The Truth About Love by P!nk
P!nk. (2012). The truth about love [Audio CD]. Kurstin, et al. New York: RCA Records.
Plot Summary
The Truth About Love tells about love in all its good and bad.
Are We All We Are (Explicit): Pink wonders if she, and the people in her life, are being all they can be.
Blow Me (One Last Kiss) (Explicit): Pink sings about her understanding a guy was not all he seemed. He has messed with her one too many times, and she has decided to leave and live her own life.
Try : Pink sings about a man she loved, how their desire was a flame, and the flame ended up burning her. However, the burn does not lead to death, and it is important to get up and try again.
Just Give Me a Reason: Pink sings about growing apart in a relationship while Nate Ruess from Fun. counters her argument saying she must be dreaming.
True Love (Explicit): Pink sings about a man she cannot stand at times, who makes her so angry, but at the same time loves him more than anyone else she knows.
How Come You’re Not Here: Pink sings about a man who has left her, and she does not know why or where he’s gone. She’s heard rumors, but wants him to come back or she might die.
Slut Like You (Explicit): Pink has fun singing about picking up guys.
The Truth About Love (Explicit): Pink sings about finding the person of her dreams, only to find out he’s just as flawed as anyone else and the regret that remains.
Beam Me Up: There’s a parallel universe where everything is okay, and Pink wants to be beamed up to this better world.
Walk of Shame (Explicit): Pink sings about waking up in a stranger’s apartment as she hurries to the elevator hoping no one sees her.
Here Comes the Weekend (Explicit): Eminem guest sings on this song about preparing for a fun night out on the town.
Where Did the Beat Go?: Pink sings about her partner forgetting her, and turning to another man instead.
The Great Escape: Pink is telling someone that she knows life can be difficult, but that passion and pain are what keep people alive, and it will be worth it in the end.
Critical Evaluation
The Truth About Love, the latest album by P!nk is quintessential P!nk. Full of expletives, some necessary, some gratuitous, some probably just for shock, P!nk is not one to pull punches. Her familiar brand of pop with punk, R & B, and rap mixed in leads to a fantastic album. P!nk has one of most powerful voices in today’s music world that she uses to strengthen her listeners (females especially) as well as stab anyone who has gotten in her way. The album begins with two hard-hitting female empowerment songs, followed by two calmer ballads. The second, “Just Give Me a Reason” features a duet with Nate Ruess of Fun., and is such a perfect combination of voices one wishes they would record an entire album together. The next few tracks return to typical P!nk; loud, brash, full of hard beats, and throaty vocals. Rapper Eminem is featured on “Here Comes the Weekend,” another stomping and clapping song sure to delight fans of both artists. Sprinkled throughout are quieter ballad-type tracks with string instruments and serious vocals. The final number returns to a quieter P!ink. One gets the impression that P!nk has fun with her album, does not care what anyone else thinks about her, and she’s going to sing about whatever she wants. Not a track will disappoint.
Reader’s Annotation
P!nk returns with her unique, sassy, and sarcastic way of singing and looking and love and life. Guest singers include Nate Ruess and Eminem.
About the Author
Alecia Moore, professionally known as Pink or P!nk, was born in 1979 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. She received the nickname as a child, before she ever started dying her hair pink. Her family was musical, and she became a dancer and backing vocalist at 13. Pink began writing music at 14, and sang every Friday at Club Fever. A record executive heard her one night at Club Fever and signed Pink to a girl group. Unfortunately, the group disbanded quickly. The studio remained impressed with Pink’s singing ability and decided to sign her as a solo artist. Her debut was released in 2000 and went double platinum with three Top Ten singles. She toured with N’ SYNC later that year, but felt she was being labeled for a younger audience than she intended.
M!ssundaztood was her second album, and it also went double platinum while being more in line with Pink’s personal musical tastes. Pink’s third album was more rock-oriented and she won a Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. In 2006, Pink married Carey Hart, a motocross racer. Her fourth album was released in 2006, her fifth in 2008, her Greatest Hits in 2010, and her sixth studio album in 2012. In between her fifth and sixth studio albums, Pink announced her pregnancy and birth of her daughter Willow. With the release of her latest single, Pink now holds the record for most #1 singles on the Billboard Top 40.
Genre
Pop-Rock/Pop-Punk
Curriculum Ties
N/A
Booktalking
N/A
Reading Level/Interest Level
RL:N/A
IL: 9th grade and up
Challenge Issues
Possible challenge issues include explicit language and mature sexual content. I probably would not include in a school library.
In In my defense file, I would include the following:
1) Library Mission Statement
2) Library Selection Policy approved by any or all of the following individuals—principal, school board, district librarian OR library manager, city council, mayor.
3) Library Bill of Rights adapted from CSLA Bill of Rights, AASL Bill of Rights and/or ALA Bill of Rights
4) Reviews, both positive and critical, from respected sources such as School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist
5) Rationale for CD inclusion for titles anticipated to be controversial, frequently challenged, or created when a CD is challenged including: summary, audience, purpose, controversial issues and how they are handled
6) How the CD fits within Common Core Standards or State Standards
7) Reconsideration form for challenger to complete—include a section asking which part was of particular concern, if the entire CD was listened to, and what other similar titles are suggested instead
8) Student reviews from those who have listened to the CD and either enjoyed or disliked the CD and why.
Why Included
P!nk currently has the #1 song on the Billboard 100 and two other singles from this album have reached the top 10. She has outlasted or become more popular than Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, and Cristina Aguilera. I’m usually an alternative rock listener, but P!nk is my guilty pleasure.
Others in the Series
P!nk has five previous albums, and one Greatest Hits.
