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Pink

Alecia Beth Moore (born September 8, 1979), better known by her stage name Pink (often stylized as P!nk), is an American singer and songwriter who rose to fame in 2000 as an R&B singer, but then switched to Rock and Pop Rock.

She released her first single "There You Go" and first album, the R&B-oriented Can't Take Me Home, in 2000 via LaFace Records, which garnered commercial success. Her more pop rock-oriented second studio album, Missundaztood, which began a marked shift in the sound of her music, was released in 2001, and was very successful worldwide, and is, currently, her best seller.

Pink released her third album, Try This, in November 2003, and her fourth in April 2006, I'm Not Dead. The latter generated seven hit singles, including "Stupid Girls", "U + Ur Hand" and "Who Knew". Her fifth album, Funhouse, was released in late October 2008 and was preceded by her first solo number one on the Hot 100, "So What". The album hosts Top 20 hits "Sober" and "Please Don't Leave Me", and is Pink's first album to spawn five worldwide singles. Pink revealed that she is in no hurry to record a sixth album because she "has nothing to say." [2]

She has sold more than 10 million albums in the US and over 32 million records worldwide, and scored eight Top 10 US hits, won two Grammy Awards and became one of the best known female Pop Rock acts of the decade.[citation needed]

Early life

Pink was born Alecia Moore in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Judith Moore, a nurse, and James Moore, Jr., a Vietnam veteran.[3][4] Her father is Catholic and her mother Jewish,[5] and her ancestors emigrated from Ireland, Germany, and Lithuania.[6] Pink grew up in Doylestown, where she attended Kutz Elementary School, Lenape Middle School, and Central Bucks West High School. Her father played guitar and sang songs for her, and from an early age she aspired to be a rock star. Pink has a brother, Jason Moore (born 1977).[7]

In high school, Pink joined her first band, Middleground, which had an ongoing rivalry with another local band, The Jetsists. Middleground folded upon losing a battle of the bands competition to The Jetsists. According to Pink, her biggest influences are Bette Midler, Janis Joplin, Steven Tyler, Bob Dylan, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Billy Joel, Indigo Girls, Don McLean, 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G.[8][9]

Pink developed her voice early in life. Although a healthy baby at birth, she quickly developed asthma that plagued her through her early years.[10] When she was a teenager, Pink wrote lyrics as an outlet for her feelings, and her mother commented, "Her initial writings were always very introspective. Some of it was very black, and very deep, almost worrisome."[10] She began performing in Philadelphia clubs when she was 14 years old. At 16, she joined the R&B Atlanta-based trio Choice, which included Chrissy Conway of the Christian girl group ZOEgirl.

The group signed with LaFace Records and contributed "Key to My Heart" to the soundtrack of the 1996 film Kazaam. Choice eventually disbanded after recording an unreleased album; Pink remained at LaFace as a solo act under the stage name Pink, which was from Steve Buscemi's character in the 1992 movie Reservoir Dogs. Daryl Simmons took her to recordings where she sang backing vocals for artists such as Diana Ross, 98 Degrees, Kenny Lattimore, and Tevin Campbell.[citation needed]

Solo musical career

2000–01: Can't Take Me Home

Pink's debut album, Can't Take Me Home, was produced by Babyface, Terence "Tramp-Baby" Abney, She'ksphere, Dallas Austin, The Specialists, and Steve Rhythm, and released in April 2000. It was certified double platinum in the U.S, sold 5 million copies worldwide and produced two U.S. top ten singles: "There You Go" and "Most Girls" (also a number one in Australia). The album's third single, "You Make Me Sick," was a U.S. top 40 hit and UK top ten hit in early 2001 and was featured in the film Save the Last Dance. The song "Split Personality" was featured in the film The Princess Diaries. She was the opening act for 'N Sync on their American tour in the summer of 2000.[11]

