Pink's latest album gets another chance By Susan Visakowitz
Sat Mar 24, 4:16 AM ET



NEW YORK (Billboard) - Pink's previous album was, by her standards, a flop in the United States.


But just as her follow-up "I'm Not Dead" seemed headed for the same fate, the slow-building single "U + Ur Hand" is breathing life into the album, almost a year after it was released.

"I'm Not Dead" (LaFace/Zomba), got off to a fair start last April, debuting at No. 6 on The Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 126,000, according to Nielsen SoundScan. By contrast, the 2003 disappointment "Try This" opened at No. 9 with 147,000 units.

But momentum stalled for the new release when "Who Knew," the second single after the caustic "Stupid Girls," proved a nonstarter.

Fast-forward to "U + Ur Hand," which rose seven places to No. 29 on the latest Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, buoyed by a reversal of waning radio airplay. The album is following suit, jumping 30 places to No. 84 on the Billboard 200. Its total sales now stand at 619,000.

This long-legged success stands in stark contrast to the results for "Try This," which garnered some 75% of its 719,000-piece count in just seven weeks, then sank behind two underperforming singles. Pink's 2001 sophomore release "M!ssundaztood" sold more than 5.2 million copies.

Zomba Label Group executive VP of sales and marketing/GM Tom Carrabba credits strong early research and "patience" at radio, a "great" video and Pink's ongoing tour with Justin Timberlake with helping build acceptance for "U + Ur Hand," which in turn is "giving (people) a reason to buy the album."

"We knew it was a hit," he says, "because it was massive outside the States."

Indeed. The track reached No. 8 on Billboard's European Hot 100 Singles chart. Two other singles hit the top 10, and "I'm Not Dead" has spent 49 weeks on the European Top 100 albums chart, reaching No. 1. "Try This" stayed in Billboard's European Top 100 for 28 weeks, peaking at No. 3.

With "I'm Not Dead," Carrabba expects the United States to catch up. "This single is the vehicle that will reignite the U.S. marketplace," he says. "We think we have a No. 1 record on our hands."

Reuters/Billboard

I can't understand why this album didn't sell as well in the U.S. It did very well here in Canada. I think there was even talk of that on Pink's official myspace. The music business has gone crazy I think. I loved the album personally.

I am hearing U+Ur Hand on the radio alot!! The song rocks!! I'm glad her cd is picking up in sales! Pink is awesome!!

Hi
I think it's fantastic as well, on all counts, the song and that it's making a comeback on the charts...Pink is awesome!

Thanks for posting Suz!!! I agree w epresley .. The music biz is CRAZY ... I found the album to be her best yet!!

Ur welcome I like it.
Yes it is insane.
There is another interesting news tidbit, it's on my forum...u may like????? lol Don't want to post here for obvious reasons! lol

P!nk is gonna be on Jimmy Kimmel doing a mini-concert and yours truly will be there!

quote:

Originally posted by Suzana:
Ur welcome I like it.
Yes it is insane.
There is another interesting news tidbit, it's on my forum...u may like????? lol Don't want to post here for obvious reasons! lol

I'll check it out .... thanks

quote:

Originally posted by grumpy1:
P!nk is gonna be on Jimmy Kimmel doing a mini-concert and yours truly will be there!

Cool .... When is it???

quote:

Pink's previous album was, by her standards, a flop in the United States.

First, first, Suzana, thank u for posting. You're always looking out for us! I agree wtih all of u, the biz is crazy.

Also, the sentence above which the writer used to start off the piece, I soooo disagree. It's misleading. Yes, if you measure success by dollars, which, by the way Pink (like our own LMP) does NOT, then I guess you could label Try This a failure. But that isn't how Pink judged it. When she was interviewed recently in Canada, she said, not a direct quote but close, "That was my 'failure', huh?" and went on to point out she still won a Grammy and had done all she wanted to do with the CD, branched out, did rock, etc.
So those sloppy writers need to pay attention!

YAY when is it airing?
K chick, hope u like.
Your very welcome phonelines......and I agree w/all u've said.

Suzana,

Thanks for posting!!

I think Pink's CD is fantastic. I bought it the week it was released and listened to it constantly. I loved U & UR Hand the first time I heard it and frankly was surprised it wasn't released as a single after stupid girls (which I didn't like as much anyway. I was surprised to hear it made it to the airwaves so ong after the release of the CD, but glad to hear it's getting airplay. Now if they could only give LMP some well deserved airplay.

I'm writting my 200th post!! I love the Pink Cd! But I do wish LMP had some radio time as well! They are both great!

More LMP airplay would be awesome! But, on the bright side we here "her die-hard fans" already know she is the best. Other people might take longer to figure it out which is a shame but, when LMP returns with the new CD we'll all be there to buy our copies and WHEN not if she rocks the charts with her music we can all sit back and say we knew it all along, say I told you so, and welcome new pirates into our LMP fan family. FANS buy music they make the difference and LMP had her own fanbase right from the get go!! And we aren't going anywhere!!!

Natasha