Pink (singer)
Background information
Birth name Alecia Beth Moore
Also known as P!nk or Pink
Born September 8, 1979 (1979-09-08) (age 27)
Origin Flag of Pennsylvania Doylestown, Pennsylvania, USA
Genre(s) Pop
Pop rock
Alternative rock
Blue-eyed soul
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, record producer, actress
Years active 1996 to present
Label(s) LaFace, Arista
Website PinksPage.com
ImNotDead.co.uk
Pi
Alecia Moore (IPA pronunciation: [ə'li:ʃə 'mɔ:(ɹ)][1]) (born on September 8,
1979), known professionally as Pink (often stylized as P!nk), is an American
singer-songwriter who gained prominence in 2000.
Pink released her first record, the R&B based Can't Take Me Home, in 2000
via LaFace Records. In 2001, she participated in the worldhit single Lady
Marmalade. Her pop rock-based second studio album, M!ssundaztood, was
released in 2001 and is her biggest seller to date, including big hits like
Get The Party Started, Don't Let Me Get Me and Just Like a Pill. 2003's Try
This, her third album, failed to match the success of M!zzundaztood with
Trouble as an only hit. After taking a break, Pink released her fourth
studio album, I'm Not Dead (2006), which has been successful worldwide with
the hit singles Stupid Girls, Who Knew, U + Ur Hand and Dear Mr. President.
Pink had sold over 25 million albums[2] (see Pink discography).
Childhood and discovery
Alecia Beth Moore was born in Doylestown, Pennsylvania to Vietnam veteran
James Moore and nurse Judy Kugel. She is of Jewish ancestry on her mother's
side, and is Irish, German and Lithuanian on her father's.[3][4] Moore has
identified herself as Jewish.[5] She grew up in Doylestown, Pennsylvania,
where she attended 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.
While in high school, Moore joined her first band in high school called
Middleground, which never gained popularity beyond local status. According
to Moore, her biggest influences are Janis Joplin, Steven Tyler, Bad
Religion, Mary J. Blige, Bob Marley, Billy Joel, Indigo Girls, Don McLean,
2Pac, and The Notorious B.I.G..[6]
Moore developed her voice early on in her life. [7] She began performing in
Philadelphia clubs when she was fourteen years old. At age sixteen, she
joined an R&B Atlanta-based trio called 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;
Moore remained at LaFace as a solo act under the stage name "P!nk". Daryl
Simmons took her to recordings where she sang backing vocals for artists
such as Diana Ross, 98 Degrees, Kenny Lattimore and Tevin Campbell. Pink's
debut single, the dance track "Gonna Make Ya Move (Don't Stop)," was
released in the UK in 1998 by Activ Records and appeared on the UK top 200.
Musical career
2000–2001: Can't Take Me Home
Pink's debut album, Can't Take Me Home, was co-produced by Babyface, Steve
Rhythm, and Pink. As well as being an item, Rhythm and Pink were making
music under the production name The Specialist, where she and Rhythm
produced the title track "Can't Take Me Home" as well as "Hiccup" and "Is It
Love," released in April 2000. A substantial success, it went double
platinum in the U.S., sold four million copies worldwide and produced two
U.S. top ten singles: "There You Go" and "Most Girls" (which reached number
one in Australia). The album's third single, "You Make Me Sick", became a
smaller U.S. top forty hit and UK top ten hit in early 2001 and was featured
in the film Save the Last Dance. Pink later acknowledged, in regard to Can't
Take Me Home, that she chose to relinquish creative control to her record
label and that she did not like the music she made at this time or her
image, which included bright pink hair.
Audio sample:
* "Lady Marmalade" (2001) (file info) — [Play media] play in browser (beta)
o The soundtrack for the Moulin Rouge!.
* Problems playing the files? See media help.
