Pop music with orchestras, or some sort of complexity?

I am looking for music that resembles the song "fighter" by Christina Aguilera. It is pop with a heavy twist. I also like her song "welcome" I am looking for pop with orchestras, or just interesting music behind the singing. I am so sick of these airy voices with one simple track of piano. (apple commercial music) I listen to metal, and am getting sick of the screaming, and the old fashioned opera singers. Someone recommend something. I also like the Mars Volta, any other bands like them that are good?

Pop music with orchestras, or some sort of complexity?performing show

Complexity

orchestration

Mars Volta....OK

Sounds like you could use some good prog rock.

May as well turn to Mars Volta's influences for ALL of the above %26amp; more:

Genesis

Pink Floyd

Rush

Yes

King Crimson

Pop music with orchestras, or some sort of complexity?opera score opera theater

If you like happy music, I'd go with the Polyphonic Spree. They're a 20+ member band, complete with a choir and pretty extensive orchestral section. Probably the happiest sounding band on earth, but I really enjoy them. I'd recommend you check out Light and Day. It even has a French horn solo in it =D.
Arcade Fire is pretty good. They're sometimes considered "orchestral pop" or "orchestral rock," and I think they're very good. They definitely have a very unique sound. Check out their song "In The Backseat," or really, everything they've done is pretty good. =]

Edit: Oh, and try Architecture In Helsinki too. They're very poppy and fun, but they're also very innovative. They've used everything from guitars and synths to thumb pianos and glockenspiels, and they've also incorporated things like the sound of bubbles popping and tap shoes into their music. It's pretty cool.
Try "Days Of Future Passed" by The Moody Blues. That album was recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra.
The movie step up with Channing Tatum has a lot of music like that I think. It's cool, u should check it out.
You should definitely check out ELO. They pioneered pop with an orchestral sound in the 70s.
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EDIT: Ah, so no happy stuff. Alright.

How about some Pedro the Lion or ...

Listen to Neutral Milk Hotel's "Oh Comely".

That's about as much help as I can offer, on top of what I've posted already. Hope you find something from us all!

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Aha! The best time to find new music is when you're bored, and I hope I can point you in the direction of a band or artist or two that you'll like.

When I think pop and orchestral, I think:

-Beirut: A seventeen year old kid went to eastern Europe and brought back a Balkan style of music and applied conventional pop methods to it. Very nice stuff. Not very hard, or anything I can really compare with anything else, but very...interesting.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=SXIaDBad5Vg%26amp;f...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=TLV6jygKNCM%26amp;f...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=RjzVbXeD_8E

As for other suggestions with orchestral or interesting backing music....

-The Arcade Fire: If you haven't heard them yet, then you're missing out.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=NNfWC4Sgkcs

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZO7ZWfvCjBE

http://youtube.com/watch?v=wjxef8AfVQg

-Liars: Might be up your alley. They do a lot of experimental stuff, but I think you might enjoy them. Take a look at:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=s-r8HWri41s

-Black Mountain: Psych-rock akin to a more modern Zeppelin.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=cWxCPbsreO4

-Of Montreal: Poppy, and crazy. Their lyrics can be almost as crazy as TMV's, but their music is usually very pop-oriented. Very poppy, so you might not enjoy it so much. I figure I'd toss it out there though.

-Battles: A math rock/electronic band.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=IpGp-22t0lU

-Final Fantasy: A guy named Owen Pallett, who's a terrific string arranger for The Arcade Fire and beirut, among other bands, uses this moniker for his solo project. Soft voiced pop stuff, but the strings are beautiful.

-Shout Out Louds: makes some uplifting pop, with bits of interesting instruments plopped down here and there.

-Sunset Rubdown: psych-pop that's full of crazy melodies, lyrics, and intruments. Guy who did Frog Eyes and Wolf parade, among other projects.

-TV on the Radio: Alt-Rock with a bunch of soul. These guys know how to make music. Take a listen?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=GUB1xSAAADk

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZqI0FYN-r5c

http://youtube.com/watch?v=1v3AK-BgMwU

As a sidenote:

If you'd ever consider music without vocals, I'd recommend some Godspeed You!Black Emperor, Mogwai, or Explosions in the Sky.
I hate christina aguilera, but there is a goth band called Attrition that remade their songs with some members of the the orchestra of the paris opera(the album is called Etude).

too bad you hate airy voices, because the album "Ardor" by Love Spirals Downward is really good (IMHO).
Unfortunately, pop music and complexity is a rare mix, especially since MTV has a monopoly on pop music.

There is one CD that, I believe, is exactly what your searching for. The Moody Blues put out a classic album recorded with an orchestra. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg...

I would like to take the liberty to give you a suggestion that will help you find the music you are seeking.

Mentioning Christina Aguilera as an example of complex music tells me that you are wanting to hear good music but are only aware of today's mainstream, high profile record company "stars".

If you depend on MTV and cheesy pop radio stations that only play the same few songs all day, you are never going to know the great music that is out there.

Check out college radio stations, and other independent radio stations. These stations are more interested in the alternative to the junk on MTV. These stations are more interested in playing artistic music than playing silly stuff. I'm sure you're going to be surprised at all the various bands out there that are not trying to make a hit record, but are trying to do something original.

Its important, for you, to not judge the music. Some of it might sound completely weird, but thats just because you have only known typical, boring pop. Judging by your question, you sound ready for something new.