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"Fighter" is a song by American singer Christina Aguilera from her fourth studio album Stripped (2002). The song was written by Aguilera and Scott Storch and was produced by the latter. RCA Records released it to US contemporary hit radio stations on March 17, 2003. as the third single from the album. Musically inspired by band Guns N' Roses' song "November Rain", "Fighter" combines influences from R&B, rock, arena rock and rock and roll genres. Lyrically, Aguilera thanks a man doing wrong to her for making her stronger. Music critics were mostly positive toward "Fighter", praising the song's empowering message and Aguilera's vocal delivery. It peaked at number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments exceeding 500,000 copies in the United States. The single reached the top ten of several national music charts, including those in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and the Netherlands.
Aguilera performed the track on three of her major concert tours: Justified and Stripped Tour (2003), The Stripped Tour(2003) and Back to Basics Tour (2006–08). "Fighter" has been covered by several artists, including Jordin Sparks and Darren Criss. The stylistic similarities of "Fighter" to her song "Army of Me" from her 2012 album Lotus would later lead Aguilera to compare the two and consider "Army of Me" as a genuine sequel, describing it as "Fighter 2.0".
Music Video[]
A music video for "Fighter" was directed by Floria Sigismondi, inspired by Sigismondi's dark theatrics and the life circle of moths.
The video begins with Aguilera wearing a black velvet kimono, with a pale complexion and long black hair, refers to a larva. Three pins are lodged in her back, making her hunch. Initially, she is trapped in a glass box, and her kimono is billowing like a balloon. Three Gothic ballerinas eat fruit and then collapse. Aguilera then breaks free from the box by pounding on it until it breaks. She tosses aside her kimono after furiously removing the pins on her back and throwing them away. A tattered, white, moth-covered dress is revealed, symbolizing her metaphoric evolution from the larva to a pupa. In addition, her hair becomes white, and moths fly around her. Near the end, Aguilera wears an Elvira-type spider dress, again proclaiming that she is a "fighter".
The music video for "Fighter" garnered numerous awards. At the 2003 Belgian TMF Awards, the clip won Best Video International. It garnered Aguilera and Sigismondi a Juno Award for Video of the Year at the 2004 ceremony, which was held at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It also earned four MVPA Awards for Best Pop Video, Best Cinematography, Best Make-Up and Best Styling in a Video in 2004, held at Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles, California.
Track listing[]
| CD single | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length | ||||||||
| 1. | "Fighter" | 4:05 | ||||||||
| 2. | "Fighter (Video)" | 4:05 | ||||||||
| Maxi single | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length | ||||||||
| 1. | "Fighter" | 4:05 | ||||||||
| 2. | "Fighter (Freelance Hellraiser "Thug Pop" Mix)" | 5:11 | ||||||||
| 3. | "Beautiful (Valentin Mix)" | 5:51 | ||||||||
| DVD | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length | ||||||||
| 1. | "Fighter (Video)" | 4:05 | ||||||||
| 2. | "Fighter" | 4:05 | ||||||||
| 3. | "Photo gallery" | |||||||||
| 4. | "Beautiful (Valentin Mix)" | 5:51 | ||||||||
Lyrics[]
Well I thought I knew you, thinkin' that you were true
Guess I, I couldn't trust called your bluff time is up
'Cause I've had enough
You were there by my side, always down for the ride
But your joy ride just came down in flames cause your greed sold me out in shame
After all of the stealing and cheating you probably think that
I hold resentment for you
But uh uh, oh no, you're wrong
'Cause if it wasn't for all that you tried to do, I wouldn't know
Just how capable I am to pull through
So I want to say thank you
'Cause it makes me that much stronger
Makes me work a little bit harder
It makes me that much wiser
So thanks for making me a fighter
Made me learn a little bit faster
Made my skin a little bit thicker
Makes me that much smarter
So thanks for making me a fighter
Never saw it coming, all of your backstabbing
Just so you could cash in on a good thing before I'd realize your game
I heard you're goin' round playin', the victim now
But don't even begin feeling I'm the one to blame
'Cause you dug your own grave
After all of the fights and the lies cause you're wanting to haunt me
But that won't work anymore, no more,
It's over
'Cause if it wasn't for all of your torture
I wouldn't know how to be this way now and never back down
So I want to say thank you
'Cause it makes me that much stronger
Makes me work a little bit harder
It makes me that much wiser
So thanks for making me a fighter
Made me learn a little bit faster
Made my skin a little bit thicker
Makes me that much smarter
So thanks for making me a fighter
How could this man I thought I knew
Turn out to be unjust so cruel
Could only see the good in you
Pretended not to know the truth
You tried to hide your lies, disguise yourself
Through living in denial
But in the end you'll see
You won't stop me
I am a fighter and I
I ain't goin' stop
There is no turning back
I've had enough
'Cause it makes me that much stronger
Makes me work a little bit harder
It makes me that much wiser
So thanks for making me a fighter
Made me learn a little bit faster
Made my skin a little bit thicker
Makes me that much smarter
So thanks for making me a fighter
You thought I would forget,
But I remember
'Cause I remember
I remember
You thought I would forget,
But I remember
'Cause I remember
I remember
'Cause it makes me that much stronger
Makes me work a little bit harder
It makes me that much wiser
So thanks for making me a fighter
Made me learn a little bit faster
Made my skin a little bit thicker
Makes me that much smarter
So thanks for making me a fighter