Funhouse (Pink album): Difference between revisions

|Artist=[[Pink (singer)|PinkP!nk]]

'''''Funhouse''''' is the fifth [[studio album]] by [[pop music|pop]] singer [[Pink (singer)|PinkP!nk]], that was released in North America on October 28, 2008.<ref>Cohen, Jonathan (August 20, 2008).[http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003841016 PinkP!nk Steps Into The 'Funhouse']. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''. Retrieved on August 21, 2008.</ref>

The album's lead single, "[[So What (Pink song)|So What]]", has been the biggest solo success of PinkP!nk's career to date, topping the charts in eleven countries so far, including her native United States, the UK and in Australia, whilst reaching the top 5 in many others.<ref name="WOrld PeaksII">[http://acharts.us/song/37222 PinkP!nk: So What (Global Peaks)] ''ACharts.us''. Retrieved October 17, 2008.</ref>

PinkP!nk has stated that this album is her most vulnerable to date.<ref name="PinksP!nks Bio">[http://www.pinkspage.com/biography P!nk's biography: Funhouse era] ''P!nk's official website''. Retrieved October 19, 2008.</ref> Much of the album's subject matter alludes to the fact that Moore recently divorced her husband [[Carey Hart]].<ref>

[http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,26278,23245045-10388,00.html PinkP!nk blue after marriage bust-up]. ''NEWS.com.au''. Retrieved on February 20, 2008.</ref> The first single, "So What", is the best example of this, where the song opens with: "I guess I just lost my husband/I don't know where he went".<ref>[http://songteksten.net/lyric/225/66220/pink/so-what.html PinkP!nk: So What (lyrics)] ''songteksten.net''. Retrieved October 19, 2008.</ref> In the song "Please Don't Leave Me" the theme shows again, but Moore thinks that the song is funny in a way as well. "It’s like, ‘Okay, I’m an asshole, but love me anyway.’"<ref name="PinksP!nks Bio"/> Moore's favorite song on the album is "I Don't Believe You" for the fact that it's so open and naked. The country-Aerosmith-rock song "Mean" asks questions about how it could go wrong: "It was good in the beginning but how did we get so mean?"<ref name="PinksP!nks Bio"/>

The song that Moore is the most proud of is "Crystal Ball". The song deals directly with the divorce, but it's the music, melody, lyrics and vocals that she's the most proud of. She said about the track: "I recorded it in one take and we didn’t mix it. It just went straight to master. It was all about a vibe and not about perfection or being polished. I just love that song and I loved recording it."<ref name="PinksP!nks Bio"/> She wrote the song together with friend [[Billy Mann]] who also aided her with the songs "[[Stupid Girls]]", "[[Dear Mr. President]]" and "I'm Not Dead", among others.

In the song "It’s All Your Fault", she proclaims in the lyrics "I conjure up the thought of being gone, but I’d probably even do that wrong." In "Glitter in the Air", PinkP!nk asks many questions such as, "Have you ever looked fear in the face and said I just don’t care?", and "Have you ever hated yourself for staring at the phone?" PinkP!nk admits, "I still don’t have some of the answers to the questions I pose on this record. I’m still figuring it all out."<ref name="PinksP!nks Bio"/>

"Bad Influences" is an opinionated song where Moore lets go and gives her statement about different topics. The second single of the album is "[[Sober (Pink song)|Sober]]". Moore wrote this song at a party hosted at her home, where everyone was drunk or drinking except for her, and she wanted them all to leave. She went to the beach and had a line in her head saying "How do I feel so good sober?". Eventually it had nothing to do with [[alcohol]] but with identities. "How do I feel so good with just me, without anyone to lean on?", PinkP!nk says in an interview.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwZhHmgGahs PinkP!nk - MTV Choose or Loose] ''[[Youtube]]'' and ''[[MTV]]''. Retrieved October 19, 2008.</ref>

"Ave Mary A" deals with world issues and problems. "One Foot Wrong" talks about an [[Lysergic acid diethylamide|acid]] [[bad trip|trip]] that went wrong, but also has an underlying theme. "That song is also about losing control and how easy it is to lose the plot in life and teeter on the edge.".<ref name="PinksP!nks Bio"/>

