''Missundaztood'' is the second studio album by American singer
Pink
Pink is the color of a namesake flower that is a pale tint of red. It was first used as a color name in the late 17th century. According to surveys in Europe and the United States, pink is the color most often associated with charm, politeness, ...
. It was released on November 20, 2001, by
Arista Records
Arista Records () is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. The label was previously handled by BMG Entertainmen ...
. After the success of ''
Can't Take Me Home
''Can't Take Me Home'' is the debut studio album by American singer and songwriter Pink. It was released on April 4, 2000, by LaFace Records in the United States. The album produced three singles—"There You Go", " Most Girls", and " You Make M ...
'', her 2000 debut album, Pink became dissatisfied with her lack of
creative control
Artistic control or creative control is a term commonly used in media production, such as movies, television, and music production. A person with artistic control has the authority to decide how the final product will appear. In movies, this ...
and being marketed as a white
R&B singer. Aspiring to follow a rawer,
rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
-inspired musical direction, she began working on the album with
Linda Perry
Linda Perry (born April 15, 1965) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. She was the lead singer and primary songwriter of 4 Non Blondes, and has since founded two record labels and composed and produced hit songs for ...
after finding Perry's phone number in her makeup artist's phone book. Instead of relying on popular producers, Pink decided to collaborate with producers and artists who inspired her and enlisted help from
Dallas Austin
Dallas L. Austin (born December 29, 1970) is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and film producer.
Biography
Early life
During a 2019 interview with DJ Vlad, Dallas Austin detailed previously unknown or unconfirmed events inv ...
,
Damon Elliott
Damon William Elliott (born March 21, 1973) is an American musician, record producer, singer, songwriter and composer, who has worked in several genres of music including hip hop, R&B, pop, pop rock, gospel, reggae and country. He is the founder ...
,
Marti Frederiksen
Martin Harold "Marti" Frederiksen (born July 1, 1962) is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician. He writes and produces music primarily in rock, country, and pop. He is best known for his work with many artists and bands incl ...
, and
Scott Storch
Scott Spencer Storch (born December 16, 1973) is an American record producer and songwriter. He started off as a keyboardist for the group the Roots.
Early life
Storch was born on Long Island, New York. He was raised in South Florida and Phila ...
. ''Missundaztood'' also features guest appearances by Perry,
Scratch,
Steven Tyler
Steven Victor Tallarico (born March 26, 1948), known professionally as Steven Tyler, is an American singer, best known as the lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith, in which he also plays the harmonica, piano, and percussion. ...
, and guitarist
Richie Supa.
The album was produced at a number of recording studios during 2001. Pink contributed significantly to the songwriting process, drawing on her experiences and vulnerabilities. The music contains introspective themes of personal insecurities, loneliness, self-identity, and family problems. Unlike the upbeat, R&B production of her previous album, ''Missundaztood'' is a
pop rock
Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre with an emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than rock music. Originating in the late 1950s as an alternative to normal rock and roll, earl ...
record. It contains elements of a variety of other genres, including
blues
Blues is a music genre and musical form which originated in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues incorporated spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts, chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads from the Afr ...
,
metal
A metal (from Greek μέταλλον ''métallon'', "mine, quarry, metal") is a material that, when freshly prepared, polished, or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electricity and heat relatively well. Metals are typicall ...
,
hip hop,
new wave, and
disco
Disco is a genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the 1970s from the United States' urban nightlife scene. Its sound is typified by four-on-the-floor beats, syncopated basslines, string sections, brass and horns, electric pia ...
. Before the album's release, Pink had a conflict with her record label about artistic freedom. Arista initially rejected her new musical approach, fearing that her abandonment of R&B music would result in commercial failure.
To promote the album, Pink made televised performances and embarked on her
Party Tour
The Party Tour was the debut concert tour by American recording artist, Pink. The tour supported her second studio album ''Missundaztood'' (2001).
Background
While promoting her second studio album, ''Missundaztood'', Pink stated she was proud ...
in 2002. Four singles supported ''Missundaztood'', three of which peaked in the top 10 of the US
''Billboard'' Hot 100: "
Get the Party Started
"Get the Party Started" is a song by American singer Pink, released on October 16, 2001, as the lead single from her second album, ''Missundaztood'' (2001). It received positive reviews and became an international success and reached the top ten ...
", "
Don't Let Me Get Me
"Don't Let Me Get Me" is a song by American singer Pink. It was released as the second single from her second studio album, ''Missundaztood'' (2001) on February 18, 2002. "Don't Let Me Get Me" received positive reviews from music critics, who pr ...
", and "
Just Like a Pill
"Just Like a Pill" is a song by American singer Pink. It was written by Pink and Dallas Austin and produced by the latter for the singer's second studio album, ''Missundaztood''. The lyrics of the song deal with getting out of painful relationsh ...
". A worldwide commercial succes, the album reached number one in Ireland and the top five on album charts in Austria, Germany, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. It was certified
five times platinum by the
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
(RIAA), and received
multi-platinum certifications in other countries. The album sold 12 million copies worldwide and is Pink's best-selling album.
A critical success, observers regarded ''Missundaztood'' as a significant progression from ''Can't Take Me Home'' and an artistic breakthrough for Pink. Most music critics praised the album's emotional depth and blending of styles; others appreciated Pink's vocal performances and songwriting. At the
45th Annual Grammy Awards
The 45th Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 23, 2003 at Madison Square Garden in New York City honoring the best in music for the recording of the year beginning from October 1, 2001 through September 30, 2002. Musicians accomplishments ...
, ''Missundaztood'' was nominated for
Best Pop Vocal Album
The Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album is an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality vocal pop music albums. Awards in several ...
. Critics have praised Pink in retrospect for reinventing her music and increasing her creative control, calling ''Missundaztood'' distinguished and remarkable.
Background
Pink released ''
Can't Take Me Home
''Can't Take Me Home'' is the debut studio album by American singer and songwriter Pink. It was released on April 4, 2000, by LaFace Records in the United States. The album produced three singles—"There You Go", " Most Girls", and " You Make M ...
'', her debut studio album, in April 2000 on
LaFace Records
LaFace Records was an American record label based in Atlanta, Georgia, that operated as a unit of Sony Music Entertainment from 2008 to 2011 and was historically a part of Bertelsmann Music Group from 1989 to 2004. It was most active and achie ...
. The album is an
R&B and
dance-pop
Dance-pop is a popular music subgenre that originated in the late 1970s to early 1980s. It is generally uptempo music intended for nightclubs with the intention of being danceable but also suitable for contemporary hit radio. Developing from a ...
record with
hip-hop influences. Produced by
L.A. Reid
Antonio Marquis "L.A." Reid (born June 7, 1956) is an American record executive, A&R representative, and record producer. He is the founder and served as co-chairman of Hitco Entertainment. He also previously served as the chairman and CEO of Ep ...
and
Babyface Babyface or Baby Face can refer to:
Nicknames
* Lester Joseph Gillis a.k.a. Baby Face Nelson, an infamous 1930s bank robber
* Roosevelt "Baby Face" Willette (1933–1971), an American hard bop and soul-jazz musician
* "Baby Face", Jimmy McLarnin ...
