And just in the year that I find my way back to pop music and discover an addiction to karaoke, Kesha arises. How dismal that in a popular entertainment landscape that welcomes Lady Gaga and Rhianna, Cee Lo Green and Janelle Monae (and in Canada such bands as Finger Eleven, The Arkells, Hedley, and Down With Webster), a thing like Kesha could rise to prominence, and the critics dare to foretell her continued success and even dominance. I think that nothing original resides in that girl, and her lyrics and music sound derivative and empty-headed to me. I watched an interview with her recently, and my D. nailed it: "She is admitting on camera that she is using everyone to get what she wants, her producers, her mother (co-writer on one of her hits), her fans, and that won't matter at all: they will still buy her and listen to her." Her honesty in that interview -- "So they said, 'Be a pop star [instead of a country music singer/songwriter],' and I was like 'Okay'" -- was almost refreshing, if not a little disturbing, and reminded me that some [read "many"] people do only participate in the music business for the business, the monetary success, not for the joy of sharing their music with an adoring public. So, all right, that interview, while difficult to watch with her eye-sparkles and fake-messy hair, and lazy attitude (thinly disguising her all-consuming drive and ferocious work ethic to MAKE it in the business), and constant winking/sly-nodding at the camera (like, I'm so HOT, right? right?) made an iota of respect for her grow in my otherwise disdainful heart, but only for her as a performer, a commodity, a person who knew what she wanted and went after it with complete commitment, never for the her who purports to be a singer and a songwriter. And, I will never ever buy her stuff or listen to her songs with any joy. And I really really really hate to admit this, but at some point, after I've had one tequila shot too many, I may try this song at karaoke: Blah blah blah Enough of her, makes me feel a little dirty that I wasted so much time thinking about her and writing about her, and makes me want to only listen to Scandinavian pop music from now on, now those artists know how to make music: Jónsi Cardigans sing "Lovefool" and Roxette, of course:
