Spring Break
Pink's "Funhouse" isn't all that fun, not really rock star
Justin Pacheco
Issue date: 10/28/08 Section: Entertainment
10/28/08 -
Pink is a pop star, not a rock star. This is an undeniable fact. Unfortunately Pink seems unaware of this since the first track of her new album, Funhouse called "So What" finds her declaring "I'm still a rock star," over and over again.
However, if "So What" was the only track you ever heard by Pink you could make the mistake of thinking she was actually a rock star. The lead track is based around a catchy guitar riff and is indeed a pop-rock song.
The track is full of Pink's usual bratty attitude and even takes a shot at Jessica Simpson with the lines "the waiter took my table/and gave it to Jessica Simp-Shit!" Pink obviously fancies herself as an edgier alternative to pop stars like Kelly Clarkson, Jessica Simpson or Britney Spears.
Of course the idea that she is anything but a pop star is shattered by listening to the rest the album. The vast majority of the remaining songs are slow, sappy ballads likely about her divorce with Carey Hart.
A song like "I Don't Believe You" exemplifies the sappy ballad, complete with soft piano and string accompaniment and would not seem out of place being sung by any other big pop singer. "Glitter in the Air" is another big pop ballad along the same the same lines.
The tracks "Bad Influence" and "It's All Your Fault" pick up the pace and attempt to actually rock out. "Bad Influence" is more funky than rocking, but is at least a change from a limp ballad.
It's an okay song, but lyrics like "I'm the instigator of underwear/showing up here and there" and the chorus' "I can't help I like to party, it's genetic" bring it down to nearly unbearable.
The song's lyrics about excessive drinking and partying make Pink out to be a knockoff Amy Winehouse, which is unfortunate for everyone.
"It's All Your Fault" is a rock song in the way that Kelly Clarkson's "Since You've Been Gone" is a rock song. It has guitars throughout and the drums actually sound real rather than electronic. In fact, the song actually sounds a lot like Clarkson's.
The title track, "Funhouse" is probably the second most likeable song on the album. It's a nice upbeat song. It's not as fun or catchy as "So What" but it comes closer than anything else on the album.
In all fairness it seems like Pink didn't wanted to make a fun album, which is perfectly fine. But breathy ballads aren't the only the only way to do breakup songs.
For example, "Crystal Ball" does a good job of being a serious song about her divorce that isn't full of cringe worthy sappiness. It's just Pink singing over a simple acoustic guitar and it's a pretty good song. Pink would have been much better served by releasing an album of similar songs instead of the overproduced junk here.
Pink is a pop star, not a rock star. This is an undeniable fact. Unfortunately Pink seems unaware of this since the first track of her new album, Funhouse called "So What" finds her declaring "I'm still a rock star," over and over again.
However, if "So What" was the only track you ever heard by Pink you could make the mistake of thinking she was actually a rock star. The lead track is based around a catchy guitar riff and is indeed a pop-rock song.
The track is full of Pink's usual bratty attitude and even takes a shot at Jessica Simpson with the lines "the waiter took my table/and gave it to Jessica Simp-Shit!" Pink obviously fancies herself as an edgier alternative to pop stars like Kelly Clarkson, Jessica Simpson or Britney Spears.
Of course the idea that she is anything but a pop star is shattered by listening to the rest the album. The vast majority of the remaining songs are slow, sappy ballads likely about her divorce with Carey Hart.
A song like "I Don't Believe You" exemplifies the sappy ballad, complete with soft piano and string accompaniment and would not seem out of place being sung by any other big pop singer. "Glitter in the Air" is another big pop ballad along the same the same lines.
The tracks "Bad Influence" and "It's All Your Fault" pick up the pace and attempt to actually rock out. "Bad Influence" is more funky than rocking, but is at least a change from a limp ballad.
It's an okay song, but lyrics like "I'm the instigator of underwear/showing up here and there" and the chorus' "I can't help I like to party, it's genetic" bring it down to nearly unbearable.
The song's lyrics about excessive drinking and partying make Pink out to be a knockoff Amy Winehouse, which is unfortunate for everyone.
"It's All Your Fault" is a rock song in the way that Kelly Clarkson's "Since You've Been Gone" is a rock song. It has guitars throughout and the drums actually sound real rather than electronic. In fact, the song actually sounds a lot like Clarkson's.
The title track, "Funhouse" is probably the second most likeable song on the album. It's a nice upbeat song. It's not as fun or catchy as "So What" but it comes closer than anything else on the album.
In all fairness it seems like Pink didn't wanted to make a fun album, which is perfectly fine. But breathy ballads aren't the only the only way to do breakup songs.
For example, "Crystal Ball" does a good job of being a serious song about her divorce that isn't full of cringe worthy sappiness. It's just Pink singing over a simple acoustic guitar and it's a pretty good song. Pink would have been much better served by releasing an album of similar songs instead of the overproduced junk here.
