Back to Basics: Live and Down Under
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Back to Basics: Live and Down Under
| type = video
| artist = Christina Aguilera
| cover = Back to Basics Live and Down Under DVD cover by Christina Aguilera.jpg
| alt = Image of Christina Aguilera against a red background
| released = {{start date|2008|2|4}}
| recorded = July 17–18, 2007
| venue = Adelaide Entertainment Centre
(Adelaide, Australia)
| genre =
| label = RCA
| director = {{hlist|Christina Aguilera|Hamish Hamilton}}
| producer = {{hlist|Christina Aguilera|Ian Stewart}}
| prev_title = Stripped Live in the U.K.
| prev_year = 2004
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
Back to Basics: Live and Down Under is the fourth video album by American singer-songwriter Christina Aguilera. It premiered on television on January 26, 2008, on VH1, and was released on DVD on February 4, 2008, by RCA Records. The DVD included material from recordings from two of Aguilera's concerts during her Back to Basics Tour in Adelaide on July 17 and 18, 2007. Behind-the-scenes footage is included with video from the concerts.
Upon its release, Back to Basics: Live and Down Under garnered positive views from music critics as well as attained chart success in a number of countries, peaking at number one on the DVD charts of Belgium (Flanders) and the United Kingdom. In the United States, the DVD debuted atop the chart with first-week sales of 18,437 copies. It achieved double platinum certification by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and gold certification by Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Background and release
To support Back to Basics (2006), Aguilera embarked on the worldwide concert Back to Basics Tour.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/56974/aguilera-going-back-to-basics-on-tour|title=Aguilera Going 'Back To Basics' On Tour|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 22, 2013}} The tour received mixed to positive reviews from music critics; The Georgia Straight's Mike Usinger praised Aguilera's vocals as "insanely powerful", while Dave Simpson from The Guardian criticized the setlist as "confusing".{{cite web|url=https://www.straight.com/music/christina-aguilera|title=Christina Aguilera|work=The Georgia Straight|date=March 14, 2007|first=Mike|last=Usinger|access-date= June 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727235753/http://www.straight.com/music/christina-aguilera|archive-date=July 27, 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/nov/24/popandrock.christinaaguilera?INTCMP=SRCH|title=Christina Aguilera, MEN Arena, Manchester|first=Dave|last=Simpson|work=The Guardian|date=November 24, 2006|access-date= June 12, 2014}} The show in Adelaide, Australia on July 17 and 18, 2007 was filmed and was released as a DVD.{{cite press release|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/christina-aguilera-back-to-basics-tour-live-and-down-under-makes-its-us-television-premiere-on-vh1-saturday-january-26-at-10pm-56931302.html|title='Christina Aguilera: Back to Basics Tour: Live and Down Under' Makes Its U.S. Television Premiere on VH1, Saturday, January 26 at 10PM|publisher=PR Newswire|date=January 26, 2008|access-date=July 22, 2013}}
On January 26, 2008, Back to Basics: Live and Down Under made it premiere on VH1 at 10 PM.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/25/AR2008012503082.html|title=Highlights|date=January 26, 2008|access-date=July 22, 2013|first=John|last=Maynard|newspaper=The Washington Post}} The DVD was released officially on February 4, 2008, in the United Kingdom.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Back-Basics-Live-Down-Under/dp/B000WTSWTK|title=Back To Basics Live And Down Under [2007] [DVD] [2008]|work=Amazon.com UK|date=4 February 2008 |access-date=July 22, 2013}} The next day, it was released in Canada and the United States.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.ca/Back-Basics-Live-Down-Under/dp/B000WTSWTK|title=Back to Basics: Live and Down Under (PAL) [Import]|date=5 February 2008 |publisher=Amazon.com Canada|access-date=July 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080311074805/http://www.amazon.ca/Christina-Aguilera-Back-Basics-Under/dp/B000WTSWTK|archive-date=March 11, 2008}}{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WTSWTK|title=Back to Basics: Live and Down Under (PAL) |date=5 February 2008 |publisher=Amazon.com US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320110131/http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WTSWTK|archive-date=March 20, 2016|access-date=July 22, 2013}} In Germany, it was released on February 8, 2008.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.de/Christina-Aguilera-Back-Basics-Under/dp/B000WTSWTK|title=Back to Basics: Live and Down Under|date=8 February 2008 |publisher=Amazon.com Germany|language=de|access-date=July 22, 2013}} It was released on February 11 in France,{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.fr/Back-To-Basics-Live-Under/dp/B000WTSWTK|title=Back to Basics - Live and Down Under|publisher=Amazon.com France|language=French|access-date=July 22, 2013}} and on February 16 in Australia.{{cite web|url=http://www.sanity.com.au/products/2103608/Back_To_Basics_Live_Down_Under|title=Back to Basics: Live and Down Under|publisher=Sanity|access-date=July 22, 2013}} The DVD features old-school style materials such as trapeze artists, circus jugglers, and cabaret dancing.{{cite web|url=http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7533040&style=movie&fulldesc=T|title=Christina Aguilera – Back to Basics: Live Down Under DVD|access-date=July 22, 2013|publisher=CD Universe}} It also includes behind-the-scene interviews with dancers, musicians, stylists, Aguilera's husband Jordan Bratman and the singer herself.
