From Madonna to Michael Jackson to Bettie Page, we give you a rundown of the influences on Xtina’s new clip. By James Montgomery Christina Aguilera in her video for “Not Myself Tonight” Photo: RCA Christina Aguilera’s jaw-dropping “Not Myself Tonight” sees the pop star getting back to her “Dirrty” roots, but that’s not the only thing about it that seems nostalgic. See, in addition to all the bondage, barely there outfits and heavy breathing on display in the clip, there’s a whole lot of it that also reminds us of some of the greatest videos of yesteryear (or, you know, last year). There’s a familiar feel to “Tonight,” which is just part of why watching it is such a blast (those barely there outfits are another). So in order to maximize your enjoyment, we’ve complied this handy pop-culture cheat sheet, a sort of scorecard of the many influences that flash before your eyes. Oh, and we’ve alphabetized it for your perusing ease. Here’s what you may have missed in Christina Aguilera’s “Not Myself Tonight” : “Bad Romance” : Epic, white-washed Lady Gaga video. From Christina’s cat-like crawl across the floor to her red lingerie, there’s a whole lot of “Not Myself Tonight” that’s reminiscent of “Bad Romance” though, for brevity’s sake, let’s just focus on the black pair of Carrera shades she wears at the beginning of the video. Gaga can be seen rocking an identical pair in “Romance,” although hers are white. Dewan-Tatum, Jenna : Actress/wife of “G.I. Joe” star Channing Tatum (the two met on the set of 2006’s “Step Up”) makes a cameo in “Tonight” as Aguilera’s bound-at-the-wrists S&M slave. This scene also appeared in the director’s cut of “Step Up,” which is, like, really weird. “Dip It Low” : Sex-sational 2004 video by Christina Milian. In the clip, Milian rolls around in — and then covers herself with — what appears to be black oil. In “Tonight,” Aguilera douses herself in the same black liquid, though this appears to be black milk. Perhaps it’s a nod to the Detroit rapper/producer of the same name ? Probably not. “Express Yourself” : Iconic 1989 Madonna video helmed by David Fincher. More than anything, it appears to be the primary influence on Aguilera’s clip, from the monocle Xtina wears to the Fritz Lang-ian sets. Other similarities? In “Express Yourself,” Madonna crawls across the floor and laps milk out of a bowl, just like Christina. Both clips feature “dancing in the rain” sequences and gratuitous guy-on-girl groping. Not like we’re complaining about that last one, to be honest. “Freedom! ’90” : Supermodel-packed George Michael video also directed by Fincher. When Christina torches her closet in “Tonight,” it appears to be a direct homage to Michael’s video, though we’re fairly certain when Fincher set fire to Michael’s iconic leather jacket (which was also hanging in a closet) there was some sort of deeper meaning intended. Hair : Filamentous cells containing keratin that grow from follicles in the dermis (not the Broadway play, though, come to think of it, that works too). In “Tonight,” Christina’s many hairstyles recall style icons like Bettie Page, Beyonc
