he / him
30. Whataya Want From Me?
Average score: 8.32
Highest score: 10x7 @Daniel_O @tylerc904 @Sideout @Laurence
@Remorque @Music Is Life @Duppe
Lowest score: 5 @LiK
My score: 9.5
There might have been a time
When I would let you slip away
I wouldn't even try
But I think you could save my life
That's right, despite being the last album to have any songs eliminated we kiss goodbye to the Greatest Hits... So Far!!! 'Whataya Want From Me' is clearly the right choice for best track out of the four, a glorious reclamation of a song gifted to Adam Lambert, so I'm super happy to see it last until now.
In another world she never passed this to Adam, who actually does a perfectly competent job selling the song, and they beefed it up for a full release down the line. It feels decidedly stripped when it comes to the chorus but regardless I find the melody and delivery to be one of her very best. Recorded for Funhouse and produced by Max Martin and Shellback, it's certainly surprising to see that she passed on this to Adam Lambert of all people, only to release her own version further down the line. The two versions don't even differ, showing that Adam only felt the need to change the 'he messed me up' lyric, ddd.
I don't know much about how Adam got his hands on it, but he is quoted by Billboard as saying:
“Pink wrote ‘Whataya Want From Me’ and then decided she didn’t want to put it on her album for personal reasons. I think she was quoted saying she didn’t want to go into the sentiment of the song. I did! A great song is a song that means different things to different people. It was a really honest sentiment and a great hook.”
Though I can't find the quote in question from her so hopefully someone knows!
'Whataya Want From Me' is a roaring tune with the deepest of hearts beneath it. Lyrically I find it to be a stunning admission of weakness, begging her lover for time and acceptance following a particularly traumatic breakup preceding it. Perhaps a bit of projection, but I've always found solace in that admission. I've been through a hell of a lot with relationships, and that leaves you with a hell of a lot of scars and things to process, and although we ought to not put that on other people's shoulders it is important to open up to them about it.
He messed me up, need a second to breathe.
Sometimes it isn't the right time when we meet somebody but that makes everything harder, accepting that maybe you're just not ready to love someone else yet because you can't love yourself. But isn't it okay to not be okay? Who preaches that we can only love others if we love ourselves? Because truthfully sometimes it can feel like we love others because we can't love ourselves, and we can become obsessive with that dependence. In these cases, it's better to open up and talk about it to them rather than close away and believe that it's impossible for you to make it work. What do they want? Are they prepared to accept the work you need to do to be ready for love? Will they be there for you too?
Commentary corner:
@tylerc904: (10) I do prefer Adam’s, but the songs itself is just a knockout regardless. As a Funhouse leftover, I do think it’s stronger than 90% of what did make it.
@Sprockrooster: (9) Not entirely sure if it is a good thing it is so similar to the Adam Lambert version (which I listen to much more), but it is such a stellar song, it doesn't really matter in the end.
@Maki: (8.5) I haven’t listened to this song in so long, and it’s actually really good. Don’t know if I ever heard the Adam Lambert version, but P!nk’s version is probably miles better. The verses are lovely, as well as the post-chorus. With a slightly different production and arrangement, it could’ve appeared on “Funhouse” album.
@Reboot: (8) I did not know Pink had written this! It’s good
@nikkysan: (8) Definitely much better than the Adam Lambert version.
@abael: (8) Serviceable cover of a good song, it fits Pink well even if she does little to set herself apart.
@savilizabeths: (8) “I don’t know if this is an unpopular opinion but I prefer the Adam Lambert version. It feels like there’s more dynamic, passion and theatricality to his that I always loved. This song does have major nostalgia for me though, and it gets a pretty high score for that. It’s definitely cool to hear P!nk’s version, even if it’s lesser in my eyes."
@R27: (7.75) This is better than Adam's version. I'm also listening to this right after the second of half of Beautiful Trauma so it feels like a nice palate cleanser.
@rick: (7) Adam’s was a perfect choice for this.
@The Hot Rock: (6) Prefer Adam's version but a good song is a good song.
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