Just Like a Pill explained

Just Like a Pill
Cover:JustLikeAPillsingle.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Pink
Album:Missundaztood
B-Side:M!ssundaztood
Studio:Pinetree (Miami Beach, Florida)
Genre:Pop rock[1] [2]
Length:3:57
Label:Arista
Producer:Dallas Austin
Prev Title:Don't Let Me Get Me
Prev Year:2002
Next Title:Family Portrait
Next Year:2002

"Just Like a Pill" is a song by American singer Pink. It was written by Pink and Dallas Austin and produced by Austin for the singer's second studio album, Missundaztood. The lyrics of the song deal with getting out of painful relationships with a subtheme about drug abuse.[3]

The song was released worldwide as the third single from Missundaztood in June 2002 and was a commercial success, peaking at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. It also performed well internationally, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart and peaking within the top 10 in 12 additional countries.

Background and composition

"Just like a Pill" was written by Pink and Dallas Austin, who also produced and arranged the song.[4] Pink said in an interview that the song shows "part of who I am", referring to her documented problems with drugs.[5]

"Just like a Pill" is set in the key of A major with a moderate pop-rock tempo in common time.[6] The song follows a chord progression of A–Fm–D–E, and Pink's vocals span from E3 to C5.[6] [7]

Reception

Critical response

The song was generally well received by contemporary music critics. NME called it "the third best track off her killer last album".[8] Drowned In Sound's Robert Luckett commented that it is "a fascinating record...this is a record with a[n] edge, a kind of pot boiling over at any moment, ready to go off at any time vibe." He also wrote "it obeys the pop industry's well-dusted rules for a hit."[9] Stylus Magazine's Todd Burns, in his review of the album, compared "Just like a Pill" to the other singles from the album, "Don't Let Me Get Me" and "Get the Party Started", writing "The guitars... sound much more integrated into the work and the overall song works far better."[10]

The song was shortlisted by Digital Spy as a nominee for the best single of 2002, finishing third in the vote to Red Hot Chili Peppers' "By the Way" and Liberty X's "Just a Little".[11]

Chart performance

In the UK, the song scored Pink her second number-one single in that country, whilst peaking at number two in Austria, Ireland and New Zealand, and within the top 10 in many countries across the world including Sweden, the Netherlands, Norway and Belgium. It peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100. In Australia, the song was a radio-only single in hopes of rising album sales. Although it was a number-one radio hit, a physical release never eventuated; however, it did appear as the B-side to the Australian release of "Family Portrait".

Music video

The video for "Just like a Pill" was directed by Francis Lawrence for LaFace Records.[12] The video is considerably different from Pink's previous videos. "Get the Party Started" and "Don't Let Me Get Me" were lighter in nature than the dark atmosphere of "Just like a Pill", which featured Pink wearing black outfits and wearing black hair. Commenting on the different style of video, Pink said: "This one's very dark and artsy, and I have black hair, which is very fun. I loved it. It's another part that I haven't concentrated on before."[13]

In the first scene, Pink lies on the floor. In the chorus she sings in front of her band. She is also featured in another scene with white rabbits around her in a room, and in another scene, she is seen with an elephant. There are also scenes with Pink singing in front of and amongst various people. In the latter half of the video, she runs in a hall whilst lip-synching the song, before disappearing into a bright doorway atop a staircase at the conclusion of the video.

After the elephant scene, Pink decided to stop using animals for her videos. In an interview, she explained: "This poor elephant...a huge elephant, it's so cute, and I could see how painful it was for it to get down on its hands and knees, ... I didn't like it. I won't do that again. [...] No more animals."[13]

Track listings

  1. "Just Like a Pill" (album version) – 3:57
  2. "Just Like a Pill" (instrumental) – 3:52
  3. "Don't Let Me Get Me" (Ernie Lake Ext. Club.vox) – 5:49
  1. "Just Like a Pill" (main) – 3:57
  2. "M!ssundaztood" – 3:36
  1. "Just Like a Pill" (radio version) – 3:57
  2. "Just Like a Pill" (Jacknife Lee Remix) – 3:46
  3. "Get the Party Started" (live at La Scala) – 3:17
  1. "Just Like a Pill" (radio edit) – 3:57
  2. "Just Like a Pill" (Jacknife Lee Remix) – 3:46