Critical response
File:What A Girl Wants122 - CA.jpg
Upon its release, Back to Basics: Live and Down Under garnered mainly positive feedback from music critics. Jake Meaney for PopMatters gave it a seven out of ten stars rating, commenting it "huge and overwhelming, deeply soulful and expressive, if sometimes a bit unsubtly melismatic".{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/christina-aguilera-back-to-basics-live-and-down-under-dvd/|title=Christina Aguilera: Back to Basics Live And Down Under [DVD]|first=Jake|last=Meaney|date=March 31, 2008|access-date=July 22, 2013|publisher=PopMatters|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801111511/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/christina-aguilera-back-to-basics-live-and-down-under-dvd/|archive-date=August 1, 2013}} Clayton Perry from the online website Blogcritics provided a positive review, writing that it "is more than a simple presentation of song and dance; the show, by all measures, is a Broadway-caliber production".{{cite web|url=http://blogcritics.org/music-dvd-review-christina-aguilera-back/|title=Music DVD Review: Christina Aguilera – 'Back to Basics: Live and Down Under'|publisher=Blogcritics|first=Clayton|last=Perry|access-date=July 22, 2013|date=February 2, 2008}} The New York Times was also impressed toward the video release, writing that it is "at the top of her already speaker-blowing vocal range".{{cite web|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/420381/Christina-Aguilera-Back-to-Basics-Live-Down-Under/overview|title=Christina Aguilera: Back to Basics - Live Down Under (2008)|access-date=July 22, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314144453/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/420381/Christina-Aguilera-Back-to-Basics-Live-Down-Under/overview|department=Movies & TV Dept.|work=The New York Times|author=Cammila Collar|date=2016|archive-date=March 14, 2016}}
Commercial performance
On February 25, 2008, the DVD debuted and peaked at number 2 on the ARIA Music DVD Chart, where it remained its peak for two weeks.{{cite journal|url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue940.pdf|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20080319130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20080320-0000/issue940.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-03-19|title=Week Commencing 3rd March 2008|journal=Pandora Archive|publisher=ARIA|volume=940|page=22|access-date=July 22, 2013|date=March 3, 2008}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{cite journal|url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue941.pdf|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20080319130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20080320-0000/issue941.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-03-19|title=Week Commencing 10th March 2008|journal=Pandora Archive|publisher=ARIA|volume=941|page=22|access-date=July 22, 2013|date=March 10, 2008}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} On the Austrian Music DVD Chart, it debuted at number 7 on the issue chart dated February 22, 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.austriancharts.at/weekchart.asp?cat=d&year=2008&date=20080222 |title=Musik-DVDs Top 10 Hitparaden 22.02.2008 |language=German |publisher=IFPI. Hung Medien |access-date=July 22, 2013 |date=February 22, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910200044/http://austriancharts.at/weekchart.asp?cat=d&year=2008&date=20080222 |archive-date=September 10, 2014 }} The following week, it fell to number 8.{{cite web|url=http://www.austriancharts.at/weekchart.asp?cat=d&year=2008&date=20080229 |title=Musik-DVDs Top 10 Hitparaden 29.02.2008 |language=German |publisher=IFPI. Hung Medien |date=February 29, 2008 |access-date=July 22, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505101910/http://www.austriancharts.at/weekchart.asp?cat=d&year=2008&date=20080229 |archive-date=May 5, 2015 }} The DVD reached its peak at number 6 on March 14, 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.austriancharts.at/weekchart.asp?cat=d&year=2008&date=20080314 |title=Musik-DVDs Top 10 Hitparaden 24.03.2008 |language=German |publisher=IFPI. Hung Medien |date=March 23, 2008 |access-date=July 22, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505031220/http://www.austriancharts.at/weekchart.asp?cat=d&year=2008&date=20080314 |archive-date=May 5, 2015 }} In the Wallonia region of Belgium, Live and Down Under made its first chart appearance at number 10 on February 16, 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/fr/weekchart.asp?cat=d&year=2008&date=20080216 |title=Musik-DVD Top 10 |language=French |work=Ultratop |publisher=Hung Medien |date=February 16, 2008 |access-date=July 22, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702065236/http://www.ultratop.be/fr/weekchart.asp?cat=d |archive-date=July 2, 2013 }} It subsequently peaked at number 8 the following week. In the Flanders region, the DVD peaked atop the chart on March 1, 2008, after two weeks charting within the top 10.
