Summer's been and gone,and back to Uni on 22nd/9!I'm getting a computer this year,and will be living...
Summer's been and gone,and back to Uni on 22nd/9!I'm getting a computer this year,and will be living in a house so may be able to keep up with ciao!Just found out i've got my own column in the University Magazine next year,so chuffed about that!
Member since:25.04.2001
Reviews:76
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Pink made history in 2000 when she became the first white artist to sign on the dotted line with R’n’B label LaFace. The label, set up by legendary producer Babyface, is home to some of the biggest stars of modern day R’n’B and hip-hop, so she certainly had a lot to live upto. Since being plucked from obscurity she hasn’t looked back, and the fresh faced, vibrantly hair-doed American has gone from strength to strength. She has had 3 smash hit singles, a now platinum selling album and was recently involved in the fishnet-clad melange of herself, Christina Aguilera, Mya and Lil’ Kim on the number one hit Lady Marmalade. Many ciaoers may only know this magenta-haired diva from her stint on this track, and not from her accomplished and funky debut album. If you are one of these people, your initiation starts here.
Pink lists her main musical influence as Madonna, and if her first LP doesn’t mirror Madge’s musical style, it certainly shows a maturity, a sassiness and an independence exemplified by the Queen of Pop since day one. The CD features 13 original tracks, as well as Garage re-mixes of her biggest hits “There You Go” and “Most Girls” especially for the UK audience. At a playing time of 65 minutes, you definitely get your moneys worth!!
~ 1 ~ Split Personality
The album gets off to an explosive start with this funky track, laden with strings and a staccato bassline. Pink uses her very capable vocal abilities to stamp her individuality on this track, singing of her different personalities. A good album track and solid opener.
7/10
~ 2 ~ Hell Wit Ya
In keeping with the big hit-makers of the day, Destiny’s Child, Pink is another female artist who uses the girl power rhetoric on many of her songs, and this is the first. Showing that no one messes with the Pinkster (no one knows her real name by the way!), she tells her cheating man “Hell wit ya cos you didn’t wanna treat me right”
in a fast-paced, catchy chorus. We also see a few swear words, but nothing of Eminem proportions, just a “pissed” and a bleeped out “s**t”! Produced by Kevin “She’kspere” Briggs, of TLC and Destiny’s Child fame, this track shows Pink finding her musical style, and one all of her own.
7.5/10
~ 3 ~ Most Girls
Pink’s biggest UK hit to date, reaching a peak of number 5 last October. This is definitely one of my favourite tracks, with a more laid back, almost haunting feel to it. With bass drums and choral chants in the back ground, it certainly isn’t your regular R’n’B track, but is all the better for it. It discusses individuality, independence and fending for yourself. But there’s a flip side; despite providing everything for herself without a man, she still yearns for “real love”. “I’m not every girl, I don’t need no G to take care of me, cos shorty got a job, shorty got a car, shorty can pay her own rent” she chants, with all her Americanised terms in tact. In case you didn’t know, a G is a man and shorty is a girl!
9/10
~ 4 ~ There You Go
Pink’s debut single, reaching number 6 in June 2000. With a Spanish guitar intro leading into another fractured beat and Pink’s inimitable vocals, this is another stand out track. The chorus will snuggle itself neatly into your head with its catchy vocals and Mexican trumpets. Another girl power anthem, telling her lay-about of a boyfriend to take a hike ‘cos she aint takin’ him back! Go girlfriend! (I can’t pull that off can I?!)
8/10
~ 5 ~ You Make Me Sick
This completed a hat-trick of top 10 singles for Pink when it made number 9 earlier this year and, despite what you may think, isn’t a song about an untimely Balti following one too many beers on a Saturday night! Instead, it is another male-bashing track of sorts. It is basically about a guy who makes her “lit like a candlestick, get too hot when you touch the tip” (interpret that as you wish!) but is also a bit of a “playa” and so also makes her sick at the same time! Or something like that anyway! Another attitude-fuelled anthem, with more operatic backing vocals and string accompaniment with Pink’s strong vocals. Not a favourite but a strong track none the less.
7/10
~ 6 ~ Let Me Let You Know
The first ballad of the album, and not a bad one at that. It is slick, soulful and laid back. It marks a complete change in direction from previous tracks, although the subject matter of leaving her partner is something that we’ve seen before. At almost 5 minutes, it does begin to grate after a while, but never the less showcases Pink’s excellent and under-exploited vocals. One to skip, in truth.
