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Hurt

 
Lyrics: Hurt
 

Performed by: Christina Aguilera
Written by: Christina Aguilera; Linda Perry; Mark Ronson

Credits: Aguilera, Christina (Songwriter); Perry, Linda (Songwriter); Ronson, Mark (Songwriter); EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING (Publisher); SONY/ATV HARMONY (Publisher); STUCK IN THE THROAT MUSIC (Publisher); UNIVERSAL MUSIC - CAREERS (Publisher); XTINA MUSIC (Publisher)

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Wikipedia: Hurt (Christina Aguilera song)
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"Hurt"
Single by Christina Aguilera
from the album Back to Basics
Released October 18, 2006 (U.S.)
November 4, 2006 (AUS)
November 13, 2006 (UK)
Format CD single, digital download, maxi single
Recorded 2006
Genre Soft rock, Rhythm & Blues[1], Adult contemporary
Length 4:03 (Album Version)
3:47 (Radio Edit)
Label RCA
Writer(s) Christina Aguilera, Linda Perry, Mark Ronson
Producer Linda Perry
Certification Platinum (IFPI)
Gold (RIAA,CRIA,ARIA)
Christina Aguilera singles chronology
"Ain't No Other Man"
(2006)
"Hurt"
(2006)
"Tell Me"
(2006)

"Hurt" is a ballad written by Christina Aguilera, Linda Perry and Mark Ronson for Aguilera's third studio album, Back to Basics (2006). The song's lyrical content describes how one deals with the loss of a loved one, and it has received praise from pop music critics. Aguilera premiered the song at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards and was released as the album's second single in late 2006 (see 2006 in music).

Contents

Music and structure

"Hurt" is a ballad song set in the key of E minor.[2] Its slow melody is paced at 72 beats per minute and set in common time.[2] Aguilera's voice range spans from G3 to E5.[2] Its instrumentation comes from bass, cello, contrabass, drums, guitar, piano, viola and violin.[3] String instruments used in the melody were arranged by Eric Gorfain.

Release

Originally Aguilera did not want "Hurt" to be the second single from Back to Basics. Prior to this decision, "Candyman" was planned as the second single and even was confirmed by Aguilera during several different interviews. However, RCA felt that, with the holiday season coming up, it would be safer to release "Hurt", as it would become a big holiday power ballad, comparable to how Aguilera's "Beautiful" performed commercially back in late 2002.[4]

"Hurt" was released to radio airplay in the United States on September 18, 2006. The single debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at #100 in the October 14, 2006 edition. The single would peak on the Hot 100 at #19 in mid-December. "Hurt" had its biggest success on Adult Contemporary radio, where it reached #6 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. Aguilera promoted the single during the holidays by performing on the TV special Christmas at Rockefeller Center, on November 29, 2006 on NBC.

Critical reception

"Hurt" was generally very well-received by contemporary pop music critics. Billboard commented that Aguilera's "[vocals] relate the pain of moving past a relationship in ruins is daunting", and that "this potential Grammy Award contender" has "a melody and lush production that carries [the song] into the clouds.[5] Blogcritics claims that song's "slow opening to a soft piano all the way to the spine-tingling bridge" is "one weeper of a ballad", and that Aguilera's "power-belting" vocals were "better than ever". Top 40 reviewer Bill Lamb gave the song five stars, saying "a single piano with the backing of strings gives way to one of the most technically stunning voices in pop music singing words of pain, guilt, and grief in the loss of a loved one." He continues on, predicting the song would edge near to "the top of the pop singles chart by Christmas 2006."[6] Some reviews, however, were less positive. In the Rolling Stone magazine review for Back to Basics, the reviewer, Jenny Eliscu, called "Hurt" an "incongruous schmaltzfest".[7]

It was performed live at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards on August 31, 2006.

Chart performance

The single debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on October 5, 2006 at number 100. The single peaked at #19 in its tenth week. While the song had moderate success in the U.S., it became a huge hit across Europe. It reached #1 in Switzerland, Portugal and peaked at #3 in France, where it became her highest peaking song since "Genie In A Bottle". It also went top 3 in Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Austria, Greece and Belgium, making it her biggest hit in Europe since 2002's ballad "Beautiful".

On initial release "Hurt" peaked at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart for two consecutive weeks, and has to date spent 15 weeks inside the UK top 100 Singles Chart (longer than her top 3 singles "Dirrty", "Beautiful", "What A Girl Wants" and "Fighter"). The song has re-entered the chart on three separate occasions since, once even reaching a peak of number 39 in December 2007 after being performed by Hope, contestants on popular talent show, The X Factor. Hurt re-entered the chart again in October 2009 at #25, three years after its original release, and this time due to exposure of the song by 2009 X Factor finalist Jamie Archer.[8]

Hurt showed great longevity in Switzerland, remaining 40 weeks in the Top100 and re-entering the charts on the week of 19 August 2007 and 13th of March 2008.[9] Additionally Hurt managed to chart 26 weeks in the German Single Top 100 Chart ,the longest-charting single of Christina on German Charts.[10] The single, which peaked there at number 2, showed great longevity too, re-entering the chart in the 34th week of 2007 and in the 11th, 13th and 14th of 2008.[11]

Also, in Canada, 'Hurt' remained within the top 50 for nearly eight months, and peaked at #6 in January, as well staying at #1 in Indonesia for 2 weeks.

