Music Review: Kesha "Tik Tok"

Kesha

Tik Tok

Album: Animal

Year: 2009

           Kesha parties every day in the hungover “Tik Tok.”

            Stumbling synths open the single, setting a wasted tone.  Her phone beeps as she dries her hair off with a towel. It’s yet another notification from Facebook. Three of her friends liked her photo she posted from last night. Several others have commented on it. She returns a couple of voicemails. A guitarist from a local band (that recently became famous) lets her know he’s going to be in town. The owner of popular club she frequents asks her how she’s doing. To her friends, she’s might as well as be a celebrity. She has connections to get into the newest club. Around the city, she usually runs into someone she knows. She opens the medicine cabinet and reaches for the flask of Jack Daniels. She pours it into the toothpaste and shakes it. The whiskey slides down her tongue, tingling her throat. She wipes her mouth and puts on her glasses. She makes sure her apartment is locked and walks to her parking spot.  (“Wake up in the morning feeling like P Diddy (Hey, what up girl?)/Grab my glasses, I'm out the door, I'm gonna hit this city (Let's go)/Before I leave brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack/'Cuz when I leave for the night I ain't coming back.”)

             In the pre-chorus, she’s att the salon with her best friend. They discuss which nail color and cut to choose. Her pedicurist asks her where she’s hanging out tonight. She tells her she hasn’t made a firm commitment yet to anything. Once she gets home, she takes out every dressy top out of her closet. She answers her phone, flirting with some guys and returns to figure out what to wear. After matching her favorite dressy top with a couple skirts, she decided to pair it with a orange jeans. From the shelf in her room, she picks out a Peaches CD. Her intercom buzzes and she shouts for her friend to come up, as she puts her heels with her hand and holding the button with the other. She intends to get as free drinks from guys as she can tonight. (“I'm talking pedicures on our toes toes/Tryin’ on all our clothes clothes/Boys blowin’up our phones phones/Drop top and, playin' our favorite CD's/Pullin' up to the parties/Tryna get a little bit tipsy.”)

             In the chorus, they are at the club dancing. She vows to stay up until5 amand watch the sunrise as they leave.  Time continues to go on but inside the club, it’s frozen. There, it’s alwaysmidnight. (“Don't stop, make it pop/DJ blow my speakers up/Tonight, I'ma fight/'Til we see the sun light/Tik tok, on the clock/But the party don't stop, no/Don't stop, make it pop/

DJ blow my speakers up/Tonight, I'ma fight/'Til we see the sun light/Tik tok, on the clock/But the party don't stop.)

             She doesn’t really concern herself with much. At home, though, her refrigerator is loaded with every kind of beer. Her money is already spent. It’s bought whatever liquor she needed and the rest was for rent. Nonetheless, the owner of the club is a close friend of hers and she was able to get in without a cover charge. A crowd guys are starting to hover around their table. They must have noticed she was talking to the owner and some musicians in the VIP area. However, it’s the good-looking guys, rock star types in tight leather pants who get their attention. (“Ain't got a care in the world, but got plenty of beer/Ain't got no money in my pocket, but I'm already here/And now the dudes are lining up 'cause they hear we got swagger/But we kick 'em to the curb unless they look like Mick Jagger.”)

            In the pre-chorus, they dance low to the floor. Meanwhile, the guys grab their butts. However, if they start squeezing too hard, they slap them hard across the face. They will continue until the bars closes or if anyone hears sirens from a cop car. (“I'm talkin' everybody getting crunk crunk/Boys try to touch my junk junk, gonna smack ‘em if he gettin' too drunk drunk/Now, now we goin' 'til they kick us out out/Or the police shut us down down/Police shut us down down/Po Po shut us (down.”)

                The chorus is sung again.

              In the bridge, the DJ has been playing her favorite songs all night. She puts hand up, trying to reach the notes. She grabs her friend’s arm and raises it in the air. She begins to talk about how awesome the DJ is.. He just understands her so well, unlike the people she meets every day. Their connection is transcendent.  She exclaims she’s the most well-respected party girl. Her friend grins and tells her she’s cut off. (“You build me up/You break me down/My heart, it pounds/Yeah you got me/With my hands up/You got me now/You got that sound/Yeah you got me/You build me up/You break me down/My heart, it pounds/Yeah you got me/With my hands up/Put your hands up/Put your hands up up up up up up/Now the party don't start 'til I walk in.”)

               The chorus is sung once more to close the single.

            Kesha’s crude vocals, well-traveled through the bridges and tunnels, chews the cap  off the bottle of liquor and spits it out. Wherever it lands, that’s where it’ll stay. Although she’s popular in her social circle, she’s actually far behind in pop culture.

She considers herself a celebrity among her friends, comparing her life to a faded rapper’s, likely her only frame of reference.

       However, P. Diddy’s cameo, which both feeds into her delusion and approves of the ridiculousness, is an awesome touch. He’s casual and nonchalant, singling her out. They are best friends for life. Even though it’s totally in her mind.            

           The campy “Tik Tok” has a permenant spot, fully equipped with all the amenities, at Yellowstone Park.