Voice Type: Light-Lyric Soprano

Range: C3-G#5-A6-C#7

Christina Aguilera provides a great example of how unconventional (bad) technique can make it harder to classify the voice. Christina is often mistaken for a lyric mezzo-soprano, spinto soprano or coloratura soprano/mezzo-soprano.

Note: This analysis will only refer to Christina in her prime.

Spinto

Christina is often noted for having a ‘big’ and powerful voice, leaving people to think she must be a spinto. They fail to look at her technique. Christina Aguilera completely manipulates her output. Barely anything she sings is with her natural voice. Her chest dragging, pushing, low/high larynx and throatiness all distort her tone and make her voice seem bigger than it is. Her natural light and girly timbre is best heard in her head voice. Yes, spinto does translate to ‘pushed’, but a spinto is not just someone who pushes their voice, forcing a larger sound. A true spinto will have a larger voice that can sound slightly pushed with correct technique. If Christina used an even mix and stopped lowering her larynx, her voice would resemble that of a lyric. Her tone is not dark, rich and metallic like a spinto, but rather warm, bright and girly (The Voice Within).

Coloratura

While Christina loves to do runs and has shown great agility, she is not a coloratura. Most forget that like other voice types, a coloratura will have a specific timbre. The coloratura voice will be very sweet, bright, youthful and light (much like a soubrette). The lighter the voice, the more agile. Therefore, it is this ‘weightlessness’ to the voice that allows it to complete such complex runs, leaps and trills. While Christina’s voice is light, bright and youthful; it is not enough to be a coloratura. Similarly, a coloratura will have an extremely high tessitura, something Christina does not have.

Soprano

People often call anyone with a ‘larger’ voice a mezzo. Christina’s tessitura was that of a soprano (I Turn To You, What A Girl Wants, Reflection). Her lows tend to be weak and uncomfortable. She also has a lot of ease in her upper belts, especially considering all the strain (Reflection, I Turn To You, Genie In A Bottle). All this tells us Christina must be a soprano.

Vocal View: Christina most certainly does not have the best technique, but songs like Beautiful and Change make me believe she is one of the best singers. She uses her voice to say something and that’s what singing is really about.