I love it when I rediscover an artist I had forgotten about. I used to be a big fan of Pink and for a while had her first album “Can’t Take Me Home” on constant playback. I loved her lyrics, I loved her music, I loved her attitude. I loved that people just couldn’t conceive of me enjoying this music (I was a very, very boring, quiet, and ordinary 18/19 year old who worried far too much about conforming).

Then, as often happens, I just stopped listening to the album. I had other things to listen to and I was just a bit too familiar with the tracks. Pink fell into the blackhole that is my iPod (7GB + of music and I still only listen to about five bands regularly) and, though tracks occasionally would appear on random playlists and I would think “Oh, I love this!”, I somehow never got reacquainted with her music. Two albums (Misundastood and Try This) passed me by. I rarely buy new music, and when I did update my collection it was with Matchbox Twenty, John Mayer, or Jack Johnson. Not Pink.

Then “Stupid Girls” and the I’m Not Dead album were released. I saw the Stupid Girls video and laughed so hard I nearly choked on my cup of tea. Even my brother, one of the most vocal anti-Pink people from the first time around, grudgingly admitted she had a bit of class and was ok. Still this wasn’t enough to make me buy the album. I will willingly impulse buy DVD’s, but for some reason not CD’s. An odd kink in my brain.

But I was in Virgin! on Monday and I had a voucher for £10 of a purchase… I had planned to get the Nerina Pallot album Everybody’s Gone To War but right next to it on the shelf was I’m Not Dead. Nerina Pallot was £7.99. Pink was £9.99 - It was Pink that made it home with me.

Love at first chord.

Once again, I love her lyrics, I love her music, I love her attitude. I love that people aren’t surprised that I like Pink any more (I’ve clearly got over my desire to be overly conforming). What’s more, it is a kick-ass album for the gym. A strong beat that makes it easy to get into a rhythm on the treadmill or cycle, and some wonderfully assertive lyrics that are perfect to keep you going that last 100 metres. Even listening to it now I am jigging in my seat whilst I type and might have to get up in a moment to have a quick dance around my room. In fact…

*dances around the room*

So yes, rediscovering an artist is one of the things in my life I take great pleasure in. And now I’m off to the library to see if they have her middle two albums - chances are, I think I might like them as well.

Oh, and if you get a chance, listen to the track “Dear Mr. President” (or at least find the lyrics online). This is one of the reasons I like Pink - her music isn’t just fun to listen to, it makes you think.