In 2001, she recorded a cover of Labelle's 1975 single "Lady Marmalade" with Christina Aguilera, rapper Lil' Kim, and Mýa for the soundtrack of the film Moulin Rouge!. Produced by hip-hop producers Rockwilder and Missy Elliott, the song topped the charts in countries including New Zealand, the UK, Australia and the U.S., where it became the most successful airplay-only single in history.[12] The success of the single was helped by its music video, which was popular on music channels[13] and won the MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year.[14] The song won a Grammy Award – Pink's first – for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, and provided a boost for the four performers' careers.[15]

2001–02: Missundaztood

Tired of being marketed as another cookie cutter pop act and eager to be seen as a more serious songwriter and musician, and to perform the type of music she wanted to, Pink took her sound in a new direction and sought more creative control during the recording of her second album.[16] She recruited Linda Perry, former singer of 4 Non Blondes (one of Pink's favorites in her teenage years), who said Pink opened up to her: "In the beginning I just said: "What do you feel?", and she (Pink) would just sit behind the piano and sing."[15] Pink moved into Perry's Los Angeles home where the pair spent several months writing songs for the album.[17] Perry co-wrote and co-produced the album with Dallas Austin and Scott Storch, and according to VH1 Driven, Antonio "LA" Reid of LaFace Records wasn't initially content with the new music Pink was making.[15] The album, named Missundaztood because of Pink's belief that people had a wrong image of her,[18] was released in November 2001.

Its lead single, "Get the Party Started" (written and produced by Perry), went top five in the U.S. and many other countries, and number one in Australia. At the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards, the music video won in the categories of Best Female Video and Best Dance Video. The album's other singles—"Don't Let Me Get Me", the Dallas Austin-produced "Just like a Pill", and "Family Portrait"—were also radio and chart successes, with "Just like a Pill" becoming Pink's first solo UK number-one hit. The singles were substantial hits on Adult Top 40 radio. Missundaztood was certified gold or platinum status in more than 20 countries,[19] with worldwide sales of 13 million.[20] It was the second best-selling album in the UK during 2002. Missundaztood and "Get the Party Started" earned nominations at the 2003 Grammy Awards for Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, respectively.

Faith Hill's 2002 album, Cry, features a song co-written by Pink and Perry. In 2002, Pink started a headlining American, European and Australian tour, the Party Tour; later, she became a supporting act for Lenny Kravitz's American tour.

2003–05: Try This

File:Alecia Beth Moore.jpg
Pink in 2004

In mid-2003, Pink contributed the song "Feel Good Time" to the soundtrack of the film Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, in which she had a cameo appearance as a motocross race ramp owner/promoter. "Feel Good Time" was co-written by singer Beck, produced by electronic music artist William Orbit and based on the song "Fresh Garbage" by the band Spirit. It became Pink's first single to miss the top 40 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, although it was a hit in Europe and Australia. During the same period, a song Pink co-wrote with Damon Elliott was released on Mýa's album Moodring.

"Feel Good Time" was included on non-U.S. editions of Pink's third album Try This, which was released on November 11, 2003. Eight of the thirteen tracks were co-written with Tim Armstrong of the band Rancid; Linda Perry was featured on the album as a writer and musician. Though Try This reached the top ten on album charts in the U.S., Canada, the UK and Australia, sales were considerably lower than those of Missundaztood; it went platinum in the U.S. and sold over 3 million copies worldwide, a commercial flop compared to its predecessor.[21] The singles "Trouble" and "God Is a DJ" did not reach the U.S. top 40 but went top ten in other countries, and "Last to Know" was released as a single outside North America. "Trouble" earned Pink her second Grammy Award (for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance) at the 2004 Grammy Awards, and "Feel Good Time" was nominated in the category of Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. She toured extensively on the Try This Tour through Europe and Australia, where the album was better received.

In 2005, she collaborated with her good friend Lisa Marie Presley on the track "Shine" on Presley's sophomore album Now What.

2006–07: I'm Not Dead

Pink took a break to write the songs for her fourth album, I'm Not Dead, which she said she titled as such because "It's about being alive and feisty and not sitting down and shutting up even though people would like you to."[22] Pink worked with producers Max Martin, Billy Mann, Christopher Rojas, Butch Walker, Lukasz Gottwald, and Josh Abraham on the album.

The album's release in April 2006 through LaFace Records was a substantial success throughout the world, particularly in Australia. The album reached the top ten in the U.S., the top five in the UK, number one in Germany, and sat at number one in Australia for two non-consecutive weeks,[23] though it was Pink's lowest seller in the U.S. until the success of the single "U + Ur Hand" in early 2007. The album ranked 96th in the USA during 2007.[24]

Lead single "Stupid Girls" was Pink's biggest U.S. hit since 2002 and earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Its music video, in which she parodies celebrities such as Lindsay Lohan, Jessica Simpson, Mary-Kate Olsen, and Paris Hilton,[25] won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Pop Video. Subsequent singles "Who Knew" and "U + Ur Hand" were substantial hits in Australia and Europe, and they later became top ten singles in the U.S. in 2007. The non-U.S. singles were "Nobody Knows," a minor hit in the UK, Australia and Germany; "Dear Mr. President," an open letter to American President George W. Bush (featuring the Indigo Girls) and a number 1 hit in Belgium, a top five hit in Germany, Australia and other countries; "Leave Me Alone (I'm Lonely)", a UK top 40 and Australian top five entry; and "'Cuz I Can".

The album has sold over 1.3 million copies in the U.S., over 700,000 in Australia, and 6 million worldwide. Proving very popular in Australia, with 6 top five singles, and a record breaking 62 weeks in the top 10, so far the album has gone 10 times platinum. Even as of June 2008, the I'm Not Dead album returned to the Australian Top 40 ARIA charts and remained there in November 2008 where it sits at number 15 on the chart - a total of 110 weeks in the Australian top 40 to date.[26] In June 2009 the album returned once again to the Australian top ten album charts in its 142nd week in the national top fifth.[27]. It re-entered at #10 on the back of her mammoth Funhouse Tour.

Pink performing on the I'm Not Dead summer tour in 2007

In support of the album, Pink embarked on the world I'm Not Dead Tour, for which ticket sales in Australia were particularly high; she sold approximately 307,000 tickets in Australia, giving her the record for the biggest concert attendance for an arena tour by a female artist.[28] One of the London shows on the tour was taped and released as a DVD, Pink: Live from Wembley Arena. In 2006, Pink was chosen to sing the theme song for NBC Sunday Night Football, "Waiting All Day for Sunday Night", which is a take on "I Hate Myself for Lovin' You" by Joan Jett. She contributed a cover of Rufus's "Tell Me Something Good" to the soundtrack of the film Happy Feet, and lent her name to PlayStation to promote the PSP, a special pink edition of which was released.[29]

Pink collaborated with several other artists in 2006 and 2007, when she opened for Justin Timberlake on the American leg of his FutureSex/LoveShow Tour. She sang on the Indigo Girls album Despite Our Differences. She was featured on India.Arie's song "I Am Not My Hair" featured in the Lifetime Television film Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy. She wrote a song ("I Will") for Natalia's third album, Everything & More. "Outside of You", another song she co-wrote, was recorded by dance-pop singer Hilary Duff and released on her 2007 album Dignity. Pink recorded a song with Annie Lennox and twenty-two other female acts for Lennox's fourth solo studio album, Songs of Mass Destruction. Titled "Sing," it was written as an anthem for HIV/AIDS, according to Lennox's website.[30]

In December 2007, a special edition Pink Box, which comprises her second to fourth albums and the DVD Live in Europe, was released in Australia and reached the top twenty on the albums chart and was certified Gold, selling over 35,000 units.[27]

2008–present: Funhouse

Pink performing at a secret London gig to promote the Funhouse Album, on November 4, 2008

On August 7, 2008, Pink's single "So What" was leaked online, and radio stations across Australia were quick to give it massive airplay. Within less than 6 hours from the leak, "So What" was voted #1 on Nova 100 Melbourne and shot to #1 on the Today Network's national radio Hot30 Countdown.[31] It also shot straight to number 1 on the official Australian and British iTunes single downloads charts. On August 22, Pink announced a new track titled "Crystal Ball".

