While Pink's third studio album, Try This (2003), sold fewer copies than her previous work, it earned her the Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for the single "Trouble". She returned to the top of record charts with her fourth and fifth studio albums, I'm Not Dead (2006) and Funhouse (2008), which generated the top-ten entries "Who Knew" and "U + Ur Hand", as well as the number-one single "So What". Pink's sixth studio album, The Truth About Love (2012), was her first album to debut atop the Billboard 200 chart and spawned her fourth number-one single, "Just Give Me a Reason". In 2014, Pink recorded a collaborative album, Rose Ave., with Canadian musician Dallas Green under a folk music duo named You+Me. Her seventh studio album, Beautiful Trauma (2017), became the third best-selling album of the year and saw the success of its lead single, "What About Us".
Recognized for her distinctive, raspy voice and acrobatic stage presence, Pink has sold over 90 million records worldwide, making her one of the world's best-selling music artists. Her career accolades include three Grammy Awards, two Brit Awards, a Daytime Emmy Award and seven MTV Video Music Awards, including the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. In 2009, Billboard named Pink the Pop Songs Artist of the Decade. Pink was also the second most-played female solo artist in the United Kingdom, during the 2000s decade, behind Madonna. VH1 ranked her number 10 on their list of the 100 Greatest Women in Music, while Billboard awarded her the Woman of the Year award in 2013. At the 63rd annual BMI Pop Awards, she received the BMI President's Award for "her outstanding achievement in songwriting and global impact on pop culture and the entertainment industry."
It was announced in September 2014, that Pink and Dallas Green, lead singer of City and Colour, worked together on a collaborative album, under the band name You+Me. The album, titled Rose Ave., was released on October 14, 2014. The album debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 and at number one on the US Folk Albums chart.
In August 2015, Pink recorded the theme song for the 13th season of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. The song, "Today's the Day", was performed during the show's premiere week in New York City on September 10, 2015.
On August 27, 2017, Pink received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the MTV Video Music Awards. She also performed a medley of some of her hits, including her new single, "What About Us", before accepting the award, which was presented to her by Ellen DeGeneres. The album was released on October 13, 2017, and became the third best-selling album of the year worldwide. The album received the nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album earned Pink's 20th nomination at the Annual Grammy Awards.
Although sick with influenza, Pink sang the United States national anthem before Super Bowl LII, a dream she had had since, as a child. On March 1, 2018, Pink started her seventh concert tour, the Beautiful Trauma World Tour, which was scheduled to visit North America and Oceania until September 8, 2018. She later decided to extend the tour until May 2019 including Europe.
On February 5, 2019, Pink received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. she released of her eighth album, Hurts 2B Human, on April 26, 2019. On the release date, Pink performed the song alongside a medley of her biggest hits at the BRIT Awards, including "Try", "Just Give Me a Reason", with Fun. lead singer Nate Ruess, and "What About Us". She was also awarded with the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award at the ceremony. In December 2019, Pollstar named her Artist of the Year. Pink confirmed that in 2020 she will take a break from music to focus on her family.
On February 12, 2021, she released the song "Cover Me in Sunshine", a duet with her daughter Willow Sage Hart. On April 9, 2021, she released the song "Anywhere Away from Here", a duet with Rag'n'Bone Man. On April 29, she announced a live album, titled All I Know So Far: Setlist, which was released on May 21. The album contains the live versions of previous Pink songs, live covers and "Cover Me in Sunshine". It also includes the title track, released as a single on May 7. All I Know So Far: Setlist serves as the companion album to the documentary film covering Pink's life of the same name, which was released simultaneously with the album through Amazon's Prime Video platform.
In April 2021, Pink confirmed to ET Canada that a ninth studio album was in the "very early days, but I will tell you, it will be very honest".
On November 4, 2022, Pink released the single "Never Gonna Not Dance Again", which serves as the lead single from her upcoming album Trustfall. Pink is set to perform the song at the American Music Awards on November 20.
Can We Pretend
P!nk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We were dancing up on tables
Taking pictures
When we had nowhere to post
You were laughing
I was crying
We were dancing, we were dying
If I'm honest what I liked
Were the things we didn't know
Every morning, every night
I'll be beating down your door
Just to tell you what I'm thinking
But you'd already know
Screw this, I don't wanna let it go
So can we pretend?
That I'm twenty-two today
Dancing on the tables with you
Oh yeah
Can we pretend?
That we all end up okay
I just want to forget with you
Oh yeah
Can we pretend?
That we both like the president
Can we pretend?
That I really like your shoes
Hell yeah
Can we pretend?
'Cause honestly reality it bores me
Let's pretend
Oh let's make believe
Can we?
Can we pretend?
Can we pretend?
I remember what we wanted
What we'd never take for granted
How our daddy issues took us to LA
If I'm honest what I miss
Is not knowing what to say
And the feeling of your lips
And it haunts me every day
When you'd tell me what you're thinking
But I'd already know
Screw this, I don't wanna let it go
So can we pretend?
That I'm twenty-two today
Dancing on the tables with you
Oh yeah
Can we pretend?
That we all end up okay
I just want to forget with you
Oh yeah
Can we pretend?
We both like the way it is
Hell yeah
Can we pretend?
That we like these fake-ass dudes
Oh yeah
Can we pretend?
'Cause honestly reality it bores me
Let's pretend
Oh let's make believe
Can we?
Can we pretend?
Can we pretend?
If I'm honest what I liked
Were the things we didn't know
Every morning, every night
I'll be beating down your door
Just to tell you what I'm thinking
But you'd already know
Screw this, I don't wanna let it go
So can we pretend?
That we both like the president ha ha
Can we pretend?