5/10
~ 7 ~ Love Is Such a Crazy Thing
Yes Pink, indeed it is! Another slowie this one, and only a minor improvement. It starts well with a gorgeous piano intro, but when the synthetic effects begin, which sound similar to something I can only describe as sitting on a whoopee cushion over and over again, the terms over-produced and “sack that producer” spring to mind. The melody is strong, and this time a more caring subject matter of actually loving the person you’re with, and not wanting to torch their car makes a more tender ballad. It does get a bit repetitive though when the chorus is repeated over and over again to weigh this track in at 5.13 minutes.
6/10
~ 8 ~ Private Show
A punchy beat, and 80’s style synthesizers get this off to a great start. We are back to the independent woman frame of mind on this, telling us all she’s letting her man go, even though he doesn’t know this yet! Lyrics include “ He don’t know, maybe if he wasn’t such a gigolo, I would let him stay instead of letting go”. Another strong melody and catchy beat, it fits nicely into the mould Pink is creating with this album.
7/10
~ 9 ~ Can’t Take Me Home
The title track, and more original than some others. Another action-packed track, with a massive chorus stating “Can’t take me home to mama, ‘cos she wouldn’t think I’m proper, should’ve thought about before you f***ed with me”. Miaow!! The F’s are bleeped out, and there is no parental guidance sticker on the album, but parents should probably check this out and make a decision if their child wanted to buy it. If there’s one thing you need to know about Pink, it is that she doesn’t hold back. She is barely out of her teens and yet still writes about extremely adult themes!
8/10
~ 10 ~ Stop Falling
The third of the ballads, a much more mellow track and welcome respite from all the expletives and powerful bombast. We see a more sincere side to Pink here as well, a window into her emotions almost. This is certainly a very personal track, written by Pink herself. A tender and emotional ballad, a great contrast to almost every other track. Touching, although at 6 minutes probably a little long.
“I’ve had a crazy crazy life, no one ever came to open up my eyes”
8/10
~ 11 ~ Do What U Do
This starts with some strangely Irish sounding guitars, but they are soon ditched for a more R’n’B sound. Another innovative track, and not about men for about the first time! “Do what you do, say what you say, be what you be, cos it’s your life, gotta make your own rules and you got to do it your way”. It is marred somewhat by some manly “Oh, oh oh” chants though. Not necessary.
7/10
~ 12 ~ Hiccup
A song about not being able to tell someone how you feel, this ends up sounding quite average. The chorus is listenable enough, but the verses are flat and uneventful. Not one of the best.
6/10
~ 13 ~ Is It Love
The final track, and another one which falls quite flat, which is a shame. The chorus is understated and in terms of melody the track is disappointing. But the subject matter lets us know a lot about Pink’s emotions and attitude. It explores physical violence, by both her partner and her father: “Is it love, or just a curse, do you feel good when I hurt”.
7/10
I have decided not to review the re-mixes because they are really an unnecessary addition and are only there as an incentive to buy the album. Overall, it is clear that Pink has gone through a lot of pain and has endured some difficult times in her short life, and this has come across in many of her songs. She clearly has a lot of pent up anger and dismay towards many people in her life, and has chosen to vent these through music. The lyrics therefore are from the heart, on the 6 tracks which she has written anyway. Elsewhere there are many excellent tracks, and also some poorer ones which mar what is a very distinguished and distinctive debut album. Pink certainly has an excellent voice, exposed when she gave the screeching poodle Christina Aguilera a run for her money on Lady Marmalade.
Overall, this is a very good debut album, and one which you should definitely check out if you are a fan of the latest brand of commercial R’n’B. Not meant to cause any offence, but she is definitely a black girl in a white girl’s body. Don’t know what she’d do if she ever changed her hair colour though…
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The contrivance level is high on this debut by an R&B singer named for her out-of-a-bottle ... more
hair colour. La Face Records' latest female discovery is positioned midway between mainstream hip-hop soul and poor imitations of Kelis-style anger. Producer-wri...
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Split Personality Hell Wit Ya Most Girls There You Go You Make Me Sick Let Me Let You Know ... more
Love Is Such A Crazy Thing Private Show Can't Take Me Home Stop Falling Do What U Do Hiccup Is It Love There You Go (Sovereign Mix) Most Girls (X Men Vocal Mix)
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Advantages: well-produced, clever lyrics, catchy tunes, a really good voice Disadvantages: ballads, the fact she has now abandoned her r & b roots, no lyrics provided
Aug 24th, 2001
very helpful by (100%):
