Singer Pink proves she's still a showstopper during the American Music Awards on Sunday.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• LZ Granderson: Why does our culture let auto-tuned syrup dominate the pop charts?
• Granderson: Thank God for Pink, who care really sing
• He says Pink deserves the kind of attention that Lady Gaga and Adele receive

Editor's note: LZ Granderson, who writes a weekly column for CNN.com, was named journalist of the year by the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association and is a 2011 Online Journalism Award finalist for commentary. He is a senior writer and columnist for ESPN the Magazine and ESPN.com. Follow him on Twitter: @locs_n_laughs

(CNN) -- One day, many years from now, future generations will look back at this time in our country's history and wonder what in the hell were we thinking.

The Kardashians are famous for no reason, same-sex marriage is controversial for stupid reasons, and somehow the "Twilight" franchise is a cash cow.

But our culture's biggest sin may well be the auto-tuned syrup we've allowed to dominate the pop charts. All-time chart records are handed to vacuous acts such as the Black Eyed Peas and singing awards are given to vocal lightweights such as Taylor Swift.

LZ Granderson

History will show a dark time in our culture in which a million followers on Twitter became a key component to winning a Grammy.

But thank God for Pink.

That's what I was thinking as I was watching her performance during Sunday's American Music Awards. She recreated the video for her current single, "Try," a midtempo ballad about the ups and downs of an imperfect relationship.

Where there is desire

There is gonna be a flame

Where there is a flame

Someone's bound to get burned

But just because it burns

Doesn't mean you're gonna die

You've gotta get up and try try try

Singing words like that live with the right level of emotion that Pink is known for is hard enough. Doing so while in engaged in an athletic pas de deux, complete with lifts, is breathtaking. She received a standing ovation afterward, much in the same way she commanded one at the 2010 Grammys as she swung over the audience's heads on a trapeze, asking:

Have you ever thrown a fist full of glitter in the air?

Have you ever looked fear in the face and said, "I just don't care"?

It would all seem like a meat-dress wearing gimmick if she didn't have the voice and lyrics to back it up. But she does, and thus we can all breathe a sigh of relief knowing her voice will be there for future generations to discover when looking back at us.

Pinkwon't be able to scrub our record clean singlehandedly -- there's just too much manufacturing for one person to overcome. But at least there will be evidence for my great-great grandkids to see that we weren't all "American Idol's" sheep. While Christina Aguilera has a tendency to oversing, Britney Spears can't sing, and Lauryn Hill sorta stopped singing, Pink has managed to carve a brilliant 13-year-career by being something that is incredibly rare these days -- an artist.

A complete artist.

Maybe the most underrated artist we've had on the radio in the past 20 years.

That's not to suggest she's been ignored -- Pink has sold more than 40 million albums worldwide. It's just when you look at the amount of publicity given to her in comparison to say, Lady Gaga or Adele, well there is no comparison. We know she is phenomenal, but the others are considered phenomenons. Gaga and Adele are worthy of the accolades, but whenever I listen toPink's "Dear Mr. President," "Family Portrait" or "Sober," I feel the need to atone for us not making more room for her in the pop culture paradigm.

Billboard magazine -- one of the most respected names in the music industry -- ranked the top five performances from the American Music Awards. For them, Pink's brave rendition of "Try" was second. Tops was Psy doing "Gangnam Style" with MC Hammer.

MC Hammer!?!

Yes ... we're going to have a lot to answer for someday.

http://us.cnn.com/2012/11/20/opinion/granderson-pink-music/index.html?sr=sharebar_twitter

tweet from P!nk

P!nk‏@Pink

I retweeted that CNN article because it made me cry.

I didn't see the performance (well I skipped the AMAs), I wonder if there's a video for this. I have to say from the screencap, the performance looked like it was real deep...

Timmy84 said:

I didn't see the performance (well I skipped the AMAs), I wonder if there's a video for this. I have to say from the screencap, the performance looked like it was real deep...

here it is

I'm not a big P!nk fan, but she's definetly one of the best things on top 40 radio.

