Rich, White, Straight Men

"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.

"Rich, White, Straight Men"
Promotional single by Kesha
ReleasedJune 8, 2019 (2019-06-08)
Recorded2019
GenrePop
Length3:13
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Crichton
Audio video
"Rich, White, Straight Men" on YouTube

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][14] 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."[15] "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."[16] 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."[17] Hollywood Life's Brandy Robidoux adjective the track "controversial".[18]

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."[19] The Federalist's Emily Jashinsky had a similar response.[12]

Credits and personnel

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

Release history
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various June 8, 2019
[10][20]
gollark: I use the osmarks.tk™ compute cluster, yes.
gollark: Every time I unironically wrote C or code at C's level of abstraction it was utterly.
gollark: No, do not.
gollark: acidified.
gollark: It is, however, possible for you to use it.

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. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  2. 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. 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. 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. "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. Jashinsky, Emily (June 24, 2019). "Kesha's 'Rich, White, Straight Men' Tells Exactly Who The Left Despises". The Federalist. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  13. Murphy, Sarah (June 4, 2019). "Kesha Calls Out "Rich, White, Straight, Men" on New Song". Exclaim!. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  14. Daly, Rhian (June 4, 2019). "Listen to Kesha's theatrical new song, 'Rich, White, Straight, Men'". NME. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  15. Yuam, Valerie (June 6, 2019). "Kesha releases sarcastic new song, 'Rich, White, Straight, Men' – listen". Bandwagon. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  16. Garza, Frida (June 3, 2019). "Kesha Imagines a World Without Rich, White, Straight Men". Jezebel. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  17. Michael, Michael Love (June 4, 2019). "Kesha's New Song Skewers the Patriarchy". Paper. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  18. 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.
  19. Fry, Madeline (5 June 2019). "In 'Rich, White, Straight Men,' Kesha gets political ... and boring". Washington Examiner. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  20. "Rich, White, Straight Men - Single by Kesha". Apple Music. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
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