, it was a commercial success and sold over three million copies worldwide. ''Can't Take Me Home'' had a mixed critical reception, however, with many
critics
A critic is a person who communicates an assessment and an opinion of various forms of creative works such as art, literature, music, cinema, theater, fashion, architecture, and food. Critics may also take as their subject social or governme ...
saying that its sound was too similar to that of American girl groups
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American girl group whose final line-up comprised Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. The group began their musical career as Girl's Tyme, formed in 1990 in Houston, Texas. After years of limited ...
and
TLC
TLC may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Television
* ''TLC'' (TV series), a 2002 British situational comedy television series that aired on BBC2
* TLC (TV network), formerly the Learning Channel, an American cable TV network
** TLC (Asia), an A ...
. Despite ''Can't Take Me Home'' success, Pink felt dissatisfied and constrained by her lack of
creative control
Artistic control or creative control is a term commonly used in media production, such as movies, television, and music production. A person with artistic control has the authority to decide how the final product will appear. In movies, this ...
and being marketed to a teen audience as an R&B singer. Her father, Jim Moore, said in an October 2000
MTV News
MTV News is the news production division of MTV. The service is available in the US with localized versions on MTV's global network. In February 2016, MTV Networks confirmed it would refresh the MTV News brand in 2016, to compete with the likes ...
interview that Pink expressed interest in experimenting and showcasing her versatility on her forthcoming album. She sought to create an album reflective of the musical influences with which she grew up, resembling the music of
Annie Lennox
Ann Lennox (born 25 December 1954) is a Scottish singer-songwriter, political activist and philanthropist. After achieving moderate success in the late 1970s as part of the New wave music, new wave band the Tourists, she and fellow musician D ...
and
Method Man
Clifford Smith, Jr. (born March 2, 1971), better known by his stage name Method Man, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He is known as a member of the East Coast hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He is also half of t ...
.
Writing and recording
Sessions with Linda Perry
![Linda Perry](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bd/Linda_Perry.jpg)
Pink stumbled upon the phone book of her makeup artist, Billy Brasfield, during a spring 2001 photo shoot for ''
Teen
Adolescence () is a transitional stage of physical and psychological development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to adulthood (typically corresponding to the age of majority). Adolescence is usually associated with the te ...
''. She discovered the number of
Linda Perry
Linda Perry (born April 15, 1965) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. She was the lead singer and primary songwriter of 4 Non Blondes, and has since founded two record labels and composed and produced hit songs for ...
, lead singer of the former American
alternative rock
Alternative rock, or alt-rock, is a category of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1970s and became widely popular in the 1990s. "Alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from Popular culture, mainstre ...
band
4 Non Blondes. Pink cited ''
Bigger, Better, Faster, More!
''Bigger, Better, Faster, More!'' is the only studio album released by alternative rock band 4 Non Blondes, released in 1992. The first single was "Dear Mr. President", which bass player Christa Hillhouse told Songfacts "was about the hierarchy ...
'' (1992) as one of her favorite albums when she was growing up, and called Perry her "childhood idol". She noted Perry's number and called her, leaving a 10-minute message on her
answering machine
An answering machine, answerphone or message machine, also known as telephone messaging machine (or TAM) in the UK and some Commonwealth countries, ansaphone or ansafone (from a trade name), or telephone answering device (TAD), was used for a ...
. According to Pink, the message was about "how much I loved
erryand how she owes me because I got arrested singing her music out of my window at 3:30 in the morning, and how I'm gonna stalk her if she doesn't return my call".
A few minutes later, Perry called Pink back and invited her to her house in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
. When Pink suggested writing a song with her, however, Perry was initially reluctant. In an interview with the ''
San Francisco Chronicle
The ''San Francisco Chronicle'' is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California. It was founded in 1865 as ''The Daily Dramatic Chronicle'' by teenage brothers Charles de Young and M. H. de Young, Michael H. de ...
'', Perry said: "I told
ink
Ink is a gel, sol, or solution that contains at least one colorant, such as a dye or pigment, and is used to color a surface to produce an image, text, or design. Ink is used for drawing or writing with a pen, brush, reed pen, or quill. Thicker ...
'I'm not
hip
In vertebrate anatomy, hip (or "coxa"Latin ''coxa'' was used by Celsus in the sense "hip", but by Pliny the Elder in the sense "hip bone" (Diab, p 77) in medical terminology) refers to either an anatomical region or a joint.
The hip region is ...
at all. I make
low-fi, garage-sounding classic
rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
records Pink responded, "I know — that's what I want". Afterward, Pink met Perry. ''Missundaztood'' recording sessions began in Perry's home studio, with Perry at the piano asking Pink to express her feelings in a melody. Pink felt "petrified" and confused at first, since she was accustomed to a different creative process. As Perry began to play
chords over a rough instrumental, Pink picked up a microphone and started to
ad-lib
In music and other performing arts, the phrase (; from Latin for 'at one's pleasure' or 'as you desire'), often shortened to "ad lib" (as an adjective or adverb) or "ad-lib" (as a verb or noun), refers to various forms of improvisation.
The r ...
. In about five minutes, they wrote and recorded "Eventually". Its lyrics were improvised, and Pink's vocals were recorded in one take. Perry described the song's creation as emotional, helping Pink to feel comfortable and understood during the recording process.
A week before meeting Pink, Perry worked on a song titled "
Get the Party Started
"Get the Party Started" is a song by American singer Pink, released on October 16, 2001, as the lead single from her second album, ''Missundaztood'' (2001). It received positive reviews and became an international success and reached the top ten ...
". Unfamiliar with new musical technology, Perry decided to call a friend and ask him about it. She then purchased equipment, including a
Korg Triton
The Korg Triton is a music workstation synthesizer, featuring digital sampling and sequencing, released in 1999. It uses Korg's HI Synthesis tone generator and was eventually available in several model variants with numerous upgrade options. The ...
synthesizer
A synthesizer (also spelled synthesiser) is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals. Synthesizers typically create sounds by generating waveforms through methods including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis and ...
, an
Akai MPC
The Akai MPC (originally MIDI Production Center, now Music Production Center) is a series of music workstations produced by Akai from 1988 onwards. MPCs combine sampling and sequencing functions, allowing users to record portions of sound, modif ...
, a
TASCAM DA-88 The DA-88 was a digital multitrack recording device introduced by the TASCAM division of the TEAC Corporation in 1993. This modular, digital multitrack device uses tape as the recording medium and could record up to eight tracks simultaneously. ...
recorder, and
Roland
Roland (; frk, *Hrōþiland; lat-med, Hruodlandus or ''Rotholandus''; it, Orlando or ''Rolando''; died 15 August 778) was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the ...
expansion cards. Perry originally had no goal in mind, and was "just figuring out what all
hat
A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorporate mecha ...
stuff does". She programmed her first beat, and made extensive use of a
bass guitar
The bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass (), is the lowest-pitched member of the string family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or an acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and ...
, a horn sample, and
looping "weird chords and sounds". Perry finished the song by including "every catch phrase you possibly could imagine", before laughing at the realization that she had written her first
dance
Dance is a performing art form consisting of sequences of movement, either improvised or purposefully selected. This movement has aesthetic and often symbolic value. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...
song. Aware of its commercial appeal, Perry unsuccessfully offered "Get the Party Started" to
Madonna
Madonna Louise Ciccone (; ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Widely dubbed the " Queen of Pop", Madonna has been noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, a ...
