Music & Concerts

Mid-career slump?

Pink’s latest album lacks grit, focus

Published

7 years ago

October 20, 2017

Chris Gerard

PINK’s first album in five years feels overproduced and lacks focus. (Photo courtesy RCA Records)

There’s no doubt that Pink has been one of the most consistent hitmakers of the 2000s. Her fierce hybrid of dance/pop barbed with a rock and roll edge and sprinkled with R&B influences has been a winning formula.

She’s a powerhouse vocalist capable of delivering both genuine emotion and vulnerability, along with a fiery badass attitude. Beginning with her 2000 debut “Can’t Take Me Home,” Pink has scored a remarkable six platinum albums and 15 top 10 singles. Her most recent, 2012’s “The Truth About Love,” notched three top 10 hits, including the no. 1 smash “Just Give Me A Reason.”

Unfortunately, “Beautiful Trauma,” the star’s first album after a five-year absence, is somewhat of a disappointment. This time around she stays mostly in the electro-pop realm, with her rock side deemphasized. Pink is obviously striving to keep a niche in the modern pop marketplace, but in the process of following current sonic trends she loses much of the gritty realness that has always set her apart.

As is typical for pop albums these days, Pink collaborates with multiple producers and songwriters on “Beautiful Trauma” and the result is an overly slick collection that sounds much like any other pop album released in the last few years. It doesn’t help that the material, with a few notable exceptions, is largely bland and forgettable.

The first single, “What About Us,” is far and away the album’s strongest track. It’s a yearning, emotional anthem and a piercing reflection that relationships, and our lives in general, often veer far off the tracks. Pink’s vocal is sincere and deeply felt and she belts it out with dynamic force and authority over glistening keyboards and pulsing rhythm. It’s among the finest singles of Pink’s impressive career.

But surprisingly, “What About Us” reached a paltry no. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. Perhaps the second single, the hip-hop fueled “Revenge,” featuring a high-profile guest spot by Eminem, will perform better. It’s a spiky electronic strut that displays Pink’s tougher side, a sharp contrast to the vulnerability exposed on “What About Us.” Another winner is “Whatever You Want,” an engaging pop nugget with a strong melodic hook that screams for radio play.

The poignant acoustic-guitar based “Barbies” slowly builds intensity as it progresses, culminating in a powerful climax. The gorgeous piano ballad “Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken” features a graceful string arrangement and one of Pink’s loveliest vocals on the album. The heartbreaking “But We Lost It” would have fit perfectly on Adele’s most recent blockbuster.

One issue is that Pink’s vocals are too high in the mix. Sure, it makes sense to emphasize the power of her singing, but it becomes a bit grating after listening to the album all the way through, and at times it simply seems like she’s shouting. “Beautiful Trauma” is so pristine and overly polished that there’s hardly room to breathe. It becomes too clean and clinical, sapping the grit and rough edge that has always been a hallmark of Pink’s best work.

Ultimately, though, there is little new ground covered here. It all seems a bit rote and far more controlled and toned down than what we’ve come to expect from Pink. There’s no clear direction or focus, it’s overcooked in the studio and the material is surprisingly tame and forgettable. It’s not terrible, but it just doesn’t deliver the goods with the same power and impact as her previous albums.

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Music & Concerts

Kylie brings ‘Tension’ tour to D.C.

Performance on Tuesday at Capital One Arena

Published

2 weeks ago

April 5, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

Kylie Minogue visits D.C. on Tuesday.

Aussie pop icon Kylie Minogue brings her acclaimed “Tension” world tour to D.C. next Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Capital One Arena. Tickets are still available at Ticketmaster.

The show features songs spanning her long career, from 1987 debut single, “The Loco-Motion,” to “Padam, Padam” from her album, “Tension.”

Music & Concerts

Busy season for live music in D.C.

Erivo, Kylie, Sivan, and more headed our way this spring

Published

1 month ago

March 14, 2025

Joe Reberkenny

Cynthia Erivo plays WorldPride in D.C. on June 7. (Photo courtesy of World Pride)

One sure sign of spring’s arrival is the fresh wave of live music coming to Washington. With more than 10 venues and a diverse lineup of artists, the city offers no shortage of live performances for the new season.

In addition to this impressive list, don’t forget the many artists coming to town for WorldPride, May 17-June 8. In addition to headliner Cynthia Erivo performing on Saturday, June 7 at the two-day street festival and concert, many other performers will be in town. Jennifer Lopez, Troye Sivan, and RuPaul are among the featured performers at the WorldPride Music Festival at the RFK Festival Grounds, June 6-7. Visit WorldPrideDC.org for a list of other performers.

