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Added a little bit more to the part about Animal being released. I showed more of it's commercial success.
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'''Kesha Rose Sebert''' (born March 1, 1987),<ref name=21-7mag>{{cite web|url=http://www.21-7magazine.com/issue_archive_3/kesha.html|title=Ke$ha: Crazy, Sexy & Too Fuckin' Cool|publisher=21–7 Magazine|accessdate=November 1, 2009|date=March 2, 2009|last=Mazzella|first=Alysia}}</ref> better known by her first name '''Kesha''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|ɛ|ʃ|ə}} {{respell|KESH|ə}}, stylized '''Ke$ha'''), is an American pop singer, rapper and songwriter. Her debut single, "[[Tik Tok (song)|Tik Tok]]", released in late 2009, reached number one in eleven countries and set the weekly records for digital downloads of a female artist<ref name=record/> and total [[Top 40 Mainstream]] airplay in the US.<ref name=airplay/> By reaching the top in 2010, the song also became the first [[Billboard Hot 100]] number one of the decade<ref name=bb1/> and the longest running number one debut single by a female artist since 1977.<ref name=longest/>
'''Kesha Rose Sebert''' (born March 1, 1987),<ref name=21-7mag>{{cite web|url=http://www.21-7magazine.com/issue_archive_3/kesha.html|title=Ke$ha: Crazy, Sexy & Too Fuckin' Cool|publisher=21–7 Magazine|accessdate=November 1, 2009|date=March 2, 2009|last=Mazzella|first=Alysia}}</ref> better known by her first name '''Kesha''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|ɛ|ʃ|ə}} {{respell|KESH|ə}}, stylized '''Ke$ha'''), is an American pop singer, rapper and songwriter. Her debut single, "[[Tik Tok (song)|Tik Tok]]", released in late 2009, reached number one in eleven countries and set the weekly records for digital downloads of a female artist<ref name=record/> and total [[Top 40 Mainstream]] airplay in the US.<ref name=airplay/> By reaching the top in 2010, the song also became the first [[Billboard Hot 100]] number one of the decade<ref name=bb1/> and the longest running number one debut single by a female artist since 1977.<ref name=longest/>


At the age of eighteen, Kesha was signed to [[Dr. Luke]]'s record label and publishing company.<ref name=cover/> Although an active musician since 2005, singing background vocals and writing songs for other artists, her breakthrough only came in early 2009 after appearing on [[Flo Rida]]'s number one single "[[Right Round]]". Before being brought to [[RCA Records]], she had amassed an extensive social media following that was factored in for the promotion of her debut single and album.<ref name=ft/> Her debut album, ''[[Animal (Kesha album)|Animal]]'', was released in early 2010 and debuted at number one in the US.<ref name=digital/>
At the age of eighteen, Kesha was signed to [[Dr. Luke]]'s record label and publishing company.<ref name=cover/> Although an active musician since 2005, singing background vocals and writing songs for other artists, her breakthrough only came in early 2009 after appearing on [[Flo Rida]]'s number one single "[[Right Round]]". Before being brought to [[RCA Records]], she had amassed an extensive social media following that was factored in for the promotion of her debut single and album.<ref name=ft/> Her debut album, ''[[Animal (Kesha album)|Animal]]'', was released in early 2010 and debuted at number one in the US,sold 152,000 copies in it's first week and sold 1 million copies worldwide within 3 months of it's release.<ref name=digital/>


==Life and career==
==Life and career==

Revision as of 02:30, 12 July 2010

This article is about the singer. For the town in China, see Kesha, Hunan.
Kesha

Kesha Rose Sebert (born March 1, 1987),[3] better known by her first name Kesha (/ˈkɛʃə/ KESH-ə, stylized Ke$ha), is an American pop singer, rapper and songwriter. Her debut single, "Tik Tok", released in late 2009, reached number one in eleven countries and set the weekly records for digital downloads of a female artist[4] and total Top 40 Mainstream airplay in the US.[5] By reaching the top in 2010, the song also became the first Billboard Hot 100 number one of the decade[6] and the longest running number one debut single by a female artist since 1977.[7]

At the age of eighteen, Kesha was signed to Dr. Luke's record label and publishing company.[8] Although an active musician since 2005, singing background vocals and writing songs for other artists, her breakthrough only came in early 2009 after appearing on Flo Rida's number one single "Right Round". Before being brought to RCA Records, she had amassed an extensive social media following that was factored in for the promotion of her debut single and album.[9] Her debut album, Animal, was released in early 2010 and debuted at number one in the US,sold 152,000 copies in it's first week and sold 1 million copies worldwide within 3 months of it's release.[10]

