Video still from "TiK ToK"
Paul Lester of The Guardian is spot on when he says that “TiK ToK” is going to be the “I Kissed a Girl” of this winter.
No one (apart from the random iTunes library which had Ke$ha tagged in the Benny Benassi remix of Flo-Rida’s “Right Round” in June even though she wasn’t officially credited for her work on the track) knew who or what a Kesha was before, say, November 2009. Although she indeed sang backup on Flo-Rida’s successful radio single, Ke$ha was not a household name until her purposefully misspelled debut single, “TiK ToK” caught fire on the radio. Now, her first solo recording is #1 on numerous charts heading into the new decade. Not bad for someone who appeared on The Simple Life.
Statistically, Billboard has grouped Kesha with other female artists who have achieved a #1 on their first try. This elite group consists of Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Leona Lewis, Fergie, Beyonce, Kelly Clarkson, and Alicia Keys. Ten years ago, Christina Aguilera held the top spot, and in 1990 crooner Michael Bolton was king. Could Ke$ha achieve similar success and have her namesake as a character in a film a la Office Space? It’s possible. America loves Lady Gaga, but has such a short attention span that an electro-pop newcomer would be instantly welcome. Especially when every track utilizes 2009’s favorite enhancement: auto-tune.
New York Times music writer Jon Caramanica recently provided an apt description of Ke$ha’s style, saying:
“TiK ToK” is sung in the chorus and rapped in the verses, enhanced by Auto-Tune in a few places, in keeping with its electro-pop production.”
Her similarities to current pop artists are also covered:
- Melody and subject matter similar to Lady Gaga
- Rap style similar to Uffie
- Future as country singer (Carrie Underwood/Taylor Swift have seen success here)
Why Kesha could be good for the music industry:
- Ke$ha has said she is going for a “lost-member-of-Whitesnake” vibe.
- Turned down a video-vixen-style appearance in Flo-Rida’s video.
- RCA is marketing Kesha as a pop artist, not a rapper.
- Opposed to the objectification of women.
Difficulties faced by Kesha:
- Considered a female rapper by many. Historically, female rap has not been successful.
- The phrase ‘TiK ToK’ is not only gramatically incorrect; it is harsh on the eyes.
- Is her name Kesha, Keisha, or Ke$ha?
- Lyrics are not appropriate for children (but when were anyone’s?).
The album is out for download/purchase on January 5th 2010. Multiple remixes for “TiK ToK” are out there; try Fred Falke’s first. The Kfir W & Elkana Paz Remix isn’t bad either.
