The Voice Within

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For the 1946 film, see The Voice Within (film).

"The Voice Within"
Single by Christina Aguilera
from the album Stripped
B-side"I'm OK"
ReleasedOctober 27, 2003
Recorded2002
Studio
Length
  • 4:15 (radio edit)
  • 5:04 (album version)
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Glen Ballard
Christina Aguilera singles chronology
"Can't Hold Us Down"
(2003) 		"The Voice Within"
(2003) 		"Car Wash"
(2004)
Music video
"The Voice Within" on
YouTube

"The Voice Within" is a song by American singer

piano-driven ballad that talks about trusting oneself and one's instincts. "The Voice Within" was released as the fifth and final single from Stripped on October 27, 2003, by RCA Records
.

Upon its release, "The Voice Within" received mainly positive reviews from

music critics, who called it an inspirational ballad and praised Aguilera's strong vocals on the track, comparing it to Mariah Carey's work. Commercially, "The Voice Within" peaked within the top 10 of charts internationally including Australia and the United Kingdom. In the United States, the song reached number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100
.

An accompanying music video for "The Voice Within" was directed by

Justified and Stripped Tour (2002–03) and The Stripped Tour
(2003). "The Voice Within" has been covered on several television talent shows.

Background and composition

"The Voice Within" (2003)
A 30-second sample of "The Voice Within", a
piano-driven ballad which talks about listening to yourself and finding inner strength.[1]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"The Voice Within" was written by Christina Aguilera and

piano-driven ballad.[3] Composed in the key of G major, (later the key modulates to A major) it has a moderately slow tempo of 66 beats per minute.[3] Aguilera's vocal range on the track spans from the low-note of D3 to the high-note of F♯5.[3] Her vocals on the song were described as strong and powerful by critics.[4][5] Lyrically, "The Voice Within" is an inspirational song that says that one should trust one's heart and own mind,[6] and find inner strength.[1]
The motivational lyrics include, "When there's no-one else, look inside yourself, like your oldest friend just trust the voice within".[citation needed] As recalled by Aguilera, "I wrote this song when I was 20, 21, and it was a time in my life when you're being pushed and pulled in so many directions."[7] "The Voice Within" was released to US contemporary hit and adult contemporary radio stations on October 27, 2003, as the fifth and final single from Stripped by RCA Records.[8][9] It was also available for Maxi single sales in stores.[10]

Critical reception

"The intention was to just write a song that we felt. I sat at my piano and we just made it up as we went along. When the smoke cleared, we had this song called 'The Voice Within.' It's about when you've been abandoned in the real world, there's still this thing inside you that, if you listen to it, it's your best friend."

— Songwriter and producer Glen Ballard on "The Voice Within".[11]

Upon its release, "The Voice Within" received generally favorable reviews from music critics. Chuck Taylor of Billboard praised the "breathtaking and organically flowing" melody, noting that "Aguilera delivers what is perhaps her most assured vocal yet, punching through the clouds and taking her place as a fist-shaking member of the heavenly choir." Taylor also highlighted that the track "is an inspired recording and a showcase for all that this artist can accomplish when she lets the voice precede that offputting image."[1] Josh Kun from Spin labelled it a "swoony Celine-for-teens ballad".[12] Sal Cinquemani for Slant Magazine gave the song a very positive review, naming it an "inspirational" ballad and praised her powerful vocals.[13] CD Universe also praised Aguilera's "rich, throaty style" vocals on the track and compared the song to works by Mariah Carey.[4] Sputnikmusic's critic Amanda Murray commented that the song is "tacky" yet "powerful all the same".[14] Rachel McRady of Wetpaint complimented the song's inspiration melody, declaring that it "basically reduces us to tears every time we hear it".[5] Jason Scott from PopDust called it a "sweeping power-ballad" and praised its inspirational message.[15]

Accolades

Accolades for "The Voice Within"
Critic/Publication List Rank Ref.
AXS Top 10 Best Christina Aguilera Songs 6 [16]
Billboard Christina Aguilera's Top 20 Billboard Hits 18 [17]
The Official Charts Company
 Christina Aguilera's Official Top 20 Biggest Selling Singles 16 [18]
PopDust Christina Aguilera's 10 Best Songs Ranked [15]

