Oh, Pink, You Couldn't Have Picked a Different Word?
Am I supposed to expose the kid to great new music or is it the other way around? I don't really know, but I do know that Alexis gets credit for the fact that I have mad respect for Pink. It started a few summers ago when Tiny Alexis fell in love with the "Na na" song (I'm certain that's technically the super secret but real title) and would sing it for hours and hours on end.
Pink sings it well. Three-year old Alexis sang it better.
I'm occasionally a fan of pop music, so I sought out the full album and added it to my iPod for Alexis to listen to when other options were on my nerves. She wore that album out. Hard. But, I didn't really care because somehow, someway, I didn't find Pink to be annoying.
It was a bit of a surprise given that I very rarely enjoy female singers. I can't explain it. I just tend to prefer male artists. Call me a sexist and I'll totally own that title, just so long as we're only talking about pop music.
Somewhere along the line I went and downloaded ALL of Pink's albums to the iPod. An obsession was born. Girl can sing.
Alexis and I have often jammed to Pink while driving down the road with the windows open and our butts wiggling. Like I said, Alexis gets full credit for getting me to pay attention to an artist who was worthy of my attention.
So, last week when the new Pink album dropped, I bought it at 12:01. Seriously. It had been available for sale for about 30 seconds when I started loading it on to the iPod. Then, as I do with all music I plan to let the short person hear, I previewed it.
I have to say, it's a damn good album. I didn't think Funhouse was fantastic, but rather just OK. The new one is better. In fact, I would have a hard time deciding which is her best album--the new one or I'm Not Dead. As I listened to the album, I started to quickly identify which songs Alexis would like the best ...
... and then I ran into a problem.
The song that I knew she would like the absolute best, the song that sounds entirely too much like her favorite Big Time Rush song, happens to be a song entitled, "Slut Like You."
"Slut" isn't quite what we normally refer to as a "grown-up word" around here, but it's also not exactly a word I want Alexis running around singing.
"I'm a slut like yoooou! Wooo-hooo!" just doesn't have the same edge to it when a six-year old sings it as it does when a 30-something year old sings it, you know?
So I shelved the Pink album for my personal listening fun and didn't tell Alexis about it. She would have bugged the heck out of me wanting to listen to it if she had known it existed.
And then tonight we were driving home from dance class and it started. The annoying. THE SUPER ANNOYING. Alexis loves that damn Taylor Swift song that I never, ever want to hear again and she sings it over and over and over and over and OMG GIVE ME A SPORK AND LET ME SCOOP MY BRAINS OUT, PLEASE.
Really. I have much disdain for that song. It's 99% because Taylor Swift annoys the crap out of me and 1% because it's a terrible song about a girl who keeps going back to a guy who is a total and complete jerk to her. Don't bother going all Taylor Swift superfan on me and correcting me either because OMG TAYLOR SWIFT WHINES SO HARD IN THAT SONG THAT HER FACE IS GOING TO FALL OFF.
And so does Alexis when she sings it. And you know what sucks? Hearing your 6-year old sing a song that goes "I hate you, we break up, you call me, I love you." SCREW THAT NOISE. Tell the boy off the first time he's a jerk, please and thank you.
This world needs more strong, independent women singing songs about kicking ass and respecting themselves, so I interrupted the whine-fest with the new Pink album. So when you hear Alexis singing about sluts, just remember, at least she's not singing a Taylor Swift song.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Reader Comments (12)
I heart Pink. I haven't really introduced my girls to her yet because I have the versions with explicit lyrics. But I love her strong messages.
Delurking to say OMG that song makes my ears bleed. Great post!
The rare pop music that you love is all we have in common music wise, I'm pretty sure ;)
And I'm 100% in love with Pink, in general, and in particular her new album. I've been listening to it with Alex, but it's been hard...so many swears! So many sluts!
Why not just delete that one song? She'll never know it's missing. It's not like she can compare the songs against an album jacket. (OK, CD booklet.)
Ha ha ha! That's awesome. Lesser of two evils, right? And I love me some Pink, too. My boys love 'Funhouse' - they think its about evil clowns.
This is too funny because my top two songs right now are Blow Me (One Last Kiss) and Never Ever Ever Never Ever or whatever its actually called.
I've loved Pink back to "There you go", mostly because she exudes such empowerment in her songs. Of course some of her songs are just fun music to listen to, but those are the ones that get me through a workout so that works too. She does have a powerful voice and although I've never heard her live, listening to live performances by her tells me that she's not just made in a studio, she really can sing. So glad your daughter has an appreciation for good music.
Mike is a big fan of Jeff Ross, so when he started The Burn on Comedy Central, Mike recorded it. At one point, Jeff was talking about that song. He made a comment like, "Shut up Taylor. If boys were nice to you, you wouldn't have a career," or something along those lines.
I cracked up. I just did. (Deacon also sings that song at the top of his lungs and OMG WHY DID I DOWNLOAD THAT FOR HIM?!)
Good call there. Pink 100% sends out a better message in her lyics (albeit not always in the most kid friendly manner) but definitely a more empowering message than any of T. Swifts songs. Go get em girl.
As long as you don't freak out when BB sings that his sex is on fire. (He really, really likes Kings of Leon.)
Well, at least it doesn't have the word "weiner" in it!! ;)
is it ok if i ask alexis to play the song for me so i can witness all these lyrics and singing in person for my first time hearing the song? i actually really enjoy pink. and your daughter's passion for music.