Kesha

by itemvn  |  March 02, 2009 [Edit]

Kesha Rose Sebert (born March 1, 1987), better known by her first name, is an American recording artist and an active musician since 2005. Her breakthrough came in early 2009 after an uncredited appearance on Flo Rida's number one single "Right Round".

Her debut single, "Tik Tok", was released in August 2009 to much commercial success. It reached number one in nine countries and set the record for the most digital downloads in a week by a female artist and the total weekly Top 40 Mainstream airplay records in the US. The song also became the longest running number one debut single by a female artist since 1977. Her debut album, Animal, was released in early 2010 and debuted at number one in the US.

Kesha listed Beck and Queen as her main musical influences. She draws from rap music and old-school punk as well and credits her older brother with exposing her to groups such as Fugazi, Dinosaur Jr. and the Beastie Boys.

Jon Caramanica of The New York Times proclaimed that Kesha's rap-singing single, "Tik Tok" represented "the complete and painless assimilation of the white female rapper into pop music" as part of a crop of "white-girl rap" songs released in 2009, calling her a "double threat". Ann Powers of the Los Angeles Times compared this vocal styling to that of L'Trimm and Salt-N-Pepa.

Kesha described her music as irreverent and defended her decision to make pop music for Animal as opposed to "more serious acoustic stuff", explaining that she wanted to "give people something that brings them joy." She stated that the title track of the album, which emulates the music of Flaming Lips and Arcade Fire, is the direction she would like to pursue on her next record.

Kesha's lyrics are based on her life experiences and influenced by the storytelling style of country music. She has expressed interest in releasing a country music album in the future because of her love for the genre. She has expressed frustration at the double standard for the objectification of women in songs; in songs such as "Boots and Boys", she makes it a point to sing the same way men traditionally sang about women.

(Last edited by AndrewGustavo)