Originally, PinkP!nk wanted to call her album ''Heartbreak is a Motherf***er'', but her record label declined due to a fear of lack of sales due to offensive language. She also said that she didn't want the album to look like a break-up album; "There is a lot of that [break-up], but there is fun happening too and that’s why I named it ''Funhouse'' in the end." Another reason may be that PinkP!nk has stated that she sees life as a [[carnival]]: "[[Clown]]s are supposed to be happy, but they are really scary. Carnivals are supposed to be fun, but really they are kind of creepy." [...] "and that’s like life to me, and love. Love is supposed to be fun, but it can sometimes be really scary. And the [[house of mirrors|funhouse mirrors]] that make you look so distorted that you don’t recognize yourself and you ask yourself, ‘How did I get here? How do I get out of here?’ But, you think that you want to do it again. That is the same as love and life. It’s a metaphor for being in love and for life."<ref name="PinksP!nks Bio"/> This also shows in the title track "Funhouse" where she tells that it used to be fun. "It’s about when the [[Thinking outside the box|box]] you’re in doesn’t fit anymore, burn that fucker down and start a new one."<ref name="PinksP!nks Bio"/>

PinkP!nk had written and recorded approximately 30 to 35 songs at the ready for the new album. "It's like getting rid of your children: 'I like that one too, but I'm going to let that one die,'" she says of choosing album tracks. "The good thing now is that different countries want extra songs and B-sides, so there's always a home for the other kids."<ref>Jason MacNeil&nbsp;— Sun Media [http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/P/Pink/2008/10/24/7192531-sun.html PinkP!nk finds humour in divorce] ''[[Canadian Online Explorer|Canoe]] [[Jam!]]''. Retrieved October 26, 2008.</ref>

PinkP!nk traveled internationally to write and record the album, working with [[Eg White]] in London and with [[Max Martin]] in [[Stockholm]]. "It was really good to get out of my house and get away from my life. No distractions. No phones," explains PinkP!nk of her overseas sessions.<ref name="PinksP!nks Bio"/>

'''Tracks confirmed by BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) site:'''<ref>[http://repertoire.bmi.com/writer.asp?page=1&blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&fromrow=1&torow=25&affiliation=BMI&cae=342943656&keyID=856139&keyname=PINK&querytype=WriterID PinkP!nk: Songwriting and Composer credits.] ''[[BMI]]''. Retrieved November 2, 2008.</ref>

'''Tracks confirmed in a press release:'''<ref>Member: hookedonspice [http://pink.shread.net/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=171127 Official news: Tracklist news, US appearances and US magazines] ''PinkP!nk's official forum''. Retrieved September 20, 2008.</ref>

:The first single was "[[So What (Pink song)|So What]]" produced by [[Max Martin]], (who produced previous PinkP!nk hits such as "[[Who Knew]]" and "[[U + Ur Hand]]"), and was released on August 18, 2008 as a single in North America.<ref name="SONYOZ">[http://www.sonybmg.com.au/news/details.do?newsId=20030829005731 P!nk Returns With New Single 'So What'] ''[[Sony BMG|Sony BMG Australia]]''. Retrieved on July 24, 2008.</ref> The single has already become the biggest hit of her career, topping the charts in over 15 countries. It became her first solo number one in the U.S. and Canada, and her third number one in New Zealand. It has also so far reached number one in Australia (her fourth number one there), and the UK and number 2 in Sweden. It also includes the song "Could've Had Everything", that is available for download through iTunes.<ref name="WOrld PeaksII"/>

:The second single has been confirmed by BMG Italy<ref>http://pink.shread.net/forum/showthread.php?s=8c84b442570db82cd00ce5d819980a2b&threadid=171666</ref> as "[[Sober (Pink song)|Sober]]". The song will be released to the U.S. in late November. The video has already been filmed and was shot by director Jonas Akerlund who has directed for [[Madonna]], [[Christina Aguilera]], [[U2]] and [[The Smashing Pumpkins]]. It has already gained airplay on Australia's [[Today Network]]. During the week of the release of the album the single debuted at #16 in Australia.<ref>[http://acharts.us/song/40057 PinkP!nk: Sober] ''ACharts.us''. Retrieved November 2, 2008.</ref>

Reviews of the album have been generally favourable.<ref>[http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/pink/funhouse?q=pink PinkP!nk: Funhouse Reviews on Metacritic] ''[[Metacritic]]''. Retrieved October 20, 2008.</ref> Sydney's [[The Daily Telegraph (Australia)|The Daily Telegraph]] gave it 4.5 stars saying, "The record is a balanced blend of upbeat pop gems and midtempo ballads." Adding that "The power of PinkP!nk's pop lies in the clever juxtaposition of heartfelt honesty about her life with anthematic choruses and irresistible melodies tailormade to be screamed out by her fans."<ref>[http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/entertainment/music/ Review: PinkP!nk - Funhouse] ''[[The Daily Telegraph (Australia)|The Daily Telegraph]]''. Retrieved October 28, 2008.</ref>