. She brought the song to Pink's attention soon after the ''Missundaztood'' sessions began, and Pink agreed to record it.
Pink moved into Perry's home for several months. They intended to write 25 songs for the album, and spent their time "kicking around ideas". The sessions in Perry's home studio yielded about 20 tracks in a month and a half, emphasizing
introspection
Introspection is the examination of one's own conscious thoughts and feelings. In psychology, the process of introspection relies on the observation of one's mental state, while in a spiritual context it may refer to the examination of one's s ...
and emotional discovery. Working with Perry was an essential factor in Pink's decision to take artistic control of her album. She wanted to abandon the R&B "marketing concept" of ''Can't Take Me Home'' and capture reflections on her past, her vulnerabilities, and her insecurities. Pink considered the album's creation "amazing, liberating, inspiring", and felt that she and Perry had forged "five years of friendship in six months". About her working relationship with Pink, Perry said: "What happened was that we were able to open up to each other ... she completely abandoned what she was told she was supposed to be, and just became Alecia Moore".
Other collaborations
After signing with LaFace in 1996, Pink met
Dallas Austin
Dallas L. Austin (born December 29, 1970) is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and film producer.
Biography
Early life
During a 2019 interview with DJ Vlad, Dallas Austin detailed previously unknown or unconfirmed events inv ...
. Austin generally disapproved of Pink's R&B direction, and his sessions for ''Can't Take Me Home'' were unproductive; however, she wanted to work with him again on her forthcoming album. They pursued a
pop rock
Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre with an emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than rock music. Originating in the late 1950s as an alternative to normal rock and roll, earl ...
sound, and the material they had written took on an autobiographical form. Austin co-wrote and produced four songs on ''Missundaztood'' ("18 Wheeler", "
Don't Let Me Get Me
"Don't Let Me Get Me" is a song by American singer Pink. It was released as the second single from her second studio album, ''Missundaztood'' (2001) on February 18, 2002. "Don't Let Me Get Me" received positive reviews from music critics, who pr ...
", "
Just Like a Pill
"Just Like a Pill" is a song by American singer Pink. It was written by Pink and Dallas Austin and produced by the latter for the singer's second studio album, ''Missundaztood''. The lyrics of the song deal with getting out of painful relationsh ...
", and "Numb"), all of which have introspective lyrics. Austin encouraged Pink to be more daring in her songwriting: "When you're writing songs, you're not just writing a song, you're helping craft the attitude".
Pink worked with
Scott Storch
Scott Spencer Storch (born December 16, 1973) is an American record producer and songwriter. He started off as a keyboardist for the group the Roots.
Early life
Storch was born on Long Island, New York. He was raised in South Florida and Phila ...
on "
Family Portrait Family Portrait may refer to:
Portraiture painting
* Family Portrait (Hals, four persons), ''Family Portrait'' (Hals, four persons), a 1635 painting by Frans Hals
* Family Portrait (Hals, five persons), ''Family Portrait'' (Hals, five persons), ...
", a song which originated as a poem Pink wrote at age nine. The track explores her parents' divorce, and growing up in a dysfunctional family. Reflecting on these themes, Pink acknowledged how this affected her life was and decided to express her suffering through a song: "It makes me sad, but it also helped release some of my feelings ... Pain is not always a bad thing. It can be a learning thing". Another collaborator was
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Boston in 1970. The group consists of Steven Tyler (lead vocals), Joe Perry (musician), Joe Perry (guitar), Tom Hamilton (musician), Tom Hamilton (bass), Joey Kramer (drums) and Brad Whi ...
lead singer
Steven Tyler
Steven Victor Tallarico (born March 26, 1948), known professionally as Steven Tyler, is an American singer, best known as the lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith, in which he also plays the harmonica, piano, and percussion. ...
. One of Pink's musical inspirations, she met Tyler at a radio show in
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
. They bonded quickly, and planned to record a song together. "Misery" had been written by
Richie Supa and co-produced with
Marti Frederiksen
Martin Harold "Marti" Frederiksen (born July 1, 1962) is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician. He writes and produces music primarily in rock, country, and pop. He is best known for his work with many artists and bands incl ...
. Tyler brought the song to Pink, who loved it and recorded it with him. She described the collaboration as "an experience of a lifetime".
Record-label dispute
Pink had begun working with Perry on ''Missundaztood'' without the knowledge of her record label. After a few sessions, she played four songs (including "Get the Party Started") for producer
L.A. Reid
Antonio Marquis "L.A." Reid (born June 7, 1956) is an American record executive, A&R representative, and record producer. He is the founder and served as co-chairman of Hitco Entertainment. He also previously served as the chairman and CEO of Ep ...
. Although he considered that song a
lead single
A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date.
Release s ...
choice, Reid rejected most of the other material. Two weeks later, he and Pink met in
Miami
Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...
. Reid was concerned about Pink departing from her R&B sound, alienating an audience who was expecting another album like ''Can't Take Me Home''. Her desire for more creative control met with resistance (since she was a new artist), but Reid failed to persuade Pink to record more R&B songs. After a vigorous dispute, he relented and gave Pink "the opportunity to fail". Reid called the completed album a "masterpiece", however: "There was no doubt that it would be a huge record". Pink discussed the danger of changing musical genres with the ''
Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...
'':
I knew the risk involved. I'd seen artists change styles and fail miserably, but I've also seen artists change and continue to do well. That's why Madonna
Madonna Louise Ciccone (; ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Widely dubbed the " Queen of Pop", Madonna has been noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, a ...
has always been an inspiration for me. I told him I had faith in my ability and I was willing to take the chance. And I have so much respect for eidbecause he turned around during that meeting. By the end, he said, "OK, let's do it".
Musical style
''Missundaztood'' is a significant departure from the upbeat R&B style of Pink's debut album. It is primarily a pop rock album with an eclectic mix of musical styles. According to Ed Condran of ''
The Philadelphia Inquirer
''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' is a daily newspaper headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The newspaper's circulation is the largest in both the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the Delaware Valley metropolitan region of Southeastern Pennsy ...
'', the album spans a variety of musical genres, from
pop,
rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
, and
disco
Disco is a genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the 1970s from the United States' urban nightlife scene. Its sound is typified by four-on-the-floor beats, syncopated basslines, string sections, brass and horns, electric pia ...
to R&B,
blues
Blues is a music genre and musical form which originated in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues incorporated spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts, chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads from the Afr ...
, and
hip hop.
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Stephen Thomas Erlewine (; born June 18, 1973) is an American music critic and senior editor for the online music database AllMusic. He is the author of many artist biographies and record reviews for AllMusic, as well as a freelance writer, occ ...
of
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
described its musical influences as "late-'80s,
metal
A metal (from Greek μέταλλον ''métallon'', "mine, quarry, metal") is a material that, when freshly prepared, polished, or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electricity and heat relatively well. Metals are typicall ...
-spiked
album rock
Album-oriented rock (AOR, originally called album-oriented radio) is an FM radio format created in the United States in the 1970s that focuses on the full repertoire of rock albums and is currently associated with classic rock.
Album-orient ...
