Pink
Pink
Background information
Birth name	Alecia Beth Moore
Born	(1979-09-08) September 8, 1979 (age 32) Doylestown, Pennsylvania, United States
Origin	Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genres	Pop rock, pop, rock, R&B, dance
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, dancer, actress
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	1995–present
Labels	LaFace, Arista, Jive, RCA

Alecia Beth Moore (born September 8, 1979), better known by her stage name Pink (often stylized as P!nk), is an American singer-songwriter, musician and actress. After her three-year career with the contemporary R&B girl group Choice, in 2000 she released her first single "There You Go," from her debut album Can't Take Me Home. The song garnered commercial success, peaking at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2001, she released her second, more pop rock-oriented, studio album, Missundaztood. The album went on to become a critical and commercial success, with estimated sales of 13 million. The album produced four singles, "Get the Party Started," "Don't Let Me Get Me," "Just Like a Pill" and "Family Portrait," each entering the Top 20, with "Get the Party Started" being her highest charting solo single (tied with "Most Girls") until "So What" in 2008, peaking at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

In November 2003, Pink released her third album Try This. The album was, commercially, less successful than her previous album, but still managed to sell around 3 million copies, making it Pink's least successful album to date. It produced three singles, "Trouble," "God Is a DJ" and "Last to Know," with the first receiving a Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. After taking a short break, she released I'm Not Dead, her fourth studio album, on April 4, 2006. It marks her comeback after the poor success of her previous album. The album debuted and peaked at #6 on the Billboard 200, Pink's highest debut on the chart. It was preceded by the controversial single "Stupid Girls" which garnered commercial success. The second single, "Who Knew," was virtually ignored on American radio, but after the huge success of "U + Ur Hand," was re-released, peaking at #9 on the charts. "U + Ur Hand" is credited to have revived Pink's career in the US, and also to have brought the album back to the charts. Her fifth album, Funhouse, was released in late October 2008. It was preceded by her first solo number one on the Billboard Hot 100, "So What." The album notched three other Top 20 hits: "Sober," "Please Don't Leave Me" and "Glitter in the Air." On November 15, 2010, she released her first compilation album, Greatest Hits... So Far!!!. The album produced two singles, "Raise Your Glass" and "Fuckin' Perfect," the former reaching the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100. In January 2012, Nielsen Soundscan reported that P!nk was the 4th most played artist of 2011.^[1]

By the end of 2009, Billboard magazine named Pink the number one Pop Artist of the decade,^[2] as well as naming her the 13th overall music artist of the decade.^[3] A few months later, in June 2010, Forbes magazine named Pink the 27th most powerful celebrity in the world.^[4] Pink's career accomplishments include three Grammy Awards, five MTV Video Music Awards and two Brit Awards. In June 2011 Pink and her husband, Carey Hart, welcomed their first child, Willow Sage. As of January 2012, Pink has sold over 40 million albums and 70 million singles worldwide, making her one of the best-selling artists of all time.^[5]

Early life[link]

Pink was born on September 8, 1979, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, to Judith,^[6] a nurse, and Jim Moore, a Vietnam veteran.^[7][8] Her father is Catholic and her mother is Jewish, and she has ancestors who emigrated from Ireland, Germany, and Lithuania.^[9] Pink grew up in Doylestown, where she attended Doyle Elementary School, Lenape Middle School, and Central Bucks High School West. Her father played guitar and sang songs, thus inspiring Pink from an early age to be a rock star. In high school, Moore joined her first band, Middleground, but the band folded upon losing a battle of the bands competition. Pink developed her voice early in life. Although a healthy baby at birth, she quickly developed asthma that plagued her through her early years.^[10] When she was a teenager, she wrote lyrics as an outlet for her feelings, and her mother commented, "Her initial writings were always very introspective. Some of it was very black, and very deep, almost worrisome."^[10] She began performing in Philadelphia clubs when she was 14 years old. Pink said, "I was extreme. I went through phases from skateboarder, to hip-hopper, to rave child, to lead singer in a rock band. I did it all, and all at the same time." At 16, together with two other teenage girls, Stephanie Galligan and Chrissy Conway, she formed the R&B group Choice. They landed a deal with L.A. Reid and worked with various producers for two years, never releasing a record, before Reid persuaded Moore to go solo. Her stage name "P!nk" was a nickname of hers when she was singing in Philadelphia clubs as a teen.^[11]

Music career[link]

[edit] 1995–2000: Career beginnings and Can't Take Me Home

In 1995, Alecia Moore joined Choice, an American R&B girl group, which also included Chrissy Conway and Sharon Flanagan. A copy of their first song, "Key to My Heart," was sent to LaFace Records in Atlanta, Georgia, where L.A. Reid overheard it and arranged for the group to fly there so he could see them perform. After this, he signed them to a record deal. As the three girls were under 18 at the time, their parents had to co-sign the contract. The group relocated to Atlanta and recorded an album, which was never released, and "Key to My Heart" appeared on the Kazaam soundtrack for the 1996 film of the same name. The group disbanded in 1998.

