I am going to dedicate this week's #sundayspotlight to the most underrated pop singer of our times. No, it's not Katy Perry, whose last album has been deservingly castigated all over relevant music magazines. I am talking about Alicia Moore, more famous as Pink. I am not even ashamed to admit that Pink is one of my all time favorite musicians, even though you could never guess from my eclectic and vastly alternative taste. However, this girl marked my adolescent years and she succeedes to entertain me even today. Continue reading and you will find out why.
First of all, Pink is very consistent and loyal to her brand. She knows her shtick and she never fails to deliver in her niche, which is pop rock. I would dare to say she practically invented the genre, as her sophomore Missunderstood offer something many pop artists tried to copy in the following decade, from Kelly Clarkson and Avril Lavigne to James Morrison and Paramore. Her debut Can't Take Me Home was maybe the only material leaning more towards r'n'b, although it was clear that Pink had idiosyncracy and candor in her lyrics. Rocking pink hairdo from the very beginning, remember?
Hits like Family Portrait and Just Like A Pill were inevitable part of every millenial's playlist back in the day. Non-conformist approach to mainstream and ability to sing about love issues from a different perspective made her album Missunderstood her most successful record up until Truth About Love. I believe Let's Get This Party Started is in top 5 of biggest hits of 00s and her collaboration with Christina Aguilera, Lil Kim and Maya, Lady Marmelade, may just be the biggest hit of the decade. No matter the controversy and rivalty with Xtina, Pink decided to not attract attention. The follow-up Try This was not a commercial success, although I really liked Pink's exploration of moe obscur pop melodies. Tunes like God Is A Dj, Last To Know and Trouble were released as singles and didn't experience good positions on the charts. But who cares, I liked it and it was another evidence that Pink is more than just a regular pop diva.
Then it came my favorit Pink album, the one that perfectly described my whole emotional range. I'm not Dead marked Pink's return at the top of the game. The video for controversial single Stupid Girls saw the singer denouncing celebrity girls desperate for fame and earned Pink her second no1 single in United States. But, it was clear that Pink has something more important to sing about. More substantial. Who Knew, a song about her friend who died from cancer, is maybe the best ballade Pink has ever recorded, and Conversations With My Thirteen Year Old Self showed her ability to be super creative and think outside of the box. There are too many good songs to mention here, so I urge you to listen to the whole record (pay special attention to title track, U+Ur Hand and Dear Mr.President).
After socially active and political album, Pink decided to give us Funhouse. And a fun ride it was. Just take a listen to Please Don't Leave Me and It's All Your Fault. The album spawned another #1 single - So What and a magnificent ballade Sober, with the video in which Pink is drooling with herself. Sober might be the one of those recognizible, brilliant songs from Pink.
By the time Pink dropped her last album, The Truth About Love, I was already tired of pop music. I did not follow her music that much, but I was glad to see she was still receiving recognition she deserved. And than it hit me - Try. I don't know If I like more the song or the video for it. It is the only song I never deleted from any of my playlist for more than 5 years.
To conclude - Pink is the most consistent pop singer of our times, and I hope everyone will become more aware of this in the future. I am confident she is a dark horse in this rat race of mainstream, and she will obtain a much deserved throne in the history of pop music. Also, give this woman a chance to sing at Superbowl, she will bring the house down.