References
Billboard. (2013). P!nk. Retrieved from http://www.billboard.com/artist/277117/pnk/biography
P!nk. (2012). The truth about love [Audio CD]. Kurstin, et al. New York: RCA Records.
Plot Summary
The Truth About Love tells about love in all its good and bad.
Are We All We Are (Explicit): Pink wonders if she, and the people in her life, are being all they can be.
Blow Me (One Last Kiss) (Explicit): Pink sings about her understanding a guy was not all he seemed. He has messed with her one too many times, and she has decided to leave and live her own life.
Try : Pink sings about a man she loved, how their desire was a flame, and the flame ended up burning her. However, the burn does not lead to death, and it is important to get up and try again.
Just Give Me a Reason: Pink sings about growing apart in a relationship while Nate Ruess from Fun. counters her argument saying she must be dreaming.
True Love (Explicit): Pink sings about a man she cannot stand at times, who makes her so angry, but at the same time loves him more than anyone else she knows.
How Come You’re Not Here: Pink sings about a man who has left her, and she does not know why or where he’s gone. She’s heard rumors, but wants him to come back or she might die.
Slut Like You (Explicit): Pink has fun singing about picking up guys.
The Truth About Love (Explicit): Pink sings about finding the person of her dreams, only to find out he’s just as flawed as anyone else and the regret that remains.
Beam Me Up: There’s a parallel universe where everything is okay, and Pink wants to be beamed up to this better world.
Walk of Shame (Explicit): Pink sings about waking up in a stranger’s apartment as she hurries to the elevator hoping no one sees her.
Here Comes the Weekend (Explicit): Eminem guest sings on this song about preparing for a fun night out on the town.
Where Did the Beat Go?: Pink sings about her partner forgetting her, and turning to another man instead.
The Great Escape: Pink is telling someone that she knows life can be difficult, but that passion and pain are what keep people alive, and it will be worth it in the end.
Critical Evaluation
The Truth About Love, the latest album by P!nk is quintessential P!nk. Full of expletives, some necessary, some gratuitous, some probably just for shock, P!nk is not one to pull punches. Her familiar brand of pop with punk, R & B, and rap mixed in leads to a fantastic album. P!nk has one of most powerful voices in today’s music world that she uses to strengthen her listeners (females especially) as well as stab anyone who has gotten in her way. The album begins with two hard-hitting female empowerment songs, followed by two calmer ballads. The second, “Just Give Me a Reason” features a duet with Nate Ruess of Fun., and is such a perfect combination of voices one wishes they would record an entire album together. The next few tracks return to typical P!nk; loud, brash, full of hard beats, and throaty vocals. Rapper Eminem is featured on “Here Comes the Weekend,” another stomping and clapping song sure to delight fans of both artists. Sprinkled throughout are quieter ballad-type tracks with string instruments and serious vocals. The final number returns to a quieter P!ink. One gets the impression that P!nk has fun with her album, does not care what anyone else thinks about her, and she’s going to sing about whatever she wants. Not a track will disappoint.
Reader’s Annotation
P!nk returns with her unique, sassy, and sarcastic way of singing and looking and love and life. Guest singers include Nate Ruess and Eminem.
About the Author
Alecia Moore, professionally known as Pink or P!nk, was born in 1979 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. She received the nickname as a child, before she ever started dying her hair pink. Her family was musical, and she became a dancer and backing vocalist at 13. Pink began writing music at 14, and sang every Friday at Club Fever. A record executive heard her one night at Club Fever and signed Pink to a girl group. Unfortunately, the group disbanded quickly. The studio remained impressed with Pink’s singing ability and decided to sign her as a solo artist. Her debut was released in 2000 and went double platinum with three Top Ten singles. She toured with N’ SYNC later that year, but felt she was being labeled for a younger audience than she intended.
M!ssundaztood was her second album, and it also went double platinum while being more in line with Pink’s personal musical tastes. Pink’s third album was more rock-oriented and she won a Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. In 2006, Pink married Carey Hart, a motocross racer. Her fourth album was released in 2006, her fifth in 2008, her Greatest Hits in 2010, and her sixth studio album in 2012. In between her fifth and sixth studio albums, Pink announced her pregnancy and birth of her daughter Willow. With the release of her latest single, Pink now holds the record for most #1 singles on the Billboard Top 40.
Genre
Pop-Rock/Pop-Punk
Curriculum Ties
N/A
Booktalking
N/A
Reading Level/Interest Level
RL:N/A
IL: 9th grade and up
Challenge Issues
Possible challenge issues include explicit language and mature sexual content. I probably would not include in a school library.
In In my defense file, I would include the following:
1) Library Mission Statement
2) Library Selection Policy approved by any or all of the following individuals—principal, school board, district librarian OR library manager, city council, mayor.
3) Library Bill of Rights adapted from CSLA Bill of Rights, AASL Bill of Rights and/or ALA Bill of Rights
4) Reviews, both positive and critical, from respected sources such as School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist
5) Rationale for CD inclusion for titles anticipated to be controversial, frequently challenged, or created when a CD is challenged including: summary, audience, purpose, controversial issues and how they are handled
6) How the CD fits within Common Core Standards or State Standards
7) Reconsideration form for challenger to complete—include a section asking which part was of particular concern, if the entire CD was listened to, and what other similar titles are suggested instead
8) Student reviews from those who have listened to the CD and either enjoyed or disliked the CD and why.
Why Included
P!nk currently has the #1 song on the Billboard 100 and two other singles from this album have reached the top 10. She has outlasted or become more popular than Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, and Cristina Aguilera. I’m usually an alternative rock listener, but P!nk is my guilty pleasure.
Others in the Series
P!nk has five previous albums, and one Greatest Hits.
References
Billboard. (2013). P!nk. Retrieved from http://www.billboard.com/artist/277117/pnk/biography
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