In May 2001, Pink collaborated with Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, and Mýa on
a remake of LaBelle's 1975 "Lady Marmalade". The track was produced by hip
hop producers Missy Elliott and Rockwilder and was featured in Baz Luhrman's
Moulin Rouge!. The single sold 5.5 million copies becoming the most
successful airplay-only single in history [1]. It became a huge hit around
the world reaching #1 in seventeen countries including the US, UK and
Australia. The song's success was driven by its sexually suggestive video,
which featured the four singers dressed in burlesque outfits. Pink and Mýa
later described that the provocative concept almost prevented the video from
being filmed; nonetheless, the video was a huge hit on MTV, VH1, and MTV2,
and collected several MTV Video Music Awards nominations in 2001. The video
won 2 including "Video of the Year".[8] At the Grammy's of 2002 the four
women performed the song and won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration
with Vocals (Pink first). The song was also one of the year's biggest at
pop, rhythmic, and even adult top 40.
2001–2002: M!ssundaztood
Tired of being marketed as another cookie-cutter pop act and eager to become
a more serious songwriter and musician, Pink took her sound in a new
direction and sought more creative control during the recording of her
second album. She recruited former 4 Non Blondes vocalist Linda Perry, and
together they wrote most of the tracks on M!ssundaztood, which was released
via Arista Records in November 2001. The title was referenced to the fact
that Pink believed that people had a wrong image of her. Perry co-produced
the album with Dallas Austin and Scott Storch. According to VH1 Driven,
Antonio "LA" Reid of LaFace Records wasn't initially content with the new
music Pink was making.
Audio samples:
* "Get the Party Started" (2001) (file info) — [Play media] play in browser
(beta)
o Written and produced by Linda Perry, the first single from M!ssundaztood.
* "Just like a Pill" (2002) (file info) — [Play media] play in browser
(beta)
o Third single from M!ssundaztood, and Pink's only solo UK number-one
single.
* Problems playing the files? See media help.
Its lead single, "Get the Party Started" (written and produced by Perry),
went top five in the U.S. and many other countries, number one in Australia.
In early 2002 Pink teamed up with Bally Total Fitness to promote Bally Total
Fitness memberships. The title of the advertising campaign was "Get This
Body Started". In 2006 Shirley Bassey covered the song for a Marks & Spencer
Christmas television advertisement.[2] Later in 2002, P!nk received a lot of
awards for the song. 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 and the United World Chart, and "Family Portrait" became a theme song
for many children whose parents were divorced (according to MTV Diary). In
2002, after opening for 'N Sync on their American tour, Pink started a
headlining American, European and Australian tour, the Party Tour. The 2002
Faith Hill album Cry features a song co-written by Pink and Perry called "If
You're Gonna Fly".
The success of the singles pushed the album to gold and platinum status in
more than twenty countries (including platinum in the UK (5x), Canada (5x),
Germany (2x) and the Netherlands) ,[9] with worldwide sales of thirteen
million.[10] Including 5.3 million copies in the U.S. only, making it become
5x platinum. The tracks "18 Wheeler" and "Eventually" were rumored as fifth
singles, but after sales that exceeded all expectations, Pink took a short
hiatus. M!ssundaztood was the second-best-selling album in the UK during
2002 (selling 1.7 million copies), and Pink was the best-selling female
artist globally. Until today M!ssunderztood is Pink's most successful album.
At the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards, "Get the Party Started" won in the
categories of "Best Female Video" and "Best Dance Video". M!ssundaztood and
"Get the Party Started" earned nominations at the 2003 Grammy Awards for
"Best Pop Vocal Album" and "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance",
respectively.
In 2002, Pink became a supporting act for Lenny Kravitz's American Tour.
2003–2004: Try This
In mid-2003 Pink contributed a song to the Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle
song, "Feel Good Time". Produced by electronic music artist William Orbit
and based on the song "Fresh Garbage" by 60s band Spirit. Pink had a cameo
appearance in the film as as a motorcross race ramp owner/promoter. "Feel
Good Time" was co-written by singer Beck, produced by electronic music
artist William Orbit. It became Pink's first single to miss the top forty on
Billboard's Hot 100 chart, although it was a hit in Europe and Australia.
