Stupid Girls
"Stupid Girls" is a song recorded by American singer Pink from her fourth studio album I'm Not Dead (2006). It was released in February 2006 as the first single from her third studio album on LaFace Records. The song marked Pink's return to LaFace Records under Zomba Label Group via Sony BMG, after Arista Records consolidated LaFace's operations into its own in mid-2001. "Stupid Girls" was written by Pink, Billy Mann, Niklas Olovson, and Robin Mortensen Lynch. Mann and MachoPsycho both produced the track. The song introduces a more provocative, feminist, and explicit side of Pink. Lyrically, it condemns sexism and encourages intelligence in women.
For other uses, see Stupid Girl."Stupid Girls"
"Heartbreaker"
February 7, 2006
- The Magic Shop
- Turtle Sound (New York City)
3:17
- Alecia Moore
- Billy Mann
- Niklas Olovson
- Robin Mortensen Lynch
- Billy Mann
- MachoPsycho
A music video was filmed and premiered on MTV's Overdrive in January 2006. It features Pink in a variety of roles, both as an angel and a demon, a variety of celebrities, a random woman getting plastic surgery, a lady with a purging disorder, and others. The song was well received by critics for its sound, its lyrical content, and that it was "sexy". Due to the lyrical content, Zomba Label Group (a division of Sony BMG) was reluctant to release the song as the first single and decided to release the music video first before soliciting the track to radio markets. According to Zomba, over eight million people downloaded the video immediately after it was available online, but also "went online to download the audio from the video in order to get it on radio".
The song reached the top 10 in 15 countries, including the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and throughout Europe. In the United States, the song peaked at number 13. The song earned Pink a nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 2007 Grammy Awards.
Commercial performance[edit]
The single entered the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in the week of February 25 at number 24, the week's highest debut[2] and the highest debut of Pink's career (later topped by her 2008 single, So What[3]). In the week of March 4, it climbed to number 13, becoming Pink's eighth top-20 single in the United States and her highest peaking single since "Just Like a Pill" (2002). Its number-17 peak on the Top 40 Mainstream chart, however, did not match that of most of her previous singles. "Stupid Girls" remained on the Hot 100 for sixteen weeks, and it reached the top 20 on the Pop 100 and appeared on the Adult Top 40. It received airplay in nightclubs, peaking inside the top 20 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. "Stupid Girls" was certified Gold by RIAA on February 13, 2008.[4]
The single was a bigger chart hit elsewhere—it reached number two on the Canadian Singles Chart, and on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart, it entered at number four and is certified gold for sales of over 35,000. It was ranked number 39 on ARIA's top 100 singles of 2006 list.[5] It also peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Pink's highest charting single in the UK since "Feel Good Time" (2003). It reached the top 10 in most countries in Europe.
"Stupid Girls" was nominated in the category of Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 2007 Grammy Awards.[6]
Critical reception[edit]
About.com praised the song and highlighted it: "she has rarely been as pointed in her socio-political views as in the hit "Stupid Girls" (...) "Stupid Girls" is musically a dance/hip hop gem."[7] Allmusic praised her delivery when she's taunting and teasing this song and it was titled as one of the standouts on the album.[8] Entertainment Weekly noted that this song has some verve.[9] The Guardian was less positive, noting that her vocals are as superficial as the starlets she attacks.[10] LA Times wrote that this song fuses many genres greatly and called it "hilarious feminist romp."[11] Jon Pareles was favorable: "the pop-reggae of Stupid Girls snidely dismisses the bimbos she sees everywhere, though she apparently has studied their habits closely."[12] PopMatters was negative:
"On "Stupid Girls", she rails against the idea that women have to choose between being smart and being sexy, as if the two are mutually exclusive.[13] Sal Cinqeman was favorable: "As always, Pink's ragged vocals are better than she's often given credit for and there's still a rebel sensibility, at least lyrically, on the catchy lead single "Stupid Girls" ("Where, oh where, have all the smart people gone?" she begs, lambasting "porno paparazzi girls"—which would have made for a more fun title—the way she took aim at Britney two albums ago)."[14] Rolling Stone praised the collaboration with Lilith Fair and added that she takes on 'stupid girls' with these lyrics "What happened to the dream of a girl president?/She's dancing in the video next to 50 Cent."[15]
Feminist website Feminspire were considerably more critical, naming the song in 2014 as one of "the top ten most sexist songs that aren't rap or hip hop from the last 20 years". Author Noor Al-Sibai remarked that: "Pink shits on these women who are too stupid to break out of the chains of patriarchy by harshly judging their promiscuity and blaming them for 'giving in' to sexist tropes. Because obviously, women are to blame for their sexist objectification."[16] [17]
Live performances[edit]
Pink has performed "Stupid Girls" on her I'm Not Dead Tour and her Funhouse Tour.