In New Zealand, it peaked at number 7 on the RIANZ DVD Chart and remained in the top ten for one week. It also peaked at number 6 in Austria, number 4 in Switzerland, number 2 in Dutch, and atop the chart of United Kingdom. In the United States, Back to Basics: Live and Down Under debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Music Videos chart on February 23, 2008, with first-week sales of 18,437 copies.{{cite press release|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/superstar-christina-aguilera-debuts-at-1-on-the-dvd-music-video-chart-with-back-to-basics---live-and-down-under-56923227.html|title=Superstar Christina Aguilera Debuts at No. 1 on the DVD Music Video Chart With Back to Basics – Live and Down Under|date=February 13, 2008|publisher=PR Newswire|location=New York|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065849/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/superstar-christina-aguilera-debuts-at-1-on-the-dvd-music-video-chart-with-back-to-basics---live-and-down-under-56923227.html|archive-date=March 4, 2016|access-date=September 23, 2013}} It fell to number 3 the following week. On March 8, 2008, the DVD fell to number 4.{{cite magazine|title=Top Music Videos|magazine=Billboard|date=March 8, 2008|volume=120|issue=10|page=68}}
The DVD was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of 50,000 copies in the United States. It was certified double platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for exceeding shipments of 30,000 copies in Australia.
Track listing
- Credits adapted from DVD liner notes{{cite AV media notes| title=Back to Basics: Live and Down Under| others=Christina Aguilera| publisher=RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment| date=2008| id=88697 28520 9| location=Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, Australia}}
{{Track listing
| title1 = Intro (Back to Basics)
| writer1 = {{flatlist|
- Christina Aguilera
- Christopher Martin
- Kara DioGuardi
- Roy Hawkins
- Rick Darnell
}}
| length1 = 2:01
| title2 = Ain't No Other Man
| writer2 = {{flatlist|
- Aguilera
- Martin
- DioGuardi
- Charles Roane
- Harold Beatty
}}
| length2 = 4:18
| title3 = Back in the Day
| writer3 = {{flatlist|
- Aguilera
- Martin
- DioGuardi
- Don Costa
- Jimmy Castor
- Langdon Fridle Jr.
