The lyrics are based on her separation from freestyle motocross rider Carey Hart, which occurred six months prior to the release.

"So What" received positive reviews from contemporary music critics; many praised it for its aggressive and empowering nature while others deemed it childish and bratty.

[5] John Hanes edited the song using Pro Tools technology with assistance provided by the person called Tim Roberts.

The song consists of a powerful, charging beat, a singalong chorus, and a synthesizer backing influenced by club music.

Evan Sawdey of PopMatters noted that the song has a hint of desperation in the lines "I don’t want you tonight, I’m alright, I'm just fine", implying that she is spending time convincing herself that she's enjoying the single life.

"[16] Stephen Thomas Erlewine, senior editor of Allmusic, named it one of Funhouse's best tracks, calling it, in conjunction with "Bad Influence", "instantly indelible".

"[18] Chris Willman of Entertainment Weekly praised "So What" as a great anthem of "bluffing and bravado", while Jon Caramanica of The New York Times referred to the song as "perfunctory".

[19][20] Evan Sawdey of PopMatters wrote positively about the song, calling it "as big a red herring single as you can find.

"[9] Jonathan Keefe of Slant Magazine called "So What" a middling effort among the songs he considers viable single material in Funhouse.

"[22] Nick Levine of Digital Spy, in his review of the leaked single, called the song "brash, childish, slightly ridiculous, packed with attitude and sounds like something only Pink could get away with."

[8] Lucy Davies of BBC called the song an "aggressively swinging opener" that "slams Pink's cards down on the table setting the defiant, self-deprecating tone of the album.

"[24] Michael Cragg of musicOMH wrote that Pink was at her best when she uses her life experiences to create "smart, energetic pop songs", citing "So What" as one of them.

In the United States, the song entered at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 in the issue dated September 6, 2008, earning the highest debut title for that week.

[33] The song became her second number-one hit on the chart after her 2001 collaboration single "Lady Marmalade" with Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, and Mýa.

The song ran on the chart for a course of 41 weeks, during which time it sold 30,000 units, earning a platinum certification by International Federation of the Phonographic Industry – Switzerland.

[43] The song shipped 280,000 units in Australia, earning a quadruple-platinum certification by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).

[45] It lasted a total of 24 weeks on the chart, selling 15,000 copies and earning a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) on January 11, 2009.

[47] Additionally, Pink worked with Meyers on other music videos for "There You Go", "Most Girls", "You Make Me Sick", "Get the Party Started", "Don't Let Me Get Me" and the Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle track "Feel Good Time".

Pink posted a message on her website for her fans about what it was like to shoot the video: If you EVER get a chance to drive a lawnmower down Sunset Blvd – I highly suggest it.

After this, Pink is sitting in a bar after losing her table to Jessica Simpson, accompanied by a man who is playing the drums out of glasses.

Pink is then shown stripping on a red carpet, surrounded by photographers, as she takes off her jacket to reveal her (censored) nude body.

The paparazzi all snap photos of her as she does choreography from Michael Jackson's video for "Thriller", naked, but more akin to Mike Myers in Austin Powers 2.

[51] The scene from the video where Pink's hair is set on fire was censored on MTV UK and its sister channels due to regulations surrounding immolation and violence.