After the disbandment of Choice, Pink started working on her debut album, Can't Take Me Home. It was released on April 4, 2000, with some copies being released in the UK in early 1999, and was produced by Babyface, Terence "Tramp-Baby" Abney, She'ksphere, Dallas Austin, The Specialists, and Steve Rhythm. The album sold more than 5 million copies worldwide, and was certified double platinum in the U.S. It produced two top ten singles, "There You Go" and "Most Girls." The album's third single, "You Make Me Sick" hit the top 40 in the U.S. and the top 10 in the U.K. It was also featured in the film Save the Last Dance. The song "Split Personality" was featured in the film The Princess Diaries.

Pink was the opening act for 'N Sync on their American tour in the summer of 2000.^[12]

[edit] 2001–05: Missundaztood and Try This

In 2001, she was a part of "Lady Marmalade" alongside singers Christina Aguilera, Mýa, and rapper Lil' Kim for the soundtrack of the film Moulin Rouge!. Produced by hip-hop producers Rockwilder and Missy Elliott, the song topped the charts in countries including New Zealand, the UK, Australia and the U.S., where it became the most successful airplay-only single in history, and also became Pink's first number one single.^[13] The success of the single was helped by its music video, which was popular on music channels^[14] and won the MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year.^[15] The song won Pink's first Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, and provided a boost for the four performers' careers.^[16] In a VH1 interview, Pink stated she had to fight with Christina Aguilera's manager to sing the high parts in the song.

Tired of being marketed as another cookie cutter pop act and eager to be seen as a more serious songwriter and musician, and to perform the type of music she wanted to, Pink took her sound in a new direction and sought more artistic or creative control during the recording of her second album, M!ssundaztood.^[17] She recruited Linda Perry, former singer of 4 Non Blondes (one of Pink's favorites in her teenage years), who said Pink opened up to her: "In the beginning I just said: 'What do you feel?', and she (Pink) would just sit behind the piano and sing."^[16] Pink moved into Perry's Los Angeles home where the pair spent several months writing songs for the album.^[18] Perry co-wrote and co-produced the album with Dallas Austin and Scott Storch, and according to VH1 Driven, Antonio "LA" Reid of LaFace Records was not initially content with the new music Pink was making.^[16] The album, named Missundaztood because of Pink's belief that people had a wrong image of her,^[19] was released in November 2001.

Its lead single, "Get the Party Started" (written and produced by Perry), went top five in the U.S. and many other countries, and number one in Australia. At the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards, the music video won in the categories of Best Female Video and Best Dance Video. The album's other singles—"Don't Let Me Get Me," the Dallas Austin-produced "Just like a Pill," and "Family Portrait"—were also radio and chart successes, with "Just like a Pill" becoming Pink's first solo UK number-one hit. The singles were substantial hits on Adult Top 40 radio. "Missundaztood" was certified gold or platinum status in more than 20 countries,^[20] with worldwide sales of 12 million.^[21] It was the second best-selling album in the UK during 2002. "Missundaztood" and "Get the Party Started" earned nominations at the 2003 Grammy Awards for Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, respectively. Faith Hill's 2002 album, Cry, features a song co-written by Pink and Perry. In 2002, Pink started a headlining American, European and Australian tour, the Party Tour; later, she became a supporting act for Lenny Kravitz's American tour. In mid-2003, Pink contributed the song "Feel Good Time" to the soundtrack of the film Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, in which she had a cameo appearance as a motocross race ramp owner/promoter. "Feel Good Time" was co-written by singer Beck, produced by electronic music artist William Orbit and based on the song "Fresh Garbage" by the band Spirit. It became Pink's first single to miss the top 40 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, although it was a hit in Europe and Australia. During the same period, a song Pink co-wrote with Damon Elliott was released on Mýa's album Moodring.

"Feel Good Time" was included on non-U.S. editions of Pink's third album Try This, which was released on November 11, 2003. Eight of the 13 tracks were co-written with Tim Armstrong of the band Rancid; Linda Perry was featured on the album as a writer and musician. Though Try This reached the top ten on album charts in the U.S., Canada, the UK and Australia, sales were considerably lower than those of Missundaztood; it went platinum in the U.S. and sold over 5 million copies worldwide.^[22] The singles "Trouble" and "God Is a DJ" did not reach the U.S. top 40 but went top ten in other countries, and "Last to Know" was released as a single outside North America. "Trouble" earned Pink her second Grammy Award (for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance) at the 2004 Grammy Awards, and "Feel Good Time" was nominated in the category of Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. She toured extensively on the Try This Tour through Europe and Australia, where the album was better received.

