Kesha Recalls Thinking 'TiK ToK' Was 'Too Dumb' to Release. Why 'Dumber' Was Ultimately 'Better' for the Hit Song
Kesha's "TiK ToK" probably isn't going to win a Pulitzer Prize anytime soon — but that's part of its charm.
In a new interview on The Jennifer Hudson Show, the Grammy-nominated pop star opened up about making her 2009 debut single "TiK ToK" and initially thinking the song was "too dumb" to release.
Hudson, 43, brought up the song and asked Kesha, 38, if she knew it'd become a hit. "No, oh my God," exclaimed the "Joyride" singer of "TiK ToK," which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has since been certified 12-times platinum by the RIAA.
"When I was writing 'TiK ToK,' it was weird, because the dumber it got, the better it got," explained Kesha. "Which was confusing, because I like to think of myself as a fairly intelligent human being. But it just got dumber and dumber and better and better."
"When I listened to the final product," she added, "I was like, 'This is too dumb.' And it's like 1.5 billion streams at this point."
is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more!
The songwriting process was quite different from how Kesha learned to craft lyrics from her mom, Pebe Sebert, who found success from composing the country song "Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You," which Dolly Parton recorded and released in 1980.
"My mom's a songwriter, and she taught me how to write songs since I was little. I would go to the studio with her and fall asleep in the guitar case," she recalled. "I would come home from school, and I'd be like, 'Mom, this boy was mean to me,' and she'd be like, 'Write a song about it.' It was, like, how we dealt with everything as a family."
Whether she's writing "dumb" lyrics or drawing from real-life experiences, Kesha gets to make every music-related decision herself these days as the CEO of her own label, Kesha Records, through which her new album . (PERIOD) will be released on July 4.
"This is the first album that I have legal rights to my own voice," said the "Yippee-Ki-Yay" artist, who was previously signed to RCA Records. "I'm really excited for the world to hear this because I've been in control of everything. I've written every song, co-produced everything. It's my own record label, it's been all of my vision, all of my words, a lot of hard work, a lot of joy."
Kesha described the album as "really coming back home to myself and feeling what freedom really looks like, feels like, sounds like."
"Boy Crazy," the next single from . (PERIOD), comes out Friday, May 16.
Read the original article on People
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Vogue
25 minutes ago
- Vogue
Kylie Jenner Gets Real About Her Breast Augmentation—Down To The Implant Size
Of all the things I expected to read on the internet today, it wasn't Kylie Jenner detailing (down to the implant size) her breast augmentation. The plastic surgery transparency was all in response to a video posted by YouTuber and TikTok user @rachleary, pleading for the youngest KarJen sibling to share her surgery details. 'Please can you just tell me/us/anyone that's interested, what it is you asked for when you had your boobs done?' Leary asked, explaining that she didn't expect Jenner to share the surgeon but would love to know what exactly the surgeon did. 'I feel like you've been quite open about having your boobs done,' Leary continues, outlining that she 'd like to know about the style of implant ('teardrop' or 'high profile') but also the placement (under or over the muscle). 'Can you just share what it is you have had?' she pleads, caveating that she feels that it's important not to speculate and would prefer to ask Jenner directly. TikTok content This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from. In a stunning turn of events, Jenner responded, commenting: '445 cc, moderate profile, half under the muscle!!!!! silicone!!! garth fisher!!! hope this helps lol.' Had Kris Jenner not shared just this month who the surgeon behind her recent facelift was, the transparency would seem unimaginable. Confirmed by People, New York-based aesthetic and reconstructive surgeon Dr Steven Levine performed Jenner's recently debuted work. This isn't the first time Jenner (Kylie) has been open about her breast augmentation, though. In 2023, during an episode of The Kardashians, she admitted to the surgery during a conversation with a friend: 'I had beautiful breasts [before giving birth to her first child, Stormi]. Natural tits. Just gorgeous. Perfect size, perfect everything,' she said. 'And I just wish, obviously, I never got them done to begin with.' Whatever your perspective on sharing details of plastic surgery, there is something heartwarming about Jenner sharing her own experience, especially considering how desperately Leary wanted to know. Celebrities, (maybe) they're just like us.