It received certifications in the US (more than 700,000 digital downloads)[12], Germany (150.000 copies shipped),[13] in Austria (15.000 copies shipped),[14] in Australia (35.000 copies shipped),[15] Belgium (20.000),[16] Switzerland (15.000),[17] worldwide (3.5 million points) and in Canada (10.000 digital downloads).[18] Additionally, Hurt was certified silver in France, with 100,000 copies sold.[19]

Music video

Christina Aguilera performing "Hurt" on her Back to Basics Tour.

During MTV's red-carpet pre-show, Aguilera revealed that she would co-direct the music video alongside Floria Sigismondi, who worked on "Fighter" (2003). The circus-themed video for "Hurt" was shot over five days in September and the video premiered on October 17 on TRL. It is the first video Aguilera has directed. The video reached number one on TRL fourteen times and retired at number 1 on January 11, 2007. It's her eighth video to retire on that show. Furthermore, the video swept the 2007 MVPA awards winning Best Video and Best Direction of a Female Artist.

The video begins with the ending instrumental to "Enter the circus"/"Welcome", over which a carnival barker (voiced by Linda Perry) introduces a spectacular circus, and begins in black and white. The transition to colour begins when Aguilera appears in an old fashioned dressing room, receiving flowers and then an important telegram. A flashback then shows young Aguilera, played by Laci Kay, with her father, played by Timothy V. Murphy, raptured by the sight of the tightrope walker, played by Elizabeth Glassco. With her father's encouragement, Aguilera begins to train herself to do the same. When the video switches to older Aguilera, we see her descending from the top of a circus tent on a rope, onto the back of an elephant, with her father watching adoringly in the audience. She later attempts to greet him but is pulled away by fans and photographers keen to meet the star. The content of the telegram is then revealed to be a message of her father's death, and as Aguilera realises that she was too wrapped up in her stardom to deal with what matters, she races through the circus in a belated attempt to find her father. The video ends with a shot of Aguilera sitting on a circus box, singing and crying, before fading out to Aguilera's grief-stricken form on the ground outside the circus tent.

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Hurt".

  • CD single (promo)

Released October 2, 2006

# Title
1. "Hurt" (Radio Edit) 3:47
2. "Hurt" (Album Version) 4:03
  • CD single (basic)

Released November 10, 2006

# Title
1. "Hurt" 4:03
2. "Ain't No Other Man" (Shapeshifters Mixshow Mix) 5:24
  • CD maxi-single (premium)

Released November 10, 2006

# Title
1. "Hurt" 4:03
2. "Hurt" (Jake Ridley remix) 5:47
3. "Ain't No Other Man" (Shapeshifters Mixshow Mix) 5:24
4. "Ain't No Other Man" (Video) 4:53
  • iTunes maxi-single
# Title
1. "Hurt" (Deeper-Mindset Tight Mix) 7:04
2. "Hurt" (Jack Shaft Edit) 7:02
3. "Hurt" (Chris Cox Club Mix) 9:56
4. "Hurt" (JP & BSOD Electro Mix) 6:01
5. "Hurt" (Jonathan Peters Classic Mix) 9:30
6. "Hurt" (Jake Ridley Chillout Club) 5:47
  • Promotional maxi-single
# Title
1. "Hurt" (Deeper-Mindset Mixshow) 5:54
2. "Hurt" (Deeper-Mindset Tight Mix) 7:04
3. "Hurt" (Deeper-Mindset Full On Club Mix) 9:30
4. "Hurt" (Deeper-Mindset Pad a Pella) 7:16
5. "Hurt" (J.P. & BSOD Electro Mix) 6:01
6. "Hurt" (Jack Shaft Mixshow) 5:41
7. "Hurt" (Jack Shaft Main) 7:02
8. "Hurt" (Jack Shaft Extended) 8:30
9. "Hurt" (Jack Shaft Dub) 6:32
10. "Hurt" (Jack Shaft Dub a Pella) 1:53
Unofficial and official remixes
  • "Ander Standing Dub Intro Mix" - 8.24
  • "Ander Standing Hard Dub" - 8.07
  • "Edson Pride Radio Mix"
  • "Edson Pride Synth-A-Dub" - 8.48
  • "Edson Pride Nervous Club Mix" - 9.47
  • "Jack Shaft Radio Mix"
  • "Jack Shaft Mixshow" - 5:41
  • "Jack Shaft Dub-A-Pella" - 1:53
  • "Jack Shaft Dub" - 6:32
  • "Jack Shaft Main" - 7:02
  • "Jack Shaft Extended" - 8:30
  • "Los Angeles Remix" - 7:02

