Kesha

Kesha first burst onto the pop music scene in 2009 (back then she spelled her name Ke$ha) with her catchy hit Tik Tok - long before the app was a thing.  Fun facts: before she became famous as a solo artist, she sang backing vocals on Paris Hilton's Nothing In This World and appeared in the video for Katy Perry's I Kissed A Girl. Tik Tok broke the US record at the time for the most sales of a single in a week and spent 9 weeks at number one. She developed a loyal following with her unpolished look, unfiltered "party rap" hits and DGAF attitude while the same traits that made her such a popular artist also generated a lot of criticism.  

After releasing two successful albums (Animal and Warrior) and headlining two world tours, Kesha initiated legal proceedings against producer Dr Luke for "sexual assault and battery, sexual harassment, gender violence, emotional abuse, and violation of California business practices".  She experienced ongoing personal and legal struggles in the years that followed but released her third album, Rainbow, in 2017 which was preceded by the moving single Praying. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and was well received by critics.  Rainbow also received nominations for Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Pop Solo Performance at the 2018 Grammys.  She went on to release two more albums, High Road (2020) and Gag Order (2023), before she was contractually free from Dr Luke's Kemosabe Records and RCA in December 2023.  

I was one of many who was rooting for Kesha throughout the past decade.  So I was thrilled when she announced that she was working on a new album and released what many have dubbed her comeback single, Joyride, on her own label, Kesha Records.  I was even more thrilled when the song seemed to be doing a lot better than Katy Perry's dismal Woman's World (which was produced by...Dr Luke).  Steven J. Horowitz from Variety describes Joyride as "an electro-banger perfectly timed to summer, a callback to her early hits like Tik Tok and We R Who We R".  And I am still obsessed with it weeks after its release.

To celebrate Kesha's newfound freedom and the release of Joyride, I have compiled a list of my favorite Kesha tracks:

Joyride

This is an instant camp classic that pushes boundaries and sounds (synths, accordions and an Unholy-esque choir?  Yes please!) with top tier lyrics such as: "Keep it kinky, but I come first / Beep-beep, bitch, I'm outside / Get in, loser, for the joyride".  Katy Perry could never.

Tik Tok (Animal)

The song that started it all really is still a dance-pop banger 15 years later.  I love that she changed the original lyric, "wake up in the morning feeling like P Diddy" to "like fuck P Diddy" at her Coachella performance, following accusations of the rapper's sexual assault and violent behavior.

Old Flames (Can't Hold A Candle To You) Feat. Dolly Parton (Rainbow)

A Kesha and Dolly collaboration seemed like a stretch but this reworking of Dolly's 1980 hit is gorgeous, with Kesha's raspy vocals blending seamlessly with Dolly's.  Kesha herself was taken with the song and the opportunity to collaborate with Dolly: "Still, every time I listen to it, it gives me full-body chills and it makes me tear up because she's a f****** legend; she's an icon."

Take It Off (Animal)

This track had me hooked from the opening lyrics: "There's a place downtown where the freaks all come around / It's a hole in the wall, it's a dirty free-for-all".  We all know exactly the kind of place she is referencing and we've all had some fun nights there.  It's an infectious electro-infused song with a nursery rhyme hook.

C'Mon (Warrior)

C'Mon was the second single from Warrior and has been described as bubblegum pop with lyrics that deal with falling in love and partying up a storm (two of Kesha's favorite lyrical themes).  The music video, featuring a gang of people wearing animal costumes, is also a lot of fun.

Raising Hell Feat. Big Freedia (High Road)

A bold lead single from High Road that features synths, handclaps and gospel choirs as well as vocals from American rapper and pioneer of bounce music, Big Freedia.  Favorite lines: "Hungover, heart of gold, holy mess / Doin' my best, bitch, I'm blessed".

Woman (Rainbow)

This direct and dancey feminist anthem was released as the second single from Rainbow.  She later revealed that the song was in part a protest of Trump's "pussy grabbing comment", telling Rolling Stone that  "I just really love being a woman and I wanted an anthem for anyone else who wants to yell about being self-sufficient and strong."  The song was also used at the end of the hilarious movie A Bad Moms Christmas.

This Is Me (The Greatest Showman Reimagined)

Originally recorded and performed by Keala Settle for the film The Greatest Showman, Kesha recorded her amazing version for the re-imagined soundtrack.  The title is also appropriate for Kesha because she has always been unapologetically herself which is a big part of her enduring appeal and why I consider myself a fan.