Christina Aguilera’s “Impossible” was released in the United States on December 1, 2008 (although it had already been released elsewhere) as the second single from Christina Aguilera’s fourth studio album, “Stripped” (2002). Christina wrote it in collaboration with Linda Perry after she learned about her father being diagnosed with cancer. Christina Aguilera has called the song “one of the most personal songs” she has ever written.
The ballad is a piano-driven power ballad in which Christina Aguilera sings about the strained relationship with her father due to his illness. Christina Aguilera has cited Christina Rossetti’s poem ” Goblin Market” as an inspiration for the song.
The song peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, and also reached the top ten in Belgium (Flanders), Canada, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. An accompanying music video was directed by Dave Meyers and Christina Aguilera herself. The video features Christina Aguilera singing in a white room with a gospel choir, and features Christina Aguilera’s father in several scenes.