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the Missundaztood album booklet.[19]

Studios

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2002)!scope="col"
Peak
position
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[20] 4
Canada Radio (Nielsen BDS)[21] 1
Canada AC (Nielsen BDS)18
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Nielsen BDS)1
Colombia (ASINCOL)[22] 5
Croatia (HRT)[23] 2
Czech Republic (IFPI)[24] 23
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[25] 3
Greece (IFPI)[26] 12
Poland (Music & Media)[27] 1
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[28] 17

Year-end charts

Chart (2002)!scope="col"
Position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[29] 33
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[30] 60
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[31] 29
Canada Radio (Nielsen BDS)[32] 35
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[33] 39
Germany (Official German Charts)[34] 57
Ireland (IRMA)[35] 41
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[36] 30
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[37] 77
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[38] 28
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[39] 73
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[40] 50
UK Singles (OCC)[41] 42
UK Airplay (Music Week)[42] 28
US Billboard Hot 100[43] 43
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[44] 57
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[45] 15

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Just Like a Pill"
RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United StatesJune 10, 2002Contemporary hit radioArista[47]
United KingdomSeptember 16, 2002[48]
DenmarkSeptember 30, 2002CD[49]
Sweden[50]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Just like a Pill (song) by Pink review. reviewstream.com. March 17, 2015.
  2. Web site: Review of Pink, 'Missundaztood' (2001). truthaboutnursing.org. March 17, 2015.
  3. Rob. Sheffield. CD Review - M!ssundaztood. https://archive.today/20131209010916/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/150507/review/6212488. dead. December 9, 2013. Rolling Stone. June 12, 2009.
  4. Web site: Talia. Soghomonian. Archive of song reviews. all-reviews.com. June 14, 2009.
  5. Web site: Interview: Pink . musicOMH . June 14, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090331172604/http://www.musicomh.com/music/features/pink.htm . March 31, 2009 .
  6. Web site: Just Like a Pill. Musicnotes.com. June 30, 2009. April 9, 2021. MN0075141.
  7. Web site: Just Like a Pill – P!nk – Spot On Track. www.spotontrack.com. en. September 4, 2017.
  8. Web site: Steven. Wells. Track reviews - Pink: Just like a Pill. NME. August 22, 2002. June 14, 2009.
  9. Web site: Robert. Luckett. Pink: Just like a Pill. Drowned in Sound. September 21, 2002. June 14, 2009. October 3, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121003065946/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/5596/reviews/4896. dead.
  10. Web site: Todd . Burns . Pink - M!ssundaztood - Review . . September 1, 2003 . June 14, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100204230545/http://stylusmagazine.com/reviews/pink/mssundaztood.htm . February 4, 2010 .
  11. Web site: Neil . Wilkes . BBC big winner in DS Awards . . January 1, 2003 . June 14, 2009.
  12. Web site: Pink Just like a Pill Music Video on Yahoo! Music . . June 14, 2009.
  13. Web site: Rachel . Perry . Pink: Party started, pill swallowed, elephant spared . https://web.archive.org/web/20110605020846/http://www.vh1.com/artists/interview/1457203/20020826/pink.jhtml . dead . June 5, 2011 . . June 14, 2009.
  14. Just Like a Pill. Pink. 2002. US CD single liner notes. Arista Records. 07822 15186-2.
  15. Just Like a Pill. Pink. 2002. Canadian CD single liner notes. Arista Records. 74321-95020-2.
  16. Just Like a Pill. Pink. 2002. UK CD single liner notes. Arista Records. 74321 95965 2.
  17. Just Like a Pill. Pink. 2002. UK cassette single sleeve. Arista Records. 74321 95965 4.
  18. Just Like a Pill. Pink. 2002. European CD single liner notes. Arista Records. 74321962062.
  19. Missundaztood. Missundaztood. Pink. 2001. US CD album booklet. Arista Records. 07822-14718-2.