[edit] 2005–09: I'm Not Dead and Funhouse

In 2005, she collaborated with Lisa Marie Presley on the track "Shine" on Presley's second album Now What. Pink took a break to write the songs for her fourth album, I'm Not Dead, which she said she titled as such because "It's about being alive and feisty and not sitting down and shutting up even though people would like you to."^[23] Pink worked with producers Max Martin, Billy Mann, Christopher Rojas, Butch Walker, Lukasz Gottwald, and Josh Abraham on the album. The album's release in April 2006 through LaFace Records was a substantial success throughout the world, particularly in Australia. The album reached the top ten in the U.S., the top five in the UK, number one in Germany, and sat at number one in Australia for two non-consecutive weeks,^[24] though it was Pink's lowest seller in the U.S. until the success of the single "U + Ur Hand" in early 2007. The album ranked 96th in the USA during 2007.^[25]

Lead single "Stupid Girls" was Pink's biggest U.S. hit since 2002 and earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Its music video, in which she parodies celebrities such as Lindsay Lohan, Jessica Simpson, Mary-Kate Olsen, and Paris Hilton,^[26] won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Pop Video. Subsequent singles "Who Knew" and "U + Ur Hand" were substantial hits in Australia and Europe, and they later became top ten singles in the U.S. in 2007. The non-U.S. singles were "Nobody Knows," a minor hit in the UK, Australia and Germany; "Dear Mr. President," an open letter to the U.S. President George W. Bush (featuring the Indigo Girls) and a number 1 hit in Belgium, a top five hit in Germany, Australia and other countries; "Leave Me Alone (I'm Lonely)," a UK top 40 and Australian top five entry; and "'Cuz I Can." The album has sold over 1.3 million copies in the U.S., over 700,000 in Australia, and 6 million worldwide. Proving very popular in Australia, with 6 top five singles, and a record-breaking 62 weeks in the top 10; so far the album has gone 10 times platinum. In June 2008, the I'm Not Dead album returned to the top 50 of the Australian ARIA charts and remained there until November 2009.^[27] In June 2009 the album returned once again to the Australian top ten album charts in its 142nd week in the national top fifty.^[27] It re-entered at No. 10 on the back of her mammoth Funhouse Tour, and as of 2010, has spent 162 weeks in the top 50 of the Australian ARIA albums chart.^[27]

Pink performing on the I'm Not Dead summer tour in 2007

In support of the album, Pink embarked on the world I'm Not Dead Tour, for which ticket sales in Australia were particularly high; she sold approximately 307,000 tickets in Australia, giving her the record for the biggest concert attendance for an arena tour by a female artist.^[28] One of the London shows on the tour was taped and released as a DVD, Pink: Live from Wembley Arena where she sang Linda Perry's "Whats Up?." In 2006, Pink was chosen to sing the theme song for NBC Sunday Night Football, "Waiting All Day for Sunday Night," which is a take on "I Hate Myself for Lovin' You" by Joan Jett. She contributed a cover of Rufus's "Tell Me Something Good" to the soundtrack of the film Happy Feet, and lent her name to PlayStation to promote the PSP, a special pink edition of which was released.^[29] Pink collaborated with several other artists in 2006 and 2007, when she opened for Justin Timberlake on the American leg of his FutureSex/LoveShow Tour. She sang on the Indigo Girls album Despite Our Differences. She was featured on India.Arie's song "I Am Not My Hair" from the Lifetime Television film Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy. She wrote a song ("I Will") for Natalia's third album, Everything & More. "Outside of You," another song she co-wrote, was recorded by dance-pop singer Hilary Duff and released on her 2007 album Dignity. Pink recorded a song with Annie Lennox and twenty-two other female acts for Lennox's fourth solo studio album, Songs of Mass Destruction. Titled "Sing," it was written as an anthem for HIV/AIDS, according to Lennox's website.^[30] In December 2007, a special edition Pink Box, which comprises her second to fourth albums and the DVD Live in Europe, was released in Australia. It reached the top twenty on the albums chart and was certified Gold, selling over 35,000 units.^[31]

Pink performing at a secret London gig to promote the Funhouse album, on November 4, 2008

On August 7, 2008, Pink's single "So What" was leaked online, and radio stations across Australia were quick to give it massive airplay. Within less than 6 hours from the leak, "So What" was voted No.1 on Nova 100 Melbourne and shot to No.1 on the Today Network's national radio Hot30 Countdown.^[32] It also shot straight to number 1 on the official Australian and British iTunes single downloads charts. On August 22, Pink announced a new track titled "Crystal Ball." On September 18, 2008, "So What" became the first solo number one of her career on the Billboard Hot 100.

