seems to look like she's having fun. We'd sort of forgotten the single was even coming out, but the video makes it all seem quite exciting."[25] Anna Pickard from The Guardian heavily compared Aguilera to Britney Spears in the video, saying: "We're at a final count of four Christinas to five Britneys. [...] We can't be seen to have achieved a perfect Xtina/Britney balance. [...] We'd probably need a guest appearance from Madonna for that". She also felt that "the 30-second Target advert is better than the whole video. But still: any release that makes it compulsory to type 'Christina Aguilera Keeps Getting Better' is surely a clever ploy".[26]
Live performances
At a press conference in
Aguilera made an appearance at the Thisday Africa Rising at the London's
Accolades
Year | Ceremony | Category | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | J-Wave Awards | Song of the Year | Nominated | [36] |
2008 | MTV Russia Music Awards | Best Video | Nominated | [37] |
Track listing and formats
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Credits and personnel
Credits for "Keeps Gettin' Better" adapted from the single liner notes.[4]
- Christina Aguilera — background vocals, songwriting
- Linda Perry — songwriting, producer, all instruments, programming, engineering
- Marc Jameson — drum programming
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Release history
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
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United States | September 22, 2008 | Digital download | RCA | [38] |
Russia | October 15, 2008 | Contemporary hit radio | Sony Music
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[48] |
Australia | October 25, 2008 | Digital download | [68] | |
Canada | October 31, 2008 | [69] | ||
United Kingdom | RCA | [70] | ||
Australia | November 3, 2008 | CD | Sony Music | [71][72] |
Germany | November 7, 2008 | [73] | ||
Various | December 16, 2008 | Digital download (EP) | RCA | [74] |
References
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- ^ a b c Keeps Gettin' Better (German single notes). Christina Aguilera. RCA Records. 2008. 88697 38646 2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Hearst Corporation). Retrieved 2011-08-10.
- ^ Alfred Publishing Company. 8 December 2008. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
- ^ "Not Myself Tonight". Dallas Observer. 2010-06-18. Retrieved 2015-02-14.
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- ^ a b c d Kaufman, Gil (2008-10-28). "Christina Aguilera Acquires Sci-Fi Edge In 'Keeps Gettin' Better' Video". MTV News (Viacom). Retrieved 2011-08-10.
- ^ a b "The new Christina video: not finished but already brilliant". Popjustice. 2008-10-23. Archived from the original on 2008-10-24. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
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- ^ OK! Staff (2008-09-04). "Christina Aguilera Confirms VMA Performance". OK!. Northern & Shell. Archived from the original on 2010-06-29. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
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- ^ Kaufman, Gil (2008-09-08). "It's Britney Spears' Night At The VMAs". MTV News (Viacom). Retrieved 2008-10-02.
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{{cite AV media notes}}
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