Newsweek
26 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Dog Raised by Cats Has Internet in Stitches: '10/10 Loaf'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A pit-bull named Opie has baffled social media users with his ability to act exactly like the cats who raised him, in a viral video that has received over 30.8 million views and 6.7 million likes on TikTok so far. The hilarious clip, shared on Saturday under the username @justopiethings, shows the pup effortlessly curling into a loaf, squeezing into tiny cat beds, and displaying behaviors similar to those of his feline siblings. "Do yo want to see what a pit-bull raised by cats looks like?" the poster writes in the clip. "Part cat part ... Maine coon?" she continues in the caption. Dogs and cats can not only live together peacefully, but they can also form a close bond and become the best of friends. However, that is not always the case, animal charity Dog Trust explains on its website. Some cats are nervous around dogs, who sometimes have a predatory drive so strong that it may compromise the welfare of the cat. Usually, when dogs get overly excited around cats and can't be calmed down, it isn't safe for them to live together. A cat and a dog should be introduced slowly and mindfully, starting with scent swapping and then gradually removing physical barriers when you finally know that they are comfortable together, and don't pose a risk to one another. While most dogs can be trained to live with cats, with the help of a specialized animal behaviorist if needed, some dog breeds are more suited for life with a feline than others. Burns Court Veterinary Care explains that because of their friendly manners, dogs like Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, and beagles are the breeds that get along best with cats. Cat breeds that are most likely to accept dogs into their life include Maine coons, rag-dolls, and Siamese. A stock image shows a pit-bull mix looking over his shoulder at the camera. A stock image shows a pit-bull mix looking over his shoulder at the camera. getty images Newsweek reached out to @justopiethings for comment via TikTok comments. We could not verify the details of the case. The video received over 19,000 comments from amused users. One user, Mariahargrove5, commented: "The way his facial expressions show how much he is judging you, just like a cat, is absolute perfection." Jess, the brazillionaire said: "My favorite animals are cats raised by dogs or dogs raised by cats and if you don't agree, you're wrong." T added: "Tell your dog I said pspspspsps," while Sharp Lives said: "10/10 Loaf." Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Newsweek
30 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Woman on Vacation Asks Gen Z and X for Same Photo—Can You Tell Who Took It?
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A woman visiting Singapore has gone viral after asking both Gen Z and Gen X passersby to take a photo of her and her boyfriend—only to discover a hilarious difference in results that sparked a generational debate online. Ruby Doyle (@rubsjean), 22, from Melbourne, Australia, posed for a photo with her partner Luke Oates, 23, at Lantern, the rooftop bar at the Fullerton Hotel in Singapore, on May 28. In a TikTok video that has since garnered 15,000 likes and almost 535,000 views, Doyle compares the two photos: the first, taken by a Gen Z, is a polished high-angle shot that captures the dramatic cityscape in the background—believed to be Marina Bay Sands. The second, snapped by a Gen X stranger, is a close-up of the couple with little regard for composition or setting. "I was not expecting the post to garner as much attention as it did and I also wasn't expecting to create a generational war in the comments," Doyle told Newsweek. The Gen Z snap of Ruby and Luke versus the Gen X one. The Gen Z snap of Ruby and Luke versus the Gen X one. @rubsjean/@rubsjean "When we were posing for the photo being taken by the Gen X stranger my partner and I knew we weren't going to like it as she was holding it very low and only snapped the one pic," she added. The clip prompted hundreds of TikTok users to weigh in, sharing their own experiences and preferences when it comes to capturing a moment. Gen Z typically includes people born between 1997 and 2012, while Gen X refers to those born between 1965 and 1980. Generational differences in photography styles are often chalked up to the eras in which each group came of age. Gen Z, having grown up with smartphones and social media, often prioritize aesthetics, angles, and background. In contrast, Gen X—raised on film cameras and early digital devices—may approach photography with a more functional mindset. Doyle said she often offers to take photos for others when she sees them trying to take selfies, ensuring they have plenty of shots to choose from. "We took a photo of them in return making sure to get the background and take a few photos for them. We were happy when we found some younger people to take our photo as we thought they would have a similar eye as us," she explained. "When we compared the two photo it was funny to see the subtle differences in photography style so that's why I made the post. It also reminded me of my graduation when a girl stopped and asked my dad (Gen X) to take a photo of her and her family. My mom and I both laughed as we knew he is not very good with technology and jumped in to take over," she added. TikTok users flooded the comments with their takes. "First one is better, you can see the building," said one user. "Should have asked a millennial I think," quipped another. "I am constantly telling my mom to lift my phone higher and higher why do they go so low down," said Tess. "None of them, as a millennial I make two: one full-length and two cropped close up to the waist," said Vlad. "Gen X and I'd never take a photo like the second one—I take pride in my photos and take about 5 for people of all different angles," said another. "Lol, the Gen X photo is better tho," said another user. "First one is for the scenery while the second is like a fit of the day," another noted. "Both wrong. You should get both the buildings in the background and the full body without the feet cut off," someone else weighed in. "And neither is a photography masterpiece I'm afraid," added one critic. Do you have any viral videos or pictures that you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@ and they could appear on our site.
