Crazy Kids

"Crazy Kids"
Song

"Crazy Kids" is a song by American recording artist Kesha. It was released as the third single for her second studio album Warrior, with will.i.am as a featured artist. Additional remixes for the track have been released, one featuring her Kemosabe Records labelmate Juicy J and another will.i.am. The lyrics were written by Kesha and will.i.am along with Dr. Luke, Benny Blanco, Cirkut, who also helmed production of the track. Featuring whistling, the song is of the techno-pop genre with traces of pop rap. While the album version of the song was praised for the acoustic guitar refrains and electronic and hip hop verses, the rap vocals contributed by will.i.am were ubiquitously met with unfavorable reviews.

A music video for the track premiered on MTV on 28 May 2013 at 7:53 PM EST, followed by the finale of her television documentary, Kesha: My Crazy Beautiful Life.

Background and remixes

The song was recorded for Kesha's second album, Warrior. Kesha stated that the track is this album's version of her 2010 single, from Cannibal, "We R Who We R". She recorded the song in June 2012.

will.i.am was in a nearby recording studio when he heard Luke, Blanco and Cirkut working with Kesha on the track. He immediately wanted to get involved with the track. He co-wrote the album version and later wrote a new verse for himself and recorded it hoping he would be the featured artist in the song, however, the label decided not to include his verse. Later, however, his verse was included in the single/remix version of the song. While will.i.am was working with Luke, Blanco and Cirkut, the collaboration also yielded two tracks that appear on will.i.am's album #willpower. In this remix, Kesha's second verse is omitted completely in favor of Will.i.am's verse.. It officially impacted Top 40/Mainstream radio on April 29, 2013 and Rhythmic radio on May 7, 2013. It was made available for purchase as a digital download on April 30, 2013.

The second official remix, which features rapper Pitbull, follows the same formula as the will.i.am remix and also has the song's second verse removed in favor of Pitbull's new verse. The third remix features rapper Juicy J was sent to U.S. Rhythmic radio and became available for purchase as a digital download on May 21, 2013.

Composition

Lyrically, "Crazy Kids" was said to establish dualistic personalities for Kesha. The A.V. Club writer Annie Zaleski said: "On the acoustic guitar-driven choruses, she’s sweet and melancholy as she reveals her insanity; on the electronic-dipped verses, she unloads snappy hip-hop boasts ("I'm no virgin or no Virgo / I'm crazy that's my word, though") to assert herself." Over hip hop beats, Kesha raps "coochie" with "Gucci", drops several f-bombs, and contributes her famous sing-rap style vocals as well as traditional singing. At the end of the song kesha hit an F5 in belt voice

Music video

The official music video for "Crazy Kids" was filmed on May 9, 2013. The Huffington Post stated that "In addition to sporting pastel cornrows, [Kesha] wore an outfit that could only be described as ... interesting...her light pink corset under a plaid shirt, [along with] denim hot [daisy dukes] paired with white thigh-high stockings evokes a Christina Aguilera in her "Your Body" video, meets James Franco in "Spring Breakers" vibe". Kesha was also wearing huge white platform sneakers and huge gold rimmed glasses as well as large golden heart-shaped earrings. One of the photos showed her kissing a mystery bearded male on set of the video. She also tweeted the following: "Just wait until you see what these super sweet biker dudes are doing in my video". PopCrush stated that "Clearly, Kesha, who is quite pretty, is going for the dork look, like Katy Perry did in her ‘Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)’ video. But instead of a headgear-and-braces-wearing nerd, she’s more of a gangsta geek". Kesha's cat is also expected to make an appearance in the video. The music video was released on May 28, 2013 and was uploaded in her YouTube Vevo account in May 29, 2013.

Critical reception

During their entire critique of Warrior, Billboard said "Crazy Kids" displayed Kesha at "her most take-it-or-leave it" and called the beats grimy. Considering her vocals on "Crazy Kids" as some of the singer's best, Billboard called the chorus a "sing-a-long".

Critics were generally unfavorable when reviewing will.i.am's addition to the song. Spin's Mark Hogan gave a negative review of the addition, stating that will.i.am's verse delivers "cheap crassness," but praised Kesha's solo version, stating that her "charisma is enough for you to keep from flipping the dial." Fans of Kesha were critical towards the addition of will.i.am, and The Honesty Hour ran an article stating that the original was "fine" without the additional verse, but that will.i.am can "only help the song" commercially.

Track listing

• Digital download

1. "Crazy Kids" (featuring will.i.am) — 3:49

• Digital download

1. "Crazy Kids" (featuring Juicy J) — 3:49

• CD single

1. "Crazy Kids" (featuring will.i.am) (Squeaky Clean Radio Edit) — 3:49
2. "Crazy Kids" (featuring will.i.am) (Radio Edit) — 3:49
3. "Crazy Kids" (Album version) — 3:49

Chart performance

Chart (2013)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)	32
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)	58
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)	12
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)	14
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)	47
Invalid chart entered Germany2	69
Ireland (IRMA)	14
Lebanon (Lebanese Top 20)	14
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)	32
South Korea (GAON)	4
Turkey (Virgin Radio Turkey)	2
UK Singles (OCC)	35
US Billboard Hot 100	59
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)	25
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)	50

Release history

Country	Date	Format	Version
United States	April 29, 2013	Contemporary Hit Radio	will.i.am remix
	April 30, 2013	Digital download
Australia	May 2, 2013	Contemporary Hit radio
United States	May 7, 2013	Rhythmic radio
	May 21, 2013	Rhythmic crossover radio	Juicy J Remix
		Digital download
United Kingdom	July 7, 2013	Digital Download	Will.i.am