  20. Pink Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs) . . December 12, 2023.
  21. Book: Lwin, Nanda. Nanda Lwin. 2003. The Essential 2002 Chart Yearbook. Music Data Canada. 17, 49, 60. 1-896594-15-8.
  22. News: Se dividen la popularidad. es. El Siglo de Torreón. December 15, 2002. May 20, 2023.
  23. Web site: Top Lista Hrvatskog Radija. Croatian Radiotelevision. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20021005074233/http://www.hrt.hr/hr/top20/maineng.html. October 5, 2002. March 7, 2021.
  24. Web site: Oficiální Česká Hitparáda – Pro týden. IFPI Czech. cs. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20021017174828/http://www.ifpicr.cz/radio.htm. October 17, 2002. March 17, 2020.
  25. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 20. 9. 43. October 19, 2002. February 10, 2020.
  26. Web site: Top 50 Singles. IFPI Greece. el. https://web.archive.org/web/20021201130851/http://www.ifpi.gr/chart03.htm. December 1, 2002. September 22, 2020.
  27. Major Market Airplay – Week 05/2003. Music & Media. 21. 5. 27. January 25, 2003. February 17, 2023.
  28. Web site: Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 50, saptamina 16.12-22.12, 2002. Romanian Top 100. ro. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20041012165806/http://www.rt100.ro/ed.php?tn=x10051. October 12, 2004. September 2, 2019.
  29. Web site: Jahreshitparade Singles 2002. de. September 22, 2020.
  30. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 2002. Ultratop. nl. April 2, 2014.
  31. Web site: Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2002. Jam!. January 14, 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20040906184715/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2002_singles.html. September 6, 2004. March 22, 2022.
  32. Web site: Top 100 top played radio tracks in Canada in 2002. Jam!. https://web.archive.org/web/20040812022009/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/100_2002.html. August 12, 2004. March 23, 2022.
  33. Year in Review – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2002. Music & Media. 21. 2–3. 14. January 11, 2003. February 10, 2020.
  34. Web site: Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 2002. GfK Entertainment. de. December 16, 2015.
  35. Web site: Top 100 Songs of 2002. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 2002. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20040602113021/http://www.rte.ie/2fm/charts/top100_2002.html. June 2, 2004. March 16, 2022.
  36. Web site: Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2002. Dutch Top 40. January 27, 2020.
  37. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 2002. MegaCharts. nl. April 2, 2014.
  38. Web site: End of Year Charts 2002. Recorded Music NZ. February 10, 2020.
  39. Web site: Årslista Singlar, 2002. Sverigetopplistan. sv. September 22, 2020.
  40. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2002. de. September 22, 2020.
  41. Web site: The Official UK Singles Chart 2002. UKChartsPlus. April 2, 2014.
  42. Most Broadcast of 2002 — Airplay Top 50. Music Week. 31. January 18, 2003. August 4, 2023.
  43. Web site: 2002. Longbored Surfer. April 2, 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140107063725/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts/2002.php. January 7, 2014.
  44. Most-Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 2002. Airplay Monitor. 10. 51. 16. December 20, 2002.
  45. Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2002. Airplay Monitor. 10. 51. 12. December 20, 2002.
  46. The Year in Charts 2003: Most-Played Adult Top 40 Songs. Airplay Monitor. 11. 51. 22. December 19, 2003.
  47. Web site: Radio & Records. June 7, 2002. Worldradiohistory.com. October 21, 2021.
  48. New Releases – For Week Starting 16 September 2002: Singles. Music Week. 23. September 14, 2002. August 28, 2021.
  49. Web site: Pink: Single. click2music.dk. da. https://web.archive.org/web/20030702155132if_/http://www.click2music.dk/denmark/product.asp?prd=1591. July 2, 2003. November 9, 2023.
  50. Web site: Pink: Just Like a Pill. click2music.se. sv. https://web.archive.org/web/20040821012638/http://www.click2music.se/product.asp?prd=1591&art=192. August 21, 2004. November 29, 2023.

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