Pink was the guest of honor at the 2008 ARIA Music Awards held in Sydney, Australia, in October 2008, where she sang "So What." On November 3, 2008, Funhouse debuted at number one on the ARIA charts, certified two times platinum and selling over 86,000 units in its first week. Pink's Funhouse Tour sold out all concerts in Australia, and she performed a total of 58 shows around the country between May and August 2009, performing for more than 600,000 Australian fans.^[33] The Funhouse Tour started in France on February 24 and continued through Europe until mid-May, with supporting act Raygun. Pink then performed a series of shows in Australia. On November 23, 2008, Pink performed her second single from Funhouse, "Sober" at the American Music Awards. The third single was "Please Don't Leave Me," with a video directed by Dave Meyers. The fourth single was "Funhouse," although "Bad Influence" was released in Australia prior to "Funhouse"'s release as a promotional single for the tour. In May 2009, Pink released a four-CD set of her albums Can't Take Me Home / Missundaztood / Try This / I'm Not Dead, excluding her current album Funhouse. The album peaked at number 7 in the UK Album Chart.^[34] In 2009, Pink performed in The People Speak a documentary feature film that uses dramatic and musical performances of the letters, diaries, and speeches of everyday Americans, based on historian Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States.^[35]

On September 13, 2009, Pink performed "Sober" while doing a trapeze act at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards,^[36] where she was nominated for Best Female Video. On January 31, 2010, Pink did another trapeze act in the form of aerial silks at the 2010 Grammy Awards, this time performing the song "Glitter in the Air." She received a standing ovation. The music of Pink was the theme of the October 4, 2009 episode of Australian Idol.

[edit] 2010–11: Greatest Hits... So Far!!!

Pink was a soloist in the remake of the 1985 charity single, "We Are the World." Pink collaborated on the 2010 Herbie Hancock album, The Imagine Project, in which she sang Peter Gabriel's "Don't Give Up" with John Legend and contributed vocals to John Lennon's "Imagine" with Seal, India.Arie, Jeff Beck, Konono N°1, Oumou Sangare and others.^[37] Pink was featured on a track titled "Won't Back Down" for Eminem's 2010 album Recovery. Eminem explained that he included Pink because he "felt like she would smash this record."^[38]

On July 15, 2010, Pink fell during one of her aerial tricks during a concert in Nurnberg, Germany, where she fell out of a harness which was supposed to carry her across the crowd.^[39] She was rushed off stage and taken to a local hospital but wasn't seriously injured. She was treated by American doctors Chris Lorch and Jeremy Nicholson.^[40] Pink moved a total of 3,000,000 concert tickets on her 2009–2010 worldwide tour, according to a statement on behalf of U.K. tour promoter Marshall Arts.^[41]

In the first week of October 2010, Pink released "Raise Your Glass," the first single from her first compilation album, Greatest Hits... So Far!!!. The song celebrates a decade since Pink's debut in 2000 and is dedicated to her fans who have been supporting her over the years. The song peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Pink's tenth Top 10 hit, and her second solo number one on the chart.^[42] On November 12, 2010, Pink released her first compilation album, entitled Greatest Hits... So Far!!!, and almost a month after that released her second single, named "Fuckin' Perfect." The song reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100^[43] and peaked at #1 in Germany.^[44]

Pink voiced the character of Gloria in Happy Feet Two, which premiered on November 18, 2011 in the United States. She also sings the movie's theme song, "Bridge of Light."^[45] Pink will also have her first leading role, in an upcoming dramatic comedy entitled Thanks for Sharing, starring alongside Gwyneth Paltrow and Mark Ruffalo.^[46]

2012–present: Sixth studio album[link]

On October 7, 2011, RCA Music Group announced it was disbanding Jive Records along with Arista Records and J Records. With the shutdown, Pink (and all other artists previously signed to these three labels) will release her future material on the RCA Records brand. In 2011, Joe Riccitelli, an executive with RCA, announced that Pink was preparing to enter the studio to record her sixth studio album, to be released in september 2012.^[47][48] On February 29, 2012, P!nk took to her Twitter account and confirmed that she is currently in the writing process for her new record.^[49]

Artistry[link]

Influences[link]

Pink has named Madonna and Janis Joplin as two of her biggest musical influences.^[50] She stated that "I wanted to do it my way with my career, and I had this arrogant notion that people weren't just interested in my music but me as a person. That was my bit of arrogance, I guess. That's something I learned from Madonna. I was a fan right from the first time I heard 'Holiday'."^[50] Of Joplin she expressed: "She was so inspiring by singing blues music when it wasn't culturally acceptable for white women, and she wore her heart on her sleeve. She was so witty and charming and intelligent, but she also battled an ugly-duckling syndrome. I would love to play her in a movie."^[50]

Legacy[link]

Pink has been described as an artist who has changed the scope of pop music, but has hardly received recognition for it.^[51][52] Referring to her as a "powerhouse vocalist", Ann Powers of the Los Angeles Times asked, "Why isn't she an even bigger star?"^[52] Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone commented: "I think people respond to her sense of independence and dedication. It inspires people ... This is a prolific pop artist who is sometimes famous and successful, sometimes obscure, who nonetheless keeps making her own kind of music. Every few years, the spotlight comes back around to her—but her fans can trust that when the spotlight moves along, Pink will keep on writing Pink songs."^[52] Powers adds that her mix of rock-style rebellion, emotional rawness, humor and "infectious" dance beats created "a model for the mashup approach of latter-day divas such as Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and even Rihanna."^[52] James Montgomery of MTV describes her as "a fabulously fearless pop artist" who can "out-sing almost anyone out there. She can out-crazy Gaga or Lily. She's the total pop-star package, everything you'd want in a singer/entertainer/icon. And still, she remains oddly off the radar. Such is the price of busting borders, I suppose."^[51]

British soul singer Adele considers Pink's performance at Brixton Academy in London as one of "the most defining moments" in her life, saying "It was the Missundaztood record, so I was about 13 or 14. I had never heard, being in the room, someone sing like that live. I remember sort of feeling like I was in a wind tunnel, her voice just hitting me. It was incredible."^[53][54]

Personal life[link]

Family[link]

Pink met professional motocross racer Carey Hart at the 2001 X Games in Philadelphia. Following a brief separation in 2003, Pink proposed to Hart in June 2005 during a Mammoth Lakes motocross race by holding up a "Will you marry me?" sign on his pit board.^[55] They married in Costa Rica on January 7, 2006.^[56]

After months of speculation, Pink announced in February 2008 that she and Hart had separated.^[57][58] Hart subsequently appeared in the video for her 2008 song "So What",^[59] which deals with their separation and pending divorce.^[60] The couple sought marriage counseling during their separation ^[61] in hopes of reconciliation.^[62] In February 2010, Pink confirmed that she and Hart were back together,^[63] and announced the following November that they were expecting their first child.^[64] On June 2, 2011, Pink had their daughter, Willow Sage Hart.^[65]

Activism and charity work[link]

Pink is a prominent campaigner for PETA, contributing her voice toward causes such as the protest against KFC. In 2003, she sent a letter to Prince William criticizing him for fox hunting, and in 2006 wrote to Queen Elizabeth II protesting the use of real fur in the bearskins of the Foot Guards and the Honourable Artillery Company.^[66] In conjunction with PETA, she criticized the Australian wool industry over its use of mulesing. In January 2007, she stated that she had been misled by PETA about mulesing and that she had not done enough research before lending her name to the campaign.^[67] Her campaigning led to a headlining concert called PAW (Party for Animals Worldwide) in Cardiff, Wales on August 21, 2007.^[68]

Pink is also involved with several charities, including Human Rights Campaign, ONE Campaign, Prince's Trust, New York Restoration Project, Run for the Cure Foundation, Save the Children, Take Back the Night, UNICEF and World Society for the Protection of Animals.^[69] As of May 2008, Pink has been officially recognized as an advocate for the RSPCA in Australia. On February 16, 2009, Pink announced she was donating $250,000 to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal to aid the victims of the bushfires that swept through the Australian state of Victoria earlier that month.^[70] Pink stated that she wanted to make "a tangible expression of support."^[71] Pink also donated money to Autism Speaks.

Filmography[link]

Discography[link]

• 2000: Can't Take Me Home
• 2001: Missundaztood
• 2003: Try This
• 2006: I'm Not Dead
• 2008: Funhouse

Awards and nominations[link]

Tours[link]

See also[link]

	Book: Pink
Wikipedia books are collections of articles that can be downloaded or ordered in print.

• List of best selling music artists

Further reading[link]

• Eichner, Billy (February 24, 2012). "Pop Music: 10 Reasons Why P!nk Is A Very Talented Woman". Buzz Feed. http://www.buzzfeed.com/billyonthestreet/10-reasons-why-pnk-is-a-very-talented-woman-4x71. Retrieved March 28, 2012. 
• Frere-Jones, Sasha (November 24, 2008). "Pop Music: Sass and Cadence". The New Yorker 84 (38): 124–126. http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/musical/2008/11/24/081124crmu_music_frerejones. Retrieved April 16, 2009. 

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Pink

• Official website
• Pink's channel on YouTube / VEVO
• Pink's channel on YouTube / Sony Music Entertainment
• Pink at the Internet Movie Database

Fun
Lead singer Nate Ruess at Electric Ballroom, Camden, London.
Background information
Origin	New York City, New York, U.S.
Genres	indie pop, alternative rock, power pop[1]
Years active	2008–present
Labels	Fueled by Ramen Records/Nettwerk Records (US) Hassle Records (UK)
Associated acts	The Format, Steel Train, Anathallo
Website	ournameisFun.com
Members
Nate Ruess Andrew Dost Jack Antonoff

Fun (often stylized as fun.) is an American alternative rock band based in New York City that was formed by Nate Ruess, formerly of The Format. After the 2008 breakup of The Format, Ruess formed Fun with Andrew Dost and Jack Antonoff of Anathallo and Steel Train respectively.^[2] Fun has released two albums: their debut Aim and Ignite in 2009 and their latest Some Nights in February 2012.

The band is best known for its hit single "We Are Young" featuring Janelle Monáe. "We Are Young" reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and Digital Songs charts, becoming the first alternative song to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart since Coldplay's "Viva la Vida" in 2008. It also peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart.

