
Please Stop Allowing Men to Mansplain Feminist Music
An honest review of Kesha’s rawest album yet
I have literally never reviewed an album, certainly never for money or recognition. But when I ran across Variety’s extremely condescending review of Rainbow, Kesha’s long awaited album, I could not help be bothered by a few things:
- The link to said review is literally album-review-kesha-exorcises-demons-on-rainbow-but-the-party-songs-bring-the-charm
- The author, a white man (of course), hardly mentions the allegations of rape and abuse against Kesha’s former producer, Dr. Luke
- Dr. Luke is “tagged” and Kesha’s tag is misspelled as“Kes$ha” (ugh)
The author basically says that the album is not nuance enough for his taste, and prefers Kesha just keep her mouth shut.
“Not that you’d want her to push past her pain prematurely, but when it comes to the writing part, Kesha just happens to still be cleverer at playing koo-koo than guru.”
What a disservice to this piece of art, carefully created from pain and joy. Rainbow is showing us parts of Kesha, allowing us into her world for a moment. She is telling us her story, and even if it might not be relatable to every fucking one (talking to you, straight white guy) or quite reach Shakespearean levels of poetry, we are talking about pop music here. You should not expect lyrical genius on every track.
BASTARDS
Starting Rainbow off on a mellow note, “Bastards” begins the album slow with an acoustic guitar and adding country-esque vibes after the first chorus. The track intensifies as Kesha sings essential life advice:
Don’t let the bastards get you down, oh no
Don’t let the assholes wear you out
Don’t let the mean girls take the crown
Don’t let the scumbags screw you ‘round
Don’t let the bastards take you down
It makes a great introduction to the next, more upbeat track, with the same fuck what they think mentality.
LET ’EM TALK
featuring Eagles of Death Metal
“Let ’Em Talk” is one of my favorite songs on the album. It’s kind of part of a running theme: basically it’s about those same bastards that try to bring you down, but it’s about not caring, letting go of control and letting them do whatever they’re gonna do. You can’t stop them from talking about you, so just let them talk and while they’re talking about you, just dance through it and laugh about it. — Kesha, NPR
Get ready to shake your ass and dance, a must for every Kesha album. “Let ’Em Talk” is filled with profanity and electric guitar.
Boys and girls, everybody talks about you
Loves and hates, they don’t really know about you
I’ve decided all the haters everywhere can suck my dick
WOMAN
Be prepared for loads of fucks you have come to expect from Kesha. In this anthem, declaring herself a woman with such a catchy tune that you cannot help but dance along. Similar to Beyonce’s iconic “Run The World (Girls)” except, somehow, with entirely more sass. This is definitely a song to blast in your car with the windows down on a summer night.
I’m a motherfucking woman, baby, that’s right
Though the emotional ballads on this record are powerful, I am so glad that Kesha included songs like “Woman” and “Boogie Feet”. She is showing that she has grown as an artist, but that she is still the same person. Not everybody is going to love this song or album but that is life. Personally, I think it is lit AF.
HYMN
Rainbow touches on the idea of spirituality and religion, bringing it to the forefront in this track. “Hymn” is an easy-going anthem about being yourself and never apologizing for it — pretty much the consistent theme of the entire album — but also coming to terms with the idea that spirituality and being a good person does not necessarily revolve around being flawless.
After all we’ve been through, no, we won’t stand and salute
So we just ride, we just cruise,
Livin’ like there’s nothing left to lose
If we die before we wake, who we are is no mistake
This is just the way we’re made
You know what I mean, you on the teamThis is a hymn for the hymnless, kids with no religion
Yeah, we keep on sinning, yeah, we keep on singing
Flying down the highway, backseat of the Hyundai
Pull it to the front, let it run, we don’t valet
Sorry if you’re starstruck, blame it on the stardust
I know that I’m perfect, even though I’m fucked up
Hymn for the hymnless, don’t need no forgiveness
’Cause if there’s a heaven, don’t care if we get in
PRAYING
The first single released, and a glorious ballad written with the help of mega talented Ryan Lewis. Upon listening to this song, I feel like many people finally woke up to the fact that Kesha might actually be talented — much more so than Dr. Luke allowed her to be.
Some things only God can forgive.
If you have ever wanted to hurt yourself, ever struggled with the urge to bring yourself harm — whether it is not eating, or cutting, or pulling out your hair, or abusing drugs — the intention is usually the same. But self-hatred is typically taught, ingrained into your brain when trusted people make you question your worth, your abilities. They try to change you, saying that who you are is not enough.
“Praying” is a meditation for those who have experienced this pain. A simple piano track which highlights Kesha’s amazing vocal range, it shows so much maturity and growth — musically and emotionally. It is about forgiving yourself and the people who caused you pain, or at least trying to find your way to forgiveness.
You brought the flames and you put me through hell
I had to learn how to fight for myself
And we both know all the truth I could tell
I’ll just say this is “I wish you farewell”I hope you’re somewhere prayin’, prayin’
I hope your soul is changin’, changin’
I hope you find your peace
Falling on your knees, prayin’
LEARN TO LET GO
“Learn to Let Go” tells the story of being able to move past the bullshit that happens. Kesha shows us that it is possible. Something that so many people struggle with on a daily basis.
I think it’s time to practice what I preach
Exorcise the demons inside me
Rainbow is an album filled with songs for broken people struggling to embrace the pain and still find meaning in it all.
FINDING YOU
So this song’s about my belief that we have soul groups and when I die I want to find the people I love in the next lifetime. One lifetime is not enough when you love someone so deeply it hurts.
