"P!nk", also known as Alecia Moore, first came onto the music scene in 1996 as a member of the R&B girl group, "Choice", sadly "L.A. Reid", the manager of Arista Records who also signed the group, felt that "P!nk" should go solo. After a tough decision "P!nk" left the group, who had a recorded an album that still to this day remains unreleased. "P!nk's" debut album, "Can't Take Me Home" was released in 2000. It included 3 singles, "There You Go", "Most Girls", and "You Make Me Sick", all of which did well in the U.S. A year later "P!nk" would her release her second album, "Missundaztood". The album almost didn't get released due to the album having a more pop/rock sound as opposed to her first album which was R&B/pop but thankfully her label released it and it is her most successful album to date. Her follow up album, "Try This" was released in 2003 and while it wasn't as successful it did her "P!nk" a grammy for "Best Female Rock Vocal Performance" in 2004. Her fourth album "I'm Not Dead", the album I'm reviewing, was released in 2006 which was 10 years ago... Wow I'm old. Anyway, here's my track by track review:
1) Stupid Girls: The first single from the album. The song was inspired by girls such as "Paris Hilton" and "Lindsay Lohan" who, at the time, were not the best role models due to their constant partying and crazy tabloid lifestyle. In the video "P!nk" parodied both of those girls as well as "Jessica Simpson" from her "These Boots are Made for Walking" video. The song is pretty catchy and was "P!nk's" comeback single peaking at number 13 in the U.S. 9/10
2) Who Knew: The second song from the album. The song is a pop/rock ballad that was "P!nk" wrote the song to a friend who had died of due to drug abuse. When I first head the song back in '06, I actually that it about a lover/friend moving away but I was a teenager at the time and didn't know. The song initially didn't do well when it was first released as a single, but after she performed it on "American Idol", the song was re-released to radio and it became a hit peaking at number 9 in the U.S. "P!nk" would also say that the song was her favorite song on her greatest hits album, "Greatest Hits... So Far!!!" 10/10
3) Long Way to Happy: Before the release of this album, it was originally called "Long Way to Happy" which meant this would've been the title track but the album was changed. This was based on a poem "P!nk" wrote when she was 13 about sexual abuse. The first I heard the song was when it was played on "The Hills" (there was nothing good on at the moment that why I was watching I swear!) The song is sad but still great and I wish it was a single. 10/10
4) Nobody Knows: The fourth single from the album. The song is a ballad about dealing with depression. While "P!nk's" vocals are great and the video was pretty good but the overall song is boring and not as good as previous ballad "Who Knew". 6/10
5) Dear Mr. President (featuring the Indigo Girls): The fifth single from the album. "P!nk" has said that this song it is one of the most important songs she's ever written. On "Behind the Music" she stated that she was furious that George W. Bush was that president at the time which was likely the inspiration for the song. The video was of "P!nk" singing the song at Wembley for her "I'm Not Dead Tour". "The Indigo Girls" sing the chorus with "P!nk" as well as background vocals. It's an amazing song played on acoustic guitar that needs to be more popular given how powerful the lyrics are. 9/10
6) I'm Not Dead: The title track, it's an upbeat pop/rock song that was inspired by "P!nk" and her frequent producer/writer "Billy Mann" feeling that their working relationship was ending. Thankfully they still continue to collaborate together to this day. The song upbeat throughout the whole song except during the chorus where it's slow and she sings "I'm not dead, just floating". 8/10
7) 'Cuz I Can: The seventh and final single from the album. The song originally leaked a year before the album was released and sounds like it could've been the first single from the album because it screams "I have returned!" or at least it does to me. The song's video showed footage of "P!nk" performing on her "I'm Not Dead Tour". 8/10
8) Leave Me Alone (I'm Lonely): The sixth single from the album. This is my favorite song on the album because everything about it is awesome. The song is about how a person loves the one they're with but they don't want to be around that person every moment of the day. Like some of the other singles from this album the video for this song was footage of her performing the song on her "I'm Not Dead Tour", although she would shoot another video for it during her "Funhouse Summer Carnival Tour" which showed her at the beach alone until two women show up chasing her. 10/10
9) U + Ur Hand: The third single from the album. "P!nk" had originally wanted this song to be the second single from the album, plus the video for the song had be shot around the same time as "Stupid Girls", but her label went with "Who Knew" instead. In the video "P!nk" played a character named "Lady Devilish" and showed her in different places such as a tea garden and out on a balcony at a party all while a book was being read talking about each place she was at. The song is one of my favorites and peaked at number 9 in the U.S. The song was going to be performed on "American Idol" but after she was told to change rewrite the lyrics and the title as "U + Ur Heart" she decided to perform "Who Knew" instead which as I previously stated became a hit as well. 10/10
10) Runaway: An upbeat song about a teenager wanting to runaway from the problems they are feeling. I haven't really listened to the song as much but it's a pretty good song. 7/10
11) The One That Got Away: A song played on acoustic guitar. The song talks about how a guy that you have a great connection with but they're with someone else. (Story of my life!) Again, it's a song I don't listen to that much but it's great a song that I should listen to more. 8/10
12) I Got Money: Continuing with ballads, this song talks about how you fame and fortune won't always bring you happiness. I need to listen to the song more because it's a really laid-back, mellow song. 8/10
13) Conversations with My 13 Year Old Self: This song is a sad ballad that "P!nk" described this song as a huge therapy session. The song is lyrically and beautiful. 8/10
"I'm Not Dead" was released 10 years ago. Since then "P!nk" has released 4 albums, one of which was a greatest hits album. My favorite songs on the album are: "Leave Me Alone (I'm Lonely)", "Who Knew", "U + Ur Hand", "Dear Mr.President (featuring the Indigo Girls)", "Long Way to Happy", and "Stupid Girls". Out of 130 points I give the album 110 points which is 84%, a B. "P!nk" is said to be working on her seventh album so I can't wait to hear it!
Also this is my 100th album review on this blog! Thank you guys for reading this review as well as my previous reviews and I promise to do do more reviews this month.