Life and career

Childhood and youth

Kesha was born in Los Angeles, California to Pebe Sebert, a singer and songwriter.[11] Pebe, a single parent, struggled financially while supporting Kesha and her older brother, Lagan, at the time and they had to rely on welfare payments and food stamps to get by.[1] Pebe would often look after then infant Kesha onstage while performing.[12] Pebe moved the family to Nashville, Tennessee in 1991 after securing a publishing deal.[11] She frequently brought Kesha and her brothers, Lagan and Louis, along to recording studios and encouraged Kesha to sing.[1][11]

Kesha was already working on her music in 2005 when the Seberts were featured in an episode of The Simple Life.[13][14] Pebe had taught Kesha how to write songs and they would often write together when she returned home from high school.[1][15] She described herself in an interview as being "very studious" in high school; she would drive to Belmont University to listen in on Cold War history classes after school and achieved "near perfect" SAT scores.[15] However, she dropped out at the age of seventeen, and earned her GED afterwards,[16] after being convinced by Dr. Luke and Max Martin to return to Los Angeles and pursue a music career. They had received Kesha's demo after Pebe passed it to a friend at BMI and were impressed.[17]

Career beginnings: 2005–08

Luke allowed Kesha to sing background vocals for Paris Hilton's single, "Nothing in This World," which led to an incident where Kesha vomited in Hilton's closet.[18][19][13] At the age of eighteen, Kesha was signed to Luke's label, Kemosabe Entertainment, and music publishing company, Prescription Songs.[8] Luke and Kesha later became estranged, with her eventually signing with David Sonenberg's management company, DAS Communications Inc. in 2006. They were tasked with obtaining a major label record deal for her in a year’s time with her having the option of ending the relationship if they failed.[20] She worked with several top writers and producers while at the company and credits the creation of her beat-driven sound to a co-writing session with Greg Wells.[8] She also co-wrote The Veronicas' single, "This Love" with Toby Gad.[21]

While her songs were used on Degrassi: The Next Generation,The Hills, Teen Cribs and My Super Sweet 16,[22][11][23][24] Kesha moonlighted as a waitress and a telemarketer to make ends meet.[25] She had wanted Prince to produce her music, so she located and trespassed into his home. Once discovered, she was thrown out, but not before she left her demo with Prince.[11] She would remark later that, "I felt it was harmless at the time, but looking back it was pretty psychotic."[26] She had appeared in the video for Katy Perry's single, "I Kissed a Girl." Her appearance arose due to her friendship with Perry; they met frequently as aspiring pop singers in Los Angeles and shared many musical collaborators.[27]

Kesha was said to have extended the deadline for getting her signed to a major record label for DAS and in 2008, they attracted the attention of Kara Dioguardi, who wanted to sign her to Warner. The deal fell through due to conflicts with Kesha's existing contract with Dr. Luke's label. She terminated her contract with DAS in September and reunited with Luke,[20][8] who let her sing background vocals for Britney Spears' song "Lace and Leather".[2][18]

Breakthrough: 2009

Kesha gained exposure in the mainstream media in early 2009 after appearing on Flo Rida's number one single, "Right Round."[28] The collaboration was called "an accident" by Kesha; she had walked into a recording session with Flo Rida and Luke.[29] Flo Rida wanted a female voice for the song; Kesha was then suggested for the part by Luke. Flo Rida liked the end result so much that they did two more songs.[3] Kesha is not credited for her feature on the US release of "Right Round" and did not collect any money for the part.[8][28] She also refused to appear in the video; she explained in an interview that, "if you want to be a legitimate artist, it’s more important what you say no to. I knew he would want me to be some sexpot, shake my booty, and whatever."[30] Kesha continued to live on a meager income, which inspired the dollar sign in her stage name. She states that it was meant to be ironic, in that she "actually [stood] for the opposite of putting a lot of emphasis on money."[13]

Soon after, Kesha signed a multi-album deal with RCA through Luke's imprint, after being sought after by Lava Records and Flo Rida's record label, Atlantic Records as well.[8] RCA had noticed her strong following on social media when negotiating her contract and thus relied on viral marketing to build a following for her debut single, "Tik Tok", offering the song as a free stream on MySpace in July. The song was released digitally in the US in early August and sent to radio two months later.[9] She made her official stage debut at Lollapalooza and graced the cover of Women's Wear Daily in August.[31] By then, Kesha had also co-written the title song for Miley Cyrus' The Time of Our Lives EP and made an appearance on Pitbull's album.[32][33]

Commercial success: 2010–present

Kesha performing in Montreal, Canada in 2010.

"Tik Tok" topped the charts in eleven countries and was the first number one of the decade on the Billboard Hot 100.[6] For its second week at number one on the chart, the song set the weekly record for the most digital downloads of a female artist and became the second best-selling single in a week, after "Right Round", by shifting 610,000 copies.[4] At its fifth week at the top, it broke the record for the highest weekly total Top 40 Mainstream airplay record.[5] Spending nine weeks at number one, "Tik Tok" became the longest running number one debut single by a female artist since Debby Boone's 1977 single "You Light Up My Life".[7]

Kesha's debut album, Animal, was released in January to mixed reviews from music critics. Rolling Stone summed the album up as "repulsive, obnoxious and ridiculously catchy."[15] It debuted at number one in the US, selling 152,000 copies with 76% of sales coming from digital outlets, the largest weekly digital percentage share for an album at number one.[10] By March, Animal had sold a million copies worldwide with half of the sales coming from digital downloads.[9] Second single, "Blah Blah Blah" debuted in the top ten in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand before being announced as the next single due to strong digital sales following the release of the album.[34]

In May, "Tik Tok" was featured in the opening sequence for The Simpsons episode "To Surveil With Love" where the entire cast lip-synced to the song,[35] making it the first time that the series had forgone its traditional opening theme for another song since its creation.[17] Kesha was also featured on two top ten singles by Taio Cruz and 3OH!3 in the same month.[18] Later that month, Kesha's former managers from DAS filed a lawsuit, seeking $14 million in damages from Kesha and $12 million from Luke for commissions on her subsequent RCA Records deal, alleging that she squeezed them out of her career under pressure from Luke.[20] She was a supporting act along with Travie McCoy on the summer North American leg of Rihanna's Last Girl on Earth tour.[36] Spin called her "fantastically obnoxious" in her opening set in Vancouver, Canada.[37]

Philanthropy

Kesha held a benefit concert on June 16, 2010 where all proceeds went to aid victims of the May 2010 Tennessee floods from her hometown Nashville.[38] She also donated 1,000 pounds of dog food to a local animal shelter for pets abandoned in the flood.[39] She explained the motivation behind the benefit "Nashville helped shape me as an artist and as a person and my love for this city is beyond words. I will continue to do anything I can to help rebuild this city and support the families and animals who have been affected by this tragedy."[38]

On June 21, 2010 Kesha was one of the celebrities answering calls at a telethon organized by Larry King and CNN to help those impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Their efforts brought in more than $1.81 million for three charities.[40]

Image and artistry

Kesha has been noted for her party girl image and behavior,[41] while both she and her music have been dismissed early on as lightweight, calculating and crude. She insisted otherwise in an interview, "I have been working on realizing this dream, my path, my mission, for years. I’ve really invested a lot of thought, time and effort into it. The last thing that makes me is a victim [of celebrity culture]. I think it’s a bummer when people don’t represent that properly, when they portray me as purely one-dimensional."[42]

Kesha's styling comprises messy hair, smudged makeup and a wardrobe she describes as "garbage-chic". The look developed from her being poor and trying to brand herself as best she could on a budget.[43] She has named Keith Richards as her fashion inspiration.[13] The Guardian called her "the degenerate Hannah Montana" and stated that "her whole shtick appears to be predicated on the idea that she's a rebel in American Apparel."[33] Her stage makeup is characterized by dramatic makeup at her right eye, inspired by A Clockwork Orange,[44] and body glitter.[45] Kesha came in at number fifty-six on Maxim's 2010 Hot 100 "definitive list of the world’s most beautiful women".[46]

Themes and genre

Kesha has listed Beck, Queen, Madonna, Johnny Cash, Aaron Neville, Bob Dylan, Beastie Boys and The Damned as musical influences.[47][19][41] She has writing credits on every song on Animal and defends her decision to make pop music for the album in an interview, explaining that, "People get so pretentious about pop music so I do feel like I'm fighting this battle. My record is honest and fun. It's a celebration of youth and life and going out and getting crazy. I'm about non-pretentious irreverence and fuck off good fun!"[48][49]

