Christina Aguilera's "The Real Thing" - Song Review

   The lotus has risen once again! Hear her roar... I mean, "saaaaaaaaay!" 

   "Genie In The Bottle" hitmaker Christina Aguilera is currently sitting on the judges' panel of The Voice (her fifth stint) alongside the hunky Adam Levine, Pharrell and Blake Shelton. However, the ferocious diva still finds the time to further her astounding 15-year career. 

   Aguilera is set to guest star for a multiple-episode arc of hit TV show Nashville, playing Jade, a pop star who dreams of releasing a country-inspired album. Could the show be imitating what is set to play out for Aguilera's own music career? Let's hope. The singer has just released the official audio for "The Real Thing", a track, sung by Jade, from her upcoming guest appearance. It is her first release since her "Do What U Want" remix collaboration with Lady Gaga in 2014. 

   "Baby I'm coming, better ready yourself, be looking for me, 'cause I'm the real thing," she warns on the new song's opening. Just like her character on Nashville, the track finds Aguilera venturing into country music territory and completely knocks it out of the park. The singer's always-impressive vocal abilities are at the forefront of the new release as she sounds to be giving Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert a run for their money. 

   "The Real Thing" is a sass-filled, energetic, country-twanged track that does not sound uncomfortable for the pop artist. Aguilera has changed her style and sound many times in the past, country could be a lucrative move for the singer, giving it the extra flare it needs. She does not hold anything back here and the end result is as powerful as we all imagined. Hit? 

   While not the first time Aguilera has released a country leaning effort (check out "Just A Fool" featuring Blake Shelton if you haven't done so yet for some crazy reason), "The Real Thing" is an exciting, sexy, upbeat release rather than a tender ballad, as Aguilera's second original Nashville contribution, "Shotgun" will be. Can Aguilera become the country queen we've only ever imagined in our dreams? It could happen.