The Evolution of Kesha

I remember listening to "Tik Tok" when it first came out. I was in high school and it was the perfect party anthem. I listened to it for hype, to get excited about the evening. It didn't mean anything to me, though. It wasn't music. Music to me is what makes me cry or gives me goosebumps, or words that can make me feel something, words that say Yes! I've felt exactly this before. Thank you for putting it into words.  I couldn't get into Kesha, no matter how hard I tried. I wanted to like her, everyone liked her. Everyone liked her bullshit songs, like "Blah Blah Blah" "We R Who We R" and "Die Young." There were maybe a couple lines in "Your Love is My Drug" I could bob my head to. Nothing serious, nothing personal. I want personal. Music is supposed to be personal. I was tired of the image. Similar to artists like Katy Perry, I couldn't be sold from an image, sell me on your music, make it personal, and I'm sold. 

Kesha didn't release anything personal before something personal was released about her. I mean, she was exposed. She was fighting for her life, her talent, her image, in a courtroom against someone who was supposed to show the world her talent. I could only imagine how many times artists are assaulted sexually by anyone in their business circle, let alone a record producer who has a sole responsibly to showcase your talent to the world and instead takes advantage of everything you have to offer, and therefore places you in a dark hold doubting everything you've ever thought about your own capabilities. Before Kesha could even feel relief from taking Dr. Luke to court, I'm sure she's had emotional distress added to her life because of victim-blaming. 

But I won't get into how much that case irritated me and made me sad, because I was on her side, and I understood her in ways most women could, and most victims could. That's her story, not mine. What I will get into, however, is Kesha's new album. I listened to "Woman" and "Praying" at least, at least  fifty times since they've been released. Lines in "Praying" like I had to learn to fight for myself/And we both know all the truth I could tell show me a side of Kesha that I had never seen before. She sounds liberated from this weight and struggle, but she sounds like she's connecting to music and allowing it to be her therapy. She's allowing music to seep in and soothe her. And then in "Woman", she's liberated and uncontrolled, she's feminine and powerful, and never overbearingly because it's a beautiful thing- to be proud of yourself, to show the world the strength in what is socially accepted as weaker. And so I'm so proud, I'm so soothed by her music, because I witnessed an artist evolve into music. This isn't to say I am grateful for what happened to her, this is to say that it's a beautiful, beautiful image, to watch music singlehandedly soothe our scars, to see us reborn again from the bruises of man. It's a beautiful thought, knowing we can feel alive again. And  I thank music for this, and I thank women like Kesha for allowing us to get personal.