Dancing to Christina Aguilera’s Candyman in front of her can be daunting.
But if Taye Diggs felt any fear, he did not betray a hint of it when he mimed the number for the pop star on this Thursday’s upcoming Lip Sync Battle.
In a preview clip posted to YouTube Monday, Taye, 47, evoked the song’s Andrews Sisters-influenced music video by decking himself out in a drag sailor outfit.
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Star turn: If Taye Diggs felt any fear, he did not betray a hint of it when he mimed Candyman for Christina Aguilera herself on this Thursday’s upcoming Lip Sync Battle
The song includes a lyric: ‘He had tattoos up and down his arm,’ and when Taye got to that line, he gestured to the body art on his own left forearm.
Christina, who is a decade Taye’s junior, was visibly enjoying his performance so much that at one point she slumped to the side and theatrically fanned herself.
Erika Jayne – herself meant to lip-sync to Christina that episode – was also clearly having a ball as Taye flounced through the choreography.
After Taye was finished up with the number, LL Cool J turned to his fellow presenter Chrissy Teigen and solicited her opinion: ‘Yo, Chrissy!’
The original video: In a preview clip posted to YouTube Monday, Taye, 47, evoked the song’s Andrews Sisters-influenced music video by decking himself out in a drag sailor outfit
There it is: The song includes a lyric: ‘He had tattoos up and down his arm,’ and when Taye got to that line, he gestured to the body art on his own left forearm
‘With everything going on with this outfit,’ said Chrissy, ‘for some reason I am fixated on the socks.’
‘Bobby, they’re called Bobby,’ Taye told Chrissy as she gushed: ‘They make it, absolutely make it.’
Christina had indeed worn a similar pair of ruffle socks as part of one of many outfits she blew through during the Candyman video.
Overcome: Christina, who is a decade Taye’s junior, was visibly enjoying his performance so much that at one point she slumped to the side and theatrically fanned herself
Friendly competition: Erika Jayne – herself meant to lip-sync to Christina that episode – was also clearly having a ball as Taye flounced through the choreography
This week’s episode will not mark the first time Taye has donned drag on Lip Sync Battle in order to pay tribute to a blonde pop diva.
Last spring he mimed to Madonna’s iconic 1990 single Vogue, which like Candyman featured nods to showbiz legends of yesteryear.
That time, Taye had slid himself into a white bustier that featured cones over his chest – similar to the ones Madge herself famously sported in Vogue’s music video.
Details: As Christina did in the music video, Taye performed in front of an American flag
Hosting: After Taye was finished up with the number, LL Cool J turned to his fellow presenter Chrissy Teigen and solicited her opinion: ‘Yo, Chrissy!’
Vogue wound up on Madonna’s 1990 album I’m Breathless, which also included songs Stephen Sondheim wrote for her to sing in Warren Beatty’s Dick Tracy film.
One of those numbers, Sooner Or Later, earned Steve his only Academy Award.
Meanwhile, Candyman was on Christina’s 2006 fifth studio album Back To Basics, amid such tracks as Ain’t No Other Man and Save Me From Myself.
Paramount Network, which used to be Spike, has played host to Lip Sync Battle since it began in 2015. The series is currently on its fourth season.
Zeroing in: ‘With everything going on with this outfit,’ said Chrissy, ‘for some reason I am fixated on the socks’
Taking the floor: Christina had indeed worn a similar pair of ruffle socks as part of one of many outfits she blew through during the Candyman video
Looking back: Candyman was on Christina’s 2006 fifth studio album Back To Basics, amid such tracks as Ain’t No Other Man and Save Me From Myself