On September 18, 2008, "So What" became the first solo number one of her career on the Billboard Hot 100. The track has also reached number one in United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Germany.[citation needed]

On October 19, 2008, Pink was the guest of honour at the 2008 ARIA Music Awards held in Sydney, Australia, where she sang "So What". On November 3, 2008, "Funhouse" debuted at number one on the ARIA charts, certified two times platinum and selling over 86,000 units in its first week. Pink's "Funhouse" tour sold out all concerts in Australia, and she will perform a total of 58 shows around the country between May and August 2009, performing for more than 600,000 Australian fans.[32]

The Funhouse Tour started in France on February 24 and continued through Europe until mid-May, with supporting act Raygun. Pink then performed a series of shows in Australia.

On November 23, 2008, Pink performed her second single from Funhouse, "Sober" at the American Music Awards. The third single was "Please Don't Leave Me", with a video directed by Dave Meyers. The fourth single was "Funhouse", although "Bad Influence" was released in Australia prior to "Funhouse"'s release as a promotional single for the tour.

In May 2009, Pink released a four-CD set of her albums Can't Take Me Home / Missundaztood / Try This / I'm Not Dead, excluding her current album Funhouse. The album peaked at number 7 in the UK Album Chart.[33]

On September 13, 2009, Pink performed "Sober" while doing a trapeze act at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards,[34] where she was nominated for Best Female Video.

The music of Pink was the theme of the October 4, 2009 episode of Australian Idol.

Personal life

Marriage

Pink met professional motocross racer Carey Hart at the 2001 X Games in Philadelphia.[35] Hart had previously been screened in Pinks early music video clip "Just Like a Pill." In 2005, Pink proposed to Hart during a Mammoth Lakes, California motocross race by holding up a "Will you marry me?" sign on his pit board. On the other side was written "I'm Serious!".[36] They married in Costa Rica on January 7, 2006.[37]

After months of speculation, Pink's publicist, Michele Schweitzer, told PEOPLE magazine on February 19, 2008, that the singer and Carey Hart had separated.[38] "This decision was made by best friends with a huge amount of love and respect for one another", Schweitzer said.[39] The video for her 2008 hit "So What", in which Hart appears, deals with her separation and pending divorce.[40]

In March 2009, Carey Hart revealed in an interview for SpeedFreaks that he and Pink were 'dating'.[41] Carey has also confirmed on Jason Ellis' Sirius XM radio show, Chelsea Lately, and The Best Damn Sports Show Period that he and Pink are attempting to work things out stating: "Sometimes you have to take a couple of steps back to move forward".[42] Pink has stated that the couple has gone to marriage counseling and have gotten back together. They were never legally divorced.[43]

PETA

File:Pink for PETA.JPG
Pink in an advertisement for PETA's anti-fur campaign
See also: Kentucky Fried Cruelty

Pink, a vegetarian, is a prominent campaigner for PETA, contributing her voice toward causes such as protesting against KFC. She sent a letter to Prince William criticizing him for fox hunting and one to Queen Elizabeth II protesting the use of real fur in the bearskins of the Foot Guards and the Honourable Artillery Company. In November 2006, Pink mentioned in the News of the World that she was disgusted with fellow singer Beyoncé for wearing fur. In conjunction with PETA, she criticized the Australian wool industry over its use of mulesing.[citation needed] In January 2007, she stated that she had been misled by PETA about mulesing and that she had not done enough research before lending her name to the campaign.[44] Her campaigning led to a headlining concert in Cardiff, Wales on August 21, 2007 called PAW (Party for Animals Worldwide). This highlighted her involvement with animal cruelty problems, as well as her unwavering commitment to contributing her voice toward such causes.

