Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Kesha released her third studio album, “Rainbow,” a brilliant, colorful mix of genres and self-empowerment.This is her first album since 2012. Her musical silence was due to grueling legal battles with music producer Dr. Luke, whom she claimed physically, mentally and emotionally abused her. “Rainbow” deals with her life after trauma, how she let go and found power within herself to not be negatively impacted by her past.
The first single released was “Praying,” which quickly hit radios and topped the Billboard charts. The song shows off her vocal ability, which could never be heard in her older music, like “Tik Tok.” The song is raw. The lyrics sound as though they come from within, her voice does not sound filtered and the instruments do not overpower Kesha. In “Praying,” Kesha has found peace and has overcome a lot of the things she has been struggling with.
Similar to “Praying,” in theme and genre is, “Rainbow.” The album’s namesake is a beautiful instrument-oriented piece, featuring piano, harmonica, cello, violin and more. The song was written while she was still in rehab. She shows the importance of holding on to life and seeing the colors and finding beauty in dark situations.
Kesha does not fear to flip from genre to genre in the “Rainbow.” “Let ‘Em Talk” and “Boogie Feet” are rock songs both featuring the band Eagles of Death Metal. We get glimpses of the old Kesha, or Ke$ha, with fun, fearless, dancing vibes. The old Ke$ha may have had a dollar sign in her name, but this new Kesha is worth a whole lot more. The lyrics are soaked in empowerment; She is strong, she is shameless and she is free.
Country is another genre that Kesha played with and took on well. “Hunt You Down” sharpens Kesha’s edgy feel with lyrics like, “Boy….I love you so much….Don’t make me kill you..” It can remind people of her younger self, like in “Cannibal” and the lyric “I eat boys up, breakfast and lunch.” “Old Flames (Can’t Hold A Candle To You)” brings Kesha back to her roots: Her hometown of Nashville, TN. The song was written by her mother and features Dolly Parton, a classic country sensation.
The shortest song on the album, at 2:08, is “Godzilla.” It is a simple song about love. It differs from the majority of the songs about empowerment and is about an unconventional romance. Who said empowered women can’t love? The sweet lyrics bring out yet another layer of Kesha not seen before. “Godzilla” may not be the highlight of the album but could be considered the highlight of the heart.
“Rainbow” is a rainbow; with each genre and song another color. Kesha mixes different music together and creates a new sound unlike no other artist. She truly is, as she calls herself in one of the songs, “a mother-f**king woman.”
Photo provide by becky Sullivan via Flickr
