Celebratin'... Pink

We love Pink; her husky contralto and wheels-on-fire, Rock n' Roll attitude. She makes authentic rock music that still has a dance-friendly sensibility. That's hard. And rare. We also love the way she pushes against the constraints of pretty-girl pop stardom. It's almost --almost-- punk rock. Besides, didn't Pink once accidentally set a house on fire because she was having drunk sex and forget she left an oven mitt on the stove? And wasn't it on Thanksgiving? You've got to admire that.


The heart-wrenching anthem of liberation from heartbreak, "Just Like a Pill," performed live on the "I'm Not Dead Tour." This is what Alanis Morisette would sound like if she had balls.


Okay, her politics are a little naïve. "Dear Mr. President" is some pretty simplistic Bush-bashing. One can wildly disagree with the outgoing President without claiming that he wants America's children going to bed hungry. But it's a lovely vocal performance nevertheless. If you can tolerate preachy musicians, click on.


"If God is a DJ," from the same, "I'm Not Dead" tour. Sure, it doesn't have the theological complexity of Augustine and Aquinas, but we've heard worse metaphors to explain the universe. Now shut up and dance.


A very odd cover of her best-known song, "Get This Party Started" performed by Shirley Bassey; the Brit famous for singing Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever and Moonraker

The real thing: