10 Great Hits You Won’t Find on Pink’s New “Greatest Hits” Album

P!nk is releasing a greatest hits record! It’s called Greatest Hits… So Far!!! and the album drops on Tuesday.

Does news about Pink excite you? Or even remotely pique your interest? If you’re not fond of Pink’s music, stop reading here. I’m about to get my fangirl on.

Pink

So if you can move past the album’s excessive exclamation marks (and I hope you can), I think you’ll find that Greatest Hits… So Far!!! is a fairly well-crafted reflection of Pink’s decade-long, genre-jumping musical career. Here’s the track list:

1. Get the Party Started
2. There You Go
3. Don’t Let Me Get Me
4. Just Like a Pill
5. Family Portrait
6. Trouble
7. Stupid Girls
8. Who Knew
9. U + Ur Hand
10. Dear Mr. President
11. So What
12. Sober
13. Please Don’t Leave Me
14. Funhouse
15. I Don’t Believe You
16. Glitter In The Air
17. Raise Your Glass [new]
18. Fuckin’ Perfect [new]
19. Heartbreak Down [new]

These are arguably Pink’s most commercially successful hits; they got a lot of airplay and moved a lot of records and made Pink a very popular lady and Linda Perry a very rich lady. However, there are a handful of tracks missing from this greatest hits record that my heart considers to be ‘hits’ as well. Which brings me to the following:

The Great Hits That You Won’t Find
on P!nk’s Greatest Hits… So Far!!!

1. Most Girls (Can’t Take Me Home, 2000)

Greatest Hits… So Far!!! favors Pink’s later work, but I was nonetheless surprised that “Most Girls” didn’t make the cut. I suspect it’s because Pink’s name isn’t listed in the writing credits, girl isn’t silly.

“Most Girls” first introduced me to the idea of having ‘game’ and for that I will always be grateful. The song is about finding a man with the bling-bling. Or not wanting to, in Pink’s / our case. What it lacks in relatable lyrical content, it makes up for with a brilliant hook that, nearly a decade later, is still showcased in Pink’s live shows. [Watch the live clip]

2. Split Personality (Can’t Take Me Home, 2000)

Before Pink was a pop star, she was an R&B artist – and a rather talented one, at that. “Split Personality” is one of the early songs that makes me wonder what Pink could’ve achieved if only she’d stuck with the genre. (As AS reader Janay pointed out to me via twitter, the Pink/Perry collaboration, “Catch Me While I’m Sleeping,” is a similar indicator of her R&B potential.)

When you break it down, this is about two girls trying to blend, trying to vibe, trying to live just one life. She just wants to fly, fly, fly, you know? While the artist in “Split Personality” is not overly familiar today, several characteristics of this track — such as the spoken interjections — have been carried through her entire career. [Watch the live clip]

3. 18 Wheeler (M!ssundaztood, 2001)

“18 Wheeler” was one of many girl power-esque anthems that helped to position Pink as the independent kick-ass woman that we see today. Of course there were traces of this person from the very beginning, but it was in M!ssundaztood that she really amped up the attitude. I was 17 when I first heard “18 Wheeler” and it made me feel invincible. Sorta link you could run me over with your 18 wheeler truck and I wouldn’t give a fuck. [Watch the live clip]

Pink

4. Tonight’s the Night (Try This, 2003)

I’ll never understand why Try This was Pink’s lowest selling album of all time, it is SO GOOD you guys. Maybe in 2003 America wasn’t ready for the future, or something. We can probably blame George W. Bush. “Tonight’s the Night” is not a complicated track, I don’t want to beat you with needless analysis. It’s just a feel-good song with a memorable vocal line and wicked groove. Everyone should try it at least once. [Listen here]

5. Oh My God (Try This, 2003)

If you’ve never heard this collaboration between Pink and Peaches, you should probably go and do that right now.

For all of its ambiguity, gender-wise, “Oh My God” comes across as hyper hyper queer. I like it for being wonderfully primal and organic and sexual without the fanfare that accompanies like-minded tracks by Pink’s pop peers. Part of its appeal is lesbian subtext that (maybe?) only exists in the wishful minds of listeners, and yet even with the fantasy element there’s still something so incredibly honest here. Also, every time I listen my mind jumps to this place where Pink and Peaches are making out, which is a magical and not-entirely-impossible scenario that’s worth the admission price.