- Douglas Gibson
- Harry Jensen
- Robert Manigault
- Gerald Thomas
}}
| length3 = 5:08
| title4 = Understand
| writer4 = {{flatlist|
- Aguilera
- DioGuardi
- Kwamé Holland
- Allen Toussaint
}}
| length4 = 5:03
| title5 = Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)
| writer5 = {{flatlist|
- Paul Rein
- Johan Aberg
}}
| length5 = 3:39
| title6 = Slow Down Baby
| writer6 = {{flatlist|
- Aguilera
- Mark Ronson
- DioGuardi
- Raymond Angry
- William Guest
- Merald Knight
- Edward Patton
- Gladys Knight
- Marvin Bernard
- Michael Harper
- Curtis Jackson
}}
| length6 = 3:29
| title7 = Still Dirrty
| writer7 = {{flatlist|
- Aguilera
- Martin
- DioGuardi
}}
| length7 = 5:13
| title8 = I Got Trouble
| writer8 = {{flatlist|
- Aguilera
- Linda Perry
}}
| length8 = 2:34
| title9 = Makes Me Wanna Pray
| writer9 = {{flatlist|
- Aguilera
- DioGuardi
- Rich Harrison
- Steve Winwood
}}
| length9 = 6:03
| title10 = What a Girl Wants
| writer10 = {{flatlist|
- Shelly Peiken
- Guy Roche
}}
| length10 = 4:45
| title11 = Oh Mother
| writer11 = {{flatlist|
- Aguilera
- Derryck Thornton
- Mark Rankin
- Liz Thornton
- DioGuardi
- Bruno Coulais
- Christophe Barratier
}}
| length11 = 7:46
| title12 = Enter the Circus
| writer12 = {{flatlist|
- Aguilera
- Perry
}}
| length12 = 1:46
| title13 = Welcome
| writer13 = {{flatlist|
- Aguilera
- Perry
- Ronson
- Paul Ill
}}
| length13 = 2:38
| title14 = Dirrty
| writer14 = {{flatlist|
- Aguilera
- Dana Stinson
- Balewa Muhammad
- Reginald Noble
}}
| length14 = 5:06
| title15 = Candyman
| writer15 = {{flatlist|
- Aguilera
- Perry
}}
| length15 = 4:42
| title16 = Nasty Naughty Boy
| writer16 = {{flatlist|
- Aguilera
- Perry
}}
| length16 = 5:46
| title17 = Hurt
| writer17 = {{flatlist|
- Aguilera
- Perry
- Ronson
}}
| length17 = 4:29
| title18 = Lady Marmalade
| writer18 = {{flatlist|
}}
| length18 = 5:10
| title19 = Encore: Thank You
| writer19 = {{flatlist|
- Aguilera
- Martin
- DioGuardi
- Pamela Sheyne
- David Frank
- Steve Kipner
}}
| length19 = 2:33
| title20 = Beautiful
| writer20 = Perry
| length20 = 4:56
| title21 = Fighter
| writer21 = {{flatlist|
- Aguilera
- Scott Storch
}}
| length21 = 8:24
}}
= Bonus content =
| width="55%" |
# "Dancers"
|
|
Personnel
| width="72%" |
* Christina Aguilera – vocals, primary artist, creative director
|
|
Credits adapted from AllMusic.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/back-to-basics-live-and-down-under-mw0001665508/credits|title=Back to Basics: Live and Down Under {{!}} Credits|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=March 22, 2016}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| Chart (2008)
! Position |
|---|
| scope="row"|Australian Music DVD Chart (ARIA){{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-dvd-chart-2008.htm |title=ARIA Top 50 Music DVDs 2008 |publisher=ARIA |date=December 31, 2008|access-date=July 22, 2013}}
| style="text-align:center;"|32 |
| scope="row"|Belgian Music DVD Chart (Ultratop Flanders){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2008&cat=d|title=Jaaroverzichten 2008: Muziek-DVD|publisher=Ultratop|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/yFXgj|archive-date=October 17, 2024|access-date=October 17, 2024}}
| style="text-align:center;"|26 |
| scope="row"|Dutch Music DVD Chart (MegaCharts){{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2008&cat=d |title=Jaaroverzichten – DVD Music 2008 |publisher=Hung Medien|work=MegaCharts |access-date=July 22, 2013}}
| style="text-align:center;"|34 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=video|title=Back to Basics: Live and Down Under|relyear=2008|certyear=2011|award=Platinum|number=2|access-date=December 14, 2014|refname="aria"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=video|title=Back to Basics: Live and Down Under|artist=Christina Aguilera|relyear=2008|award=Gold|access-date=December 14, 2014|refname="riaa"}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| Country
!Release date !Format !Label |
|---|
| scope="row"|United Kingdom
|February 4, 2008 |rowspan="6"|DVD |rowspan="5"|RCA Records |
| scope="row"|Canada
|rowspan="2"|February 5, 2008 |
| scope="row"|United States |
| scope="row"|Germany
|February 8, 2008 |
| scope="row"|France
|February 11, 2008 |
| scope="row"|Australia
|February 16, 2008 |
References
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Christina Aguilera}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Christina Aguilera video albums