Charts

Chart (2006)[11][20] Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[21] 9
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[22] 2
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[23] 3
Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[24] 5
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[25] 6
Czech Republic (IFPI) 17
Denmark (IFPI)[26] 14
Eurochart Hot 100[27] 1
Finland (YLE)[28] 15
France (SNEP)[29] 3
Germany (Media Control AG)[30] 2
Hungary (Mahasz) 5
Ireland (IRMA)[31] 6
Italy (FIMI)[32] 12
Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)[33] 2
Norway (VG-lista)[34] 11
Romania (Romanian Top 100) 6
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[35] 2
Switzerland (Media Control AG)[36] 1
United Kingdom (Official Charts Company)[37] 11
US Billboard Hot 100[38] 19
US Billboard Pop 100 9
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs[39] 1
US Billboard Adult Contemporary[40] 6
US ARC Weekly Top 40 6
Country Certification Sales/shipments
Australia Gold[41] 35,000
Austria Gold 15,000
Belgium Gold[42] 20,000
Canada Gold[43] 10,000+
France Silver[44] 100,000
Germany Gold[45] 150,000
Switzerland Gold[46] 20,000
United Kingdom 120,000+
United States Gold[47] 700,000+

Year-end charts

Country Position
Australia[48] 68
Austria[49] 20
France[50] 17
Germany[51] 34
Switzerland[52] 22
Chart (2009)[11][53] Peak
position
Irish Singles Chart 28
UK Singles Chart 25

Awards

Year Ceremony Award Result
2007 MuchMusic Awards Video of the Year[54] Nominated
2008 ASCAP Awards Most Performed Songs[55] Won
2008 BMI Pop Music Awards Songwriting Award[56] Won

