Pink

Alecia Moore (Pink)
Background information
Birth name	Alecia Beth Moore
Born	September 8 1979 (1979--) (age 28)
Origin	Doylestown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genre(s)	Pop, Rock
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter, record producer, actress
Years active	1996 – present
Label(s)	Sony BMG, Zomba, LaFace, Arista
Website	www.pinkspage.com

Alecia Beth 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. Her pop rock-based second studio album, M!ssundaztood, was released in 2001 and is her biggest seller to date. 2003's Try This, her third album, failed to match the success of M!ssundaztood. After taking a break, Pink released her fourth studio album, I'm Not Dead (2006), which has been successful worldwide. Pink has sold over twenty-five 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. When 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 in life.^[7] She began performing in Philadelphia clubs when she was fourteen years old. At age sixteen, she joined the R&B Atlanta-based trio 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 Pink. 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

Main article: Can't Take Me Home

Pink's debut album, Can't Take Me Home, was co-produced by her, Babyface and Steve Rhythm and 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, with 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,^[8] which included bright pink hair.

In 2001 she collaborated with Christina Aguilera, rapper Lil' Kim and Mýa on a cover of Labelle's 1975 single "Lady Marmalade" recorded for the soundtrack of the film Moulin Rouge!. Produced by hip-hop producers Rockwilder and Missy Elliott, the song topped the charts in countries including the U.S. (where it became the most successful airplay-only single in history^[9]), the UK and Australia. The success of the single was helped by its music video, which was popular on music channels^[10] and featured the four singers dressed in sexually suggestive burlesque outfits.^{[citation needed]} The song won a Grammy Award — Pink's first — for "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals", and the video won the MTV Video Music Award for "Video of the Year".^[11]

2001–2002: M!ssundaztood

Main article: M!ssundaztood

Tired of being marketed as another cookie-cutter pop act and eager to become a more serious songwriter and musician,^[8] 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, and the title of which was a reference to Pink's belief that people had a wrong image of her.^{[citation needed]} 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.

Its lead single, "Get the Party Started" (written and produced by Perry), went top five in the U.S. and many other countries, and number one in Australia. 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). M!ssundaztood was certified gold or platinum status in more than twenty countries,^[12] with worldwide sales of twelve million.^[13] It was the second-best-selling album in the UK during 2002, and Pink was the best-selling female artist globally.^[14] As of 2007, it is the best-selling album of her career.

In 2002, after opening for 'N Sync on their American tour, Pink started a headlining American, European and Australian tour, the Party Tour; later, she became a supporting act for Lenny Kravitz's American tour. The 2002 Faith Hill album Cry features a song co-written by Pink and Perry called "If You're Gonna Fly". 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.

2003–2004: Try This

Main article: Try This

In mid-2003 Pink contributed the song "Feel Good Time" to the soundtrack of the film Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, in which she had a cameo appearance as a motorcross race ramp owner/promoter. "Feel Good Time" was co-written by singer Beck, produced by electronic music artist William Orbit and based on the song "Fresh Garbage" by 60s band Spirit. 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. During the same period, a song Pink co-wrote with Damon Elliott was released on Mýa's album Moodring.

"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 Linda Perry 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 went platinum in the U.S. and sold over three million copies worldwide, a commercial flop compared to M!ssundaztood.^[15] 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 on the Try This Tour through Europe and Australia, where the album was better received.

2006–present: I'm Not Dead

Main article: 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."^[16] 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 and reached the top ten in the U.S., the top five in the UK and number one in Australia and Germany. It was a substantial success throughout the world, particularly in Australia,^[17] but it was Pink's lowest seller in the U.S. until the success of the single "[[U + Ur Hand]]" in early 2007. I'm Not Dead is Pink's second biggest seller worldwide, with sales of 5.6 million to date.

