Everyone originally knew Kesha Rose Sebert as 'Ke$ha' through her smash hit "Tik Tok" that was released in 2010, and was ultimately the lead single to her debut record 'Animal'. The singer reached massive success; the song went 5 times platinum, and topped the Billboard Hot 100 Chart for nine consecutive weeks, and still holds the record for the 5th best selling song in digital history. Since climbing to fame with that smash hit, she had released several other songs that we all know and love, such as "We R Who We R", "Take It Off", "Your Love Is My Drug", "Die Young", "Blow", and "Crazy Kids", that were also club bangers.
After her 2013 album "Warrior", The the wild Ke$ha that we all knew and danced to seemed to vanish, taking a three year hiatus from releasing music. Little did we know, she was not just taking a break, but going through one of the roughest periods of her life, where she was actually forced to stop making music due to a law suit that she filed against Dr.Luke, a man who was apart of Kesha's management, and produced many of her songs. Kesha claimed that he had been sexually assaulting her for years.
This shocking revelation came as a shock to many of her fans (myself included), and the long legal process began. Kesha's ultimate goal was to get released from his contract for good, so she could continue to make music under a different label/management. Sadly, the courts ruled that there was not enough evidence to rule in Kesha's favor, leaving her under Dr.Luke's management. She must release three more albums under his label before she is able to leave.
Rainbow is the long awaited record that her fans have been waiting for and it was well worth the wait. Her stunning comeback album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, and she topped the chart with music that has never sounded more authentic to everything that she has gone through. Her album, while still pop, has more country vibes than the EDM club sound that we're used to hearing from her. Her stunning ballad 'Praying' where she sings about praying for the person to hurt her to change, hits whoever is listening right in the heart.
A screenshot from Kesha's music video for her hit 'Praying'.
Kesha's music this era has multiple messages that most mainstream music fails to have. Messages that include learning to let go not just of the past, but bitterness and hate and embracing the colors of life around you (Rainbow and Learn To Let Go). Others being not letting negative people get you down (Bastards), praying for others even though they may have hurt you (Praying), and even a hymn for people who have always felt like outcasts (Hymn).
These messages through her lyrics truly show her growth as a person, and despite everything she has went through, she still sees the beauty within life and the world around her. She embodies this idea by using colors as symbolism. This can be seen through several lyrics throughout the record ("Put those colors on girl, come and paint the world with me tonight" from Rainbow) and even her music video for Praying (as pictured above).
Kesha has many insightful tracks on this record, and even a surprising duet with Dolly Parton but she also has those records that you can jam to. 'Woman', a female empowerment anthem featuring Dap King Horns and 'Boogie Feet' featuring Eagles of Death Metal. They also appear on the song 'Let em' Talk'.
Kesha is also not afraid to get spiritual on 'Spaceship' with a monologue at the end that could give anyone chills.
"As I leave this Earth and sail into the infinite cosmic universe, the wars, the triumphs, the beauty, and the bloodshed, the ocean of human endeavor, it all grows quiet, insignificant. I'm nothing more than recycled stardust and borrowed energy, born from a rock, spinning in the ether. I watch my life backwards and forwards and I feel free. Nothing is real, love is everything, and I know nothing" (via Genius).
Through each track, Kesha demonstrates her new found strength and what she has learned through her hardships. This inspiring piece of work deserves to be heard. She is no longer Ke$ha, but Kesha Rose, and she sounds more beautiful and authentic than ever.
Listen to Kesha's album on Spotify.
