Christina Aguilera

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When she materialized last summer, Christina Aguilera was roundly dismissed as an inferior, if intriguing, challenger to Britney Spears’ throne. However, her dance numbers “Genie in a Bottle” and “What a Girl Wants” turned out to have legs, which (in conjunction with her upset nod in the Best New Artist category at the Grammys) solidified her stature as an equal-billing entertainer. Two weeks after Spears dazzled fans with snazzy costumes, constant motion, and a talented backing band, it’s Aguilera’s turn to showcase her skills at Sandstone. Although she lacks Spears’ fashion sense and down-home-girl appeal, Aguilera’s secret weapon is a booming bluesy voice. Unfortunately, Aguilera’s debut disc matched her explosive vocals with pedestrian pop drivel, save for the singles, but in a live setting her vocals should overcome these forgettable backdrops. R&B radio favorites Destiny’s Child will warm up the crowd with “No, No, No,” “Bills, Bills, Bills,” and other catchy choruses delivered in triplicate.