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,^[18] 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, and they later became top ten singles in the U.S. in 2007. 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 top five hit in Germany, Australia and other European countries; and "Leave Me Alone (I'm Lonely)", which reached the UK top forty and the top five in Australia. On September 23, 2007 "I'm Not Dead" broke the record for the longest album to consecutively remain in the Australian top ten albums chart, lasting 77 weeks.^[19] Due to the massive success of the album, "Cuz I Can" is going to be released as a seventh single in Australia.

Pink 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, giving her the record for the biggest concert attendance for an arena tour by a female artist. She performed thirty-five shows in Australia alone, breaking a record previously held by Kylie Minogue.^[20] One of the shows on the tour was taped and released as a DVD in 2007, Pink: Live from Wembley Arena. In 2007 she opened for Justin Timberlake on the American leg of his FutureSex/LoveShow Tour.

Pink performing on the I'm Not Dead summer tour (2007)

Whilst in Australia Pink attended the 2007 Mtv Australia Video Music Awards, performing her smash hit "U+Ur Hand" along with an amazing sky show. She also won two mtv awards "Best Female Artist" & "Download Of The Year".

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.^[21] She co-wrote the 2006 India.Arie song "I Am Not My Hair", and a remix featuring Pink was featured in the Lifetime television film Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy. She wrote a song ("I Will") for Natalia's third album, Everything & More. "Outside of You", another song co-written by Pink, was recorded by dance-pop singer Hilary Duff and released on her 2007 album Dignity.

Pink recorded a song with Annie Lennox and twenty-two other female acts for Lennox's fourth solo studio album, Songs of Mass Destruction. Titled "Sing", it was written as an anthem for HIV AIDS, according to Lennox's official site.^[22] The album was released on October 1, 2007.^{[citation needed]}

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 2007 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."^[23] Pink was once on the short list of people to play Janis Joplin in an upcoming biopic titled Gospel According to Janis, 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. "All I can say at this point is that if Janis wants the film to be made, it will be made", Pink said in 2006.^[24]

Sony has expressed interest in making a second sequel to Charlie's Angels, as has star and producer Drew Barrymore, who is reportedly considering Pink for a role in the film. Pink said, "I hope that I get to play my role as a bad girl."^[25]

Personal life

Pink dyes her hair frequently (usually colors such as pink, red and black), but she is a natural blonde. She has both her nipples pierced, one nipple piercing was in front of her mother and is featured on one of her DVDs. 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" (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.^[26]

Pink married motocross racer Carey Hart in Costa Rica on January 7, 2006 at sunset. She proposed to him in 2005 by holding up a sign for him to see during one of his races in Mammoth Lakes California.^[27] Before she began her relationship with Hart, she was rumored to have dated Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee & Rancid guitarist Lars Frederiksen.^{[citation needed]}

Pink, who follows a strict vegetarian lifestyle, is 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 him for fox hunting and one to Queen Elizabeth II protesting about the use of real fur in the bearskins of the Foot Guards and the Honourable Artillery Company. In November 2006 Pink mentioned in the News of the World that she was 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.

Her campaigning led to a headlining concert in Cardiff, Wales on August 21 2007 which is PAW (Party for Animals Worldwide). This highlighted her involvement with animal cruelty problems.^[28]

Tours

Headlining

• 2002: Party Tour (U.S., Europe and Australia)
• 2004: Try This Tour (Europe and Australia)
• 2006-2007: I'm Not Dead Tour (North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.)
• 2007: I'm Not Dead Summer Tour (Europe, Asia, South Africa - Sun City )

As supporting act

• 2001: Lenny Kravitz
• 2002: 'N Sync
• 2002: Janet Jackson ¹
• 2007: Justin Timberlake

¹ Support with Janet Jackson was cancelled because of the 9/11 attacks.

Awards and nominations

Main article: Pink awards and nominations

Grammy Awards

Source: Grammy official site

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Pink (singer)

• Official site
• Pink at MySpace
• Pink at the Internet Movie Database
• Pink at Last.fm
• Pink at TV.com
• Interview with CBC

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