Family Portrait (song)
| "Family Portrait" | |
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| Song | |
| Audio sample | |
| Music video | |
| "Family Portrait" on YouTube |
"Family Portrait" is a song by Pink for her second album Missundaztood (2001). Co-written by Pink and Scott Storch and produced by Storch, the song is about relationships and her family that was about to fall to pieces, portraying the conflict through the eyes of her as a child. It was released as the album's fourth and final single in December 2002. It peaked in the top 20 in both the U.K. and U.S.
Background
"Family Portrait" is set in the key of C minor in common time with a moderate tempo of 88 beats per minute. The song is divided into four-measure phrases with an i-iv-III-ii-V chord progression.[1]
Pink told Q magazine that the song got her into trouble with her mother. The singer commented: "She went to the National Enquirer. We laugh about it now, but it wasn't the best way to address family problems."[2]
Critical reception
The single received praise from critics. Paul Matthew from UKMIX gave the song 4 out of 5 stars, saying that it is strong, catchy and different from anything she had released to date.[3] Dr. Bruce L. Thiessen praised the song's stripped down nature, stating that 'Pink has never been afraid to show her true colors. The haunting, yet urgently importuning nature of the music matches and magnifies the meaning. The intensity of every earnest guitar strum and run echoes the sense of longing for familial harmony expressed in the chorus. Pink's voice on “Family Portrait” further reflects the urgency underlying the song.'[4] Malaimport from StudyMode.com gave Pink the credit for the song in his article, 'Pink positioned the audience to understand and accept her representations of pain and frustration was clear through the uses language choices and imagery devices such as repetition and use of strong and forceful words.' [5]
Music video
The music video stars P!nk and Kelsey Lewis and was directed by Sophie Muller. The video opens with P!nk lying in different positions on the bed; as she answers a phone call, she smashes a glass and Kelsey pops up. They are then shown in what looks like a kitchen. Kelsey tries to get the attention of P!nk, who is trying to cook. Then, the two are shown eating cereal on a couch while watching a commercial for a cereal named Pretty Happy. P!nk is seen opening a door, which a man comes in, and they sit at a table.
At the end of the video, the family in the TV commercial pulls Kelsey into it. The TV then shows P!nk singing alone. Finally, the family in the TV (now with the child Kelsey) gathers around and P!nk lies down on a pillow.
Cultural impact
According to Pink's father, James Moore Jr., during an E! Entertainment's E! True Hollywood Story, this song has been unofficially named the national anthem for young kids who have been through the harsh effects of divorce of their parents: "I have got letters from parents thanking us from this song." The song, which she wrote and composed in collaboration with Scott Storch, was still going strong as of late April 2017, with millions of hits on YouTube and millions of albums sold from Missundaztood. "It took me a while to listen to 'Family Portrait' without getting emotional," Pink's mother told E! True Hollywood Story. Although the song addresses how Pink struggled through her parents's divorce, it is also addressed to kids, to encourage them to talk with their parents about how they feel about their divorce.
Track listings
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Charts and certifications
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
Certifications
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Release history
| Continent/Country | Date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| North America[38] | December 17, 2002 | Arista |
References
- ^ Sheet music for "Family Portrait." EMI Music Publishing. 2001.
- ^ Family Portrait Songfacts
- ^ "UKMIX - Reviews - Pink - Family Portrait".
- ^ "P!nk- a Feature of The Phantom Tollbooth".
- ^ "Analytical piece – Family Portrait".
- ^ "P!NK - Family Portrait (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
- ^ "P!NK - Family Portrait (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
- ^ "Images for P!NK - Family Portrait". Discogs.com. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
- ^ "P!NK - Family Portrait (DVD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
- ^ "Pink – Family Portrait". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
- ^ "Pink – Family Portrait" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
- ^ "Pink – Family Portrait" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
- ^ "Pink – Family Portrait" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
- ^ "Pink – Family Portrait". Tracklisten. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
- ^ "Pink: Family Portrait" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
- ^ "Pink – Family Portrait" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Pink" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
- ^ "Pink – Family Portrait". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
- ^ "Pink – Family Portrait". VG-lista. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
- ^ "Polish Airplay Charts - Lista krajowa 16/2003". PiF PaF Production. Archived from the original on October 20, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Pink – Family Portrait". Singles Top 100. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
- ^ "Pink – Family Portrait". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
- ^ "Pink Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Pink Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2003". Aria.com.au. Archived from the original on January 23, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Steffen Hung (December 28, 2003). "Jahreshitparade 2003". austriancharts.at. Archived from the original on September 11, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Ultratop Belgian Charts". ultratop.be. Archived from the original on September 14, 2010. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Ultratop Belgian Charts". ultratop.be. Archived from the original on April 17, 2008. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Steffen Hung. "Dutch charts portal". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
- ^ [1] Archived January 7, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|work=(help) - ^ "www.sverigetopplistan.se - Ĺrslista Singlar - Ĺr 2003". Hitlistan.se. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2003 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
{{cite web}}: Check|archiveurl=value (help) - ^ "British single certifications – Pink – Family Portrait". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 5, 2017. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Family Portrait in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- ^ "Pink's latest greatest hit". Billboard. October 2, 2010.
- ^ "American single certifications – Pink – Family portrait". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
- ^ P!nk (December 17, 2002). "Family Portrait: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved August 25, 2014.