HAPPYPERSON said:

Timmy84 said:

I didn't see the performance (well I skipped the AMAs), I wonder if there's a video for this. I have to say from the screencap, the performance looked like it was real deep...

here it is

Thanks mane. I dug it... I like the song too. May buy the album next January lol

Idk, i always liked that Pink made an album.. did her thing.

She has an album, a few succesful singles then bounces for awhile & comes back with another hit single.

Hell i am suprised she still is making top 10 hits, but i like that she isn't a media darling, she can actually dissapear for awhile & come back with success.

Rihanna should give it a try

Gunsnhalen said:

Idk, i always liked that Pink made an album.. did her thing.

She has an album, a few succesful singles then bounces for awhile & comes back with another hit single.

Hell i am suprised she still is making top 10 hits, but i like that she isn't a media darling, she can actually dissapear for awhile & come back with success.

Rihanna should give it a try

Her new album went gold quick too! Pink's one of those stable artists. She chills out for a minute but when she comes back, she comes back strong. I admire that about artists.

HAPPYPERSON said:

Timmy84 said:

I didn't see the performance (well I skipped the AMAs), I wonder if there's a video for this. I have to say from the screencap, the performance looked like it was real deep...

here it is

Not an admirer, but gotta give props...

I don't get the acclaim for Pink. Okay, she sings live and doesn't use Autotune, but in a way she's just as formulaic as the artists she is contrasted to as Rihanna and Britney. Her songs don't surprise me. They follow a certain pop/rock sound and have this same sort of angry at men, I'm a strong woman theme. You know what a Pink song will sound like before you hear it. Certain critics praise her merely because she has a rock influence which is seen as more artistic and authentic than artists influenced by dance/electronic music. But she's a very commercial singer, not a challenging artist. I find her very overrated.

^ Co-sign. They're ALL lightweights IMO.

Gaga and Adele can both sing the shit out of Pink.

breese said:

Gaga and Adele can both sing the shit out of Pink.

They do more with their music too

Glindathegood said:

I don't get the acclaim for Pink. Okay, she sings live and doesn't use Autotune, but in a way she's just as formulaic as the artists she is contrasted to as Rihanna and Britney. Her songs don't surprise me. They follow a certain pop/rock sound and have this same sort of angry at men, I'm a strong woman theme. You know what a Pink song will sound like before you hear it. Certain critics praise her merely because she has a rock influence which is seen as more artistic and authentic than artists influenced by dance/electronic music. But she's a very commercial singer, not a challenging artist. I find her very overrated.

I totally agree with you on this. Yes, her performance on the AMA's was great and exciting to watch but over all I don't believe she is as much of an artist as she thinks (and others seem to think) she is. At the end of the day she's just as pop as they come and her stuff is predictable and boring. Having an "edgy"haircut doesn't makeyou ground breaking. I think she's a decent artist but nothing to write home about.

Very underrated.

Most people prefer shitty music. That's fair enough.

We couldn't appreciate good artists if there were no shitty ones.

And haters will hate.

Go P!nK!

Yeah pink's cool. Haven't bought any music from her since her first cd, but most of the singles she has released since then have been solid. She holds her own in the biz, has talent and is not an attention whore. 'Blow Me One Last Kiss' always brings a smile to my face when I hear it.

Gunsnhalen said:

I like her, I was given a ticket to see her live during her 'Funhouse' tour and I was surprised by how good she is live. I am tempted to buy a ticket to see her on her next tour.

Big P!nk fan here. She has a voice that can suit any style, though she prefers poprock. She can popr&b, light ballads, even a bit country/folk, and of course dance/club tracks. I like that she adds in a bit of daring titles or lyrics. "U + Ur Hand" is 1 of my favorites from her lol.

I loved her "Try" performance at the AMA's. For sure it was the best of the night. She has a great voice and is a great live performer.

.

I'm a fan of P!nk, always been a fan of hers. i grow up with her music (i'm 17...) but still, she is definitely one of the best things in the top 40. great singer, songwriter and performer. have seen her live in 2009 (my second concert ever ) and will be seeing her again next year! looking forward to it. always great shows.