6. Waiting For Love (Try This, 2003)

“Waiting for Love” is a collaboration between 5 (!) songwriters, including Pink and Linda Perry, and happens to feature one of my all-time favorite guitar lines. But its beauty is mostly in the slow, dramatic buildup, which is not nearly as predictable as Pink’s other hits. She really makes you want it. [Listen here]

7. The One That Got Away (I’m Not Dead, 2006)

Pink has enough acoustic heart-string ballads in her repertoire to show us that ‘less’ is more. She also has enough themed records and circus stunts under her belt that prove that ‘more’ is Pink. “The One That Got Away” somehow manages to bring both. It’s just a girl and her guitar and a make-believe campfire, belting out an anecdote about real life that, even in its simple raw form, reveals far more than you might expect. [Watch the live clip]

Pink

8. Fingers (I’m Not Dead, 2006)

“Fingers” is a song about masturbation. It uses little metaphor or subtext. In concert, Pink performs the song in underwear and a net. When she touches herself the crowds’ jaws collectively drop to the concrete. They throw each other a look that says, “This is really happening.” It’s quite amazing. [Watch the live clip]

I don’t love this song for its sound, or adult content, or even the way she performs it onstage (although that is a bonus). What I adore about it is the way it just sits there, unadvertised, at the end of the album. It’s more cheeky than it is ‘shocking.’ It’s like a private joke and she’s waiting for you to find it.

9. Crystal Ball (Funhouse, 2008)

What I love most about the Funhouse record is the element of fantasy. It’s really no surprise that Greatest Hits… So Far!!! plucks so many songs from its track list. Right in the middle of the Funhouse’s bells and whistles and carnival crazy is a ballad that I think everyone should hear once. It’s not hugely memorable, but it is lovely. [Watch the live clip]

Pink

10. Bad Influence (Funhouse, 2008)

“Bad Influence” is Funhouse‘s party song. It’s unpredictable, while remaining effortlessly on theme. It makes me excited about the pop music of the future. [Watch the live clip]

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Got any to add?

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Crystal

Founding member. Former writer. Still loves Autostraddle with her whole heart.

Crystal has written 320 articles for us.

36 Comments

  1. Thanks for the article, Crystal! I remember watching some reliable source (True Hollywood Story?) that said that Pink didn’t like her first album because she was pushed to perform in a hip hop style by some bad manager. But I also think she should have included Most Girls. And the other one I was thinking of is “Hiccup.” I love that song!

  3. Maybe it is just because I am watching Charlie’s Angels right now but….Feel Good Time? And also God is a DJ? I totally agree that Try This is an underrated album, there are so many good tracks on there.

    But seriously, no Leave Me Alone??? WHAT??? Madness I tell you!!!

  4. when i was in the fourth grade i couldn’t stop watching the video to don’t let me get me. turns out i’m also gay. who would’ve thought it

  5. I’m seriously loving your love for P!nk. And I completely agree with this list, though I would add “Do What U Do” from Can’t Take Me Home. Cause it’s so gay. And basically tells you it’s ok to be gay. And you know, just do what you do. Plus it’s another one of those R&B influenced songs that makes you wonder why she didn’t stick with that sound.

    I agree with you about Try This, too. It was really fucking awesome.

  7. ‘Split Personality’ YESSS I listened to it today and wondered why Pink didn’t have more songs like it.

  8. I definitely would have added “leave me alone”…its got that feel that just makes you want to dance like an idiot. Also, on the other end of the spectrum, “long way to happy” is one of her many songs that is so real. Love this list though! Well done =)

    • it didn’t turn me on as much as FREAK THE SHIT OUT OF ME. NO ONE SHOULD BE THAT HIGH UP WITHOUT A HARNESS

      • Safety first! I’ll get up there and play with her and my harness. Oh wait, maybe that’s not the harness you had in mind?

  10. As for Oh My God, well…omg. I used to watch video of that and Fingers at a job behind my laptop during morning meetings. Most songs I didn’t expect to be on the CD, ie, It’s All Your Fault. And I love Last to Know, Unwind, 18 Wheeler (it can still makes me not give a fuck) and too many more to list. Pink and Joan Jett have prety much been on consistent play on my IPOD forever.