Other positive reviews were by [[US Magazine]], who gave the album four stars, saying "The rebellious Grammy winner again fuses unrestrained lyrics with perfect pop-rock hooks on her electrifying fifth CD. From her aggressive No. 1 hit "So What" to the vulnerable "Please Don’t Leave Me" and the openhearted ballad “I Don’t Believe You,” PinkP!nk confirms she’s still in excellent fighting shape."<ref>[http://www.usmagazine.com/node/21295 PinkP!nk - Funhouse] ''[[US Magazine]]''. Retrieved October 26, 2008.</ref>

Mixed reviews came from the likes of [[Rolling Stone]] and [[Blender]],<ref>Jon Dolan [http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=5366 PinkP!nk: Funhouse Review on Blender] ''[[Blender]]''. Retrieved October 25, 2008.</ref> each giving the album three stars. Rolling Stone stated "PinkP!nk has shown more personality before, and some cuts, including the goopy ballad "I Don't Believe You," make her sound like just another big-voiced chart-buster. Funhouse would be more fun if PinkP!nk went easier on the bad-love songs."<ref>[http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/23506881/review/23589076/funhouse?rating=11 Funhouse : PinkP!nk : Review] ''[[Rolling Stone]]''. Retrieved October 27, 2008.</ref>

British newspaper [[The Sun]] gave ''Funhouse'' a lackluster review, stating that "this release is pure camped-up pop-rock which at points veers off into electro territory and never fails to sound entirely predictable."<ref>[http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/sftw/article1847712.ece Review: PinkP!nk - Funhouse] ''[[The Sun]]''. Retrieved October 21, 2008.</ref> The ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the album only one star, describing the ballads as "horrible" but also that "for the first time, the up-tempo numbers are even worse: trite, formulaic and lacking the heart that has always been PinkP!nk's saving grace."<ref>Jim DeRogatis [http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/music/1240830,cd-spin-control-102608.article Review: PinkP!nk Funhouse] ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]''. Retrieved October 26, 2008.</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' was unfavorable in their review, writing that the album was "often listless" and that "even though PinkP!nk oozes disappointment in herself and others, her music mostly fails to keep up."<ref>Jon Caramanica [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/27/arts/music/27choi.html?ref=music Critics’ Choice: New CDs] ''[[The New York Times]]''. Retrieved October 29, 2008.</ref> Although praising ''So What'', The ''[[Sacramento Bee]]'' wrote that "the rest of the album doesn't quite live up to its spirit."<ref>Rachel Leibrock [http://www.sacbee.com/122/story/1345283.html Sound Bite: PinkP!nk still in identity hunt] ''[[Sacramento Bee]]''. Retrieved October 27, 2008.</ref>

* To promote the new album and single, PinkP!nk twice guest-hosted the new TV-station [[FNMTV]], and the [[music video]] for "So What" made its world premiere on FNMTV on August 22, 2008.

* On September 7, PinkP!nk performed "So What" live at the 2008 American [[MTV Video Music Awards]].<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080821/ap_en_tv/music_mtv_awards;_ylt=AkTgI2XJyt_p47RLKl3jPL1xFb8C Rihanna, PinkP!nk, T.I. added as performers at VMAs]. ''[[Yahoo]]''. Retrieved on August 21, 2008.</ref>

* September 22 saw PinkP!nk perform on ''[[Much Music]]'' for a Live @ Much special.

* PinkP!nk visited Australia during October for promotion of the album, which included a performance at the 2008 [[ARIA Awards]] ceremony in Sydney on October 19. She will return to Australia as part of her [[Funhouse Tour|The Funhouse Tour]] in May 2009.<ref>[http://undercover.com.au/News-Story.aspx?id=6159 PinkP!nk To Play The ARIA Awards]. ''Undercover.com.au''. Retrieved on August 31, 2008.</ref>

* PinkP!nk performed various songs from her new album on [[4Music]] on October 5, 2008 including "[[So What (Pink song)|So What]]", "Sober", "Please Don't Leave Me" and her U.K. number 1 hit "[[Just Like A Pill]]".

* On Friday October 24th 2008, PinkP!nk performed the song 'Funhouse' live as world premiere of the song from the album of the same name on ''[[Sunrise (TV program)|Sunrise]]'' an Australian Breakfast Television program.

