Amarlis Vazquez
25 November 2019
ENGL 21001
Essay #3
Tragic Events Influencing Media; Kesha’s story
During many years on media history sexual assault and harassment have become very prevalent as the years go on. Artist and actors, he become more open to speaking about their sexual abuse in different form of art. Artists such as Kesha have used their music to tell their story of sexual abuse and raise awareness of this issue.
Kesha is an American singer/songwriter. At the age of 18, she was singed to Kemosabe Records. This record label is owned by Sony Music Entertainment. She had huge successes with songs she wrote for other artists and songs she recorded herself. “Broke the record in the United States for the highest sales week for a single, with 610,000 digital downloads sold in a single week, the highest ever by a female artist since digital download tracking began in 2003.“ (Ke$ha Sets Female). She had done so well for herself and had surprised everyone in the music industry. She made a name for herself. Kesha began to have disputes with Dr. Luke, her producer, in 2014. Kesha had claimed plenty of allegations against Dr. Luke. She argued that was sexually, physically, verbally, and emotionally abusive. He was causing emotional distress, discrimination, and violated laws in business practice. Dr. Luke denial all allegations. In 2016, all of Kesha’s claims against Dr. Luke was dismissed. She then dropped all the charges because it was stunting “If I were being totally honest, I had moments, because I didn’t know where I was going or what I was going to do,” (Kesha Talks About). Kesha said that the song was wishing everyone can heal and got passed the past. The lyrics can be interpreted to be words about Dr. Luke and their relationship. “While she never directly addresses Dr. Luke, his abuse, or her legal struggles, Kesha was candid about the realities of hopelessness and depression she experienced over the last few years. She wasn’t afraid to be real about her pain, but she also talked about what it was like to start to heal.” (Is Kesha’s song). Most people who listen to the song thing of the issues Kesha had dealt with which obviously goes to Dr. Luke. “This song is about coming to feel empathy for someone else even if they hurt you or scare you. It’s a song about learning to be proud of the person you are even during low moments when you feel alone. It’s also about hoping everyone, even someone who hurt you, can heal.”. (Kesha Fights Back). Kesha wants people to understand that healing is key and by healing, you need to understand your pain. The lyrics speak out about forgiveness and moving on from the issues and becoming something bigger.
The audience to the song is those who ever experienced being let down. Anyone who has ever felt that they couldn’t do anything. Kesha explains in the song that she is finally free of all her troubles and she is stronger. Those who listen to the song will feel that power and the healing that Kesha felt. If someone relates to the issues Kesha has dealt with, they will feel even more empowered by the lyrics. The lyrics are about finding peace when you’re hopeless.
The genre of this text is a song. I think this type of genre is perfect to bring awareness of the negative parts of the music industry and sexual harassment. Especially since Kesha is a singer, this was a perfect way to vent and put her feelings out there rather than just write a post. In a negative aspect, those who don’t like the melody or beat of the song, may not want to hear the lyrics. However, the song, “Praying”, had a good response and many listened to her message. The musical genre of the song is a pop ballad. It had features of gospel and soul. This type of genre is good for the message she wanted to conceive because if the song was rock and very fast, her message might’ve been looked over. The tempo and lack of instruments made her vocals and lyrics come out clear.
Kesha released a music video to the song “Praying” the same month she published the song. The opening of the video is a monologue that has themes of isolation. She questions as to why she’s been abandoned by everyone around her. After the monologue you see Kesha floating on a piece of garbage, stranded in the ocean. This relates to isolation the connection of the monologue to the way she feels. She seems detached and abandoned while she floats in the water. The video remains black and white which shows that she feels lifeless. The camera gets close to her palm tattoo of the planet Saturn. Some say that Saturn represents rebirth and starting anew. The camera then zooms into her eye and the video is now color. Kesha is somewhere new and there is so much mess surrounding her. This is supposed to represent her thoughts. Kesha walks by television screens with words like, “too hot for tv”, “men”, “blah”. These words represent media and entertainment industry. In the next scene she is painting her face in war paint. This is foreshadowing the difficulties she’s going to have to face in the future. The next scene, Kesha is dressed like an angel playing while playing the piano. This can represent how music can help people. Music was a part of her healing process. Kesha than rays to a cross. This refers to the monologue in the beginning, when she was begging God for a sign. The camera then zooms back out of her eye and she is still floating in the ocean. She slightly moves which represents she is slowly getting stronger and realizing she can get better. Throughout the rest of the video they go back and forth between Kesha in the colorful world and Kesha in the black and white world. The next scenes Kesha is enclosed with net traps. This represents that she feels trapped and feeling of not being able to be free of her issues. In the next scenes Kesha is being chased by men with pig heads. They never catch her, and she runs to a mountain like sculpture that reads, “God is love”. She could run away from the pigs, who can represent media, materialism, and the music industry, because of music, love, and faith. In the next black and white scene, a colorful bird appears next to her face. This is her sign from god that she asked for in the monologue. This causes her to move even more. In the next colorful scenes, she is either singing passionately or destroying the words on the television screens with a bat. The next scene, Kesha is touching a whale in the ocean. Whales represent creativity and knowledge of life and death. Then what was once black and white became colorful. Who she used to be is no longer there, and she now stronger so she can face any other obstacles coming her way.