Commercial performance

On November 29, 2003, "The Voice Within" made it chart debut on the US

Pop Songs chart,[25] number 16 on the Adult Contemporary chart,[26] and number 33 on the Adult Pop Songs chart.[27] The song reached number ten on the Canadian Hot 100 chart.[28] Throughout Europe, "The Voice Within" achieved moderate success on charts, reaching the top ten on many of them.[29] It was also a top-ten song in Australia, peaking at number eight in the country, making the fifth single from the album to reach the top-ten.[30] In Switzerland, "The Voice Within" was Stripped's highest charting-single along with the lead-single "Dirrty", peaking at number three.[29]

Music video

The song's music video was directed by

black and white shot, Aguilera walks through several rooms, exits the building, and finally lies on a light box. The video was filmed at a deserted theater in downtown Los Angeles. It was inspired by neorealist works.[31] The video was nominated for three 2004 MTV Video Music Awards: Best Female Video, Viewer's Choice, and Best Cinematography.[32]

Live performances

Aguilera performing "The Voice Within" during The Stripped Tour (2003)

Aguilera performed "The Voice Within" for the first time during the

Justified & Stripped Tour (2003), a tour held in support of Aguilera's Stripped and Justin Timberlake's album Justified (2002).[33] During the tour's late 2003 extension, The Stripped Tour, Aguilera also performed the track.[34] The performance is included in the video release Stripped Live in the U.K. (2004).[34] Aguilera included the song on her setlist at a concert in Kuala Lumpur in 2014.[35] In 2016, Aguilera also performed the track during her set at the 15th edition of Mawazine Festival.[36]

In July 2021, Aguilera performed the song for two nights at the Hollywood Bowl with Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.[37][38] In March 2022, she sang "The Voice Within" during the Expo 2020 concert in Dubai.[39]

Legacy and covers

Upon release, the song has been called one of Aguilera's best songs.

PopCrush writer Mike Nied noted that while the defining ballad on Stripped is often "Beautiful", "The Voice Within" "delivers the perfect personal pep talk and serves as a reminder to trust your gut".[41] He added that the song "is every bit as important in Aguilera's discography".[41]

The song has been covered on numerous singing competitions. On October 3, 2005,

the fifth season of American Idol, which resulted McPhee as one of the bottom two.[43] Simon Cowell compared McPhee's abilities to those of Aguilera, commenting that her performance was almost as good as the original singer.[43]

Track listings

Canadian CD single[44]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Voice Within" (Radio Edit)
4:15
2."Fighter" (Freelance Hellraister "Thug Pop" Extended Edit)
5:11
Mini CD single[45]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Voice Within"
  • Aguilera
  • Ballard
5:04
2."I'm OK"
5:18
DVD single[46]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Voice Within" (Album Version)
  • Aguilera
  • Ballard
5:04
2."Beautiful" (Fug Remix)Linda Perry5:47
3."The Voice Within" (Video)
  • Aguilera
  • Ballard
5:04
4."Photo Gallery"  
Maxi single[47]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Voice Within" (Album Version)
  • Aguilera
  • Ballard
5:04
2."The Voice Within" (Radio Edit)
  • Aguilera
  • Ballard
4:15
3."Beautiful" (Fug Remix)Perry5:47
4."Can't Hold Us Down" (featuring Lil' Kim) (Da Yard Riddim Mix)
4:16
12"[48]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Voice Within" (Album Version)
  • Aguilera
  • Ballard
5:04
2."Beautiful" (Fug Remix)Perry5:47
3."Can't Hold Us Down" (featuring Lil' Kim) (Da Yard Riddim Mix)
  • Aguilera
  • Storch
  • Morris
4:16
4."Can't Hold Us Down" (featuring Lil' Kim) (Medasyn Mix)
  • Aguilera
  • Storch
  • Morris
4:11

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Stripped.[2] Recording locations

  • Recorded at
    North Hollywood
    , Los Angeles, California

Personnel

Charts

Release history

Release dates and formats for "The Voice Within"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States October 27, 2003
RCA [8][9]
Germany December 8, 2003 Maxi CD
[10]
United Kingdom
[78]
Canada December 9, 2003 CD [79]

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