Minor controversy occurred in [[Australia]] where record shops broke [[embargo]] and placed 'Funhouse' on sale one day before the release date. ''Funhouse'' still managed to be the fourth highest selling album of the week, with only one day of sales, selling 7,120 copies.<ref name="OZsales">Paul Cashmere [http://undercover.com.au/News-Story.aspx?id=6657 Stores Break Embargo Forfor PinkP!nk] ''Undercover.com.au''. Retrieved October 27, 2008.</ref> ''Funhouse'' debuted at number one in Australia, becoming PinkP!nk's first album to do so.<ref name="World Peaks I"/> It sold 86,273 units that week, it was immediately certified 2x Platinum.

The album sold over 37,100 copies in its first day in the UK, placing it at number one in UK midweeks over [[Snow Patrol]]'s ''[[A Hundred Million Suns]]'', which sold a similar amount of 34,600. It sits at numbers 2 and 9 on the iTunes store. On the Friday midweek update, P!nk had sold 83,000 compared to Snow Patrol's 70,000.<ref>[http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=1036017&c=1 Snow Patrol slug it out with PinkP!nk for top slot] ''[[Music Week]]''. Retrieved October 31, 2008.</ref> ''Funhouse'' became her first UK number one album in the [[United Kingdom|UK]], entering at number one on November 2, 2008.

It is likely that ''Funhouse'' will debut in the top ten of the Billboard 200, its main competitors being [[John Legend]]'s ''[[Evolver]]'', [[Snow Patrol]]'s ''[[A Hundred Million Suns]]'', the [[High School Musical 3: Senior Year]] Soundtrack, [[Lady Gaga]]'s [[The Fame]] and [[AC/DC]]'s Wal-Mart exclusive, ''[[Black Ice]]'', which topped the chart the preceeding week selling 784,000 copies--the second highest one-week sales of 2008. ''[[Black Ice]]'' is predicted to retain the top spot on the Billboard 200 for a second week, with the [[High School Musical 3: Senior Year]] Soundtrack remaining at number 2. ''Funhouse'' will likely debut at number 3, with sales of 160,000-170,000.<ref>Member: TheO™ [http://pulsemusic.proboards48.com/index.cgi?board=gmn&action=display&thread=71965&page=1 HITS Daily Double 11/3-4: AC/DC vs HSM; PinkP!nk #3] ''Pulse Music Board''. Retrieved October 26, 2008.</ref>

|align="center" |Gold<ref>[http://www.pinkspage.wg.am/index.html Gold für "Funhouse"] ''PinkP!nk fan website (Swiss)''. Retrieved October 17, 2008.</ref>

|[[European Union]]<ref>[http://www.freerecordshop.nl/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/FreeRecordShop-FRS_B2C_NL-Site/nl_NL/-/EUR/ViewFas-Detail;pgid=E2NIXoShqUZSR0Uv7KZvYkHG0000Xed1SeGl?fh_Params=method%3DgetAll%26fh_search%3DFunhouse%26fh_secondid%3D9209062%26fh_lister_pos%3D0%26fh_location%3D%252f%252ffrs%252fnl_NL%252f_shop%253e%257bfreerecordshop%257d%26fh_eds%3D%25c3%259f%26fh_refview%3Dsearch%26fh_reftheme%3D10&SubCat=01 PinkP!nk: Funhouse Album details (EU)] ''[[Free Record Shop]]''. Retrieved November 2, 2008.</ref>

|Australia<ref>[http://www.sanity.com.au/product/product.asp?sku=2116870 PinkP!nk Funhouse: Album details (Australia)] ''[[Sanity]]''. Retrieved November 2, 2008.</ref>

|Hong Kong<ref>[http://www.sonybmg.com.hk/SonyBMG/chi/international/fwdToInterSingerDetails.do?singerId=121&category=U&albumId=687 PinkP!nk: Funhouse Album details (Hong Kong)] ''[[Sony BMG]] [[Hong Kong|HK]]''. Retrieved November 2, 2008.</ref>

|United Kingdom<ref>[http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=280;-1;-1;-1;-1&sku=857159&WT.ac=Search+Global-LHTMN-Top+10+Best+Sellers-857159 PinkP!nk: Funhouse Album details (UK)] ''[[HMV]]''. Retrieved November 2, 2008.</ref>

|Mexico<ref>[http://www.mixup.com.mx/mixup/product.asp?sku=886974064923&dept_id=1&subdept_id=71 PinkP!nk: Funhouse Album details (Mexico)] ''Mixup Music Store''. Retrieved November 2, 2008.</ref>

|United States<ref name="AMERICANreleasedate">[http://www.amazon.com/Funhouse-Pink/dp/B001F0VHEM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1225029134&sr=1-1 PinkP!nk: Funhouse (album details) (North America)] ''[[Amazon.com]]''. Retrieved September 21, 2008.</ref>