P!nk takes a deep dive in new album “Hurts 2B Human”
Experiencing a P!nk concert is a life-altering event. It has a way of permanently affecting how you perceive her songs. Whenever you listen to a new P!nk track, you can't help but ponder, "Will this song be part of the energetic aerial performance, or is it more suited for a slower, martial arts-inspired number?"
In her eighth album, "Hurts 2B Human," P!nk delivers a diverse range of anthems that span her entire spectrum. From the heartwarming hues of P!nk (ranging from Valentine's Day P!nk to Blood-Runs-P!nk P!nk), you'll find tracks that are surefire additions to her concert sets. Songs like the lively "Hustle" ("Living my life like a bullet in a gun, giving you all my love until my patience is worn thin," she belts out) and the Nate Ruess co-written "Walk Me Home" take center stage, serving as an exhilarating sequel to their trapeze-inspired ballad "Just Give Me A Reason."
The pacing of "Hurts 2B Human" speaks volumes. P!nk's lyrics in the upbeat dance track "Can We Pretend," featuring Cash Cash, include the line "I abhor reality." However, when she delves into the deeper emotions that trouble her, her vulnerability shines through more boldly than ever. On "Courage," co-written by Sia, P!nk's voice soars through the musical scale like a chandelier, and she croons, "I don't have to do this perfectly." In "Happy," penned by Teddy Geiger and Sasha Sloan, she reminds us that she's also the guiding light for those who relate to her iconic "Missundaztood" era. With lyrics like, "Can somebody find me a pill to make me unafraid of me, maybe I'm just scared to be happy," P!nk raises a toast to artists like Demi Lovato, Dua Lipa, Alessia Cara, and Bebe Rexha, all of whom, with their husky voices and underdog spirit, surely found inspiration in her 2001 album.
P!nk collaborates with a diverse trio of partners in duets: Wrabel on "90 Days," Khalid on "Hurts 2B Human," and Chris Stapleton on "Love Me Anyway." Together, they transform the tumultuous feelings of insecurity into a heartfelt and honest dance, a skill she has mastered in recent times. This sets the stage for "Circle Game," which stands out as one of the most emotionally raw additions to P!nk's repertoire in recent memory. It's a reflection on motherhood and the inevitability of mortality.
In "Circle Game," P!nk sings about how seeing herself in her daughter stirs up a longing for the time when her own father cared for her as a young girl. She mourns the memory of that time and grieves for the version of herself who was unaware of life's transience. The poignant lyrics capture the essence of the human experience: "In the Circle Game, no one ever stopped to say, 'Soon it's gonna change, it all just goes away.'" The raw emotion in her delivery can be felt even in the farthest seats in the arena.
OveralI, would give this album 2 and a half out of 4 stars.