Music Review: Kesha "Die Young"

Kesha

Die Young

Album: Warrior

Year: 2012

                       Kesha pretends her life is awesome in the cynical “Die Young.”

                   A driving guitar opens the single, setting a harsh tone. The chorus is first.  While dancing to her favorite song at the bar, a guy took her hand and took her in his arms. After the band’s set, they started talking and she finds out he abandoned his girlfriend to be with her. Disappointed that he’s not single and aware an ugly fight could happen, she decides it doesn’t matter. Within the last year, she has dealt with the death of a parent, a broken engagement and works at a job where feels stuck. Whatever. She doesn’t really care anymore. (“I hear your heart beat to the beat of the drums/Oh what a shame that you came here with someone/So while you're here in my arms/Let's make the most of the night like we're gonna die young/We're gonna die young/We're gonna die young/Let's make the most of the night like we're gonna die young.”)

         A rigid, electro beat buzzes for about ten seconds or so  before she repeats “let's make the most of the night like we're gonna die young.”

        In the first verse, she says they have so much to experience and feel. Time is limited and she wants to do it all. She’s gained a reputation for trying anything once. She drinks a lot and spends most of her time either at the bar or in random bedrooms. She catches the evil eye from the guy’s girlfriend and continues to dance with him. For a couple seconds on the floor, it’s as though her life has some meaning again. (“Young hearts, out our minds/Running 'til we outta time/Wild child's lookin' good/Living hard just like we should/Don't care whose watching when we tearing it up (You Know)/That magic that we got nobody can touch (For sure).”)

           In the pre-chorus, she says  the night wouldn’t be complete with some drama. She tells the guy she’s with that he’s in for an interesting evening (and morning).  They are going to enjoy every moment they can. (“Looking for some trouble tonight (yeah)/Take my hand, I'll show you the wild side/Like it's the last night of our lives (uh huh)/We'll keep dancing 'til we die.”)

       The chorus is sung again.

        It’s the “Mr. Afterdark” competition at the bar tonight. She watches the guys participate in the stripping portion of it. They are taking shots in between their turns. Meanwhile, the DJ is playing the latest remixes. She grabs the guy and kisses him straight on the lips. She can feel against her legs that he’s turned on by it and she drops her down to the floor. (“Young hunks, taking shots/Stripping down to dirty socks/Music up, gettin' hot/Kiss me, give me all you've got/It's pretty obvious that you've got a crush (you know)/
That magic in your pants, it's making me blush (for sure).”)

                 The pre-chorus is sung again.

                 The first part of the chorus is sung twice.

              The final part of the chorus ends the single. (“We're gonna die young/We're gonna die young/Let's make the most of the night like we're gonna die young.”)

       Kesha’s hard, resigned vocals are embittered and troubled. The excessive partying has become a way to numb her unending depression and avoid the emptiness which surrounds her.

    The nihilistic “Die Young” takes pleasure in its misery, lacking any spark of life.