, modern hip-hop and dance", with "dazzling modern pop production". An
E! Online
E! (an initialism for Entertainment Television) is an American basic cable channel which primarily focuses on pop culture, celebrity focused reality shows, and movies, owned by the NBCUniversal Television and Streaming division of NBCUniversa ...
reviewer said that the album draws from "'80s
new wave,
alternative rock
Alternative rock, or alt-rock, is a category of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1970s and became widely popular in the 1990s. "Alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from Popular culture, mainstre ...
, unashamed radio pop, and R&B".
MTV News
MTV News is the news production division of MTV. The service is available in the US with localized versions on MTV's global network. In February 2016, MTV Networks confirmed it would refresh the MTV News brand in 2016, to compete with the likes ...
journalist Jennifer Schonborn said that its fusion of styles has a "strangely" coherent quality. According to music writer
Paul Lester
Paul Lester is a British music journalist, author and broadcaster from Elstree, North London.
Career
He began his career as a freelance journalist, for ''Melody Maker'' in the early 1990s, as well as ''City Limits'', ''20/20'', ''Sky Magazine ...
, ''Missundaztood'' diverse musical textures "shouldn't have fit together, but defied all odds and did." Kate Sullivan of ''
Spin
Spin or spinning most often refers to:
* Spinning (textiles), the creation of yarn or thread by twisting fibers together, traditionally by hand spinning
* Spin, the rotation of an object around a central axis
* Spin (propaganda), an intentionally b ...
'' called Pink's direction "a rebellion against the producer-driven machinery that created her 2000 debut, ''Can't Take Me Home''".
The album's songs are characterized by a "harder, edgier, rock sound". ''
PopMatters
''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, fi ...
'' Jason Thompson wrote that ''Missundaztood'' production melds "a funky ass
bass line
Bassline (also known as a bass line or bass part) is the term used in many styles of music, such as blues, jazz, funk, dub and electronic, traditional, or classical music for the low-pitched instrumental part or line played (in jazz and some f ...
" with "some simple electric
rhythm guitar
In music performances, rhythm guitar is a technique and role that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with other instruments from the rhythm section (e.g., drum kit, bass guitar ...
and a spare synth line". "Don't Let Me Get Me" and "Just Like a Pill" are driven by rock-influenced
electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that requires external amplification in order to be heard at typical performance volumes, unlike a standard acoustic guitar (however combinations of the two - a semi-acoustic guitar and an electric acoustic gui ...
s. "Get the Party Started" features
vocoder
A vocoder (, a portmanteau of ''voice'' and ''encoder'') is a category of speech coding that analyzes and synthesizes the human voice signal for audio data compression, multiplexing, voice encryption or voice transformation.
The vocoder was ...
ed vocals and elements of dance pop and new wave. The sixth track on the record, "18 Wheeler", has been cited by critics for its
arena rock
Arena rock (also known as AOR, melodic rock, stadium rock, anthem rock, pomp rock, corporate rock and dad rock; ; ) is a style of rock music that originated in the mid-1970s. As hard rock bands and those playing a softer yet strident kind of po ...
influences and rock instrumentation. Pink sings over a pop-R&B instrumentation combining a "snare" piano and
strings
String or strings may refer to:
*String (structure), a long flexible structure made from threads twisted together, which is used to tie, bind, or hang other objects
Arts, entertainment, and media Films
* ''Strings'' (1991 film), a Canadian anim ...
on "Family Portrait". The
blues rock
Blues rock is a fusion music genre that combines elements of blues and rock music. It is mostly an electric ensemble-style music with instrumentation similar to electric blues and rock (electric guitar, electric bass guitar, and drums, sometimes w ...
ballad "Misery" has "gritty" vocals and a guitar solo by
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American Rock music, rock band formed in 1983 in Sayreville, New Jersey. It consists of singer Jon Bon Jovi, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, guitarist Phil X, and bassist Hugh McDonald (American musician), Hugh McD ...
's
Richie Sambora
Richard Stephen Sambora (born July 11, 1959) is an American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer, best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Bon Jovi from 1983 to 2013. He and lead singer Jon Bon Jovi formed the main songwri ...
. It is followed by "Dear Diary", with a
trip hop
Trip hop (sometimes used synonymously with "downtempo") is a musical genre that originated in the early 1990s in the United Kingdom, especially Bristol. It has been described as a psychedelic music, psychedelic fusion of hip hop music, hip hop ...
beat. "Numb" is an
electropop
Electropop is a hybrid music genre combining elements of electronic and pop genres. Writer Hollin Jones has described it as a variant of synth-pop with heavy emphasis on its electronic sound. The genre was developed in the 1980s and saw a re ...
song with
grunge metal elements which, according to Lester, resemble the music of
Nirvana
( , , ; sa, निर्वाण} ''nirvāṇa'' ; Pali: ''nibbāna''; Prakrit: ''ṇivvāṇa''; literally, "blown out", as in an oil lampRichard Gombrich, ''Theravada Buddhism: A Social History from Ancient Benāres to Modern Colombo.' ...
. The last track on ''Missundaztood'', "My Vietnam", is a rock-
neofolk
Neofolk, also known as apocalyptic folk, is a form of experimental music blending elements of folk and industrial music, which emerged in punk rock circles in the 1980s. Neofolk may either be solely acoustic or combine acoustic folk instrumenta ...
ballad set to an
acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a musical instrument in the string family. When a string is plucked its vibration is transmitted from the bridge, resonating throughout the top of the guitar. It is also transmitted to the side and back of the instrument, ...
played by Perry. Towards the end of the song, a sonic interpolation of
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most ...
's "
Star Spangled Banner" is heard.
Lyrics and themes
The lyrics on ''Missundaztood'' explore personal topics such as self-identity, loneliness, family issues, self-doubt, and rebellion. The album's title alludes to Pink's feeling of being misunderstood: "I say the wrong things, I tell the truth, which tends to get me in trouble, and I'm a very eclectic person, so I feel that's misunderstood, as well."
ABC News
ABC News is the news division of the American broadcast network ABC. Its flagship program is the daily evening newscast ''ABC World News Tonight, ABC World News Tonight with David Muir''; other programs include Breakfast television, morning ...
called it "a guidebook to teenage angst told through the excruciating detail of Pink's childhood". Todd Burns of ''
Stylus Magazine
''Stylus Magazine'' was an American online music and film magazine, launched in 2002 and co-founded by Todd L. Burns. It featured long-form music journalism, four daily music reviews, movie reviews, podcasts, an MP3 blog, and a text blog.
Addi ...
'' said that Pink "emerges as a conflicted and deeply troubled artist that is unafraid to confront her demons". The album's subjects were described by the music journalist
Greg Kot
Greg Kot (born March 3, 1957) is an American music journalist and author. From 1990 until 2020, Kot was the rock music critic at the ''Chicago Tribune'', where he covered popular music and reported on music-related social, political and busines ...
as "autobiographical tunes that balance vulnerability with toughness". Sadie Jo Smokey of ''
The Arizona Republic
''The Arizona Republic'' is an American daily newspaper published in Phoenix. Circulated throughout Arizona, it is the state's largest newspaper. Since 2000, it has been owned by the Gannett newspaper chain. Copies are sold at $2 daily or at $3 ...
'' compared it to early
1990s music, "when women sang about issues and experiences". According to the ''
Michigan Daily
''The Michigan Daily'' is the weekly student newspaper of the University of Michigan. Its first edition was published on September 29, 1890. The newspaper is financially and editorially independent of the University's administration and other st ...