- Kesha, NPR
When the guitar track first starts, it will be hard to convince you that it is the beginning of a Kesha song. “Finding You” is a song about love and longing. Rainbow’s main theme of contemplating our current existence and what happens after we die, strike an interesting chord on this track, showing us a new side of Kesha. While it might not be mainstreamed like “Praying”, this song might be the best song on the entire album.
I wanna lay in your arms when the world is burning
I wanna dig in your heart, take away your hurting
Kiss me and tell me I’m fine and forget we’re dying
I wanna feel you tonight like the very first time
Let’s run away, baby, drive straight into the moonlight
Kiss me and tell me you’re mine like no one’s watching
Like time is stoppingI know forever don’t exist
But after this life, I’ll find you in the next
So when I say “forever, “ it’s the goddamn truth
I’ll keep finding, finding you
RAINBOW
“Rainbow” was the first song I wrote for this record. I was in rehab for my eating disorder. I was sitting on the floor, and I had begged the head of the rehab to let me have a keyboard for one hour a day, and finally she relented. And for that one hour a day I played and wrote “Rainbow.” “Rainbow” was just my promise, my letter to myself that things would get better. It was my mantra, because at the end of a storm comes a rainbow.
- Kesha, NPR
The eighth song on the album — an ode to The Beach Boys “Only God Knows” from Pet Sounds— is justifiably the title track. A powerful ballad about being a little fucked up, but finding the beauty in the colors around us. This will be an anthem for broken people all over the world; may they sing along and stop feeling so alone.
It should also be mentioned how wonderfully Rainbow allowed Kesha to showcase her vocal skills, beyond the silly, dance song typically expected of her. Her transformation has been tremendous, but she somehow still remains true to herself.
I’d forgot how to daydream
So consumed with the wrong things
But in the dark, I realized this life is short
And deep down, I’m still a child
Playful eyes, wide and wild
I can’t lose hope,
What’s left of my heart’s still made of goldAnd I know that I’m still fucked up
But aren’t we all, my love?
Darling, our scars make us who we are
So when the winds are howling strong
And you think you can’t go on,
Hold tight, sweetheart
HUNT YOU DOWN
So that’s what “Hunt You Down” is — it’s kind of my feminist, tongue-in-cheek response to all the outlaw cowboy songs from the male perspective about cheating women.
- Kesha, NPR
Kesha finds her country roots in this amazing western parody jams featuring yodeling and the iconic lyrics she is known (and loved) for, reminiscent of “Stephan” from her first LP, Animal.
Example:
“Baby, I love you so much. Don’t make me kill you.”
Her voice is powerful, playful, and has a very Kacey Musgraves vibe. Which makes me think — those two should collaborate ASAP. Please.
BOOGIE FEET
featuring Eagles of Death Metal
Kesha is notorious for her borderline outrageous lyrics (i.e. “wake up in the morning feeling like P. Diddy”) paired with way-too catchy beats. This song will have you dancing around in the living room to the crazy beat, singing the simple lyrics into a fake mic.
Some people, seem mean and nasty
But I think they’re just unhappy
The body needs a good shakin’
To let the brain fill up with the good vibrations
BOOTS
This track is fun but seems somewhat out of place on Rainbow. Though, I assume it ties into Kesha finding her country roots, I cannot help but wonder how it fits in with the other songs. I doubt this one with get much attention or radio time, but they all can’t be mega hits right?
Kesha does seem to have a long-standing obsession with cowboy boots, as evidenced from her track “Boots and Boys” on Animal — maybe take a listen to it instead.
OLD FLAMES (CAN’T HOLD A CANDLE TO YOU)
featuring Dolly Parton
Yes, Dolly Fucking Parton lends her vocals for this cover of the classic country song that was actually written by Kesha’s own mother, Febe Sebert. Previously covered by legends like Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard, the duet definitely did the song justice.
Kesha released a version of this song on her 2013 Deconstructed EP, which is also worth a listen. However, nothing compares to having the Queen of Country Music on your record, and they both kill this classic.
GODZILLA
Also written by Kesha’s mom, this is a whimsical song that will more than likely grow on you. It is silly, but I feel that Rainbow has a cohesive theme and story, though at times it can seem repetitive. Tracks like Godzilla are needed for comedic relief, and I think it really tells us that Kesha will always have her silly side — and we love her for that.
SPACESHIP
I hope that when we die, that I will just travel up into space and find my soul friends and we’ll just float out in the ether in space together. And at the end of the record, it’s like the spaceship is taking off back into space. I feel like maybe, because I feel weird down here, maybe I’ll feel at home finally back up there.
- Kesha, NPR
Spaceship wraps up the album, showing us a vulnerable side to Kesha and complimenting the country roots she has found. With a hint of bluegrass twang, this song describes finding closure in death and the infinite beyond. I think this goes to show that we are all looking for the same things, searching for the same answers to the same questions.
The song is a perfect closing to Rainbow. A beautiful album, full of songs you can dance or cry to — whatever your mood may be.
As I leave this Earth
and sail into the infinite cosmic universe,
the wars, the triumphs, the beauty,
and the bloodshed, the ocean of human endeavor,
it all grows quiet, insignificant.
I’m nothing more than recycled stardust
and borrowed energy, born from a rock,
spinning in the aether.
I watch my life backwards
and forwards and I feel free.
Nothing is real, love is everything, and I know nothing.
Themes: Space, Connection, Finding Meaning, Spirituality, Fire, Country Roots, Dance
Other great Kesha songs:
Check out the full track-by-track interview with Kesha did with NPR.