Kesha credits the album as having a rock edge, with straightforward lyrics based on her life experiences and influenced by the storytelling style of country music.[27][25][11] She has urged critics not to take her lyrics seriously; such as in "Tik Tok", where she has been criticized for referencing brushing her teeth with a bottle of Jack Daniel's whiskey. She explained that, "Everyone's really offended by that. But come on, brushing your teeth with Jack Daniel's: what girl does that? People are like, 'Do you really advocate brushing your teeth with bourbon?' I'm like, 'Yes, actually, I do, every day, for everybody. Especially eight year olds.' I mean, what are you talking about? Of course I don't. Come on."[42] She has also expressed frustration at the double standard for the objectification of women in music. Thus, in songs such as "Blah Blah Blah" and "Boots and Boys", she makes it a point to sing the same way men traditionally sing about women.[1][44]

Animal is of the dance-pop genre; it incorporates elements of electropop in its production. It ranges from high energy pop dance songs, to electronic ballads, to songs with guitar riffs.[48] When it came to her ballads, Kesha stated that they "[would] still have that four-on-the-floor to keep the heads moving." She also regards the need for her live shows to be "rowdy and really fun, and hopefully dance-inducing."[27]

Vocal style

"Tik Tok" (2009)
Kesha's debut single and one of many songs in which she raps and uses Auto-Tune on her voice.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Kesha uses a sing-song rapping style on a number of her songs, which she admitted had begun as a joke,[8] most notably on her debut single "Tik Tok". The New York Times stated that the song represented "the complete and painless assimilation of the white female rapper into pop music."[30] The Los Angeles Times compared this vocal style to that of L'Trimm and Salt-N-Pepa.[50] Kesha has been criticized for using Auto-Tune and vocoders to distort her vocals on her album Animal.[51] Billboard conceded that the heavily processed vocals "[made] it hard to tell whether [Kesha could] actually sing."[52]

