Rainbow (Kesha album)
Rainbow | ||||
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![]() Explicit album cover | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | August 11, 2017 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer |
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Kesha chronology | ||||
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Singles from Rainbow | ||||
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Rainbow is the upcoming third studio album by American singer Kesha. It is set to be released on August 11, 2017, by Kemosabe and RCA Records. On July 5, 2017, Kesha announced via her Instagram account that she was releasing a single, titled "Praying". The song was released alongside its accompanying music video and the album's pre-order.
Background and recording
Writing for Rainbow began during and after Kesha spent time in a rehab clinic in January 2014 and lasted until October 2016. Kesha also appeared during Zedd's slot at the 2016 Coachella Festival to perform "True Colors", a track from Zedd's second studio album. The appearance marked her first high-profile public performance since her ongoing legal battle with Dr. Luke.[2] A studio version of the song was released as a single on April 29, 2016.[3] In the summer of 2016, Kesha embarked on her third world tour, the Kesha and the Creepies: Fuck the World Tour. The tour commenced on July 23, 2016, in Las Vegas and ended on October 29, 2016, in Maine. The tour included various covers of songs and several rock and country reworks of her own hit singles.[4][5] During this time, it was revealed that Kesha had recorded 22 songs on her own and had given them to her label.[6][7] It was later announced that Kesha is in the process of recording a third studio album.[8][9]
Composition
Kesha has said that Rainbow was inspired by her "true" musical influences: Iggy Pop, T. Rex, Dolly Parton, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, James Brown, and Sweet.[10] The album contains a combination of both mournful cuts and upbeat dance tracks such as "Woman" and "Bastards". The album opens with the country music-infused cut "Bastards", which, as Katie Baillie of the newspaper Metro analyzed, is "about not letting the bullies drag you down." "Woman" was inspired by a "pussy grabbing comment" Donald Trump made, which angered Kesha and made her yell "I'm a motherfucking woman!" This line is included throughout the song. Kesha wrote the title track on a toy keyboard while in rehab. It opens only with vocals and basic chords played on a piano.[11] The first line Kesha sings is, "Got back the stars in my eyes, I see the magic inside of me." Baillie writes that the track "builds in both sound an emotion [...] as a full live orchestra kicks in." Kesha was inspired to write "Learn to Let Go" by one of her friends who went through "the worst childhood imaginable." The track is also based on Kesha's struggles while making Rainbow.[11]
Promotion
Kesha plans to perform in Japan at the Summer Sonic Festival on two dates: August 19 in Osaka and August 20 in Tokyo.[12] Following this, Kesha will stage a solo concert in Nagoya on August 21.[13]
In September, Kesha is set to perform at the 2017 KAABOO and iHeartRadio festivals.[14]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Entertainment Weekly | A–[15] |
Consequence of Sound | B[16] |
NME | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Slant Magazine | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Baillie, who reviewed Rainbow a month before its release, called it a "powerful, emotional and strongly feminist record that is worth the 4-year wait." She wrote that "The vulnerability of some songs will bring a tear to your eye, while others are so close to Kesha's old sound it'll have dance floors filled everywhere in no time." She described the album as "a roller coaster of emotions, making you weep at the sadness of Rainbow and fist-pumping the air with Woman, and it was so worth the wait."[11]
Track listing
Adapted from Amazon.com and Apple Music[20]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Bastards" | 3:51 | ||
2. | "Let 'em Talk" (featuring Eagles of Death Metal) | 3:05 | ||
3. | "Woman" (featuring The Dap-Kings Horns) |
| 3:16 | |
4. | "Hymn" |
| Reed | 3:25 |
5. | "Praying" |
| Lewis | 3:50 |
6. | "Learn to Let Go" |
|
| 3:37 |
7. | "Finding You" | 2:52 | ||
8. | "Rainbow" | 3:38 | ||
9. | "Hunt You Down" | 3:17 | ||
10. | "Boogie Feet" (featuring Eagles of Death Metal) | 2:53 | ||
11. | "Boots" | 3:03 | ||
12. | "Old Flames (Can't Hold a Candle to You)" (featuring Dolly Parton) |
| 4:26 | |
13. | "Godzilla" | 2:08 | ||
14. | "Spaceship" | 5:15 | ||
Total length: | 48:36 |
No. | Title | Length |
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15. | "Emotional" | 3:44 |
Total length: | 52:20 |
Release history
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label | Edition(s) | Ref. |
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Various | August 11, 2017 |
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[20] | ||
Japan | August 16, 2017 | CD | Sony | Bonus track | [22] |
References
- ^ "Rainbow on Google Play". Google Play. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
- ^ Kreps, Daniel (April 17, 2016). "See Kesha Perform 'True Colors' With Zedd at Coachella". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
- ^ Lindner, Emilee (April 27, 2016). "Zedd Announces Joint Project with Kesha". Fuse. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- ^ "Kesha Announces Kesha and The Creepies: The Fuck the World Tour". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
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(help) - ^ Spanos, Brittnany (July 19, 2016). "Kesha Announces Tour, 'Creepy' New Music Project". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
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(help) - ^ McHenry, Jackson (October 26, 2016). "Kesha Has Already Written and Recorded 22 New Songs That Are Just Waiting to Be Released; Dr. Luke Claims 'She Exiled Herself'". Vulture. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
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(help) - ^ McDermott, Maeve (October 26, 2016). "Kesha wrote a 22-song album – and can't release it". USA Today. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
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(help) - ^ Ungerman, Alex (September 13, 2016). "Kesha Sparks Taylor Swift Collaboration Rumors With Cryptic Photo -- See What She Said!". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
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(help) - ^ Denham, Jess (September 13, 2016). "Taylor Swift and Kesha rumoured to be collaborating after mysterious Instagram post". The Independent. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
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(help) - ^ Reed, Ryan (July 6, 2017). "Read Kesha's Poignant Essay About Celebratory New Song 'Woman'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
- ^ a b c Baillie, Katie (July 6, 2017). "Kesha's new album Rainbow is a powerful, emotional and strongly feminist record that is worth the 4-year wait". Metro. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
- ^ "サマーソニック2017出演決定" (in Japanese). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. February 6, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
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suggested) (help) - ^ "ケシャ、名古屋単独公演が決定!" (in Japanese). rockin’on holdings inc. June 23, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
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suggested) (help) - ^ "iHeartRadio Music Festival 2017 Lineup Revealed: The Weeknd, Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus & More".
- ^ Renner Brown, Eric (August 7, 2017). "Kesha's comeback album Rainbow is an artistic triumph". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ^ https://consequenceofsound.net/2017/08/album-review-kesha-rainbow/
- ^ http://www.nme.com/reviews/album/kesha-rainbow-album-review
- ^ http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/kesha-rainbow-album-battle-cry-of-many-colors-w496733
- ^ Cinquemani, Sal (August 7, 2017). "Kesha: Rainbow". Slant Magazine. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ^ a b Various citations concerning the August 11, 2017, release of Rainbow:
- "Amazon.com: Rainbow [Clean]: Kesha". United States: Amazon.com. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
- "Rainbow (Explicit) by Kesha on Apple Music". iTunes Store. United Kingdom: Apple Inc. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
- "Rainbow (Explicit) by Kesha on Apple Music". iTunes Store. United States: Apple Inc. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
- "Rainbow (Clean) by Kesha on Apple Music". iTunes Store. United States: Apple Inc. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
- ^ "【CD】レインボー<初回限定仕様> Album". Tower Records Japan. Japan. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
- ^ "Rainbow : KESHA ローチケHMV - SICP-5573". Japan: Roachke HMV. Retrieved July 31, 2017.