'' journalist Devon Thomas, ''Missundaztood'' introspective lyrics reveal "a surprising sense of vulnerability".
The title track is an "optimistic and spunky" song. On "Don't Let Me Get Me", Pink describes her feelings of inadequacy and
self-hatred
Self-hatred is personal self-loathing or hatred of oneself, or low self-esteem which may lead to self-harm.
In psychology and psychiatry
The term "self-hatred" is used infrequently by psychologists and psychiatrists, who would usually describe ...
. According to Kot, the song can be interpreted as "
ink'sown abjection as a teenager who never found a peer group to belong to". Its lyrics also explore Pink's frustrations with the music industry: "L.A. told me, 'You'll be a pop star / All you have to change is everything you are.' / Tired of being compared to damn
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the " Princess of Pop", she is credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s. After appearing in stage productio ...
/ She's so pretty, that just ain't me". Thompson described the song as an attempt "to break free from the image making machine". The next song, "Just Like a Pill", uses drug references as a metaphor for unhealthy relationships. The track also explores
substance abuse
Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, is the use of a drug in amounts or by methods which are harmful to the individual or others. It is a form of substance-related disorder. Differing definitions of drug abuse are used in public health, ...
and personal insecurities. "Get the Party Started" differs significantly from the album's primary introspection, suggesting "a fun, independent woman emerging to take charge".
"Respect" has a female-empowerment message. On "18 Wheeler", Pink explores accepting abuse before saying that "nothing will keep her down". Family struggles are among the themes of "Family Portrait". The song's emotive lyrics describe the tempestuous relationship of Pink's parents, which led to their divorce. On "Lonely Girl", Perry asks Pink "Do you even know who you are? / Do you even know what you have?" Schonborn said that Pink has difficulty answering; the song is "fraught with uncertainty and doubt". The lyrics of "Dear Diary" explore disillusionment and abandonment, and "Numb" deals with mourning a defunct relationship. It is followed by "Gone to California", a socially-minded track. The album ends with "My Vietnam", examines Pink's self-discovery. Its lyrics explore her father's military service in the
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...
and its aftermath on his and his life and Pink's. According to Lester, the song uses "the image of battle as a metaphor for
ink'sturbulent upbringing".
Marketing and sales
''Missundaztood'' was released on November 20, 2001, on
Arista Records
Arista Records () is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. The label was previously handled by BMG Entertainmen ...
. The album was released in several European countries on January 28, 2002, with a different track order and the bonus track "Catch-22". Its deluxe edition was released on November 26, 2002, including the standard version of the album on CD and a
DVD
The DVD (common abbreviation for Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any kind ...
with
music video
A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...
s for "Family Portrait" and "Don't Let Me Get Me" and live performances of "Numb" and "Family Portrait" at
Scala in
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
. The album was released on vinyl in October 2017.
![PinkVFest190817-8](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/29/PinkVFest190817-8.jpg)
Four singles were released from the album: "Get the Party Started" on October 16, 2001; "Don't Let Me Get Me" on February 18, 2002; "Just Like a Pill" on June 10, and "Family Portrait" on September 16 of that year. All peaked in the top 20 of the
''Billboard'' Hot 100, with the first three peaking in the top 10. Pink promoted ''Missundaztood'' through her performances at the
''Billboard'' Music Awards, the
Kids' Choice Awards, the
MTV Asia Awards
The MTV Asia Awards was the Asian equivalent of the European MTV EMA. Held from 2002 to 2008, the show gave recognition and awards to Asian and international artists in achievement, cinema, fashion, humanitarian, and music. Just like the EMAs, mos ...
, and the
MTV Video Music Awards
The MTV Video Music Awards (commonly abbreviated as the VMAs) is an award show presented by the cable channel MTV to honour the best in the music video medium. Originally conceived as an alternative to the Grammy Awards (in the video category) ...
. She also appeared on the ''
Late Show with David Letterman
The ''Late Show with David Letterman'' is an American late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS, the first iteration of the The Late Show (franchise), ''Late Show'' franchise. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and was produced by ...
'', ''
Saturday Night Live
''Saturday Night Live'' (often abbreviated to ''SNL'') is an American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC and Peacock. Michaels currently serves a ...
'', and ''
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jay Leno that first aired from May 25, 1992, to May 29, 2009. It resumed production on March 1, 2010 and ended on February 6, 2014.
The fourth incarnation of the ...
''. European promotion included performances on ''
Wetten, dass..?'' and at the
MTV Europe Music Awards
The MTV Europe Music Awards (originally named MTV European Music Awards, commonly abbreviated as MTV EMA) are awards presented by Paramount International Networks to honour artists and music in pop culture. It was originally conceived as an al ...
. Pink embarked on the
Party Tour
The Party Tour was the debut concert tour by American recording artist, Pink. The tour supported her second studio album ''Missundaztood'' (2001).
Background
While promoting her second studio album, ''Missundaztood'', Pink stated she was proud ...
, her first headlining tour, in 2002 to support the album.
''Missundaztood'' debuted at number eight on the US
''Billboard'' 200 chart, selling 220,000 copies for the week of December 8, 2001. It peaked at number six on January 26, 2002, and spent a total of 90 weeks on the chart. In the United States, ''Missundaztood'' ranked sixth among the best-selling albums of 2002, with sales of 3.1 million copies. On October 22, 2003, the album was certified
quintuple platinum by the
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
(RIAA) for shipments of five million copies. In Canada, ''Missundaztood'' peaked at number five on the
Canadian Albums Chart
The Canadian Albums Chart is the official album sales chart in Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocea ...
and was certified quintuple platinum by
Music Canada
Music Canada (formerly Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA)) is a non-profit trade organization that was founded 9 April 1963 to represent the interests of companies that record, manufacture, produce, and distribute music in Canada. It a ...
(MC) for shipments of 500,000 copies.
In the United Kingdom, it debuted at number four on the
UK Albums Chart
The Official Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales and (from March 2015) audio streaming in the United Kingdom. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the Official Charts C ...
. The album peaked at number two (behind
Avril Lavigne
Avril Ramona Lavigne ( ; born September 27, 1984) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. At age 16, she signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records. Her debut studio album, ''Let Go (Avril Lavigne album), Let Go'' (2002), is the ...
's ''
Let Go'') for the week of January 18, 2003, almost a year after its release. It sold 1.86 million copies in the UK by February 2021, and was certified sextuple platinum by the
British Phonographic Industry
British Phonographic Industry (BPI) is the British recorded music industry's Trade association. It runs the BRIT Awards, the Classic BRIT Awards, National Album Day, is home to the Mercury Prize, and co-owns the Official Charts Company with th ...
(BPI). The album topped the
Irish Albums chart
The Irish Albums Chart is the Irish music industry standard albums popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA). The charts were previously compiled on behalf of IRMA by Chart-Track, and have been compiled by the ...
for the week ending January 9, 2003, its best international charting. ''Missundaztood'' peaked in the top five of album charts in Scotland (number two); Austria, New Zealand and Norway (number four), and Germany, Iceland and the Netherlands (number five). It received
multi-platinum certifications in Germany, Switzerland (double platinum); Australia, and New Zealand (quadruple platinum). The album sold 12 million copies worldwide by November 2003, becoming Pink's best-selling album.