Audio sample:
* "Trouble" (2003) (file info) — [Play media] play in browser (beta)
o First single from Pink's third album "Try This"
* Problems playing the files? See media help.
"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 punk band Rancid, and
Huccleberry-Finn 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, UK and
Australia, sales were considerably lower than those of M!ssundaztood; it
sold 720,000 copies in the U.S. (receiving a platinum certification). In
total the album sold over 3 million copies worldwide according to Pink
herself and E! True Hollywood Story. Which in comparison with M!ssunderztood,
Try This was a flop. The singles "Trouble" and "God Is a DJ" did not reach
the U.S. top forty 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". Pink toured extensively through Europe and
Australia where the album was better received, on the Try This Tour.
2006–present: 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."[11] At first the album name was Long Way To Happy but Pink changed it
to I'm Not Dead as she though it was a better statement; I woke up one day
and thought:'I only live once, let's make the best out of it'.[12] Pink
worked with producers Max Martin, billymann, Christopher Rojas, Butch
Walker, Lukasz Gottwald and Josh Abraham on the album. It was released in
April 2006 through LaFace Records. The album charted within the top 10 in
sixteen countries and went Platinum or Gold in 17 countries. (As of March
2007). Total sales of the album are currently at 5 million copies.[13] It
had a first week sales of over 126,000 in the US[14] and 272,000 copies
world wide.[15] It was a substantial success throughout the world, but
initially sales were low in the U.S. until the success of the single "U + Ur
Hand" in early 2007. The video adapted some of the images by well-known New
Zealand comic book artist, Martin Emond. As of June 2007 "I'm Not Dead" has
sold over 1 million copies in the U.S. The album has been most successful in
Australia; twice going to number 1, it is still currently in the top 5. It
was certified 7x platinum with sales over 500,000.[16] I'm Not Dead is
Pink's second biggest seller worldwide.
Audio samples:
* "Stupid Girls" (2006) (file info) — [Play media] play in browser (beta)
o First single from the album I'm Not Dead
* "U + Ur Hand" (2006) (file info) — [Play media] play in browser (beta)
o Sample of U + Ur Hand
* Problems playing the files? See media help.
Lead single "Stupid Girls" gave Pink her biggest U.S. hit since 2002 and
earned a Grammy Award nomination for "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance".
Its controversial video, in which she parodies celebrities such as Lindsay
Lohan and Paris Hilton,[17] 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, but "Who Knew" didn't reach the top forty in
America; "U + Ur Hand", however, became the album's biggest hit in the U.S.
The hit was a pacesetter for the support of fans on the sales chart but made
its way into the top twenty of the i-tunes tope one hundred list and so far
has peaked at #9 on the billboard hot 100. The substantial success of U + Ur
hand sparked "Who Knew" onto the hot 100 chart at 95. Thanks to the success
of U + Ur hand, "I'm Not Dead" surpassed the sales of "Try This" 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
and a number-one single in Belgium, Luxembourg and Austria;[18] and "Leave
Me Alone (I'm Lonely)", a download-only UK top forty single, and top five in
Australia and New Zealand single.
Pink has toured around the world during 2006 and 2007 on her I'm Not Dead
Tour, for which ticket sales in Australia were particularly high, with Pink
performing seven sell-out shows in Sydney alone. Pink sold approximately
307,000 tickets in Australia. This gives P!nk the record for biggest concert
attendance for an arean tour for a female artist. Pink performed 35 shows in
Australia alone. She over takes Kylie Minogue who held the record
previously.[19] A special tour edition of the album was released only in
Australia in March 2007. Her concert on December 4, 2006 in Wembley Arena on
the UK leg of the tour was hosted by London club G-A-Y, and it holds the
record as the UK's biggest indoor gay and lesbian event.This show was taped and released as a DVD in 2007 called Pink: Live from
Wembley Arena. Where it reached number-one in several countries including
Australia where it stole the number-oneposition from her previous DVD
released in 2006, which is now at number-two. In 2007 she opened for Justin
Timberlake on the American leg of his FutureSex/LoveShow Tour.
