what about us

The song relies on a ubiquitous pop progression, the I-V-vi-IV, which is a variation of the 'Sensitive Female Chord Progression'. Its effectiveness lies in the circular nature of the loop, where the subdominant (Db) leads smoothly back into the tonic (Ab). This harmonic stability allows the emotional weight of the lyrics and the electronic production elements to take center stage. The choice of Ab major provides a resonant, anthemic quality that fits the track's nature as a protest anthem.

The song was written during a session where Pink shared anecdotes and had deep discussions with Johnny McDaid to develop ideas for her album. Pink described the creative process as one where the song 'just falls out of you,' and McDaid noted that Pink expressed herself 'really profoundly' during their time together.

Released as the lead single for Beautiful Trauma, this track combines Steve Mac's electronic production with a lyrical critique of the social climate. It earned a Grammy nomination and established Pink as the soloist with the most number-one hits on the Billboard Adult Pop Songs chart.