Four years (and one baby girl!) since her last studio album Funhouse, punky pop princess P!nk has returned at long last with her sixth studio album, The Truth About Love, which was released on September 18. (Yesterday!)
The record–which was largely produced by pop savant Greg Kurstin, as well as Billy Mann, Jeff Bhasker, Max Martin and Shellback–includes lead single “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)” and current single “Try.” There’s also a bunch of collaborations, including “True Love” with Lily Allen–err, Lily Rose Cooper, “Here Comes The Weekend” with Eminem, and “Just Give Me a Reason” with Fun.‘s Nate Ruess. And then there’s my personal favorite: “Walk of Shame.”
And so, to celebrate the release…
Yesterday, I had the chance to hear P!nk‘s upcoming single, “Blow Me (One Last Kiss).” It’s massive. Here’s why.
Sounds like: P!nk’s latest plays like a natural progression from 2010′s Max Martin & Shellback-produced anthem “Raise Your Glass,” with some slicker production courtesy of the always incredible Greg Kurstin. While the chorus is a crashing pop-rock affair, the verses float above a lightly synthed-out lick of airy guitar, reminiscent of Modest Mouse‘s “Float On.” (In fact, I could almost swear it’s a sample.)
Every single inch of the song is melodic, yell-y and unbelievably catchy–essentially the greatest anthem Kelly Clarkson never recorded. It’s incredibly Kelly Clarkson, in the vein of “Since U Been Gone,” “Let Me Down” or “Don’t Let Me Stop You.” Sure, “Blow Me” is a Pink track–but there are points during the chorus where her voice is nearly indistinguishable from Clarkson’s own vocals. Is the fact that Greg Kurstin produced a few tracks off of Clarkson’s last studio album Stronger merely a coincidence? Doubtful.
Lyrics: She’s turned her weapon on bleach blonde bitches, bullies and assholes in the past, but now she’s back to firing bullets directly in between her own man’s eyes. But unlike her sing-songy, obnoxious 2008 post-separation anthem “So What?”, she’s dropped the “too school for cool” (dare I say it, cheesy!) lyricism, and now she’s just fucking angry–Missundaztood style (think “Just Like A Pill”): “Tie a knot in the rope/Trying to hold, trying to hold/But there’s nothing to grab, so I let go,” she cries out before the first chorus explodes.
And if “So What?” is defiance, “Blow Me” is resigned, bleary-eyed revenge: “I’ll dress nice, I’ll look good, I’ll go dancing alone/I’ll laugh, I’ll get drunk, I’ll take somebody home,” she promises (threatens?) at one point. Also: “I think that life’s too short for this/Want back my ignorance and bliss”? Incredible line.
Amazing chorus: “I think I’ve finally had enough/I think I maybe think too much/I think this might be it for us/Blow me one last kiss/You think I’m just as serious/I think you’re full of shit/My head is spinning, so/Blow me one last kiss.”
Radio factor: I’m assuming a clean version’s already been cut, because the censors will have her head for the original: “Just when it can’t get worse, I’ve had a shit day/You’ve had a shit day/We’ve had a shit day,” Pink yelps defiantly during the post-chorus. Oh, and there’s my favorite lyric: “Now I’m sick, whiskey dick, no more battles for me!” But potty-mouthed poetry aside, there’s nothing that’s going to stop Pink’s latest from topping the radio charts. (Her last single was called “Fuckin’ Perfect”–she’ll be fine.)
Final impression: While Pink’s no stranger to a good ol’ rebellious pop-rock anthem, “Blow Me”–cheeky title aside–is probably one of Pink’s most genuinely scowling offerings in years. It’s more jagged and raw than what she’s been releasing, yet just as much of an earworm–and that’s a very, very good thing.
Rest assured: This will be a song of the summer when it premieres on July 9.
EDIT: It’s here! Listen to “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)” now!