Charity work

Pink is involved with many charities including "Phoenix vert",[45] Human Rights Campaign, ONE Campaign, Prince's Trust, New York Restoration Project, Run For The Cure Foundation, Save the Children, Take Back the Night, UNICEF and World Society for the Protection of Animals.[46] As of May 2008 Pink has been officially recognized as an advocate for the RSPCA in Australia. On February 16, 2009, Pink announced she was donating $250,000 to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal to aid the victims of the bushfires that swept through the Australian state of Victoria earlier that month (a total of 173 people died in the fires, with around 500 injured, and 4000 homes lost). [47] Pink stated that she wanted to make "a tangible expression of support".[48]

Filmography

Film
Year Film Role Notes
2000 Ski To The Max Herself
2002 Rollerball Rock singer
2003 Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle Coal bowl starter
2007 Catacombs Carolyn
2009 SpongeBob's Truth or Square Herself (Guest Star Singer) She was one of the Guest Star Singers that Patchy the Pirate called. She missed her Hawaiian Vacation.
2010 Get Him to the Greek Herself[49]

Discography

Main article: Pink discography

Tours

Awards and nominations

Main article: List of Pink's awards and nominations
Year Category Recording Result
Grammy Awards
2001 Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals "Lady Marmalade" (with Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim and Mýa) Won
2003 Best Female Pop Vocal Performance "Get the Party Started" Nominated
Best Pop Vocal Album Missundaztood Nominated
2004 Best Female Rock Vocal Performance "Trouble" Won
Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals "Feel Good Time" Nominated
2007 Best Female Pop Vocal Performance "Stupid Girls" Nominated
2009 Best Female Pop Vocal Performance "So What" Nominated
BRIT Awards
2003 Best International Female Artist — Won
2007 Best International Female Artist — Nominated
2009 Best International Female Artist — Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards
2000 Best New Artist "There You Go" Nominated
2001 Best Video from a Film "Lady Marmalade" (with Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim and Mýa) Won
Video of the Year "Lady Marmalade" (with Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim and Mýa) Won
2002 Best Dance Video "Get the Party Started" Won
Best Pop Video "Get the Party Started" Won
Best Female Video "Get the Party Started" Won
2006 Best Pop Video "Stupid Girls" Won
2009 Best Female Video "So What" Nominated

Source: Grammy official site www.australianidol.com.au

Further reading

  • Frere-Jones, Sasha (2008). "Pop Music: Sass and Cadence". The New Yorker. 84 (38): 124–126. Retrieved 16 April 2009. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |day= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

