by Pink’s Perspective on Her Own Discography
Since breaking into the music scene in 2000, Pink has established herself as one of the best-selling artists of all time with over 90 million records sold worldwide. With eight studio albums under her belt spanning over two decades in the industry, Pink’s discography showcases her evolution as both an artist and a person. However, not every song is one she particularly enjoys listening back to. In interviews over the years, Pink has offered candid insights into which of her own songs she connects with the most – and least. Let’s take a deeper look at Pink’s perspective on different eras and albums in her illustrious career.
Early Career Songs
Pink’s debut album Can’t Take Me Home was released in 2000 to commercial success. However, it’s an album she has expressed mixed feelings about in retrospect. In a 2012 interview with Billboard, Pink acknowledged “I’m really proud of my debut album and all the work I put into it, but there’s not a song on there that I want to listen to for fun these days.”
Artists often grow and change significantly in their early careers, and Pink is no exception. The bubblegum pop sound of Can’t Take Me Home doesn’t necessarily reflect who she is as an artist today. In the same interview, she said “I was so young when I wrote and recorded that album. I had no idea who I was or what kind of artist I wanted to be.”
Pink’s self-titled second album from 2001 saw her begin to find her signature sound and take more creative control as a songwriter. However, it still leans heavily into a mainstream pop formula she has since evolved beyond. In a 2011 interview with Billboard, Pink reflected “I love that I put out Pink and I’m proud of it, but there’s only a couple songs on there that I want to listen to for fun now.”
It’s understandable that Pink wouldn’t feel the strongest personal connection to music she made in her late teens/early 20s finding her footing in the industry. Her talents were still developing, and she has grown tremendously as an artist in the two decades since. While proud of paving the way early in her career, it’s clear Pink’s taste has expanded beyond the sound of her debut era.
Mixed Feelings on “The Truth About Love”
2012’s The Truth About Love was a commercial and critical high point for Pink, becoming her best-selling album to date. However, not every song is one she enjoys revisiting. In a 2013 forum on Popjustice, Pink was asked about disliking certain songs on the album. She responded “There are definitely a few songs on The Truth About Love that I don’t love listening to…I think sometimes I relied too heavily on a specific style on some tracks, and they don’t feel as unique to me now.”
This provides interesting insight into how artists can view their own work. Even on hugely successful albums, not every song strikes the same chord years later. Pink seems to value uniqueness and avoiding repetition in her music – qualities some Truth About Love tracks may have lacked for her personal taste. It’s a testament to her growth that she isn’t afraid to admit which songs don’t fully represent who she is as an artist now.
Disliking “True Love”
One song in particular Pink has expressed disappointment in is “True Love” from The Truth About Love. Despite being written about her husband Carey Hart, Pink told the LA Times in 2013 she doesn’t consider it a love song. She elaborated “I hate that song…it’s not a love song, it’s a relationship song but it’s not a love song.”
This provides a window into Pink’s songwriting process. To her, a love song evokes strong emotion and romance, whereas “True Love” focused more on the ups and downs of a long-term relationship. Pink holds her music to high standards, and wasn’t fully satisfied that the song achieved what she intended sentiment-wise. It’s a testament to her artistry that she isn’t afraid to critique even songs with personal significance if they don’t represent her vision.
Growth with “Beautiful Trauma”
By 2017’s Beautiful Trauma, Pink had been in the industry for nearly two decades. She had also gone through significant life changes as a new mother in her late 30s. All of these experiences contributed to what is widely seen as one of her most cohesive and personal albums to date.
In an interview with Billboard, Pink reflected “I feel so much more connected to the songs on Beautiful Trauma than any other record I’ve done…they really feel like a representation of who I am right now.” This sense of personal resonance is something Pink has said is important for her to feel in her music.
It’s clear from her perspective that Pink’s discography mirrors her own artistic and personal growth over the past 20+ years. While proud of her earlier work paving the way, only certain songs retain that special connection for her now. Albums like Beautiful Trauma allow Pink’s evolution as a songwriter and woman to shine through in a uniquely powerful way.
Continued Growth with “Hurts 2B Human”
Pink’s 2019 album Hurts 2B Human continued her streak of critically acclaimed, cohesive projects showcasing her talents. In an interview with Zane Lowe upon its release, she reflected “This feels like the most ‘me’ album I’ve ever made…it’s really personal and honest.”
Pink attributes this to feeling comfortable in her own skin after two decades in the spotlight. She told Lowe “I’m at a place now where I don’t have anything to prove to anyone but myself. I just want to make music that feels real.” This sense of artistic freedom and self-assurance has allowed Pink’s recent work to achieve a level of emotional resonance that even she connects deeply to.
Looking Ahead
As Pink continues working on new music, it’s clear her perspective on her own discography will also evolve. She remains unafraid to be candid about which eras and songs hold up most for her personally decades later. This willingness to critique herself honestly, even when successful, is what makes Pink not just a skilled songwriter but also a thoughtful artist.
While proud of paving the way early on, only Pink’s most recent albums like Beautiful Trauma and Hurts 2B Human achieve the level of authentic representation of herself she strives for. This constant motivation to grow will surely lead to even more resonant work in Pink’s future. Her discography as a whole reflects the journey of an iconic artist who continues challenging herself to new artistic heights.