Critical reception
''Missundaztood'' received generally positive reviews. At
Metacritic
Metacritic is a website that review aggregator, aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted arithmetic mean, weighted average). M ...
, which assigns a
normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an
average
In ordinary language, an average is a single number taken as representative of a list of numbers, usually the sum of the numbers divided by how many numbers are in the list (the arithmetic mean). For example, the average of the numbers 2, 3, 4, 7, ...
score of 72 based on 15 reviews. ''
The Tampa Tribune
''The Tampa Tribune'' was a daily newspaper published in Tampa, Florida. Along with the competing ''Tampa Bay Times'', the ''Tampa Tribune'' was one of two major newspapers published in the Tampa Bay area.
The newspaper also published a ''St. Pe ...
''s Cloe Cabrera described the album as "an edgy, rock-driven set", praising its focus on "loneliness, family discord and
ink'srefusal to fit in". Erlewine praised the album's mixture of "bewildering" sounds and attitudes with painful subjects, adding that "there hasn't been a record in the mainstream this vibrant or this alive in a long, long time".
Thomas was impressed by Pink's "heartfelt and revealing" lyrics and "assured and confident" vocals, calling ''Missundaztood'' "an introspective charmer that shows the promise and versatility evident in a young and rising star." Smokey said that the album eschews the "slick pop-R&B diva image" of ''Can't Take Me Home'' in favor of a rock direction. For ''Billboard'', Rashaun Hall called it "a rock-fused, hook-friendly set" and cited "Numb" and "Lonely Girl" as indicating Pink's versatility.
Thompson saw the album as "cover
ngsuch a wide array of style and substance", and highlighted Pink's songwriting. Caroline Sullivan of ''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'' viewed it as "an unusually three-dimensional picture of growing up in a broken home", and found it "surprisingly good". Keri Callahan praised the album's honest lyrics and catchiness, which "echoes optimism and survival", in ''
The Boston Globe
''The Boston Globe'' is an American daily newspaper founded and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The newspaper has won a total of 27 Pulitzer Prizes, and has a total circulation of close to 300,000 print and digital subscribers. ''The Boston Glob ...
''. In ''
Entertainment Weekly
''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cul ...
'', Jim Farber said that ''Missundaztood'' "captures girlish confusion with greater accuracy and delight" than
Alanis Morissette
Alanis Nadine Morissette ( ; born June 1, 1974) is a Canadian-American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known for her emotive mezzo-soprano voice and confessional songwriting, Morissette began her career in Canada in the early 1990s with tw ...
's ''
Jagged Little Pill
''Jagged Little Pill'' is the third studio album by Canadian singer Alanis Morissette, released on June 13, 1995, through Maverick. It was her first album to be released worldwide. It marked a stylistic departure from the dance-pop sound of her ...
'' (1995) did, and Pink sounds "like
Cyndi Lauper
Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper Thornton (born June 22, 1953) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and activist. Her career has spanned over 40 years. Her album ''She's So Unusual'' (1983) was the first debut album by a female artist to achi ...
's long lost stepsister".
Sal Cinquemani of ''
Slant Magazine
''Slant Magazine'' is an American online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York ...
'' praised the album's diverse sound, which "differentiates
ink
Ink is a gel, sol, or solution that contains at least one colorant, such as a dye or pigment, and is used to color a surface to produce an image, text, or design. Ink is used for drawing or writing with a pen, brush, reed pen, or quill. Thicker ...
from the pop pack", and called Pink's vulnerability "striking and seemingly more authentic" than ''Can't Take Me Home''. For ''
The Village Voice
''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture paper, known for being the country's first alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf, Ed Fancher, John Wilcock, and Norman Mailer, the ''Voice'' began as a platform for the crea ...
'',
Robert Christgau
Robert Thomas Christgau ( ; born April 18, 1942) is an American music journalist and essayist. Among the most well-known and influential music critics, he began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and ...
called the portrayal of "credible personal pain rooted in credible family travails" "a next step for a genre I never thought would take one". ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
'' critic
Rob Sheffield
Robert James Sheffield (born February 2, 1966) is an American music journalist and author.
He is a long time contributing editor at ''Rolling Stone'', writing about music, TV, and pop culture. Previously, he was a contributing editor at ''Blen ...
called the album "the
teen-pop
Teen pop is a subgenre of pop music that is created, marketed and oriented towards Preadolescence, preteens and teenagers.Lamb, Bill"Teen Pop" About.com. Retrieved January 28, 2007. Teen pop incorporates different subgenres of pop music, as well ...
''
In Utero
''In Utero'' is the third and final studio album by American rock band Nirvana. It was released on September 21, 1993, by DGC Records. After breaking into the mainstream with their second album, ''Nevermind'' (1991), Nirvana hired Steve Albini t ...
''", and appreciated Pink's expressive songwriting.
Other reviewers were less enthusiastic. ''Los Angeles Times'' writer Natalie Nichols unfavorably compared ''Missundaztood'' with ''Can't Take Me Home'', referring to its "tendency to sound vaguely familiar". Alex Pappademas of ''
Blender
A blender (sometimes called a mixer or liquidiser in British English) is a kitchen appliance, kitchen and laboratory appliance used to mix, crush, purée or emulsion, emulsify food and other substances. A stationary blender consists of a blender ...
'' wrote, "Pink sees herself as a singer whose talent defies boundaries, but the melodic shortcomings of ''Missundaztood'' show that those eye-popping videos aside, she's no Madonna." ''
NME
''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...
''s Jim Alexander gave the album 1.5 of five stars, criticizing its overall content.
Accolades
''Missundaztood'' received nominations for
Album of the Year at the
2002 ''Billboard'' Music Awards,
Best Album at the 2002 MTV Europe Music Awards,
Favorite Pop/Rock Album at the
2003 American Music Awards, and
Best International Album at the
23rd Brit Awards. At the
45th Annual Grammy Awards
The 45th Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 23, 2003 at Madison Square Garden in New York City honoring the best in music for the recording of the year beginning from October 1, 2001 through September 30, 2002. Musicians accomplishments ...
in 2003, ''Missundaztood'' was nominated for
Best Pop Vocal Album
The Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album is an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality vocal pop music albums. Awards in several ...
; its single, "Get the Party Started", was nominated for
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance was a Grammy Award recognizing superior vocal performance by a female in the pop category, the first of which was presented in 1959. It was discontinued after the 2011 Grammy season. The awar ...
.
Impact and legacy
![Stripped Tour CH - cropped](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/Stripped_Tour_CH_-_cropped.jpg)
''Missundaztood'' release coincided with the declining popularity of teen pop music. Sia Michel of ''Spin'' credited the album's success with the
coming of age
Coming of age is a young person's transition from being a child to being an adult. The specific age at which this transition takes place varies between societies, as does the nature of the change. It can be a simple legal convention or can b ...
of former teen-pop fans and their growing interest in different types of music. For ''The Guardian'', Dorian Lynskey attributed Pink's new popularity to the "lucrative and untapped market" of "teenage girls who may have liked Britney three years ago but now have a taste for low-key rebellion,
the Osbournes
''The Osbournes'' is an American reality television program featuring the domestic life of heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne and his family—his wife Sharon, their daughter Kelly, and their son Jack. The series premiered on MTV on March 5, 20 ...
and boys with tattoos". Most critics praised the album for its musical departure from contemporary music and altering the industry's perception of Pink as an artist. Thompson called ''Missundaztood'' bold, and praised Pink for "breaking away from the stereotypes and misconceptions regarding pop stars".
