So underrated!!!
5
By Melanie Kershaw
This is P!nk at her best! Beautiful Trauma is just thatābeautiful and heartfelt vocals and lyrics tackling on traumatic experiences and making the most of them while moving on and recovering.
My favorite song on the track is āWhere We Goāāgreat lyrics and the chorus...vocal perfection! The following is a list of the songs in the order that I prefer them. But let me make clearāI love ALL the songs, something that is rare for an album these days. Also, some songs are tied for a place.
1. Where We Go: excellent. I cannot get enough of the chorus. This song is about recognizing that you are in a failing relationship (the first verse: āGot a hole in my head and my heart tonight; Well you shot me down you just aināt right; comes a time when you know you must let go; I know I know; we fixed it but itās brokenā) and moving on. It concludes with āI donāt know we donāt know; take me
home.ā
2a. But We Lost It: wonderfully sung song that carries a similar theme to the previous one on my list, though sounds unique and relatable in its melancholy, yet eventual resolution. Hereās a verse: āIām still the girl that you chased all around the world; I havenāt changed, Iāve just replaced all the chains with pearls; I want the same things we did back then; I know we had it but we lost it.ā And then: ā Oh the bone breaks it grows back stronger; the bone breaks...ā. Great lyrics and vocals.
2b. What About Us. Great song that could be viewed as both a political protest song or even about relationships. Part of a verse: āWe were willing, we came when you called; But many fooled us, enough is enough.ā Awesome vocals.
3a. For Now. The vocals are AMAZING in this one. This song can really only be rightly described by its lyrics: āRemember that time we were just kickinā; But nothing had changed, nothing was really different; Then love showed its teeth like it was something vicious; no no no let me finish.ā And then: āFreeze frame rewind stop; And get back to the old familiar thoughts; Can we just freeze frame rewind stop; And get back to the feelings we think we lost; For now.ā
3b. Wild Hearts Canāt Be Broken. Inspiring anthem with excellent lyrics and vocals. [Wow, running out of compliments here. :)] Hereās the chorus: āThereās not enough rope to tie me down; Thereās not enough tape to shut this mouth; The stones you throw can make me bleed; But I wonāt stop until weāre free; Wild hearts canāt be broken; No wild hearts canāt be broken.ā
4a: Secrets: LOVE IT! Kind of sad that I put it this far down in the list. This song has a sort of mysterious, devious, pop/hip hop vibe. This about, as the name says, secrets and deciding āwhat do we conceal; what do we revealā in both a relationship and in everyday life. āI like to make believe with you; Da da da da do do do; That we always speak the truth...ish.ā
4b: I Am Here. Another great one. āI am here; I am here; Iāve already seen the bottom so thereās nothing to fear; know that Iāll be ready when the devil is near.ā But what really makes this song is the choir that comes in after each chorus; itās pretty rare that this is in a pop song, but itās a great addition; when P!nk sings with the choir...love it.
4c. Barbies. This song is probably not what you thought it was going to be. Itās actually about remembering the bliss of your childhood and wishing you could go back. āI wish I could go back to playing Barbies in my room; They never say that you gotta grow up quite this soon; How fast things change; And now Iām here and all I wanna do; is go back to playing Barbies in my room.ā Love the acoustic.
5a. Beautiful Trauma. The song that the album is named after is catchy and passionate yet at times angry, while having a pop flare. The chorus: āThe pill I keep taking; The nightmare I wake in; Thereās nothing, no nothing, nothing but you; My perfect rock bottom; My beautiful trauma...ā
5b. You Get My Love. P!nkās vocal talent shines through in this song. She is really belting it out in this number. This one is about being afraid to be honest with your partner, but saying that no matter what āyou get my love; donāt let my mistakes take that away from us.ā It starts with āWhile you were sleeping; I decided to lay it out; Every bad reason; All of my pointless doubts.ā And the last verse: āThe light comes in; The dawn is rising down; You opened up your eyes; Once again I have to risk it all; the time is now.ā
5c. Whatever You Want. This song has really grown on me and will surely rise on this list. Itās one of the more hip hop-y numbers though it is melodic at the same time. Hereās the last verse: āWhoever said the love was sweet; drank a little too much whiskey, baby; Whoever said that life was easy; never lived anywhere near me; I wouldnāt change a thing; āCause youāre the one I wanna sink with.ā
6a. Better Life. Iām sad that this one is at the bottom because it really is a good song. āBut I stay up late night; screaming at the street lights; All the cigarette smoke; filling up these hopeless lungs; Oh and my headās like; what happened to itās alright; baby itās not alright; I feel like a closing window.ā And the chorus: āBut I canāt shake the feeling; that you picture a better life; better wife, better nights, better high; I canāt shake the feeling; Do you picture a better life?ā
6b. Revenge. This one is mostly rap, which, to be frank, I hate. But (thereās always a ābutā) I actually enjoy listening to this song and like P!nkās rap (though not a fan of Eminem). The name says it all: Revenge. āIām daydreaming; Let me count the ways that Iāll get you; or how Iāll make you pay; Babe Iām hurting and now youāll feel the same; Thatās my plan; Thatās my plan; Thatās my plan.ā And thatās the tame part of the song...
I would 100% recommend this album: itās got excellent vocals; heartfelt lyrics; and, well, itās P!nk, whatās not to love?
Note: I purchased the physical CD from Walmart, not the digital album from iTunes, though I would recommend both versions.