Fighter by Christina Aguilera

Album: Stripped (2002)

Charted: 3 20

License This Song

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

Aguilera explained the song's meaning in the book Chicken Soup For the Soul: The Story Behind The Song: "I wrote this for my sophomore album, Stripped, and I was very determined for it to reflect who I was. The first record was what the label wanted and created. There was a huge pop explosion at the time and I was part of that wave. I felt stifled. I was thankful that the early success allowed me the freedom to write what I wanted for the next one.

I was 21 and I had a lot on my mind. I had been performing in front of an audience since I was 6, helping to make a living for my family. I grew up in a very chaotic and abusive home where I didn't feel very safe. I started writing music, both melodies and lyrics, when I was 15. In retrospect, I realize I used it as a release, a therapeutic outlet. It was the way I found my voice. I connected with the music and escaped from my home life. In school, I was picked on and alienated because of my passion for music. So I harbored a little personal pain but the seemingly negative things made me smarter and stronger. I took notice early of the people all around me in the business who were there for the wrong reasons.

I wrote 'Fighter' when I was on tour promoting my first CD. I was coming up with titles and ideas and deciding what I wanted to write about. I had to sit down and make sense of my feelings and experiences. I learned a lot from the first record that helped me to develop. I took the good and the bad and considered some of the choices I made and became better because of it."
Scott Storch produced this track. It was one of the first major productions for the Canadian sensation, who became one of the biggest hitmakers of the mid-'00s, with a client list that included Beyoncé, Chris Brown and 50 Cent. By 2006 he developed a debilitating cocaine habit and alienated many of his clients, including Aguilera, who vented her frustrations in the song "F.U.S.S.," which stands for "F--k You Scott Storch."
The National Basketball Association (NBA) used this in their 2003 "Love It Live" campaign. The song was used under basketball video and shots of Christina.
Christina performed this on the March 15, 2002 episode of Saturday Night Live, where she also sang "Beautiful."

Comments: 18

Sara from Union City, TnOne of my favorite songs ever-thanks dad
Heather from Newark, OhOne person this is about is her dad who didn't care about her until she became famous. What a creep.
Cassandra from Duluth, Mnthis song is a good song and i think that a lot of people can relate to it.
Maddie from New York, NyI've heard a lot of different things this song could be about.
-an abusive relationship
-cancer
-an eating disorder
-her old friends
-her father
Nady from Adelaide, AustraliaI've had a fear of moths ever since I watched this video...
Jennifer from Orion, Mii love ths song i always think of my ex fiance who was mentally verbally and emotionally abusive to me ah he does "go around playing the victim now"
Nicole from N/a, Wii thought it might have been about incest rape or something. but good song and it helped me through tough times a few years ago.
Sara from Traverse City, MiI love this song, beaucse when ever I hear it, it makes me think of all the tough stuff I've faced in my life and how it's made me how I am today. Good message overall.
Claire from Oak Ridge, TnAWESOME video. Really artistic.
Simone from Fife, ScotlandThe song is about ex-lovers as far as I heard. Although I guess that there is that much that has happened in her life that it would be hard to say for sure. The only person that needs to know that is Christina and no one else. It is a fantastic song though and I think that it would apply to most as everyone has been treated bad at some point it their lives.
Dale from Milton Keynes, Englanddave navarro played guitar on this
Chloe from Somewhere, CanadaI can really relate to this song great song ive had so many ppl lie to me n screw me over so yeah..great track GO CHRISTINA!!
Grace from London, Canadathis song is about Christina aguileras 2 friends that she trusted but they were all rude to her and stuff so she wrote this song saying that shes a fighter and those stuff are in her past and she won't let it get her down
Harriet from Trowbridge, EnglandI really like this song. Christina sings it well. This song rocks arse.
A Dbz Fan from Jackson, MiI bet she likes to fight. COOL
Daisy from Ikast, DenmarkYeah I've also heard that one. No matter who the song is about, then it's a good track. I can really relate to it...
Britney from Calabasas, CaCould be, but Christina has said it was aboot 2 people who stole and used her in the past.
Daisy from Ikast, DenmarkSome people actually say its about her father...

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Sharp Dressed ManZZ Top

ZZ Top's "Sharp Dressed Man" was the first video that was a sequel. It picked up the storyline of their "Gimme All Your Lovin'" video about a guy who encounters three beautiful women.

Just Can't Get EnoughThe Black Eyed Peas

The Black Eyed Peas shot the video for "Just Can't Get Enough" in Japan just a week before a devastating earthquake hit the country.

GypsyFleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac's "Gypsy" is about Stevie Nicks' best friend, who died of leukemia.

It wasn't one of her biggest hits, but "La Isla Bonita" (from 1986) emerged as one of Madonna's top songs in the age of streaming thanks to widespread usage on TikTok. Creators who visit an island or just want that mood often use it as a soundtrack.

TimberPitbull

Pitbull only raps for about a minute on "Timber." Kesha does most of the work.

Black Hole SunSoundgarden

It has long been speculated that the Soundgarden song "Black Hole Sun" came from the name of a sculpture in Seattle, but according to their frontman Chris Cornell the title came from a phrase he misheard on the news. The band's name did come from a sculpture.