This anthemic song is the first single from Pink's greatest hits collection,
Greatest Hits...So Far!!!. It is one of two new tracks on the compilation, along with "
F---in Perfect."
The song was produced by the Swedish hitmaker Max Martin and co-written by Pink. It raises a glass to all the "dirty little freaks" out there who are "wrong in all the right ways." Martin has been behind several of Pink's hits, including "
Who Knew," "
U And Ur Hand" and "
So What."
Pink explained to Alex James on the UK-based radio show In:Demand that this song is a celebration for those who feel left out from the popular crowd. "I had been on the road for two years and I hadn't written anything and I wanted to write a song about underdogs.
Instead of going and becoming a cover girl and endorsement girl and popular girl and having #1s, I kind of just hit the road and pounded the pavement - and became a touring artist," she said. "You don't have to be popular when you're a touring artist, you just have to be good, and this is just a celebration and a thank you."
Raising one's glass towards someone or something and then drinking is a low key form of a toast, a traditional ritual in which a drink is taken as an expression of honor or goodwill. Proposing a toast dates back to religious rituals practiced by the ancient Greeks, where at ceremonial meals they poured out drinks for both their gods and the dead. A vessel of wine would then be lifted in the direction of a member of the dinner party and the words "It is to you" would be said. The container was then handed to whoever had been toasted to drink from.
Also in ancient Rome, a piece of toasted bread was dropped into the wine to draw out bad flavors. Over time an important guest would become thought of figuratively as the "toast" as it was believed his presence improved the taste of the wine. By the Middle Ages the word "toast" came to describe drinking to one's good health. For a more literal enjoyment of this ritual, check out a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, where the audience will throw toast at the screen when a character proposes a toast.
The song's music video, directed by Dave Meyers, is set at a gay wedding. She told Alex James the clip's theme was inspired by a real-life experience. "I threw my best friend's wedding in my backyard - [she] is gay and she married her wife, and it was absolutely beautiful," she recalled. "At the end of it, her mom said, 'Why can't this be legal?' and started crying. It was just the most heartbreaking thing I've ever seen, so that's why I'm doing it in my video."
This was Pink's third Billboard Hot 100 #1. Her first chart-topper was the 2001 collaborative version of "
Lady Marmalade," which also featured Missy Elliott, Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim and Mya. The second time Pink climbed to the peak position was in September 2008 when she reigned for a single week, with "
So What."
This was the fourth #1 to be taken from a greatest hits set since 1990. The previous three were:
January 5, 1991 - "
Justify My Love" by Madonna, from
The Immaculate CollectionSeptember 2, 1995 - "
You Are Not Alone" by Michael Jackson from
HIStory: Past, Present and Future Book 1October 24, 2009 "
3" by Britney Spears from
The Singles CollectionA version by the Glee cast, featured in the season 2 episode "Original Song," was released as a single on iTunes in 2011.
This was featured on General Hospital when Kiki Jerome (Kristen Alderson) performed this at the 2014 Nurses Ball.
This was used on the TV show Superstore in the 2020 episode "Sandra's Wedding." It was also featured in the 2011 movie New Year's Eve.
