Rich, White, Straight Men

Last updated
"Rich, White, Straight Men"
Kesha - Rich, White, Straight Men.png
Promotional single by Kesha
ReleasedJune 8, 2019 (2019-06-08)
Genre Pop
Length3:13
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Crichton
Audio video
"Rich, White, Straight Men" on YouTube

"Rich, White, Straight Men" is a song by American singer Kesha. It was written by the artist alongside Pebe Sebert, Wrabel, and Stuart Crichton, with production being handled by the latter. The song was surprisingly released to YouTube on June 2, 2019, and later issued as a standalone single through Kemosabe and RCA Records on June 8. It received mixed reviews.

Contents

Release

"Rich, White, Straight Men" was surprisingly released to YouTube on June 2, 2019, unbeknownst to Kesha's record label RCA Records. [1] Six days later, it impacted online music stores and streaming platforms as a standalone single. [2] The song's artwork consists of a blurry photograph of Kesha giving the middle finger, an action she performs on loop in the accompanying video. [3] [4]

Composition

"Rich, White, Straight Men" is a punk rock influenced pop [5] [6] track with a carnival-esque atmosphere [7] [8] [9] that utilizes alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, flugelhorn, trumpet, trombone, and tuba. [10] It features the "sounds of coins hitting the ground and cashiers opening, a reference to the money-driven political climate." [11] A "power-drunk" male voice accompanies Kesha's singing; [2] [7] it rebutts the lyrics' progressive statements regarding free health care, free education, gender equality, reproductive rights, open borders, and same-sex marriage. [12] [13] Bandwagon's Valerie Yuam wrote that the song "places Kesha’s humorous side in the spotlight while still effectively delivering her core message" and is "a commentary on the current socio-political situation in the United States." [14] "Rich, White, Straight Men" was compared to the works of Danny Elfman and Brendon Urie. [2] The lullaby "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" is invoked in the lyrics "Twinkle, twinkle little star/How I wish the world was different/Where who you love and who you are/Was nobody’s fucking business". [5]

Critical response

Sam Van Pykeren of Mother Jones complimented the song's uniqueness and political tone, writing, "Kesha finally sheds the restraints of her recent work for the direct and literal, returning to what made her a star in the first place: excessiveness packaged in oddity." [2] Frida Garza of feminist website Jezebel also praised the song's lyrical and musical characteristics while affirming that "this song is unlike any other Kesha's ever released; [...] This is far from the perfectly manicured pop songs that were once her calling card." [15] At Paper , Michael Love Michael questioned the song's effectiveness against the political group it addresses, although he connected to its premise, commenting, "Toppling an oppressive and domineering patriarchy starts with that kind of rage. As it should be." [16] Hollywood Life 's Brandy Robidoux deemed the track "controversial". [17]

Writing for the conservative website Washington Examiner , Madeline Fry called the song "boring" and criticized Kesha's intention to "blame the ills of society on all white males." [18]

Credits and personnel

Credits organized in alphabetical order by surname and adapted from Tidal. [10]

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabelRef.
VariousJune 8, 2019

Related Research Articles

Hugh Moffatt is an American country singer and songwriter. In the 1970s and 1980s several artists made hits out of his songs. He has also released critically acclaimed albums of his own.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannibal (Kesha song)</span> 2010 promotional single by Kesha

"Cannibal" is a song by American recording artist and songwriter Kesha, from her first EP of the same name (2010). The song was written by Kesha alongside Pebe Sebert, Joshua Coleman and Mathieu Jomphe, with production completed by Ammo and Billboard. The song was released as a promotional single as part of the countdown to Kesha's EP Cannibal on November 9, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kesha</span> American singer and songwriter (born 1987)

Kesha Rose Sebert, known mononymously as Kesha, is an American singer and songwriter. In 2005, at age 18, she was signed to Kemosabe Records. Kesha's first major success came in early 2009 when she was featured on rapper Flo Rida's number-one single, "Right Round".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Your Love Is My Drug</span> 2010 single by Kesha

"Your Love Is My Drug" is a song by American singer-songwriter Kesha, taken from her debut studio album, Animal (2010). It was released as the album's third single on May 14, 2010. The song was written by Kesha and Pebe Sebert, with Ammo, who co-produced the song with Dr. Luke and Benny Blanco. "Your Love Is My Drug"'s initial writing took place during a plane ride. Described by Kesha as a "pretty happy" song with dark undertones, the song's inspiration came from Kesha's relationship with an ex-boyfriend. Written about the couple's codependency, the song compares their love for one another to a drug.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take It Off (Kesha song)</span> 2010 single by Kesha

"Take It Off" is a song by American recording artist and songwriter Kesha, from her debut album, Animal. It was written by Kesha Sebert, Lukasz Gottwald and Claude Kelly and it was produced by Dr. Luke with vocal editing done by Emily Wright. It was released as the fourth and final single from the album on July 13, 2010. "Take It Off"'s initial writing consisted of Kesha attending a drag show and becoming turned on by drag queens taking their clothing off. The song is an upbeat song that uses heavy amounts of auto tune and utilizes an electro infused beat, driven by a melody known as the Arabian riff.

