By Madeleine Powell
Copy Editor
P!ink’s new album “Hurts 2B Human” successfully encapsulates the pitfalls of the human experience through P!nk’s own eyes.
With standout songs and powerful lyrics, “Hurts 2B Human” by P!nk is poppy and upbeat and includes strong collaborations from multiple different artists. The variety of genres on the album provides for a diverse range of sounds, but it can detract from listeners’ enjoyment when too many different styles are incorporated into a single track.
“Hurts 2B Human” has a total of 13 songs and is P!nk’s eighth studio album. The album includes collaborations with artists such as Khalid, Cash Cash and Chris Stapleton.
P!nk has won various awards throughout her entire career, including three Grammy awards. She has also sold a total of 90 million records worldwide.
The incorporation of different music styles prove to be confusing on “Can We Pretend.” The song features Cash Cash and begins with sparse instrumentation that complements the song’s messages. However, the track eventually bridges into an unexpected and jarring electronic section that completely detracts from the song’s simplicity, which is arguably its greatest strength.
The album’s strongest song is its slow and emotional “90 Days” featuring Wrabel. While the lyrics are very repetitive, the raw emotion behind the singers’ voices, along with the pacing and vocal layering, creates a heart-wrenching and mellow listening experience. The track contains simple beats, which allows listeners to focus on the overall cohesive sound of the song.
Some of the most powerful lyrics can be found on the track “Courage.” Throughout the song, P!nk questions whether she has the courage to change, describing how “Walking uphill/both ways it hurts.” P!nk explains how life can be challenging no matter how one approaches it, and it is important to hold onto the bravery to change oneself, as well as the brutal world around them.
The other artists who sing on the album each contribute to the album’s diverse sound and complement P!nk’s vocals with their deeper tones. Khalid, who is featured in the title track “Hurts 2B Human,” adds an overall soothing tone that perfectly accompanies P!nk’s soaring vocals.
The album’s cover art is one of its standout elements, as it coincides perfectly with the overall messages and diversity of the album. It features an illustration of P!nk awash with color and designs that are representative of the variety present on the album, as well as the different challenges P!nk discusses in her lyrics.
“Hurts 2B Human” perfectly captures the many nuances of life through its positive messages, inspirational art and strong collaborations with vocally strong artists. Although the switch in genres throughout some songs unfortunately detracts from the overall album’s cohesion of tone, “Hurts 2B Human” presents the singer’s outlook on life in a unique and poignant manner.
Released on April 26, “Hurts 2B Human” can be streamed or purchased on iTunes for $11.99.
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