Album: Funhouse (2008)

Charted: 9 15

License This Song 

Songfacts®:

• This song was written by Pink together with Nathaniel "Danja" Hills, Kara DioGuardi (shortly before she was announced as a new judge on American Idol) and Marcella Ariaca. Tony Kanal of No Doubt and his writing partner Jimmy Harry produced the song together with Hills.
• "Sober" is about the desire to be uninhibited without resorting to vices such as drink or drugs - it takes a great deal of mental and emotional fortitude. Pink told MTV how she came up with the idea: "I wrote a song called 'Sober,' which is actually really dark. I was at a party at my own house, I didn't want to be there, I didn't want anyone else there. And I had this line in my head saying, 'How do I feel this good sober?,' it's not just about alcohol, it's about vices, we all have different ones. We try to get away from ourselves, and find our 'true selves' and then we do these things that take us so far from the truth, I guess that 'Sober' is 'How do I feel this good when it's just me, without anything to lean on?"
• Pink explained that this song is "about the vices that we choose." She added, "I had this idea in my head, 'like how do I feel this good sober?' So I brought that idea to Danja and with this awesome girl Kara DioGuardi and we wrote this song, 'Sober.' And it's a pretty telling song and then me and Tony Kanal and Jimmy Harry finished it, production-wise, threw some strings on it and made it a little bit darker and a little bit more rocky."
• "Sober" was the third consecutive #1 for Pink on the Adult Top 40 airplay chart, following "Who Knew" and "So What." It was the first time in the history of the tally that an artist had stringed together three consecutive #1s.
• This was the second single from Pink's fifth studio album, Funhouse, which largely deals with the singer's separation from her husband, Carey Hart. The couple eventually reconciled and welcomed daughter Willow Sage in 2011 and son Jameson Moon in 2016.
• This was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 2010 Grammy Awards, but lost to Beyoncé's "Halo."
• The music video was directed by Jonas Akerlund in Stockholm, Sweden, where Pink traveled to collaborate with Swedish songwriter/producer Max Martin on a handful of other Funhouse tracks. The clip opens with Pink waking up alone in her bedroom and transitions into party scenes where she warily observes her doppelganger trying hard to be the center of attention, drinking and flirting with other guests. By the end of the night, Pink and her twin end up in bed together. Akerlund revisited the doppelganger idea for Britney Spears' "Hold It Against Me," which had her facing off against her double.
• Pink did a high-flying trapeze act when she sang "Sober" on tour in 2009. She first started doing aerials at her shows in 2004, and they got more intricate over time. Singing in tune while doing acrobatics up high is a spectacular feat, but unless you were at a Pink concert, you didn't see it until the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, where she was blindfolded and carried high above the stage on a harness for her acrobatic routine to "Sober."
  
  That might not be what you remember about the ceremony, though. That was the year Kanye West stormed the stage and interrupted Taylor Swift when she won Best Female Video for "You Belong With Me." Pink was nominated for that award for "So What" - it would have been interesting to see Kanye try to pull that on her!

