Here’s a date for your diaries folks – 22 December. That’s when Pink’s latest single Sober will be hitting the shops.

I’ve heard good things about Pink’s Funhouse album, and this single takes Pink into some darker territory, with a brooding tune and video to match.

Yes, if I was a sensationalist, I’d mention the twin versions of Pink getting it hot and heavy on a bed, but that’s really not as important as the music in this instance.

A few Pink commentators have said there are safer and more immediate singles she could have released. However –

Sober doesn’t have a memorable tune or a strong hook that will grab your attention, but if you give it a chance, it’ll crawl under your skin. I found the lyrics intriguing so kept listening to the song and now I’ve been sucked in.

In the same vein as So What, Sober is another seemingly autobiographical tune, but with a healthy helping of angst.

Like those ads on TV where you see a person starting off the night drunk, Pink is seen dancing around, puking in a toilet and doing other ill-advised stuff. At the same time, the alter-ego Pink is sober and singing about how she can get by on her own.

It might not be overflowing with happy thoughts, but there is a great take-away message from Pink on this track, which has remarkably little to do with alcohol when you sit down and listen to it!

Alright, she stumbles over the lyrics, but the singing is amazing. I don’t know how she does it, but Pink manages to hold her vocal style while hitting all those Sebastian Bach high notes! I really wouldn’t mind hearing a properly recorded version of this tune.

Kudos to Metal Skool for keeping the old tunes alive. Sort of!

*cough*

Seriously though, when was the last time Pink released a duff record? She’s had one of the strongest runs of chart success in recent memory, despite a potential career breaking switch from hip-hop to angsty rock.

On to U + UR Hand – can you imagine another female singer pulling this off so convincingly? The subject matter is simple enough – unwanted advances from a bloke elicit the classy response – it’s just you and your hand tonight mate! Pink just doesn’t do the sweet and innocent bit, the delivery is deadpan in the verses (“that’s when dickhead put his hands on me”) and raging in the chorus.

The video flips from scene to scene, with Pink playing different characters in various er… dominatrix-type costumes. Again, it’s all very entertaining. I couldn’t help noticing that the high-rise scene looked a bit like Britney Spears’ Toxic video – maybe a slight spoof here?

Loved this video. Long live Pink!