<i>Warrior</i> (Kesha album) 2012 studio album by Kesha

Warrior is the second studio album by American singer and songwriter Kesha, released on November 30, 2012, by Kemosabe and RCA Records. Its music incorporates a wide range of genres, including pop, EDM, rock, punk, rap, country, and folk. Kesha described the album as more personal than her previous material in addition to mentioning it was her attempt at reviving the rock genre, calling it a "cock pop" record. Its theme is said to be magic.

<i>I Am the Dance Commander + I Command You to Dance: The Remix Album</i> 2011 remix album by Kesha

I Am the Dance Commander + I Command You to Dance: The Remix Album is the first remix album by American recording artist Kesha, released on March 18, 2011. Announced on February 23, 2011, the album contains nine remixes, including featured appearances from André 3000 and 3OH!3, and only one previously unreleased track, "Fuck Him He's a DJ". According to Kesha, the album's release is intended to be a play on her party girl image; her image is commonly perceived as her being drunk when in actuality her lifestyle is about enjoying life and having fun no matter the circumstances.

"Dinosaur" is a song by American recording artist and songwriter Kesha, taken from her debut studio album Animal (2010). The song was written by Kesha in collaboration with Max Martin and Shellback; the latter two also produced the song, while all three are responsible for the instrumentation. The song's conception stems from an encounter Kesha had with an older man that had been hitting on her, which she compared to a prehistoric dinosaur. The lyrics discuss an older man that is attempting to hit on a younger female, which is ultimately rejected. The song received generally negative reviews from music critics.

"Stephen" is a song by American recording artist and songwriter Kesha, taken from her debut studio album, Animal (2010). The song was written by Kesha in collaboration with David Gamson, Pebe Sebert, and Oliver Leiber. It was produced by Gamson with additional production by Leiber. The song's instrumentation was by Gamson, with the exception of the accordion, which was played by Kesha. Kesha wrote the song about a boy that she had been stalking and who had refused to call the singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pebe Sebert</span> American singer, songwriter

Rosemary Patricia "Pebe" Sebert is an American singer and songwriter from Brentwood, Tennessee, and the mother of singer and songwriter Kesha. Sebert has co-written number-one hits for Dolly Parton, Pitbull, and Kesha, her daughter. Sebert and Kesha have written 11 published songs together. The songs Sebert wrote for other artists have combined sales of over 8 million copies in the United States alone. In 2013, Sebert appeared as a regular on reality show Kesha: My Crazy Beautiful Life, which starred Kesha and was filmed by her son Lagan.

<i>Kesha: My Crazy Beautiful Life</i> American TV series or program

Kesha: My Crazy Beautiful Life is an American documentary television series about the life of singer Kesha. It aired on MTV for two seasons from April 23 to December 18, 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrabel</span> American singer, songwriter, musician

Stephen Wrabel, known mononymously as Wrabel, is an American singer, songwriter and musician based in Los Angeles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Claire Rachel Wilkinson</span> American singer

Claire Rachel Wilkinson, known by her stage name 7Chariot and previously known as Clairity, is an American singer and songwriter.

<i>Kesha v. Dr. Luke</i> Series of civil lawsuits

Kesha v. Dr. Luke refers to a series of lawsuits and countersuits between the singer Kesha Rose Sebert (Kesha) and the music producer Lukasz Sebastian Gottwald. Sebert filed a civil suit against Gottwald in October 2014 for infliction of emotional distress, sex-based hate crimes and employment discrimination. Gottwald filed a lawsuit in New York Supreme Court in which he sued Sebert and her mother, Rosemary Patricia "Pebe" Sebert, for defamation and breach of contract.

<i>Rainbow</i> (Kesha album) 2017 studio album by Kesha

Rainbow is the third studio album by American singer and songwriter Kesha. It was released on August 11, 2017, by Kemosabe and RCA Records. Primarily a pop record, Rainbow incorporates elements of pop rock, glam rock, neo soul, and country pop. Its lyrical themes range from letting go of the past, finding forgiveness within oneself for past mistakes, self-worth, and female empowerment. Kesha assumed an integral role in the album's production and collaborated with several producers, including Ricky Reed, Drew Pearson, Ben Folds, and her mother Pebe Sebert.