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.[20] Pink recorded a song with Annie Lennox for Lennox's fourth
solo studio album, which is scheduled for release in 2007.[21] Pink also
teamed up with grammy award winning soul singer India Arie, singing and
co-writing her comeback single "I Am Not My Hair" but was released without
Pinks vocals and later surfaced online as a remix. India was later quoted as
saying in Vibe magazine "“I actually recorded 'I Am Not My Hair' with Pink
and that was the original version. It wasn’t up to me so I had to let it
go." It was then announced the song was to be heard in a new Lifetime
Television movie, "Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy". "Outside of You",
another song co-written by Pink, Chantal Kreviazuk and Raine Maida, was
recorded by dance-pop singer Hilary Duff and released on her 2007 album
Dignity. P!nk was also featured on the special charity evening of American
Idol, Idol Gives Back. At first she planned to sing U + Ur Hand but was ask
to change the lyrics to suit the more family oriented show, changing the
name of the song to "U + Ur Heart". Pink disagreed to compromise her
artistic integrity, and performed Who Knew instead.
Acting career
Pink appeared as herself in the films Ski to the Max (2000) and Rollerball
(2002). After her cameo performance in Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, Pink
looked for another film script and settled on the horror film Catacombs,
which was shot in early 2006 and co-stars Shannyn Sossamon. "It's pretty
intense", Pink said. "It's not only a sort of slasher type, scary movie;
it's also psychological and shows how mean and cruel siblings can be to one
another. I liked that part of it."[22] Pink was once on the short list of
people to play Janis Joplin in an upcoming biopic titled The Gospel
According to Janis Joplin, but she chose not to, saying it would be
disrespectful to Joplin because the film makers didn't want to say she died
of a heroin overdose. The film has yet to go into production and all
concerned seem to have been rattled by the news that Renee Zellweger is set
to star in a rival biopic to be called Piece Of My Heart. "All I can say at
this point is that if Janis wants the film to be made, it will be made," she
says cryptically. [23]
Personal life
Pink dyes her hair frequently (usually pink, red, black, etc.), but she is a
natural blonde. On The Ellen DeGeneres Show she revealed that there are real
diamonds attached to her teeth. According to her, her dog's name is "Fucquerer",
(which is pronounced "Fucker") which she revealed in a live broadcast for
MuchMusic in 2003, forcing broadcasters to censor the name in subsequent
showings. She later said on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross that her father
adopted this puppy and changed its name to Fred, saying "He's a much happier
dog." Elvis, one of Pink's other dogs, drowned in Pink's backyard pool in
January 2007.[24]
Pink married motocross racer Carey Hart in Costa Rica on January 7, 2006 at
sunset. She proposed to him by holding up a sign for him to see during one
of his races 2005 in Mammoth Lakes California.[25] Before she began her
relationship with Hart, she was rumored to have dated Mötley Crüe drummer
Tommy Lee.
Pink who follows a strict vegan lifestyle, is also a prominent campaigner
for PETA, contributing her voice towards causes such as KFC's alleged poor
treatment of chickens. She sent a letter to Prince William, criticizing the
Royal Guards' use of bearskin for their headwear. In November, 2006, Pink
mentioned in the News of the World that she is disgusted with fellow singer
Beyoncé for wearing fur. Pink, in conjunction with PETA, recently criticized
the Australian wool industry over its use of mulesing. In January 2007, Pink
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, however her
anti-mulesing ad returned to PETA's website indicating she may again support
the campaign.[26]
Discography
Studio albums
1. Can't Take Me Home (2000)
2. M!ssundaztood (2001)
3. Try This (2003)
4. I'm Not Dead (2006)
Singles
The following singles reached number one or number two in the United States,
the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany, Netherlands and/or United
World Chart.