Start gathering the balloons and cutting the confetti cake now: A little under two years since her last single “Fuckin’ Perfect” and just under four years since her last studio record Funhouse, Pink is coming out–so you better get this party started once again.
(You might want to keep the volume at a reasonable level, though–she’s got a little bebe named Willow now, you know!)
That’s right! Just minutes ago, the singer uploaded a surprise video on Twitter, where she announced that the lead single from her upcoming sixth studio album will be called “Blow Me (One Last Kiss),” produced by the reliably incredible Greg Kurstin, and will be released on July 9.
“Blow Me”? Oh Pink, you and your sassy sense of humor!
This isn’t the first time she’s collaborated with Kurstin: The two previously paired up for “Centerfold,” the UK bonus track on 2006′s I’m Not Dead…and that track’s fucking amazing and underrated. You ready for what’s next?
Check out Pink’s announcement below!
If you’re like me, you spend a majority of your night lying awake in bed wondering aloud: “What are the Spice Girls doing with their lives right now?”
Well, Victoria‘s busy being flawless and pushing out babies named after magazines and fashionable jeans. Mel B is busy being pregnant, Emma‘s being mommy-like and hosting radio shows, and Geri‘s busy getting her biddies out with both an upcoming bikini line and new music. (Which of the two will burst out first? Who knows!)
As for Melanie C? She’s about to release her fifth studio album, The Sea.
After the quiet release of the (very good) “Rock Me” in June as an official tie-in with the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup (keeping it Sporty, always!), the singer has come rocketing back with the (amazing) official lead single from the campaign: “Think About It.”
Recorded with Adam Argyle (who also worked on Melanie’s last two studio albums) and Danish producer Cutfather (Kylie Minogue, The Wanted), “Think About It” might best be described as a perfect mash-up between “Raise Your Glass,” “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” and “Teenage Dream,” meshing the gritty guitar verses of P!nk and Katy Perry‘s rebel revelry anthems and mixing them up with the masterfully lush, dreamy choruses of Perry’s 2010 summer smash.
Is it the most original song? No, not particularly–it’s essentially the greatest parts of Teenage Dream. But one listen to those gorgeous, soaring vocals and pulsing summery synthesizers and you’ll likely forget that you probably heard this one playing on the radio before.
To order the limited edition “Think About It” CD single, click here.
The Sea will be released on September 4. (iTunes)
There’s no hope for humanity if this album doesn’t achieve world peace.
In a pop climate chock full of self-empowerment–from Lady Gaga‘s “Born This Way” to Katy Perry‘s “Firework” to Beyonce‘s “Run The World (Girls)” to P!nk‘s “Raise Your Glass” to Ke$ha‘s “We R Who We R”–it’s hard to flip to a Top 40 radio station and not hear a single scorching dance number set to the tune of tolerance.
But lest we’re all forget, RuPaul‘s already been beating that synth drum for the past twenty years.
From 1992′s “Supermodel (You Better Work)” to 2004′s “Looking Good, Feeling Gorgeous” to 2009′s “Jealous Of My Boogie,” every inch of RuPaul’s glitter-encrusted career has been spent preaching the virtues of self-love. As she famously signs off each episode of her LOGO reality show, RuPaul’s Drag Race: “If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell you gon’ love somebody else?”
In 2009, RuPaul released her fourth studio album: Champion, a solid collection of uptempo club cuts produced by L.A. based composer and producer, Lucian Piane (perhaps best known as RevoLucian, producer of amazing parody remixes including the still incredible Christian Bale on-set freak out mix, “Bale Out”.)
Now, nearly two years later, RuPaul returns with a brand new collection: Glamazon, an album set to send Champion and skyrocketing into the next dimension of sound.
MuuMuse had the opportunity to chat with Ru’s musical producer Lucian Piane about the upcoming release, recording with Ru, and just what she’s got up her sleeve–sorry, weave for her next album. So what you waiting for, hunty?
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