Discography

Main article: Kesha discography

Awards and nominations

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Kesha

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Day, Elizabeth (November 29, 2009). "She's a walking, talking living dollar". The Guardian. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
  2. ^ a b Sullivan, Matt (August 13, 2009). "KE$HA and the Not-Quite-72 Virgins in Her Own Personal Heaven". Esquire. Hearst Communications, Inc. Retrieved October 20, 2009.
  3. ^ a b Mazzella, Alysia (March 2, 2009). "Ke$ha: Crazy, Sexy & Too Fuckin' Cool". 21–7 Magazine. Retrieved November 1, 2009.
  4. ^ a b Pietroluongo, Silvio (December 30, 2009). "Ke$ha Sets Female Download Record". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
  5. ^ a b Trust, Gary (January 25, 2010). "'TiK' Talk: Ke$ha Breaks Pop Songs Record". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
  6. ^ a b Trust, Gary (December 24, 2009). "Chart Beat Thursday: Ke$ha". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  7. ^ a b Pietroluongo, Silvio (February 11, 2010). "Ke$ha Holds Atop Hot 100, Pink Glows with 'Glitter'". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved February 12, 2010.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Werde, Bill (February 19, 2010). "Ke$ha: The Billboard Cover Story". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2010.
  9. ^ a b c Edgecliffe-Johnson, Andrew (March 24, 2010). "How to create a chart-topper". Financial Times. Retrieved April 21, 2010.
  10. ^ a b Caulfield, Keith (January 23, 2010). "Kesha ends Boyle's 'Dream' with No 1. debut at Billboard 200". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved January 23, 2010.
  11. ^ a b c d e f "Official biography". RCA Records. Retrieved January 10, 2009.
  12. ^ Axelrod, Nick (August 26, 2009). "Kesha Sebert: Hard Candy". Women's Wear Daily. Fairchild Fashion Group. Retrieved October 20, 2009.
  13. ^ a b c d Lynch, Joseph (December 11, 2009). "Ke$ha: A Music Mix Q&A". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 12, 2009.
  14. ^ "Wedding Planner". The Simple Life. Season 3. Episode 15. May 12, 2005. Fox. {{cite episode}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ a b c "$uper$tar Ke$ha Top$ Chart$". NPR. January 16, 2010. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
  16. ^ Barnett, Sophie (March 24, 2010). "MTV Fashion File: Ke$ha". MTV Networks. Retrieved April 9, 2010.
  17. ^ a b Spaner, Whitney (June 15, 2010). "Pop Smart". Paper Publishing Company. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  18. ^ a b c Fekadu, Mesfin (June 30, 2010). "Ke$ha wants to be more than pop's party girl". The Associated Press. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
  19. ^ a b Diehl, Matt. "Ke$ha". Interview. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
  20. ^ a b c Peltz, Jennifer (May 28, 2010). "Pop star Ke$ha sued by former managers in NYC". The Associated Press. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  21. ^ "This Love". BMI. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
  22. ^ "Degrassi Season Six: Music Credits". Epitome Virtual Reality Inc. Retrieved July 1, 2010. Episode 603 – "True Colours"
  23. ^ "Teen Cribs-Bg Cues". BMI. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
  24. ^ "My Super Sweet 16-Bg Cues". BMI. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
  25. ^ a b Malone, Aibhe (January 8, 2010). "All that glitter$". Independent.ie. Retrieved January 10, 2010.
  26. ^ Barracato, Joseph (February 6, 2010). "Ke$ha tale". NYP Holdings. Retrieved February 12, 2010.
  27. ^ a b c "WAPS interviews Ke$ha". We Are Pop Slags. October 28, 2009. Retrieved October 29, 2009. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  28. ^ a b Gordon, Sandra (November 25, 2009). "Breaking & Entering: Ke$ha". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved November 26, 2009.
  29. ^ Levine, Nicke (November 13, 2009). "Interview – Ke$ha". Digital Spy Limited. Retrieved November 13, 2009.
  30. ^ a b Caramanica, Jon (December 23, 2009). "Changing the Face (and Sound) of Rap". The New York Times. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
  31. ^ "Red-Hot Pop Sensation Ke$ha to Release Debut Album" (Press release). RCA Music Group. December 3, 2009. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  32. ^ "Time Of Our Lives". BMI. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
  33. ^ a b Lester, Paul (October 2, 2009). "Ke$ha (No 640)". Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
  34. ^ Pietroluongo, Silvio (January 13, 2010). "Ke$ha Holds On Hot 100; Doubles Down On Digital Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
  35. ^ "To Surveil With Love". The Simpsons. Season 21. Episode 20. May 2, 2010. Fox. {{cite episode}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  36. ^ Concepcion, Mariel (April 6, 2010). "Rihanna Announces Tour With Nicki Minaj, Ke$ha". Billboard. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
  37. ^ Usinger, Mike (July 6, 2010). "Rihanna and Ke$ha Kick-Off Wild Summer Tour!". Spin. Spin Media LLC]. Retrieved July 10, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  38. ^ a b "Ke$ha Announces Nashville Flood Benefit Concert". Sony Music Entertainment. June 17, 2010. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  39. ^ King, Caitlin (May 10, 2010). "Music City to rebuild on shoulders of its stars". The Associated Press. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
  40. ^ Duke, Alan (June 22, 2010). "Donations flow as celebs join Larry King's Gulf telethon". CNN. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  41. ^ a b Hess, Mike (January 11, 2010). "Ke$ha Can Handle Her Liquor and Success". PopEater. AOL Inc. Retrieved March 24, 2010.
  42. ^ a b Cairns, Dan (March 7, 2010). "Ke$ha demands a pinch of respect and mirth". Times Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
  43. ^ Piazza, Jo (February 7, 2010). "Ke$ha's Look: Garbage Chic or Just Plain Trash?". PopEater. AOL Inc. Retrieved March 12, 2010.
  44. ^ a b Stevenson, Jane. "Pop sensation Ke$ha gutsy, fearless". QMI Agency. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  45. ^ "Meet "Tik Tok" Singer Ke$ha". Seventeen. Hearst Communications, Inc. January 11, 2010. Retrieved April 14, 2010.
  46. ^ "2010 Hot 100". Maxim. Alpha Media Group Inc. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  47. ^ Kazemi, Alex (May 26, 2010). "Interview: Ke$ha". Alex Kazemi. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
  48. ^ a b Jeffries, David. "Animal Review". allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved March 24, 2010.
  49. ^ French, Dan (March 1, 2010). "Ke$ha - Interview". Digital Spy Limited. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
  50. ^ Powers, Ann (January 5, 2010). "Ke$ha is a wisecracking 'Animal'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 6, 2010.
  51. ^ Keefe, Jonathan (January 8, 2010). "Ke$ha Animal". Slant Magazine. Retrieved March 29, 2010.
  52. ^ Herrera, Monica (January 05, 2010). "Ke$ha, "Animal"". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kesha.

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