<i>High Road</i> (Kesha album) 2020 studio album by Kesha

High Road is the fourth studio album by American singer and songwriter Kesha. It was released on January 31, 2020, through RCA and Kemosabe Records. Announced in late 2019, the album saw the singer once again taking over the role of sole executive producer, following Rainbow (2017). She collaborated with various songwriters and record producers to achieve her desired sonority, combining elements of her career beginnings and Rainbow. Musically, High Road is primarily a pop, country and classic rock record, although it encompasses a variety of genres, including dance-pop, folk, electronic pop, synthpop, trip hop, electro, EDM, trap, dream pop, hip hop, and gospel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Resentment (Kesha song)</span> 2019 single by Kesha featuring Brian Wilson, Sturgill Simpson, and Wrabel

"Resentment" is a song by American singer Kesha featuring Brian Wilson, Sturgill Simpson, and Wrabel. It was released as the third single from her fourth studio album, High Road, on December 12, 2019, in Australia only.

"Fine Line" is a song by American singer-songwriter Kesha from her fifth studio album, Gag Order (2023). The song was released as a dual single alongside "Eat the Acid" on April 28, 2023, as the lead single, ahead of the album's full release on May 19, 2023. An official lyric video was released the same day. The song was written by Kesha, her mother Pebe Sebert, and Stint and produced by Rick Rubin, Stuart Crichton, and Jason Lader. A visualizer was released on May 3, 2023.

"Eat the Acid" is a song by American singer-songwriter Kesha from her fifth studio album, Gag Order (2023). It was released as the lead single for the album, as a double A-side alongside "Fine Line", on April 28, 2023, ahead of the album's full release on May 19, 2023. An accompanying visualizer was released the same day. The song was written by Kesha, her mother Pebe Sebert, and Stuart Crichton.

References

  1. Kesha (June 4, 2019). "hey guys sooo i hear you!! that you want my new song 'Rich, White, Straight Men' on streaming services...not sure how to do that personally...hmmmm - maybe @rcarecords will help me if they're not too mad bout me leaking it😂 💰🤵what else do they expect from me at this point lol👽☠️👻🌈💖🦄". Instagram . Facebook, Inc. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Pykeren, Sam Van (June 7, 2019). "Kesha Gets Her Old Weird Sparkle Back With Her New Single "Rich, White, Straight, Men"". Mother Jones . Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  3. Besanvalle, James (June 4, 2019). "Kesha's new song takes powerful aim at 'Rich, White, Straight, Men'". Gay Star News. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  4. Frazin, Rachel (June 5, 2019). "Kesha in new track: 'What if rich, straight, white men didn't rule the world anymore?'". The Hill. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  5. 1 2 Zemler, Emily (June 4, 2019). "Kesha Rids the World of 'Rich, White, Straight Men' on New Track". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  6. Whitehead, Mat (June 4, 2019). "'What If Rich, White, Straight, Men Didn't Rule The World Anymore?': Kesha Releases New Single". 10 daily . Ten Network Holdings . Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  7. 1 2 Kiefer, Halle (June 3, 2019). "New Kesha Song Asks: What if 'Rich, White, Straight, Men' Didn't Rule the World?". Vulture. New York . Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  8. Alston, Trey (June 4, 2019). "Kesha Paints A Picture Of A World Without 'Rich, White, Straight Men'". MTV News . Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  9. Daramola, Israel (June 4, 2019). "Kesha - "Rich, White, Straight, Men": Listen". Spin . Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 "Rich, White, Straight Men / Kesha". Tidal . Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  11. Aniftos, Rania (3 June 2019). "Kesha Envisions a Government Without 'Rich, White, Straight Men' in New Song". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  12. Murphy, Sarah (June 4, 2019). "Kesha Calls Out "Rich, White, Straight, Men" on New Song". Exclaim! . Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  13. Daly, Rhian (June 4, 2019). "Listen to Kesha's theatrical new song, 'Rich, White, Straight, Men'". NME . Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  14. Yuam, Valerie (June 6, 2019). "Kesha releases sarcastic new song, 'Rich, White, Straight, Men' – listen". Bandwagon. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  15. Garza, Frida (June 3, 2019). "Kesha Imagines a World Without Rich, White, Straight Men". Jezebel . Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  16. Michael, Michael Love (June 4, 2019). "Kesha's New Song Skewers the Patriarchy". Paper . Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  17. Robidoux, Brandy (June 3, 2019). "Kesha Drops Surprise, Politically-Charged Anthem 'Rich, White, Straight, Men' — Listen". Hollywood Life . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  18. Fry, Madeline (5 June 2019). "In 'Rich, White, Straight Men,' Kesha gets political ... and boring". Washington Examiner . Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  19. "Rich, White, Straight Men - Single by Kesha". Apple Music . Retrieved April 1, 2020.