Robert Hilburn
Robert Hilburn (born September 25, 1939) is an American pop music critic, author, and radio host. As critic and music editor at the ''Los Angeles Times'' from 1970 to 2005, his reviews, essays and profiles appeared in publications around the wor ...
wrote for the ''Los Angeles Times'' that Pink's reinvention (and its potential commercial impact) was initially questioned, but was later "a move industry observers now applaud as brilliant".
Idolator
An idolator is a practitioner of idolatry.
Idolater or Idolator may also refer to: Books
*''Os Idólatras'', 1968 Portuguese novel by Maria Judite de Carvalho Music
* Idolator (website), an American music blog
* ''Idolator'' (album), third album ...
s Jon Reyes said that ''Missundaztood'' "defied expectations both in sound and themes". Barry Walters of ''Rolling Stone'' cited the album as one of "one of the most radical R&B to-rock transformations since
Prince
A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. Th ...
abandoned disco for a ''
Dirty Mind
''Dirty Mind'' is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Prince. It was released on October 8, 1980, by Warner Bros. Records and produced entirely by Prince at his home studio in Minneapolis, Minnesota ...
''
1980).
In her 2019 book, ''White Negroes'',
Lauren Michele Jackson compared Pink's rebellious artistic transformation with
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer. She is noted for her innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows. Her sound and choreog ...
's ''
Control
Control may refer to:
Basic meanings Economics and business
* Control (management), an element of management
* Control, an element of management accounting
* Comptroller (or controller), a senior financial officer in an organization
* Controllin ...
'' (1986). According to Jackson, Pink's choice to leave the
black
Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white have o ...
-dominated R&B industry would "ultimately keep her apart from her peers". In a 2021 retrospective, Arielle Gordon of ''
Stereogum
''Stereogum'' is a daily Internet publication that focuses on music news, reviews, interviews, and commentary. The site was created in January 2002 by Scott Lapatine.
''Stereogum'' was one of the first MP3 blogs and has received several award ...
'' said that Pink's opposition to her label's pressure to remain an R&B singer "somehow wrestled autonomy of her image and sound in an industry practically fueled by harnessing complete control of their young, primarily female stars." ''
People
A person (plural, : people) is a being that has certain capacities or attributes such as reason, morality, consciousness or self-consciousness, and being a part of a culturally established form of social relations such as kinship, ownership of pr ...
'' editor Lanford Beard called ''Missundaztood'' "a career-shaping album", which helped establish Pink as a "prolific creator of 'autobiographical songs filled with attitude. Pink said in a 2019 interview with ''
Variety
Variety may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats
* Variety (radio)
* Variety show, in theater and television
Films
* ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont
* ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'', "
'Missundaztood''was a huge turning point in my life. But before it came out, I was being told that it's going to completely fail. Still, I was stoked to be given the opportunity to fail".
The album's success enhanced Perry's songwriting career, and she wrote songs with
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook (born January 25, 1981), known professionally as Alicia Keys, is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. A classically trained pianist, Keys started composing songs when she was 12 and was signed at 15 years old by Col ...
,
Courtney Love
Courtney Michelle Love (née Harrison; born July 9, 1964) is an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, and actress. A figure in the alternative and grunge scenes of the 1990s, her career has spanned four decades. She rose to prominence as t ...
, and
Gwen Stefani
Gwen Renée Stefani (; born October 3, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, fashion designer and actress. She is a co-founder, lead vocalist, and the primary songwriter of the band No Doubt, whose singles include "Just a Girl", "Spiderwebs ...
. Perry recalled that her life "took a complete turn" after the release of ''Missundaztood'' and its lead single, "Get the Party Started", and working with Pink helped her discover that "helping artists with their vision is kind of cool".
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera (; ; born December 18, 1980) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. Known for her four-octave vocal range and ability to sustain high notes, she has been referred to as the " Voice of ...
cited ''Missundaztood'' as a contributing factor to enlisting Perry as a collaborators for her fourth studio album, ''
Stripped
Stripped may refer to:
Music
* "Stripped" (song), by Depeche Mode, 1986
* ''Stripped'' (Christina Aguilera album) or the title song, 2002
* ''Stripped'' (Daniel Ash album), 2014
* ''Stripped'' (Macy Gray album), 2016
* ''Stripped'' (Pretty Ma ...
'' (2002): "I wasn't a big fan of the Dallas Austin songs, but I really, really loved the Linda Perry songs. They had a really personal, real sense about them."
Track listing
Notes
* "Missundaztood" is stylized as "M!ssundaztood".
Credits and personnel
Credits are from the album's
liner notes
Liner notes (also sleeve notes or album notes) are the writings found on the sleeves of LP record albums and in booklets that come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for cassettes.
Origin
Liner notes are desce ...
.
Studios
* The Enterprise;
Burbank,
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
(recording: track 1, 7; mixing: track 1, 4–5, 7, 9–11, 13–14; saxophone, harmonica, organ recording: track 13)
* Pinetree Studios;
Miami Beach
Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida. It was incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on natural and man-made barrier islands between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter of which sep ...
,
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
(recording: track 2–3, 6, 12)
* DARP Studios;
Atlanta
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
,
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States
Georgia may also refer to:
Places
Historical states and entities
* Related to the ...
(recording: track 2, 6, 12)
*
Larrabee Studios North;
North Hollywood
North Hollywood is a neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, located in the San Fernando Valley. The neighborhood contains the NoHo Arts District, the El Portal Theatre, several art galleries, and the Academy of TV Arts and Sciences. The North ...
, California (mixing: track 2–3, 6, 12; additional recording: track 4)
* LP Studios;
Sherman Oaks
Sherman Oaks is a neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles, California located in the San Fernando Valley, founded in 1927. The neighborhood includes a portion of the Santa Monica Mountains, which gives Sherman Oaks a lower population density than ...
, California (recording: track 4–5, 9–11, 13–14)
* Sony Studios;
Santa Monica
Santa Monica (; Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 U.S. Census population was 93,076. Santa Monica is a popular resort town, owing to ...
, California (additional recording: track 5)
* Drive By Studios; North Hollywood, California (recording: track 8)
* MF Studios;
Monrovia
Monrovia () is the capital city of the West African country of Liberia. Founded in 1822, it is located on Cape Mesurado on the Atlantic coast and as of the 2008 census had 1,010,970 residents, home to 29% of Liberia’s total population. As the ...
, California (mixing: track 8)
*
Hit Factory Mastering;
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
(mastering)
Musicians
*
Linda Perry
Linda Perry (born April 15, 1965) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. She was the lead singer and primary songwriter of 4 Non Blondes, and has since founded two record labels and composed and produced hit songs for ...
guitar
The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...
s (track 1), instruments (track 4–5, 10–11, 13–14), drum programming (track 4–5, 9–11), background vocals (track 11), bass,
Rhodes piano
The Rhodes piano (also known as the Fender Rhodes piano) is an electric piano invented by Harold Rhodes, which became popular in the 1970s. Like a conventional piano, the Rhodes generates sound with keys and hammers, but instead of strings, t ...