Kesha’s lyrics have themes of strength and bravery. It is obvious that she is speaking to someone in her lyrics. In the first verse, she sings “Well, you almost had me fooled Told me that I was nothing without you Oh, but after everything you’ve done I can thank you for how strong I have become”. The person she is speaking to (assuming Dr.Luke) had told her that she is nothing without them but she’s realized that it’s not true and that she is her own person. After all the bad things this person has done, she has become stronger and she thanks them. In the chorus, she sings, “I hope you’re somewhere praying, praying I hope your soul is changing, changing I hope you find your peace Falling on your knees praying”. After everything bad this person has done, she hopes that he realizes it and is trying to change. She wants him to become a better person but he needs to actually try. In the bridge, she sings, “Oh, sometimes, I pray for you at night Someday, maybe you’ll see the light Oh, some say, in life, you’re gonna get what you give But some things, only God can forgive”. Kesha prays for this person and hopes that he goes onto a better path. With the line “Only God can forgive”, it shows that Kesha may not forgive him for a few things, but what matters most is that God can forgive him.
Creating music to bring awareness to issues have been such a positive outcome.
Is text accurate. People create lyrics that will bring the audiences attention. The Black-Eyed Peas wrote the song, “Where is the love” due to the shocking news of 9/11. They used pop culture to make a political statement. “But if you only have love for your own race Then you only leave space to discriminate” (8 Protest Songs). This shows that Black-Eyed Peas are trying to tell the audience that you had to start accepting other races other than your own and peace will occur. “Successful viral marketing campaigns are comprised of an engaging message that involves imagination, fun and intrigue, encourages ease of use and visibility, targets credible sources, and leverages combinations of technology.” (Controlled infection). This goes along with the way that the artists portray the message in a video. This way of spreading awareness and sending a message can be really affective because there are chances that the song will get popular which will reach to many.
The message Kesha is trying to spread is extremely important. Sexual harassment in the music industry can continue to happen if isn’t taken seriously. If people are not aware that things happen to celebrities as well, things will just continue.” Their stories of healing centered on the role of “moving on” with their lives, which included aspects of cognitive reframing and empowerment. Reliance on belief and value systems, safety measures, and social support, despite continuing psychological and physical symptomatology, enabled the moving-on process.” (Healing After Torture). People who have been tortured both mentally and physically need a lot of care. They need to properly understand that they went through a difficult obstacle, but they can overcome it. Kesha’s message is to heal yourself in order to be stronger is very significant. The message can resonate in so many people’s hearts. Understanding you pain will allow you to move on and love yourself.
Word Count: 1753
Works Cited
Brooks, Dave. “Billboard Business.” “Ke$Ha Sets Female Download Record”, http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/news/e3id839769e9efdcc3a016054e8f40e084f.
Dobele, Angela. “Controlled Infection! Spreading the Brand Message through Viral Marketing.” Business Horizons, vol. 48, no. 2, 2005, pp. 143–149., doi:10.1016/j.bushor.2004.10.011.
Isakson, Brian L. “Healing After Torture.” Qualitative Health Research, vol. 23, no. 6, 2013, pp. 749–761., doi:10.1177/1049732313482048.
Kesha. “Kesha Fights Back in Her New Single, ‘Praying.’” Kesha Fights Back in Her New Single, “Praying”, Lenny Letter, 30 May 2018, https://www.lennyletter.com/story/kesha-fights-back-in-her-new-single-praying.
“Kesha Is Talking About Her Suicidal Thoughts So You Can Too.” The Mighty, 26 Nov. 2019, https://themighty.com/2017/07/kesha-suicidal-thoughts-praying-sirius-xm/.
Ross, Danny. “8 Protest Songs Since 2000 That Inspired Change (All The Way To The Bank).” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 31 July 2018, https://www.forbes.com/sites/dannyross1/2017/01/30/8-protest-songs-since-2000-that-inspired-change-all-the-way-to-the-bank/#159892451715.
Trombetta, Sadie. “Is Kesha’s Song ‘Praying’ about Dr. Luke? Here’s What We Know about Her Powerful Single.” HelloGiggles, 28 Jan. 2018, https://hellogiggles.com/news/kesha-praying-about-dr-luke/.
