Wikipedia

Family Portrait (song)

"Family Portrait" is a song by American singer-songwriter Pink from 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 on September 16, 2002. It peaked within the top 20 in both the U.K. and U.S. It was also Pink's fourth consecutive top-five hit from the parent album in New Zealand, peaking at number five.

"Family Portrait"
Single by Pink
from the album Missundaztood
B-side"My Vietnam"
ReleasedSeptember 16, 2002 (2002-09-16)
GenreR&B
Length
  • 4:58
  • 3:49 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Scott Storch
Pink singles chronology
"Just Like a Pill"
(2002) 		"Family Portrait"
(2002) 		"Feel Good Time"
(2003)
Audio sample
Music video
"Family Portrait" on YouTube

Background

edit

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."[1]

Critical reception

edit

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.[2] 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.'[3] 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.' [4]

Music video

edit

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

edit

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' divorce, it is also addressed to kids, to encourage them to talk with their parents about how they feel about their divorce.

Track listings

edit

Charts

edit

Certifications

edit
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[43] 2× Platinum 140,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[44] Gold 40,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[45] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[46]
Video single with "Don't Let Me Get Me" 		Gold 25,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

edit
Release dates and formats for "Family Portrait"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States September 16, 2002 Contemporary hit radio Arista [47]
Australia November 18, 2002 CD [48]
United Kingdom December 9, 2002
  • CD
  • cassette
[49]
Sweden January 20, 2003 CD Arista [50]

References

edit
  1. ^ "ShieldSquare Captcha". Songfacts.com. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  2. ^ "UKMIX – Reviews – Pink – Family Portrait". Archived from the original on April 27, 2005. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  3. ^ "Pink – a Feature of The Phantom Tollbooth". Tollbooth.org. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  4. ^ "Analytical Piece – Family Portrait – 540 Words | Studymode". Studymode.com. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  5. ^ "P!nk – Family Portrait". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  6. ^ "P!nk – Family Portrait" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  7. ^ "P!nk – Family Portrait" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  8. ^ "P!nk – Family Portrait" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  9. ^ a b Lwin, Nanda (2003). The Essential 2002 Chart Yearbook. Music Data Canada. pp. 17, 49. ISBN 1-896863-15-8.
  10. ^ "Oficiální Česká Hitparáda - Pro týden 14/2003" (in Czech). IFPI ČR. Archived from the original on April 6, 2003. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  11. ^ "P!nk – Family Portrait". Tracklisten. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  12. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 21, no. 11. March 8, 2003. p. 11.
  13. ^ "Pink: Family Portrait" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  14. ^ "P!nk – Family Portrait" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  15. ^ "P!nk – Family Portrait" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  16. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Family Portrait". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  17. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – P!nk" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  18. ^ "P!nk – Family Portrait" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  19. ^ "P!nk – Family Portrait". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  20. ^ "P!nk – Family Portrait". VG-lista. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  21. ^ "Polish Airplay Charts – Lista krajowa 16/2003". PiF PaF Production. Archived from the original on October 20, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  22. ^ "Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 17, saptamina 5.05–11.05, 2003" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on February 18, 2005. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  23. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  24. ^ "P!nk – Family Portrait". Singles Top 100. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  25. ^ "P!nk – Family Portrait". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  26. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  27. ^ "Pink Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  28. ^ "Pink Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  29. ^ "Top 100 Songs of 2002". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 2002. Archived from the original on June 2, 2004. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  30. ^ "Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2002". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 10, no. 51. December 20, 2002. p. 12.
  31. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2003". ARIA. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  32. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2003" (in German). Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  33. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2003" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  34. ^ "Rapports annuels 2003" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  35. ^ "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 2003" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  36. ^ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 2003" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  37. ^ "Top 100 Songs of 2003". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 2003. Archived from the original on June 2, 2004. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  38. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2003" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  39. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2003" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  40. ^ "Romanian Top 100 – Top of the Year 2003" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on January 22, 2005. Retrieved January 22, 2005.
  41. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 2003" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  42. ^ "The Year in Charts 2003: Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 11, no. 51. December 19, 2003. p. 14.
  43. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  44. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Pink – Family Portrait". Music Canada. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  45. ^ "British single certifications – Pink – Family Portrait". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  46. ^ "American videosingle certifications – P!nk – Family Portrait". Recording Industry Association of America.
  47. ^ "Radio & Records" (PDF). Worldradiohistory..com. September 13, 2002. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  48. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 18th November 2002" (PDF). ARIA. November 18, 2002. p. 26. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 6, 2003. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  49. ^ "New Releases: For Week Starting 9 December 2002: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. December 7, 2002. p. 20. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  50. ^ "Pink: Family Portrait". click2music.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on August 21, 2004. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Family_Portrait_(song)&oldid=1190599167"