, synthesizer, additional drum programming (track 13)
*
Pink
Pink is the color of a namesake flower that is a pale tint of red. It was first used as a color name in the late 17th century. According to surveys in Europe and the United States, pink is the color most often associated with charm, politeness, ...
background vocals
A backing vocalist is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. A backing vocalist may also sing alone as a lead-in to the main vocalist's entry or to sing a counter-melody. Backing vocalists are used ...
(track 1–6, 8–10, 12–14)
*
Damon Elliott
Damon William Elliott (born March 21, 1973) is an American musician, record producer, singer, songwriter and composer, who has worked in several genres of music including hip hop, R&B, pop, pop rock, gospel, reggae and country. He is the founder ...
bass,
piano
The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a keyboa ...
(track 1), drum programming (track 1, 5, 13),
saxophone
The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of brass. As with all single-reed instruments, sound is produced when a reed on a mouthpiece vibrates to pr ...
,
harmonica
The harmonica, also known as a French harp or mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used worldwide in many musical genres, notably in blues, American folk music, classical music, jazz, country, and rock. The many types of harmonica inclu ...
(track 13)
*
Dallas Austin
Dallas L. Austin (born December 29, 1970) is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and film producer.
Biography
Early life
During a 2019 interview with DJ Vlad, Dallas Austin detailed previously unknown or unconfirmed events inv ...
arrangement (track 2–3, 6, 12)
*
Scratch beatbox
Beatboxing (also beat boxing) is a form of vocal percussion primarily involving the art of mimicking drum machines (typically a TR-808), using one's mouth, lips, tongue, and voice. (track 5)
*
Steven Tyler
Steven Victor Tallarico (born March 26, 1948), known professionally as Steven Tyler, is an American singer, best known as the lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith, in which he also plays the harmonica, piano, and percussion. ...
background vocals (track 8)
*
Richie Supa arrangement, guitar solo, strings arrangement (track 8)
*
Marti Frederiksen
Martin Harold "Marti" Frederiksen (born July 1, 1962) is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician. He writes and produces music primarily in rock, country, and pop. He is best known for his work with many artists and bands incl ...
arrangement, drums, bass, guitars,
mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical musical instrument developed in Birmingham, England, in 1963. It is played by pressing its keys, each of which pushes a length of magnetic tape against a capstan, which pulls it across a playback head. A ...
(track 8)
* Jim Cox
B3 organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond and John M. Hanert and first manufactured in 1935. Multiple models have been produced, most of which use sliding drawbars to vary sounds. Until 1975, Hammond organs generated s ...
, piano (track 8)
* Wayne Hood keyboard, strings, strings arrangement, drums loop (track 8)
* Jimmy Z saxophone, harmonica (track 13)
* David Seigel
organ (track 13)
Technicians
* Linda Perry
writer
A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles and techniques to communicate ideas. Writers produce different forms of literary art and creative writing such as novels, short stories, books, poetry, travelogues, p ...
,
production
Production may refer to:
Economics and business
* Production (economics)
* Production, the act of manufacturing goods
* Production, in the outline of industrial organization, the act of making products (goods and services)
* Production as a stati ...
(track 1, 4–5, 9–11, 13–14), recording (track 4–5, 9–11, 13–14)
* Pink writer (track 1–3, 5–7, 9–10, 12–14)
* Damon Elliott production (track 1, 5, 13), recording (track 1), organ recording (track 13)
* Dave "Hard Drive" Pensado
mixing (track 1, 4–5, 7, 9–11, 13–14)
* Dave Guerrero assistant mixing (track 1, 4–5, 7, 9–11, 13–14)
* Dallas Austin writer, production (track 2–3, 6, 12)
* Carlton Lynn recording (track 2–3, 6, 12)
* Doug Harms assistant recording (track 2–3, 6, 12)
*
Dave Way
Dave Way is an American producer, mixer and audio engineer based in Los Angeles, California, United States. He has worked with Fiona Apple, Sheryl Crow, Kesha, Pink, Christina Aguilera, Macy Gray, Ringo Starr, Shakira, Phoebe Bridgers, John Doe, Sa ...
mixing (track 2, 6, 12)
* Tim LeBlanc assistant mixing (track 2, 6, 12)
* Rick Sheppard
MIDI
MIDI (; Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a technical standard that describes a communications protocol, digital interface, and electrical connectors that connect a wide variety of electronic musical instruments, computers, and re ...
, sound design (track 2–3, 6, 12)
* Kevin "KD" Davis mixing (track 3)
* Bernd Burgdorf additional recording (track 4–5),
Pro Tools
Pro Tools is a digital audio workstation (DAW) developed and released by Avid Technology (formerly Digidesign) for Microsoft Windows and macOS. It is used for music creation and production, sound for picture (sound design, audio post-productio ...
programming (track 4–5, 9–10)
* Johnathan Merritt assistant additional recording (track 5)
*
Scott Storch
Scott Spencer Storch (born December 16, 1973) is an American record producer and songwriter. He started off as a keyboardist for the group the Roots.
Early life
Storch was born on Long Island, New York. He was raised in South Florida and Phila ...
writer, production (track 7)
* Wassim Zreik recording (track 7)
* Oscar Ramirez recording (track 7)
* Richie Supa writer, production (track 8)
* Marti Frederiksen production (track 8)
* Richard Chychki recording (track 8)
* Herb Powers Jr. mastering
Design
* Pink executive production
*
Antonio "L.A." Reid executive production
* Joe Mama-Nitzberg creative direction
* Jeff Schulz art direction, design
*
Terry Richardson
Terrence Richardson (born August 14, 1965) is an American fashion and portrait photographer. He has shot advertising campaigns for Marc Jacobs, Aldo, Supreme, Sisley, Tom Ford, and Yves Saint Laurent among others, and also done work for ma ...
photography
* Patti Wilson stylist
* Alberto Guzman
hairstyling
A hairstyle, hairdo, haircut or coiffure refers to the styling of hair, usually on the human scalp. Sometimes, this could also mean an editing of facial or body hair. The fashioning of hair can be considered an aspect of personal groomin ...
* Kristoff hair coloring
* Devra Kinery
make-up
Cosmetics are constituted mixtures of chemical compounds derived from either natural sources, or synthetically created ones. Cosmetics have various purposes. Those designed for personal care and skin care can be used to cleanse or protect ...
* Lee Taft director programming
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
All-time charts
Certifications and sales
Release history
See also
*
List of best-selling albums by women
The following albums, recorded by female solo artists and all-female groups, have sold at least 10 million copies. This list can contain any types of album, including studio albums, extended plays, greatest hits, compilations, soundtracks, an ...
*
List of best-selling albums of the 21st century
This is a list of the best-selling albums of the 21st century to date based on IFPI certification and Nielsen SoundScan sales tracking. The criteria are that the album must have been published (including self-publishing by the artist), and the alb ...
*
List of number-one albums of 2003 (Ireland)
*
References
Notes
Citations
Websites
; Chart positions and certifications
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Media notes
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; Cited literature
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{{Authority control
2001 albums
Pink (singer) albums
Albums produced by Dallas Austin
Albums produced by Scott Storch
Albums produced by Linda Perry
Arista Records albums