MARCH

Grammy and Emmy Award-winning Mary J. Blige will take the stage at Capital One Arena on March 26 for her For My Fans tour. Two days later, on March 28, J Balvin will also perform at Capital One Arena for his Back to the Rayo tour.

The Lincoln Theatre will host the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington for three performances—one on March 15 and two on March 16.

If dance parties are more your vibe, you’re in luck. DC9 is hosting a series of themed dance parties this month, starting with Poker Face: 2000s + Dance Party on March 14, the ever-popular Peach Pit ’90s dance party on March 15, H.O.T.S.: A Sapphic Dance Party on March 22, and RageRiot!—a burlesque and drag revue featuring a lineup of local drag kings, queens, and everything in between on March 29.

APRIL

Australian queen of pop Kylie Minogue will bring her Tension tour to Capital One Arena on April 8, with British dance artist Romy as her special guest.

Indie singer-songwriter mxmtoon will stop in D.C. for their Liminal Space tour on April 4 at the 9:30 club, followed by indie rock band Gossip on April 5. The 9:30 club will also host two dance parties in April: Gimme Gimme Disco – a dance party inspired by ABBA on April 11 and Broadway Rave on April 18.

The Atlantis will feature Brooklyn-based indie rock band Pom Pom Squad on April 2.

Comedy duo Two Dykes and a Mic will bring their Going Hog Wild tour to the Howard Theatre on April 19.

DC9 has two dance parties lined up this month: Bimbo Night on April 4, hosted by Baltimore’s “premier red-tattooed Filipina diva” Beth Amphetamine, and Aqua Girls: A QTBIPOC Dance Party on April 5, celebrating “queer transcendence through music, movement, and community.”

The Anthem will welcome a lineup of big names in April, starting with Alessia Cara on April 8. Lucy Dacus will take the stage on April 18 and 19 for her Forever Is a Feeling tour, while funky pop artist Remi Wolf will headline on April 27, joined by special guests Dana and Alden.

MAY

Indie-pop artist Miya Folick will bring her Erotica Veronica tour to The Atlantis on May 1, followed by multi-genre musician SASAMI on May 2. Pop artist Snow Wife will close out the month at The Atlantis on May 31 as part of an official WorldPride 2025 event.

Queer rock band Lambrini Girls will perform at the Howard Theatre on May 4, while rock trio L.A. Witch will take the stage at DC9 on May 12.

Union Stage will feature Rachel Platten on May 3 for her Set Me Free tour, followed by Femme Fatale: A Queer Dance Party later that night.

The popular DJ festival Project Glow will return to RFK Stadium grounds on May 31 and June 1.

JUNE

Pride month kicks off with “RuPaul’s Drag Race” star Trixie Mattel, who will perform at Echostage on June 3 as part of a series of official WorldPride 2025 events.

Queer icons Grace Jones & Janelle Monáe will take over The Anthem on June 5 for a WorldPride 2025 event performance.

Perfume Genius will bring his signature sound to the 9:30 club on June 7 as part of WorldPride 2025 festivities. Later in the month, Blondshell will hit the 9:30 club for her If You Asked for a Tour on June 24.

Music & Concerts

Pride concert to take place at Strathmore after Kennedy Center rescinds invitation

International Pride Orchestra ‘heartbroken’ event ‘would no longer be welcome’ at DC venue

Published

2 months ago

February 27, 2025

Jaylon Curry-Hagler

The Kennedy Center (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The International Pride Orchestra has announced its Pride concert will take place at the Strathmore Music Center on June 5 after the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts disinvited the group.

Since President Donald Trump took over the Kennedy Center during his first month in office, LGBTQ events and performances have been banned with community allies withdrawing in solidarity.

The Kennedy Center has cancelled “A Peacock Among Pigeons: Celebrating 50 Years of Pride,” a May 21 concert that was to feature the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. The International Pride Orchestra on Monday said its concert will now take place at the Strathmore.

“We were heartbroken when we learned that our concert would no longer be welcome at the Kennedy Center,” said International Pride Orchestra Founding Artistic Director Michael Roest in a statement released by the orchestra’s media page. “The Kennedy Center has long been a symbol of artistic excellence, inclusivity, and freedom of expression. However, we are profoundly grateful to the Strathmore Music Center for opening their doors to us. Their willingness to host our Pride Celebration Concert ensures that our message of love, pride, and resilience will be heard on the doorstep of the nation’s capital.”

The Pride concert is among the events that have faced uncertainty since the Trump-Vance administration took office on Jan. 20. Many, however, are fighting back and looking for ways to push back against the bans and cancellations.

“We aim to create a powerful and positive representation of the queer community through music,” said Roest. “We want to show the world who we are, celebrate our queer identities, and amplify the work of organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community.”

WorldPride is scheduled to take place in D.C. from May 17-June 8.