History[link]

2007–2008: Career beginning and formation[link]

The Format split in February 2008. Immediately afterward Nate Ruess asked Andrew Dost and Jack Antonoff to join his new project. Dost had toured with The Format and provided various instrumentation. Ruess met Antonoff after The Format toured with Steel Train.^[3] The three began working together in New Jersey within a week. Ruess sang melodies while the other two provided music for them.^[4] The first demo song the band recorded was "Benson Hedges," which was made available for free in Spin's September 20, 2008 article on the band.^[5] Fun approached Steven McDonald, who produced The Format's album Dog Problems with Ruess, to produce their debut album. McDonald was enthusiastic about the project and stated, "I can’t believe what we’re working on here. This crushes anything I’ve ever done."^[4]

[edit] 2009–2010: Aim and Ignite

Recording took place in the fall of 2008. The band's first single, "At Least I'm Not as Sad (As I Used to Be)" was made available as a free download on the band's Myspace page on April 6, 2009.^[6] Aim and Ignite was released on August 25, 2009 and had positive reviews. AbsolutePunk.net's Drew Beringer praised the album, stating it was "what a pop album 'should' sound like" and "the most essential pop album of 2009."^[7] Allmusic called the album "progressive, but in the best possible way" and admired Ruess's lyrics for "investigating the larger truths of life...with a witty approach that keeps the songs bubbling merrily along on a positive note".^[8] Dave de Sylvia of Sputnikmusic wrote, "Aim and Ignite isn’t the most consistent pop album around," but he ultimately commended the album as "a superbly mixed and arranged album made by musicians who clearly understand the limits and potential of pop music".^[9] Estella Hung of PopMatters was less impressed with the album. She praised songs "Be Calm" and "The Gambler", but criticized the lyrics and production of the album's early tracks. Hung concluded that while Aim and Ignite is "pretty original to say the least", it "fails to live up to the Format’s last outing."^[10] Popdose's Ken Shane called the album "an interesting and unusual listen." Shane applauded the album's songwriting and said "many of the songs are really good," but he objected to the "cute" production, desiring to hear the band "in a more stripped-down form." He ended his review with: "I have a similar problem with Dr. Dog, a band that was recommended to me by a number of people. I think much of their recorded work is too fussed over, but when I saw them live and their sound was more stripped down out of necessity, emphasizing their powerful songwriting, I thought they were wonderful. Perhaps the same fate awaits me with Fun."^[11] The album reached number 26 on Sputnikmusic's top 50 albums of 2009. The album peaked at 71 on the US album charts.

Fun began its first North American tour on November 8, 2008 with Jack's Mannequin.^[12] The debut album Aim and Ignite was released on August 25, 2009.^[13] In reviewing the album, The Washington Post called some of the arrangements "theatrical, much like those on Panic! at the Disco's 2005 debut".^[14] In February 2010, Fun supported Jack's Mannequin on their headline tour, along with Vedera which was followed by their first UK appearances in March. Their current touring band also includes Will Noon, Rob Kroehler, Emily Moore, Nate Harold, and Jon "Jonny Thunder" Goldstein.^[15] In April 2010, Fun supported Paramore's headline tour. Other support for the tour includes Relient K and Harriet Ellis of Summer Beats.^[16] The band then embarked on a full UK tour in May. On August 4, 2010, Fun announced that they had signed with label Fueled by Ramen.^[17]

On August 14, 2010, it was announced via the Official Paramore Fan Club that Fun would be opening for Paramore on their November UK tour.^[18] In 2010 Fun's single, "Walking the Dog," was used in a commercial for the travel site Expedia.com.^[19] In 2010, Will Noon (formerly of Straylight Run) played drums with Fun on tour, according to Noon's Twitter page.^[20] To celebrate the Paramore UK tour and the band’s new single ‘Walking The Dog’, Hassle Records gave away a free download of an acoustic version of the track.^[21] On April 27, 2011, a video of the band performing a new song entitled "Carry On" was uploaded to YouTube.^[22]

[edit] 2011–present: Some Nights

This section is in a list format that may be better presented using prose. You can help by converting this section to prose, if appropriate. Editing help is available. (April 2012)

On May 17, 2011, the band released "C'mon" as a joint single with Panic! at the Disco, who they opened for on their 2011 Vices & Virtues Tour.

