We're All Pink on the Inside

It's Sept. 30, 2005, 6:45 p.m. on a cool fall eve at the South Street Seaport; Pink-mania was everywhere as tons of fans awaited the 7:30 start of the free concert (sponsored by Target) promoting Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It might have been a cold evening, but once the show started it was the hottest thing to rock Lower Manhattan since sliced bread!

To start the festivities off right, world-renowned club DJ Laurent of Labtonic schmoozed the crowd with some thumpin' beats to sway to (if you could since it was so packed), but everyone knew what the real attraction to the South Street soirée was. After about a half-hour, the crowd no longer wanted to see a DJ on stage but craved to see some live performances.

Opening the concert was Butch Walker, Avril Lavigne's tour mate, who put on a show wild enough to be associated with Pink herself. This rocker showed he was obviously a veteran performer, and no stranger to shock value when he decided to kiss his male band mate. As content as the crowd was going along with these tattooed stage-terrors, they were there for another reason; the first woman of ass-kicking herself: Pink.

Before this hard-rocking hottie took the stage, Geralyn Lucas (author of the book Why I Wore Lipstick and breast cancer survivor) brought her daughter on stage to partake in the presentation of a $50,000 check to support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. For a woman who looked so demure and so innately positive, the story of her struggle with breast cancer took the crowd by surprise. She made me wish that her story was told to more than just the concert crowd as her account of the surgery and struggle was so inspirational. After this heart-warming speech and a shout-out to all the guys in the crowd (she said, "Guys who go to support breast cancer research at events like this are hot!") the night kicked off with Grammy-award winning artist Pink.

Performing songs from her previous album, Try This, Pink blew the crowd away with her tremendous, jaw-dropping, crush-initiating vocals after being out of the spotlight since the release of the CD in 2003. The crowd went out of control upon her entrance, moving in time with the music and singing along. And trust me, there were some in the crowd that you knew were singing because they enjoyed it and not because they were talented.

From live performances of "Trouble," "Just Like a Pill" and "Family Portrait," to covers of Billy Idol's "Dancing with Myself," Bob Marley's "Get Up, Stand Up" (with Butch Walker), and Queen's "Let Me Live," Pink once again proved why she has a solid fan base that will wait two years to see her live and love it like she never left.

In addition to her smashing vocal ability, Pink cracked a few jokes and demonstrated that she's still the same girl, but with a little more cash. She wore a tight black leather bustier, picked a wedgie on stage and lied down on stage in a skirt (with something on underneath of course). The difference between those who would call her "socially reprehensible" and the rest of us: Small things like that just make us love her more since it proves that stardom hasn't gone to her head. She's still the bold bad-ass she was from day one.

By the end of the night, standing room was out of the question and breathing room was pushing it as Pink's melodic antics had drawn in any passers-by near the Seaport. It was an event that was not to be missed, and apparently the old adage of "the best things in life are free" was oh so true, for this concert was one of the best I've seen in years. Not only was this a show of talent, but it was also a show of character, and Pink managed to take the top spot in both categories.

To support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, check out Target's website: www.target.com/breastcancer. You can pick up some hot stuff for cheap (items range from $1 to $100) from their new line that supports the cause. In addition, some of the items will be available in stores during October.

Make a purchase to support a good cause. And as a side note to Jive Records, who helped with the Pink concert, superb job! It's wonderful to see these types of events coming from the labels we support, thank you.