  11. Well Bad Influence is on my Australian version I bought and while she hasn’t put songs such as ‘Most Girls and ‘You Make Me Sick’ they do feature on the DVD side of the album.

    • I wasn’t lucky enough to get the DVD. But it seems that the track list on the USA release is a little different to the Australian release, instead of “Bad Influence” it has “Glitter In The Air”.

  12. Hey MsNJS, you said “I was scrolling..scrolling….scrol…FINGERZ!! YES!! I love that song and I don’t even do that..”

    I am left with the impression there’s something you’re not doing w/your fingers and if so, in keeping with the theme of the post, TRY THIS.

    If I totally misunderstood your post I apologize, it is late and I am kinda buzzed.

  13. Whoa! That live video for Fingers is nuts! I haven’t really seen much of Pink’s live show, but holy cow, athleticism. Some of that stuff she was doing in the net is advanced material. There were a few moments that I had to double take, because I thought there was no way they’d let her do that without a safety harness. Bad ass.

    This post has also made me realize that I think Pink is a total hottie. I’ve only known about her / liked her singles since 2001, but hey, I’m just slow on heat sensing I guess.

  14. I love her and this post made me realise I have to rip her Can’t Take Me Home and Try This onto this computer, sheesh.

  16. Lonely Girl w/ Linda Perry (M!ssundaztood, still my fave P!nk album, I guess). I’ve got a soft spot for that one.

  17. ‘Last to Know’. I dunno if it was ever actually a single, thought I’m sure I heard it on the radio a few times. Pretty sure I spent I good month yelling “YOU COULDA CALLED ME BACK, YOU STUPID FUCK!” out car windows.

  18. I just NOW noticed that God Is A DJ isn’t on the compilation. WTF?!

    Also, I know that it never got Radio Play and you really can’t consider it a ‘hit’, but I think the Butch Walker produced ‘Mean’ might be one of her most underrated songs.

  19. I like your article and I LOVE P!NK!
    You reminded me of songs of hers I’ve loved over the years.
    I seriously don’t know why she isn’t a super mega star, she is so freaking talented… I love that she’s one tough sexy bitch and she doesn’t take any shit!
    This freak wouldn’t mind keeping her all to herself…for awhile anyways.

  20. I don’t get why God is a DJ isn’t on there either…checked Wikipedia and apparently it’s on the deluxe version of the international edition? (Still don’t get why it’s not on the standard version of that, either, but Whataya Want From Me is. I love WWFM, but she never even released it herself, so I don’t really get it.)

  22. I think my fave Pink song is her duet with Linda Perry, “Lonely Girl” off Missundastood. Love the emotional truth in that track & “Eventually.”

  23. in 2003- 2004 BMG and Sony were forming some joint venture, and eventually their CEO LA Reid was let go…this merger hurt a few albums out around that time including Try This…I’d say Pink bounced back quite nicely from the lack of label push on that album though. ;)

  24. a) Leave Me Alone is excellent and

    b) Where is the love for Respect?!?! It is so gloriously, fantastically ridiculous/awesome.

    when i walk past you in a club
    ooh la la you gasp
    back up boy i ain’t your toy
    oh your piece of ass WHAT

    Indeed, Pink. Indeed.

  25. yes. i might also realllllly want “god is a DJ” to be on either of these greatest hits, b/c i could listen to that song on repeat forever.

  26. Anyone else notice that all the “male” dancers are actually women? All the characters that are supposed to be male (or representing that guy in the song) are female dancers. This makes me super squee inside. :)

  28. To be honest, even the songs I don’t *love* by P!nk still make me smile when I hear them. I think she’s one of the most genuine, real pop stars out there. Yet she’s still overlooked way too much.

  29. Only one of these was ever released as a single, so DUH! they’re not going to be on a greatest hits. This is a pretty stupid article. Try This was a flop because while it’s not that bad in and of itself, compared to M!ss or IND, it is utter TRASH. P!nk has too much potential to be putting things of that quality out.

    And anyone who would want TOTGA to ever be released on anything has forfeited their taste card.

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