On November 7, 2011, the band announced that their next album would be titled Some Nights and released on February 21, 2012. Its first single, called "We Are Young" and featuring Janelle Monáe, has since been used in several other media including:

• Gossip Girl season 5 episode 24 "The Return of the Ring"
• 90210 season 4 episode 24 "Forever Hold Your Peace"
• Glee episode "Hold On to Sixteen"
• introducing the Game Changer of the Year at the 2011 WWE Slammy Awards
• Chuck episode "Chuck Versus the Baby"
• Chevrolet Chevy Sonic Super Bowl XLVI commercial "Stunt Anthem", also featuring American professional skateboarder Rob Dyrdek and the rock band OK Go.^[23]
• a vignette promoting the WWE Wrestlemania XXVIII Main event match between John Cena and The Rock
• BBC Radio One as Scott Mills' Big Thing
• The trailer for the Judd Apatow film This is 40

On December 12, 2011, the band's song "One Foot" was available for instant streaming and free download on Nylon's website.^[24]

On February 13, 2012, the band released an album stream on their website along with a note from Ruess thanking fans for their ongoing support. Ruess states he is "over the moon about what you're about to hear and falling asleep knowing that as soon as I wake up, this will no longer be a dream."^[25]

On March 7, 2012, Fun's single "We Are Young" reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This makes Fun the first multi-member rock band to have a #1 Billboard debut on the Hot 100 since Nickelback's "How You Remind Me" in December 2001/January 2002.^[26] On the same day, "We Are Young" was used by Apple in a promotional video of their recent retail development in Grand Central Terminal.^[27] On April 11, 2012, Billboard.com announced that Fun's "We Are Young" also made Digital Sales history. As the song was at the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for a sixth consecutive week, it has become the first, and at this time only, song that has ever gained 300,000+ downloads for seven weeks straight.^[28]

On March 19, 2012, Fun was announced as a performing band at the Bonnaroo 2012 music festival.

On June 3, 2012, Fun will perform "We Are Young" at the 2012 MTV Movie Awards.

"We Are Young" peaked at number 1 on May 27, 2012 in the UK.

Band members[link]

Current members

• Jack Antonoff – vocals, guitars, trumpet (2008–present)
• Andrew Dost – vocals, piano, guitars, bass guitar, keyboards, synthesizers, trumpet, flugelhorn, glockenspiel, drums, percussion, beach ball, cardboard box (2008–present)
• Nate Ruess – lead vocals (2008–present)

Current touring members

• Nate Harold – bass guitar, vocals, sampler (2009–present)
• Emily Moore – guitars, vocals, keyboards, saxophone (2009–present)
• Will Noon – drums (2010–present)

Former touring members

• Jon Goldstein – drums (2008–2010)
• Rob Kroehler – guitar (2008–2010)
• Mike Schey - guitar (March 2010-May 2010)
• Michael Newsted (The Soil & The Sun) – bass guitar (2010)
• Maggie Malyn – violin (2008)
• Evan Winiker – bass guitar (2011)
• Ryan Lallier – guitar (2010–2011)

Discography[link]

Studio albums

• Aim and Ignite (2009)
• Some Nights (2012)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Fun on Myspace
• Fun on YouTube
• Fun coverage on Audioholic Media
• Alter the Press Interview
• March 18, 2012 NPR story and interview by Guy Raz

Storm Large
Storm & the Balls live at the Kings Arms Tavern, Auckland, New Zealand, June 2007
Background information
Birth name	Susan Storm Large
Born	(1969-06-25) June 25, 1969 (age 43) Southborough, Massachusetts, United States
Origin	San Francisco, California, United States
Genres	Rock, Metal, Jazz, Christian rap
Instruments	Singing
Years active	1989–present
Associated acts	The Balls, Flower SF, Storm and Her Dirty Mouth, Storm Inc., Dan the Automator, Broun Fellinis, the Mermen,[1] Dave Navarro, Pink Martini
Website	stormlarge.com

Storm Large (born Susan Storm Large, June 25, 1969) is a singer best known as a contestant on the CBS reality television show Rock Star: Supernova.

Personal life[link]

Large was born and raised in suburban Southborough, Massachusetts. Since around age five, she started singing and writing songs. She graduated in 1987 from St. Mark's School, a prestigious private school whose alumni include Ben Bradlee, Prince Hashim of Jordan, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt III. Her father Henry Large was a history teacher there, as well as the football team coach before he retired.^[2]

After high school, she attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.,^[1] where she earned an associates degree in 1989.

Soon after leaving the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1989, Storm moved to San Francisco and got involved in the music, drug, and sex scene. She had an addiction to heroin in San Francisco but credits music with getting her off the drug. While in San Francisco Storm became involved in a variety of musical endeavors.

Storm moved to Portland, Oregon in 2002, originally planning to quit music and attend the Western Culinary Institute, but at the urging of friends and in particular Frank Faillace, owner of the Portland rock club, Dante's Inferno, she began singing again with a band she called "The Balls".^[3]

Storm is bisexual, though she dislikes the term and instead calls herself "sexually omnivorous."^[4]

Career[link]

While in San Francisco Storm formed the bands Flower SF, Storm and Her Dirty Mouth, and Storm, Inc. Storm also performed with Micheal Cavasito as the duo Storm and Michael or Storm and Friends.

Storm, Inc. featured Shaunna Hall of 4 Non Blondes and P-Funk fame as a rhythm guitarist. Shaunna was featured on The Calm Years LP and toured with the band for a few months after the album's release.

