Oh Mother
"Oh Mother" | ||||
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Single by Christina Aguilera | ||||
from the album Back to Basics | ||||
Released | September 28, 2007 | |||
Length | 3:44 | |||
Label | RCA | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Christina Aguilera singles chronology | ||||
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Licensed audio | ||||
"Oh Mother" on YouTube |
"Oh Mother" is a song by American singer
"Oh Mother" is a
Background and recording
After releasing Stripped (2002) and collaborating with many different artists, Aguilera decided to record new old-school style materials for her upcoming album.[1] She later explained that the lengthy break allowed her to write a lot about what she had experienced during that time.[2] Aguilera also explained that she wanted to bring something novel to her album, which has 24 songs on it.[2] She wanted to try to evolve as an artist and a visionary.[2] As a result, Back to Basics, Aguilera's fifth studio album, is made up of two discs.[2] On the first disc, she worked with "more beat-driven" producers, such as DJ Premier and Mark Ronson, who included samples in the production.[2] The second one was written and produced solely by longtime producer Linda Perry.[2][3] Aguilera sent letters to different producers that she hoped could help her with the direction she was taking for the project, encouraging them to experiment, re-invent and create a modern soul feel.[4] She described the first disc as "kind of a throwback with elements of jazz, blues and soul music combined with a modern-day twist, like hard-hitting beats".[2]
"Oh Mother" was written by Aguilera, Derryck Thornton, Mark Rankin, Liz Thornton, Christophe Barratier, Bruno Coulais and Kara DioGuardi.[5] Production was done by Big Tank and Q, with L Boggie credited as co-producer and Aguilera serviced as additional producer.[5] Piano and keyboards were provided by V. Young, while Rob Lewis served guitar and arranging.[5] Lewis also played string instruments with Aroussiak Baltaian, Daniel Seidenberg, Garik Terzian, Ilana Setapen, Joel Pargman and Maia Jasper.[5]
Composition
"Oh Mother" is a
According to Aguilera herself, "Oh Mother" talks about her abusive childhood.[9] She revealed, "I think going through what I went through at a young age – the abuse that went on in my household – did affect me a lot. Domestic violence is a topic that is very hush-hush in society".[9] Aguilera recalls the domestic violence of her childhood as she sings, "He took his anger out on her face, she kept all of her pain locked away".[6] Nick Levine for Digital Spy said that "Oh Mother" is a "retread" of "I'm OK", a song with the same topic from Aguilera's 2002 album Stripped.[6]
Release
"Oh Mother" was serviced as the fourth and final single from Back to Basics in Europe: on September 28, 2007, it was available for digital downloads in Switzerland;[10] on October 8, 2007, it was available for CD single sales in the United Kingdom.[11] In Germany, the song was purchased as a CD single and as a digital download single on November 23, 2007.[12][13] In the United Kingdom, "Oh Mother" was available for digital download on December 31, 2007.[6] The single also impacted radio stations of countries in Europe including Switzerland,[14] Germany,[15] Czech Republic,[16] and Austria[17] in late 2007.
Critical reception
Upon its release, "Oh Mother" was met with mainly positive reviews from contemporary
Commercial performance
On the
Live performances
To promote "Oh Mother" and Back to Basics, Aguilera performed the song on a number of occasions. On July 20, 2006, Aguilera performed the track at the Koko jazz club in
Track listings
CD single and German digital download[12][13]
- "Oh Mother" – 3:44
- "Oh Mother" (instrumental) – 3:47
Swiss digital download[10]
- "Oh Mother" – 3:45
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Back to Basics, RCA Records.[5]
- Contains a sample from the song "Vois Sur Ton Chemin", written by Bruno Coluais and Christopher Barratler.
- Songwriting – Christina Aguilera, Derryck Thornton, Mark Rankin, Liz Thornton, Christophe Barratier, Bruno Coulais and Kara DioGuardi
- Producing – Big Tank, Q
- Co-producing – L Boggie
- Additional producing – Christina Aguilera
- Guitar – Rob Lewis
- Strings – Rob Lewis, Aroussiak Baltaian, Daniel Seidenberg, Garik Terzian, Ilana Setapen, Joel Pargman, Maia Jasper
- Piano, keyboards – V. Young
- Arranging – Rob Lewis
- Recording – Oscar Ramirez
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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Canada | September 28, 2007 | Digital download | Sony BMG | [42] |
Switzerland | [10] | |||
United Kingdom | October 8, 2007 | CD | RCA | [11] |
Germany | November 23, 2007 |
|
Sony BMG | [12][13] |
United Kingdom | December 31, 2007 | Digital download | RCA | [6] |
References
- Viacom. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g Moss, Corey (June 6, 2006). "Christina Makes Her Comeback Twice As Nice By Expanding Basics Into Double LP". MTV News. Viacom. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
- Wenner Media. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
- ^ Clarke, Stuart (August 12, 2006). "Aguilera takes twin-track approach for new album". Music Week. Intent Media.
