June 10, 2002
Young female fans love talent, swagger of The Anti-Britney

TORONTO -- A homemade sign being waved on the first balcony at Massey Hall summed up last night's sold-out show: "Pink kicks ass."

The 22-year-old Philadelphia-raised singer -- best known as one quarter of that skanky young foursome that recently remade Labelle's Lady Marmalade -- has been, until now, an overlooked solo talent.

Not to her devoted following, of course, who have snapped up her sophomore album, M!zzundaztood, to the tune of three million copies.

Many young female fans flocked to last night's show, showing off freshly dyed pink hair, pink balloons, pink signs and bursting with infectious enthusiasm. They immediately rushed the stage and started screaming when Pink -- whose hair is actually blond now -- and her five-piece band opened the evening with her bouncy hit single, Get The Party Started.

Dressed initially in green overalls unzipped far enough to show off a pink lace strapless bra, the tomboyish Pink maintained her stance as The Anti-Britney from the beginning.

Whether she was grabbing her crotch or pouring out of a black bustier later on, she often recalled Madonna if anyone.

And after a more R&B drenched first album, 2000's Can't Take Me Home, the newer material -- particularly rock anthems Don't Let Me Get Me, Just Like A Pill and 18 Wheeler, along with funkier hip-hop numbers Respect and the title track from M!zundaztood -- are a breath of fresh air.

All were well represented -- along with more serious, issues-oriented tunes like Dear Diary, Lonely Girl, Family Portrait and My Vietnam -- last night by the singer, whose ballsy, sexy vocals are reason enough to catch her in concert.

With a swaggering confidence -- she happily received gifts thrown on stage including glow-in-the-dark necklaces and a pink bracelet -- and several costume changes, it was a potent combination.

Pink possesses a powerful voice a la Janis Joplin, who she later paid tribute to with hair-raising renditions of Summertime, Me And Bobby McGee, and Piece Of My Heart.

"Go and buy an album called Pearl," Pink advised afterwards of Joplin's signature album. "It's a great album by a great woman."

She also gave a shout-out to her M!zundaztood collaborator Linda Perry of 4 Non Blondes fame covering their hit What's Going On almost note-for-note.

Pink returns on July 30 to open for Lenny Kravitz at the Molson Amphitheatre. Do yourself a favour and don't miss her. (More on Pink)

JAM! Rating: 4 out of 5