I remember the first time I heard "Tik Tok" on the radio. I thought it was a weird and wild song, and I instantly loved it. I have been a Kesha fan ever since. Her new record Rainbow is a delightful departure from her earlier style that really showcases her prowess as a musician.
When the tour was first announced back in the summer, I was a little surprised to see Kesha was playing at mostly smaller venues rather than stadiums. While this certainly made it more challenging to get tickets, it was actually delightful because it was much more intimate. Everyone in the house had a pretty decent view. She played with a full band and overall, the show felt more rock and country that straight dance pop. As a contrast to other pop shows I've attended, she only had two outfit changes, and none of them were over the top anyways.
At this point, we all are pretty aware of what Kesha has been through in the past few years, between the sexual abuse and her extended legal battle. But she isn't letting it hold her back. I was overwhelmed by her positivity, energy, how genuine she was, and how much fun she seemed to be having. I'm not going to lie, a few times I got really emotional with how happy the whole thing made me.
I still can't get over how truly excellent the show was. She played what I consider to be all the best songs from Rainbow, and she even gave me a new appreciation for what I thought to be one of the weaker, stranger songs on her album, "Godzilla." Her mom wrote the song for her and actually came on stage to sing it with Kesha. She also played a good mix of older songs, including launching into a bit of "Timber," which I thought was a nice tough. She clearly enjoyed her hits just as much as ever, showering the audience with a rainbow light-up confetti gun.
It was heartening to see how grateful Kesha was to the crowd as well. Plenty of artists don't talk as much during their sets or don't do more than say a simple thank you. You could just feel that her appreciation was real, and it made me admire her even more.
Really, I just find it inspiring that someone can go through as much as Kesha has and still come out swinging. It's a great message to all of us, especially in the wake of the #MeToo movement this past week. A lot of women (and men) can relate to Kesha's experiences, and it's easy to retreat into yourself or allow it to haunt you forever. But Kesha's music and recent performances have been a great example that it doesn't have to be that way. You can reclaim yourself. You can decide how you want your life to be and go out and make it happen. That's not to say it's easy, but it is possible.
In conclusion, don't let the bastards get you down.
