Pink’s ‘What About Us’
Nearly two decades into her career, Pink is as consistent a pop star as ever, a reliable source for self-empowerment anthems that often come with an edge. With a new single, What About Us, out Thursday, the singer announced the arrival of her seventh album, Beautiful Trauma, on Oct. 13, her first since 2012’s The Truth About Love. Pink has mellowed from the in-your-face feistiness of her earlier songs, and her best 2010sera singles fall at opposite ends of the emotional spectrum, from the spunkiness of Raise Your Glass to the understated sincerity of her Nate Ruess duet Just Give Me a Reason. What About Us falls somewhere in the middle of those two extremes, its lyrics full of the problem-child rallying cries that have become Pink’s trademark. Many of Pink’s best songs have at least a trace of guitars, but she seems more interested in the dance floor these days, as heard on both What About Us and Water
falls, her March collaboration with Stargate and Sia.