Very slow comeback for Christina Aguilera

LOS ANGELES, California (AP): Over a synth-heavy dance track, Christina Aguilera sings on her new album: "Every day I see myself, I love me even more. ... Let us not forget who owns the throne."

Then, her son Max's voice pipes up: "You do, Mommy."

Does she? Aguilera is returning to music after four years away from stadium tours and Billboard charts: The multiplatinum Grammy-winner took some time to just "be married," as she says, and spent the last two years raising her son with husband Jordan Bratman. And while she is confident she will regain her old spot at the top of the pop world, the comeback so far has not gone exactly according to plan.

First single Not Myself Tonight peaked at 23 on the Hot 100 and is now at 73. Its black leather-and-lace, S&M themed-video was picked apart as hewing too close to clips from current pop queen Lady Gaga. A summer tour was announced but cancelled within weeks.

In an interview, the 29-year-old singer makes no apologies. Aguilera says she ruled out the tour to gain more time to prepare and gauge which songs on Bionic fans will want to hear live.