I can't recall the last time I heard a true pop song that made a meaningful social statement to any effect. I'm sure they were made, but the fact that I don't remember them points to the fact that they didn't have traction in the media or culture. But now, Pink's "Stupid Girls" is arguably pulling it off, even if the social commentary is generally off-the-cuff and fairly shallow. The fact is, it is sparking a lot of discussion, and Pink’s new role is manifesting in ways I wouldn't have previously imagined.

Last week at a Toronto high school, Pink spoke to 700 teenage girls about how to maintain a positive self image in today's media environment. The talk was organized by a local youth organization, but it was an event clearly aligned with the current PR storm for her new album "I'm Not Dead." Pink is getting a huge amount of attention with her "Stupid Girls" message, which has become the hook of every media appearance she is making. And there are lots of them.

Apparently Oprah is concerned about a lack of strong female role models for teenage girls, and is airing a show today dubbed "Stupid Girls." She has enlisted Pink as the centerpiece of the show, with supporting roles coming for a group of teenage girls among other guests. I'm going to miss the show, maybe someone can post a comment about what happens. MTV news outlined the big lineup of appearances on her PR calendar.

The message of "Stupid Girls" is a little ambiguous, and definetly makes some assumptions about the "dumbing down" of girls, which seems to have created a love it or hate it situation. Either way, people are talking about the issue, and that's more than you can ask from a pop song.

Posted by chet