- ^ a b c d e f g Aguilera, Christina (2006). Back to Basics (liner notes). RCA Records.
- ^ Hearst Corporation. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
- ^ Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Retrieved December 21, 2007.
- ^ Ziff Davis Media. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
- ^ MTV Networks. Viacom. Archived from the originalon August 5, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
- ^ a b c "Oh Mother (2007)". 7digital Switzerland. Archived from the original on December 17, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
- ^ Amazon.co.uk. Amazon Inc. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
- ^ a b c "Oh Mother/Basic [Single]". Amazon.de (in German). Amazon Inc. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
- ^ a b c "iTunes – Music – Oh Mother by Christina Aguilera". iTunes Store (Germany) (in German). Apple Inc. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
- ^ "Radio & Records: Swiss Top 20 Chart". Radio & Records. September 21, 2007. Archived from the original on October 13, 2007. Retrieved May 2, 2007.
- ^ "Airplay Charts Deutschland Top 30". Surfmusik.de. Nielsen Music Control. October 12, 2007. Archived from the original on October 27, 2007. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
- IFPICzech Republic. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
- ^ "Radio & Records: Austria Top 20 Chart". Radio & Records. December 7, 2007. Archived from the original on December 22, 2007. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
- ^ Davis, Lucy. "BBC – Music – Review of Christina Aguilera's 'Back to Basics'". BBC Music. BBC. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
- ^ Cinquemani, Sal. "Back to Basics Review". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
- ^ "Review: Christina Aguilera – Back to Basics". Sputnikmusic. August 21, 2006. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
- ^ Murray, John (June 14, 2006). "Christina Aguilera – Back to Basics". musicOMH. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
- Viacom International Inc. Archived from the originalon August 29, 2006. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
- ^ a b "Christina Aguilera – Oh Mother" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
- Media Control Charts. PhonoNET GmbH. Retrieved July 21, 2013.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Christina Aguilera – Oh Mother". Dutch Top 40. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
- Swiss Music Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
- ^ Smyth, David (July 21, 2006). "What a night, Christina". Evening Standard. Alexander Lebedev / Evgeny Lebedev / Daily Mail and General Trust. Archived from the original on May 5, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
- ^ MTV News UK. Viacom. August 1, 2006. Retrieved July 1, 2013.
- ^ a b Walters, Barry (April 5, 2007). "Live Review: Christina Aguilera's Back to Basics Tour". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
- ^ Schaffer, Regina (April 2, 2007). "Singer entertains with fast-paced 90-minute show". The Press of Atlantic City. Abarta. Archived from the original on September 12, 2007. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
- Amazon.com. Amazon Inc. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
- VIVA. Archived from the originalon August 22, 2008. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
- ^ "Christina Aguilera – Oh Mother" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- ^ Christina Aguilera — Oh Mother. TopHit.
- ^ "Christina Aguilera – Oh Mother" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
- ^ "Radio-Charts Deutschland – Chartwoche 02/2008". MusicTrace (in German). RadioCharts.com. Archived from the original on January 21, 2008. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
- RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg. January 12, 2008. Archived from the originalon January 12, 2008. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- ^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 45, 2007" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ "Radio Top 100 – Christina Aguilera Oh Mother". IFPI Czech. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
- ^ "Christina Aguilera – Oh Mother". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ^ "Archive: Top 100 of 2007". NRJ Lebanon. Archived from the original on February 8, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- ^ "Oh Mother – Single". Canada: iTunes Store. Apple Inc. September 28, 2007. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
External links
- "Christina Aguilera - Oh Mother" on YouTube
- "Christina Aguilera - Oh Mother (Back To Basics: Live And Down Under)" on YouTube
- "Oh Mother (Back To Basics: Live And Down Under)" on YouTube
- "Oh Mother" on YouTube
- "Oh Mother (Instrumental)" on YouTube