That you like my fake-ass shoes
Oh yeah
Can we pretend?
'Cause honestly reality it bores me
Let's pretend
Oh let's make believe
Can we?
Can we pretend?
Can we pretend?
Can we pretend?
Can we?
Let's make believe
Can we?
Can we?
Can we pretend?
'Cause honestly reality it bores me
Let's pretend
Oh let's make believe
Can we?
Can we pretend?
Honestly?
The lyrics to P!nk's song "Can We Pretend" can be interpreted as a longing for a simpler and more carefree time in life. The opening lines reminisce about past conversations and moments shared between two people. The mention of dancing on tables and taking pictures when there was nowhere to post them suggests a time before social media, where the focus was on living in the moment rather than seeking approval or validation from others.
The lyrics also touch on the contrast between laughter and crying, dancing and dying, symbolizing the ups and downs of the relationship being described. Despite the challenges faced, there is a sense of nostalgia and a desire to hold onto the memories and experiences shared.
The chorus, "Can we pretend?" serves as a plea to escape the harsh realities of life and instead create a fantasy world where everything is ideal. This longing is emphasized by the mention of being twenty-two, a time often associated with youth and freedom. The tables represent a metaphorical escape from reality, where the singer can let go of her worries and inhibitions and just enjoy the moment with her partner.
Throughout the song, there is an underlying theme of wanting to forget the troubles and complexities of the real world. Whether it is pretending to like the president, fake-ass dudes, or fake-ass shoes, the singer expresses a desire to detach from reality and immerse herself in a more exciting and captivating make-believe world.
Overall, "Can We Pretend" captures a yearning for a time when life seemed simpler, and the focus was on experiencing joy and connection. It reflects a desire to escape the mundane aspects of reality and instead indulge in the fantasies and nostalgia of the past.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember conversations
I recall the meaningful talks we shared
We were dancing up on tables
We were carefree, celebrating and enjoying life
Taking pictures
Capturing moments and memories together
When we had nowhere to post
Before the era of social media where validation was not important
You were laughing
You were finding joy and happiness
I was crying
I was feeling emotional and overwhelmed
We were dancing, we were dying
We were living life to the fullest, despite the challenges and struggles
Sometimes I don't know how we walked away
There were moments where it seemed impossible for us to move on from a situation
If I'm honest what I liked
To be truthful about my preferences
Were the things we didn't know
The excitement of the unknown and the anticipation it brought
Every morning, every night
Constantly, without fail
I'll be beating down your door
I'll relentlessly pursue you and express my thoughts and feelings
Just to tell you what I'm thinking
To communicate openly and honestly with you
But you'd already know
Because our connection was so strong, you understood me without me needing to say it
Screw this, I don't wanna let it go
I refuse to give up or move on from our past
Can we pretend?
Are we able to imagine and act as if
That I'm twenty-two today
That I can relive my youthful and carefree days
Dancing on the tables with you
Having a fun and rebellious time together
That we all end up okay
That everything turns out fine for all of us
I just want to forget with you
I desire to escape reality and find solace in your presence
That we both like the president
That we share the same political preferences
That I really like your shoes
That I genuinely appreciate your personal style
Can we?
Is it possible for us?
Cause honestly reality it bores me
Because honestly, the real world and its demands are uninteresting to me
Let's pretend
Let's create an alternate reality
Oh let's make believe
Let's imagine and play pretend
Can we?
Is it within our capabilities?
I remember what we wanted
I recall the dreams and aspirations we shared
What we'd never take for granted
What we would always appreciate and cherish
How our daddy issues took us to LA
How our unresolved father-related problems brought us to Los Angeles
If I'm honest what I miss
To be truthful about what I long for
Is not knowing what to say
The uncertainty and spontaneity of our conversations
And the feeling of your lips
The emotional and physical connection we shared through kissing
And it haunts me every day
It continually troubles and preoccupies my thoughts
When you'd tell me what you're thinking
When you openly expressed your thoughts and feelings to me
But I'd already know
Because our bond was so strong, I understood you without you needing to say it
Can we pretend?
Are we able to imagine and act as if
We both like the way it is
That we both embrace and appreciate our current situation
Can we pretend?
Are we able to imagine and act as if
That we like these fake-ass dudes
That we genuinely enjoy the company of these insincere individuals
Can we pretend?
Are we able to imagine and act as if
Cause honestly reality it bores me
Because honestly, the real world and its demands are uninteresting to me
Let's pretend
Let's create an alternate reality
Oh let's make believe
Let's imagine and play pretend
Can we?
Is it possible for us?
Can we pretend?
Are we able to imagine and act as if
Honestly?
To be completely truthful?
Writer(s): Ryan Tedder, Alecia Moore, Jean Paul Makhlouf, Alex Makhlouf, Samuel Frisch
Contributed by Jayden A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lyzee9129
This is new for me hearing a new kind of beat from P!nk. But the song is still amazing AF!!
@dcardigan13
right?! It's so new to the ears
@mediaconsumption3972
Thank Cash Cash for that :D
@youngsenex6534
Cash cash are lit too
@angelvillacaqui95AQP
Honestly pop singer LOVE the music.
@didgy8674
Thank cash cash for that
@browniiex
her voice always takes me back to the good ol' days before growin' up. i love this!!
@phoenixmoon3
for real <3
@lindap6006
Pink is a monumental talent. And NO ONE can take that from her. I admire her standing up for a cause she believes in.
@collapserelapse
It's crazy, I feel like I've grown up together with P!nk. I was a kid listening to her on the radio and on MTV in the early 2000's when she got her start. Now 20 years later she is still putting out bangers. The years just fly by, and that's why this song is so apt too. Makes me think back to those times.