References

  1. ^ http://www.pandora.com/music/song/christina+aguilera/hurt
  2. ^ a b c "Christina Aguilera Digital Sheet Music: Hurt". Musicnotes, Inc.. http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0054284. Retrieved 2007-12-26. 
  3. ^ Back to Basics-Cd Booklet, RCA Records, 2006 
  4. ^ Jobling, John ((May 24, 2007)). "Christina Aguilera – Candyman (review)". Mansized. http://www.mansized.co.uk/reviews/review.phtml/540/667/. Retrieved 2008-08-25. 
  5. ^ Taylor, Chuck. "Billboard "Hurt" Review". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/reviews/single_review_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003122613. Retrieved 2008-08-25. 
  6. ^ Lamb, Bill. "Christina Aguilera - Hurt (About.com)". About. http://top40.about.com/od/singles/gr/caguilerahurt.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-25. 
  7. ^ Eliscu, Jenny (August 11, 2006). "Rolling Stones "Back to Basics" Review". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/christinaaguilera/albums/album/11107200/review/11111609/back_to_basics. Retrieved 2008-08-25. 
  8. ^ http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=32839
  9. ^ "Christina Aguilera - Swisscharts". SwissCharts. http://www.swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Christina+Aguilera&titel=Hurt&cat=s. Retrieved 2008-08-25. 
  10. ^ "Archiv Chartsurfer". Chartsurfer. http://www.chartsurfer.de/interpret/2286/christina-aguilera.html. Retrieved 2008-08-25. 
  11. ^ a b c "Christina Aguilera Musicchart". Achart. http://acharts.us/song/11131. Retrieved 2008-08-25. 
  12. ^ http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Christina%20Aguilera&format=SINGLE&go=Search&perPage=50
  13. ^ "Gold/Platin-Datenbank". Musikindustrie. http://www.musikindustrie.de/gold_platin_datenbank/?action=1&strSuche=Hurt. Retrieved 2008-08-25. 
  14. ^ "Gold & Platin". IFPI Austria. http://www.ifpi.at/?section=goldplatin. Retrieved 2008-08-25. 
  15. ^ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2007 Singles". ARIA. http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupagesARIACharts-Accreditations-2007Singles.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-25. 
  16. ^ "Ultratop Singles Top 50". Ultratop Belgium. May 26, 2007. http://www.ultratop.be/en/weekchart.asp?cat=s&year=2007&date=20070324&lang=nl. Retrieved 2008-08-25. 
  17. ^ "Singles Awards 2007". Swisscharts. http://www.swisscharts.com/awards.asp?year=2007. Retrieved 2008-08-25. 
  18. ^ "CRIA Certification Database". CRIA. http://www.cria.ca/cert_db_search.php. Retrieved 2008-08-25. 
  19. ^ "Les certifications Singles 2007". SNEP. http://www.disqueenfrance.com/certifications/single.asp?forme_certif=6&annee=25. Retrieved 2008-08-25. 
  20. ^ "Billboard Singles". All Music. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gcfoxqyjldje~T51. Retrieved 2008-08-25. 
  21. ^ ARIA Christina Aguilera - Hurt Australian-charts.com Australiancharts.com Hung Medien
  22. ^ Ö3 Austria Top 40 Christina Aguilera - Hurt Austriancharts.at Austriancharts.at Hung Medien
  23. ^ Ultratop Belgium (Flanders) Christina Aguilera - Hurt Ultratop.be Ultratop.be Ultratop and Hung Medien
  24. ^ Ultratop Belgium (Wallonia) Christina Aguilera - Hurt Ultratop.be Ultratop.be Ultratop and Hung Medien
  25. ^ Billboard Christina Aguilera Album & Song Chart History Canadian Hot 100 for Christina Aguilera Billboard
  26. ^ IFPI Denmark Christina Aguilera - Hurt Danishcharts.com Danishcharts.com Hung Medien
  27. ^ Billboard Christina Aguilera Album & Song Chart History Eurochart Hot 100 for Christina Aguilera Billboard
  28. ^ YLE Christina Aguilera - Hurt Finnishcharts.com Finnishcharts.com Hung Medien
  29. ^ SNEP Christina Aguilera - Hurt lescharts.com lescharts.com Hung Medien
  30. ^ Media Control Musicline.de - Chartverfolgung - Christina Aguilera - Hurt musicline.de PhonoNet GmbH
  31. ^ Irish Recorded Music Association Chart Track chart-track.co.uk GfK
  32. ^ FIMI Christina Aguilera - Hurt Italiancharts.com Italiancharts.com Hung Medien
  33. ^ GFK Christina Aguilera - Hurt Dutchcharts.com Dutchcharts.com Hung Medien
  34. ^ VG-Lista Christina Aguilera - Hurt Norwegiancharts.com Norwegiancharts.com Hung Medien
  35. ^ Sverigetoplisttan Christina Aguilera - Hurt Swedishcharts.com Swedishcharts.com Hung Medien
  36. ^ Media Control AG Christina Aguilera - Hurt Swisscharts.com Swisscharts.com Hung Medien
  37. ^ Official Charts Company Chart Stats - Christina Aguilera - Hurt Chartstats.com Chart Stats
  38. ^ Billboard Christina Aguilera Album & Song Chart History Billboard Hot 100 for Christina Aguilera Billboard
  39. ^ Billboard Christina Aguilera Album & Song Chart History Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play for Christina Aguilera Billboard
  40. ^ Billboard Christina Aguilera Album & Song Chart History Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs for Christina Aguilera Billboard
  41. ^ Australian certification
  42. ^ http://www.ultratop.be/en/certifications.asp?year=2007
  43. ^ http://www.cria.ca/gold/0107_g.php
  44. ^ [1]
  45. ^ http://www.musikindustrie.de/gold_platin_datenbank/?action=1&strSuche=Hurt
  46. ^ http://swisscharts.com/awards.asp?year=2007
  47. ^ http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS
  48. ^ Australian Recording Industry Association (2006). "ARIA charts — End of year charts". aria.com.au. http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-singles-2006.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-10. 
  49. ^ "Austrian year-end chart". austriancharts.at. 2007. http://www.austriancharts.at/2007_single.asp. Retrieved 2009-01-10. 
  50. ^ Disque en France (2007). "Le classement singles - 2007". Disqueenfrance.com. http://www.disqueenfrance.com/classements/singles/classement_annuel.asp?date=25. Retrieved 2009-01-10. 
  51. ^ Universität Würzburg (2006). "German year-end chart". ki.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de. http://ki.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de/~topsi/deu2006/deu_2006t.html. Retrieved 2009-01-10. 
  52. ^ Hit Parade (2007). "Swiss year-end chart". swisscharts.com. http://swisscharts.com/year.asp?key=2007. Retrieved 2009-01-10. 
  53. ^ "Billboard Singles". All Music. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gcfoxqyjldje~T51. Retrieved 2008-08-25. 
  54. ^ http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/juno_2007_awards.html
  55. ^ [2]
  56. ^ [3]
Preceded by
"The Saints Are Coming" by U2 and Green Day
Swiss Singles Chart number-one single
November 26, 2006
Succeeded by
"Patience" by Take That
Preceded by
"So Excited" by Janet featuring Khia
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single
January 20, 2007
Succeeded by
"Party People" by Altar featuring Jeanie Tracy
Preceded by
"Smack That" by Akon featuring Eminem
European Hot 100 Singles number-one single
February 3, 2007
Succeeded by
"All Good Things (Come to an End)" by Nelly Furtado

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