References

  1. ^ Pinks vocal ranges.
  2. ^ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a185404/pink-in-no-hurry-to-record-next-album.html
  3. ^ http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/feature/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002156895
  4. ^ http://www.newspaperarchive.com/LandingPage.aspx?type=nlp&search=alecia%20moore%20father%20mother&img=\\na0037\6771001\27112239_clean.html
  5. ^ http://news.superiorpics.com/print/2006/03/30/PINK_S_LATEST_INTERVIEW.html
  6. ^ Alecia's Q Magazine Transcript Q Magazine. Retrieved March, 2004.
  7. ^ Pink: Is the ladette laureate finally growing up?
  8. ^ Official MySpace page MSN. Retrieved March 2006.
  9. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiiSYkWWjfE
  10. ^ a b Driven: Pink VH1. Retrieved October 31, 2007.
  11. ^ Robert Mancini "Pink Lands 'NSYNC Tour, Plans New Video" MTV News. April 5, 2000.
  12. ^ "Lady Marmalade" from Moulin Rouge Makes History
  13. ^ Rebecca Murray Music From "Moulin Rouge" Makes History Interscope Geffen A&M Records. Retrieved August 10, 2007.
  14. ^ MTV Celebrates the Best in Music Video prnewswire. Retrieved September 6, 2001.
  15. ^ a b c Pink: Driven. About the Episode VH1. Retrieved September 9, 2007.
  16. ^ Teresa Wiltz Pop Princess Pink: Flush With Attitude The Washington Post. Retrieved June 2, 2002.
  17. ^ Rock Chicks The Hottest Female Rockers from 1960's to Now Alison Stieven-Taylor http://www.rockpoolpublishing.com.au
  18. ^ Jason Genegabus She'll get the party started with a show at the Blaisdell StarBulletin. Retrieved December 16, 2002.
  19. ^ Entertainment Editors JUST WHITNEY... Wins Career-High 1st Week Sales and Top 10 Album Chart Debut, as Arista Nets 2 of Year's Top 10 Soundscan Albums !! BusinessWire. Retrieved December 19, 2002.
  20. ^ Entertainment Editors PINK - Looking for 'Trouble?' - TRY THIS! New Album, Try This, in Stores November 11 BusinessWire. Retrieved September 22, 2003.
  21. ^ Pink on E! True Hollywood Story.
  22. ^ Julie Chen"Pink: Singing With Dad Was 'Awesome'". CBS News. July 12, 2006. Retrieved March 30, 2007.
  23. ^ Pink At #1 With Album, Aussie Airplay + Single Sony BMG Australia. Retrieved June 3, 2007
  24. ^ billboard.biz
  25. ^ Gardner, Elysa. "Pink's video pokes fun at 'Stupid Girls'". USA Today. February 14, 2006.
  26. ^ Australian Record Industry Association
  27. ^ a b Australian Record Industry Association
  28. ^ Jonathon Moran Pink proves a hot ticket Sunday Telegraph June 10, 2007. Retrieved June 24, 2007.
  29. ^ Official mini-site for the Pink PSP Sony Entertainment. Retrieved November 12, 2006
  30. ^ Special section about Sing on Annie Lennox official website
  31. ^ Hot30 Countdown Vote
  32. ^ http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,28383,25623402-5013560,00.html
  33. ^ Chart Stats : UK Singles & Albums Chart Archive - Pink - Can't Take Me Home / Missundaztood / Try This / I'm Not Dead
  34. ^ http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1617536/20090804/knowles_beyonce.jhtml
  35. ^ http://www.inkedmag.com/articles/detail/122/pink-welcome-to-the-funhouse/
  36. ^ "Pink Gets Engaged To Motocross Champion Carey Hart". Retrieved February 1 2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  37. ^ "Pink Gets Married in Costa Rica". Retrieved February 1 2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  38. ^ Pink News on Yahoo! Music
  39. ^ Pink blue after marriage bust-up. NEWS.com.au. Retrieved on February 20, 2008.
  40. ^ Pink - is she the thinking gay girl's best friend?, Diva (magazine), Jane Czyzselska, November 2008
  41. ^ "Carey Hart sees off-road action". SpeedFreaks.tv. 30 March 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
  42. ^ //[1]
  43. ^ "Q&A: Pink talks about tour, Britney, ex-husband". Associated Press. 27 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  44. ^ Pink sheepish over boycott call Theage.com. Retrieved January 17, 2007.
  45. ^ [www.phoenixvert.com]
  46. ^ Look to the Stars: Pink's Charity Work
  47. ^ http://www.accessallareas.net.au/music_news/EkFuZVEpulqWDWamGv.php
  48. ^ "Pink helps bushfire victims". idiomag. 2009-02-17. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
  49. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Get_Him_to_the_Greek#Spin-off
  50. ^ http://www.amazon.com/P-nk-Box/dp/B0027VSTC6/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1247240455&sr=8-5
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