On January 12, 2012, Storm published a memoir titled Crazy Enough. It is an expansion on her cabaret show produced by Portland Center Stage. The book, published by Free Press, is an account of her growing up with a mother with psychological issues, her stint as a competitive rower, and her eventual successes.

The Balls[link]

The Balls, also known as Storm and the Balls, were formed in May/June 2002^[5] after Large moved to Portland from San Francisco. Storm and the Balls consisted of Davey Loprinzi (aka "Hotrod" Davey Nipples, formerly of Sweaty Nipples) on bass guitar, James Beaton on keyboards, and Brian Parnel on drums. The Balls drew what local media called a "cult-like" following in clubs, primarily during Wednesday night shows at Dante's. They perform "lounge-core, mash-up" renditions of artists such as ABBA, Black Sabbath, Cheap Trick, Billy Idol, Led Zeppelin, Motörhead and Olivia Newton-John as well as their own compositions. Large worked part-time as a bartender at Dante's when not touring with The Balls. The Balls opened for Everclear, Nina Hagen, Hank 3, Pleasure Club, and Nancy Sinatra, to name a few.^[3]

The Balls' Davey Nipples and James Beaton were also touring musicians with Everclear. Drummer Brian Parnell was formerly in the band Motherload.

Storm has also sung with John Doe, Rufus Wainwright, China Forbes, Darcelle, George Clinton, Katey Sagal, Michael McKean, Eric McFadden and Animotion.

Drumattica[link]

During live shows, Storm has filled in for Jen Folker on vocals alongside Rob Wynia (of Floater) with Drumattica out of Portland.^[6]

San Francisco[link]

Before moving to Portland, she performed in the San Francisco Bay Area with her former bands Storm Inc., Storm and Her Dirty Mouth, and FlowerSF.^[1] During that time, she tended bar at Rat and Raven in Noe Valley.

Theatre[link]

Large played Sally Bowles in a Portland Center Stage (PCS) production of the musical Cabaret.^[1] PCS is also the site of the premiere of her autobiographical musical Crazy Enough.^[7]

She has finished filming RID OF ME (by James Westby), starring Katie O'Grady, John Keyser, Theresa Russell, and Art Alexakis (Everclear). It can be viewed on YouTube.

In 2008 Storm Large premiered her autobiographical, one woman show, "Crazy Enough" at Portlands Center Stage. She got rave reviews. In New York the show is scheduled to appear Off-Broadway in the spring of 2011.

She appeared in Randy Newman's Harps and Angels at the Mark Taper Forum from November 10 - December 22, 2010.

Television[link]

[edit] Rock Star

Large is most widely known for her appearances as a contestant on Rock Star: Supernova. She was eliminated on September 6, 2006 (in the last show before the season finale). After elimination, host Dave Navarro recorded a guitar track for her single "Ladylike" and she was slated to open for the band Rock Star Supernova on tour in January 2007, though she and fellow contestant Magni Ásgeirsson were dropped from the billing for financial reasons.^[8] On October 14, 2006, "Ladylike" debuted at #5 on Billboard's "Hot Singles Sales" chart.

Other appearances[link]

In addition to being a contestant on Rock Star: Supernova, Large appeared as a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on September 11, 2006.^[9] She discussed her childhood (and her unique name) with Ellen and performed Queen's "We Are the Champions" with Paul Mirkovich from the Rock Star: Supernova house band accompanying her on piano.

On September 26, 2006, Large sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" on the second season finale of ESPN reality television show The Contender. She performed the national anthem again on November 4, 2006 at the Portland Trail Blazers' opening home game of their 2006-2007 NBA season. The broadcast appeared on Fox Sports Northwest, the Seattle and Portland affiliate of Fox Sports Net.

Storm appeared in a street interview in an episode of Real Sex on HBO.

She toured with the band Pink Martini from July 4 through December 16, 2011, as a temporary replacement for vocalist China Forbes, who underwent vocal cord surgery.^[10]

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

Singles[link]

Other album appearances[link]

• "Little Drummer Boy" (as FlowerSF) on Christmas Time in San Francisco by Various Artists 1995
• "Ego" (as FlowerSF) on She's a Rebel by Various Artists 1997
• "About You," "Let Go" on Infinite Syndrome by Bugs 1997
• "I'm not alright", "Lust", "Superman", "Ima Yora", "Geraldine", "Crazy Love" on Storm & her dirty mouth by Storm & her dirty mouth 1998
• "You Don't Bring Me Flowers Anymore (Ruff Mix)" on You Are Here by Insecto 1999
• "Rape Me" (as Storm Inc.) on Nearvana: San Francisco by Various Artists 2002
• "Down," "Lovetractors 4 Sale" on Planet of the Fish by Alien Lovestock 2004
• "Valentine's Day," "Closer Closer," "Ruin Everything" on Sessions at East by Auditory Sculpture 2006
• "Asylum Road" on Dearly Departed by Various Artists 2008
• "Voices" on Shakers' Sessions by Various Artist 2011

References[link]