With the memory of her touching tribute to Judy Garland at the 86th Academy Awards still fresh in our minds, it seems only fair to put P!nk’s exemplary career under the spotlight this week, and recollect on how she has managed to maintain such prominence in the ever-changing pop scene.
Any excuse to revisit this - I want a remake!
Bursting into the picture at the turn of the century, P!nk’s Can’t Take Me Home debut was a solid collection of contemporary R’n’B which introduced us to her distinctive voice, yet not to the signature Pop/Rock sound which she has come to represent her career up until this point. Missundaztood rode the wave of success generated by the preceding all-star remake of ‘Lady Marmalade’ and cemented P!nk as one of the leading acts of her generation. As her best-selling album thus far, it saw P!nk’s songwriting evolve, with the help of Linda Perry, to a more autobiographical style - exemplified in ‘Just Like a Pill’, where she alludes to her adolescent drug issues, and ‘Family Portrait’, which brought to light the lasting effects of her parents’ divorce.
With the recent end of a sell-out world tour supporting ‘The Truth About Love’, which has moved over 5 million copies worldwide, it is undeniable that this Pop rebel is still at the top of her game. The improvement in her already underrated vocals was clear to hear on the album (specifically so on ‘Just Give Me a Reason’, her fourth US number one) which she attributes to her decision to quit smoking. Additionally, her groundbreaking acrobatic vocal showcases prove P!nk to stand as one of the truly original performers present in music today, though she commands just as much attention when the sole components of her performance are a guitar and that husky tone so reminiscent of her idol, Janis Joplin. However, despite her continued commercial success, P!nk is not without her share of detractors.
P!nk’s well-tested formula of brash instrumental backing and scream-along choruses has allowed her to stay true to her artistry in the face of the resurgence of electronic music but has also been conflated by her harshest critics as a reluctance to grow. Furthermore, though her live shows continue to draw huge audiences and her albums sales remain consistent, P!nk often finds herself sidelined in conversations involving the icons of our time, in favour of the likes of Beyoncé or Lady Gaga. As an artist who has never had to force authenticity, some will argue this boils down to her ability to keep public appearances strictly about her music, and her unwillingness to mindlessly sexualise her output (after all she is music’s coolest mum, not another Miley Cyrus). Moreover, as she currently finds herself more in-demand than her one-time peers Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, she is obviously doing something right.
In the next phase of her career, it would be wonderful to see Mrs Alecia Moore explore new themes and return to some old ones on a deeper level, such as feminism, motherhood and politics - no time like the now to leave behind the angry love songs with which she has become so synonymous. As the ink dries on a new multi-album deal with her current label RCA, it is comforting to know that we are assured more quality material in the not too distant future. Let's raise our glasses to P!nk as we look back on her greatest moments so far.
Why we love her: soulful, versatile voice; iconic performances; frank, honest attitude
We love you, but: no more angry love songs!
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