Year Single Peak positions[27][28][29][30]
WORLD US UK CAN AUS GER NL
2000 "Most Girls" 14 4 5 - 1 - 23
2001 "Lady Marmalade" (with, Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim and Mya) 1 1 1 1 1
1 2
"Get The Party Started" 1 4 2 11 1 1 2
"Don't Let Me Get Me" 1 8 6 20 8 10 6
2002 "Just Like A Pill" 3 8 1 4 - 2 6
2006 "Stupid Girls" 1 13 4 2 4 5 9
Total Number-one hits 4 1 2 1 3 2 0
Collaborations and featured singles
These are collaborations on singles. For the full list see P!nk's
discopgrahy
* 2001: "Lady Marmalade" (with Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim & Mya)
* 2003: "Feel Good Time" (with William Orbit)
* 2004: "Get The Party Started" (with Redman)
* 2006: "Dear Mr. President" (with Indigo Girls)
Tours
Headlining
* 2002: Party Tour (U.S,Europe and Australia)
* 2004: Try This Tour (Europe and Australia)
* 2006: I'm Not Dead Tour (U.S., Europe and Canada)
* 2007: I'm Not Dead Tour (Australia, New Zealand, Europe (open airs))
As supporting act
* 2001: Lenny Kravitz
* 2002: 'N Sync
* 2002: Janet Jackson 1
* 2007: Justin Timberlake
1 Support with Janet Jackson was cancelled due to the 9/11 attacks.
Awards and nominations
Grammy Awards
Source: Grammy official site
Year Category Recording Result
Grammy Awards
2002 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 M!ssundaztood 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
References
1. ^ See inogolo.com: Pronunciation of Alicia Moore.
2. ^ Pink Exclusive CBC: The Hour.
3. ^ http://www.sundayherald.com/54759
4. ^ http://www.christinamultimedia.com/newssource/index.php?date=2004-03&articleID=4250
5. ^ http://www.interfaithfamily.com/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=ekLSK5MLIrG&b=297399&ct=3490137.
6. ^ http://www.myspace.com/pinkspage
7. ^ Interview in the Dutch program Jensen in March 2006
8. ^ "MTV Celebrates the Best in Music Video" (September 6, 2001)
9. ^ http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2002_Dec_19/ai_95622526
10. ^ http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2003_Sept_22/ai_108002015
11. ^ "Pink: Singing With Dad Was 'Awesome'". CBS News. July 12, 2006.
Retrieved March 30, 2007.
12. ^ Interview in the Dutch program Jensen in March 2006
13. ^ www.worldwidealbums.tk World Wide Albums Sales
14. ^ Pink Outdone By Rascal Flatts On Billboard Chart". MTV News. April 12,
2006. Retrieved January 30, 2006
15. ^ Mediatraffic week 16,2006Mediatraffic
16. ^ P!nk At #1 With Album, Aussie Airplay + Single Sony BMG Australia.
Retrieved June 3 2007.
17. ^ Gardner, Elysa. "Pink's video pokes fun at 'Stupid Girls'". USA Today.
February 14, 2006.
18. ^ Ultratop.be
19. ^ Jonathon Moran Pink proves a hot ticket Sunday Telegraph June 10,
2007. Retrieved June 24, 2007.
20. ^ Official mini-site for the Pink PSP
21. ^ Undercover.com
22. ^ http://www.starsareblind.com/category/pink/
23. ^ Brian Boyd Pink Pather Irish Times. Retrieved November, 2007.
24. ^ Message about the death of Elvis
25. ^ Pink Reportedly Marries Motocross Racer. Retrieved on January 8, 2006.
26. ^ http://www.theage.com.au/news/people/pink-sheepish-over-boycott-call/2007/01/17/1168709799015_search_dictionary.html
Theage.com
27. ^ P!nk: Billboard Singles
28. ^ UK Top 40 Hit Database
29. ^ Australian Singles Chart
30. ^ United World Chart
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