Comments: 13

• Warren from North Of SeattlePink was trying to comfort herself throwing up in the toilet. It was a moment when Pink was Sober and looking at her party self and asking how she can manage life without alcohol/drugs/partying until dawn. When she is listening to the silence, I think it straight forward looks at each of us dealing with our inner voice that guides us. Often because the situation is severe or affecting us emotionally we don't know whether to trust our quiet voice. Is it the right or wrong thing to do? Action to take? Will I be hurt by doing it? A person dealing with their own decisions/lack of same is often scary.
  I appreciate Pink's music, especially with a video. While her words and inflective voice tell the story, the scenes strongly support the lyrics providing depth to each song.
• Ruxing from Blue Stem DriveI have always loved this song from my experience dad was an alcoholic disaster, I moved away from him because mama got full custody of me before dad supposedly changed to sober. I am going to see him this summer to find out for myself if he has truly changed or if it’s just complete bull crap, anyways Pink has inspired me to be a warrior she has gotten me through hard times her voice is a powerhouse so in control!
• Josh from Maryland Heights, MoThink about this...... You were made as human, in the nature and following of Adam/Eve. You sin. Why can't I feel this good sober? Well, let me tell you, that you can. You have to pursue it much harder than a bottle in the fridge. You have to make contact with people and spend time with them out of your comfort zone. The cross in the video tells you the point of the story (why else would it be in there)? It's a plea to God, why can't I feel this good sober???! I understand! both sides... Alcohol is easy, striving to follow Jesus is not. The choice is VERY hard, but assumedly worthy.
• Danielle from Perth, AustraliaThis song is so heart warming
  its so tru and the way the video clip is pressented it just makes perfect sence
  you feel so alone when ur drunk
  a great song
• Maggie from Buffalo, NyAm I the only person who sees something weird at the 2:49 mark in the video? Pink's dragon tattoo is on the left side of the screen, a statue holding a cross in the middle, and at the bottom right underneath the statue it looks like a hooded figure. Is it just my screen pixels?
• Sarah from Rome, PaI am a recovering addict/alcoholic. I have been in recovery for 2 years now, and it has been so hard to explain to people how I feel. Although this song has been out for quite sometime this is the first time I have actually listened to it. And when I actually did, I got chills, this song is me, how I feel, what I have been going through, and the people in my life. It's unbelievable to know who I was then and who I have become today. I am finding myself and learning to love myself for the first time.
• Brady from New Prague, MnThis is an amazing song. I like how P!nk didnt only focus this song on alcohol, but she also focused it on the idea, "How do i feel this good, when I have nobody to lean on?" I think that the scene in the music video where she's making out with herself means that because she depended too much on alcohol, she literally "screwed herself" out of all that she had.
• Kylie from Amory, MsThis song is great. I believe that this like many songs, even if the artists has her own opinion about what it mean, it's up to the listener to interpret it for ourselves.
• Cassandra from Kalispell,This song is wicked! The Music video is awesome too, the only thing I don't understand is why she is having sex with herself in the video, can any tell me what that is about?
• Carley from Crystal Lake, IlTo me, this song is about, besides the obvious alcohol and drug problems, just finding you. How do I feel this good sober, how can I feel okay with myself all the time...is that just me? X3
• Janice from Richmind, VaI knew the song was about drinking or drugs. I realy like the song, but it still puzzles me.
• Amanda from Salyersville, KyIt kinda freaks me out to! That's why I came looking for what it was about. I thought the song had to be about God as well as drug addiction. It's a great song either way!
• Llyle from London, United KingdomThis song actually kind freaks me out, but I like the 'silent' effect.
  

More Songfacts:

Live ForeverOasis

The Oasis song "Live Forever" was written in response to "I Hate Myself And I Want To Die" by Nirvana. "Kids don't need to hear that nonsense," said Noel Gallagher.

Lady MarmaladeLabelle

"Lady Marmalade" is the only song to hit #1 twice in both the UK and US.

Let's DanceDavid Bowie

David Bowie's "Let's Dance" is about more than just dancing. It's about dishonesty, particularly when we mask our true feelings.

Do You Believe In Love?Huey Lewis & the News

The first Huey Lewis & the News hit, "Do You Believe In Love?," is a cover of a song Mutt Lange wrote three years earlier called "We Both Believe In Love."

Station to StationDavid Bowie

David Bowie's "Station to Station" is over 10 minutes long. Bowie was doing a lot of drugs at the time and later said, "I have only flashes of making it."

RespectAretha Franklin

Props to Aretha Franklin: her song "Respect" introduced the term "propers" as a sign of proper respect.

Editor's Picks

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."

Michael SchenkerSongwriter Interviews

The Scorpions and UFO guitarist is also a very prolific songwriter - he explains how he writes with his various groups, and why he was so keen to get out of Germany and into England.

Daniel LanoisSongwriter Interviews

Daniel Lanois on his album Heavy Sun, and the inside stories of songs he produced for U2, Peter Gabriel, and Bob Dylan.

Spooner OldhamSongwriter Interviews

His keyboard work helped define the Muscle Shoals sound and make him an integral part of many Neil Young recordings. Spooner is also an accomplished songwriter, whose hits include "I'm Your Puppet" and "Cry Like A Baby."

Songs Discussed in MoviesSong Writing

Bridesmaids, Reservoir Dogs, Willy Wonka - just a few of the flicks where characters discuss specific songs, sometimes as a prelude to murder.

Max Cavalera of Soulfly (ex-Sepultura)Songwriter Interviews

The Brazilian rocker sees pictures in his riffs. When he came up with one of his gnarliest songs, there was a riot going on.