Praying (song)
"Praying" | ||||
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Single by Kesha | ||||
from the album Rainbow | ||||
Released | July 6, 2017 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 3:50 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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Kesha singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Praying" on YouTube |
"Praying" is a song by American singer and songwriter
"Praying" received universal acclaim from music critics, who praised Kesha's vocals while calling the song powerful and noting it as a departure from her previous efforts. Commentators offered conflicting interpretations of the song's message; some felt that "Praying" was about forgiveness, while others thought that Kesha displayed anger on the track. Commercially, "Praying" reached number six in Australia as well as the top 20 in Canada, Hungary and Scotland, and the top 30 in Ireland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It was also certified at least Platinum in the latter, Australia and Canada. "Praying" was nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.
An accompanying music video for "Praying" was directed by
Background and release
From July to October 2016, Kesha embarked on her third world tour, Kesha and the Creepies: Fuck the World Tour, where she performed various cover versions of songs and several rock and country reworkings of her own material.[2][3] During this time, the singer wrote multiple songs for what would become her third studio album Rainbow (2017).[4][5][6][7] Producer Ryan Lewis began working on the lyrics and production of "Praying" while he was on tour over a year before its release. He felt that the ballad would be suitable for a female artist, with his wife suggesting that Kesha should sing it. Lewis subsequently contacted the singer's management and Kesha later accepted the offer due to her fondness for his work with Macklemore, particularly admiring how their discography featured a mix of "fun" and politically progressive songs. Lewis came to Kesha with a "rough idea" for the song and encouraged her to do whatever she wanted on the track. When she belted out a whistle note, she surprised him; Lewis later said it was one of his favorite moments to occur in a studio. "Praying" was completed two days after Kesha began working on it. Lewis said that his ambitions when writing the song were to showcase the singer's vocal range and represent her as a person, eventually feeling that the finished track accomplished both goals.[8]
In a radio interview with Sirius XM, Kesha revealed that "Praying" deals with her past suicidal thoughts. On the same occasion, she said that she feels it is healthy to discuss such emotions, and that "[she] think[s] the beautiful part is that you hold onto hope [...] and you keep showing up for yourself."[9] Prior to its release, the singer premiered "Praying" and four other songs from Rainbow at a press playback in London. There, she expressed her feelings about the song, saying: "I've never been more excited about a piece of art I've ever done in my entire life. This is truly from the inside of my guts."[10] Kesha later announced the single's release in a video aimed at her fans.[11] In an accompanying letter posted to Lena Dunham's feminist blog Lenny Letter, she wrote about the meaning of the track: "I have channeled my feelings of severe hopelessness and depression, I've overcome obstacles, and I have found strength in myself even when it felt out of reach. I've found what I had thought was an unobtainable place of peace. This song is about coming to feel empathy for someone else even if they hurt you or scare you. It's a song about learning to be proud of the person you are even during low moments when you feel alone. It's also about hoping everyone, even someone who hurt you, can heal."[12]
Composition and lyrical interpretation
"Praying" is a
According to Kesha, "Praying" is "about hoping everyone, even someone who hurt you, can heal."[12] The song addresses a tormentor with the lyrics: "You brought the flames and you put me through hell/ I had to learn how to fight for myself/ And we both know all the truth I could tell/ I'll just say this: I wish you farewell."[19] The Atlantic's Kornhaber thought that the track's message was "love your enemies" and displayed "Christlike grace", further noting that Kesha did not exude invulnerability on "Praying" the way she did in some of her previous songs, like "Dinosaur" (2010).[23] Similarly, Eve Barlow of Variety said that Kesha "pushes through her demons and possesses a remarkable level of empathy and understanding" on the track.[25] Conversely, Pitchfork's Jillian Mapes felt that the song's sentiments were akin to "telling the person who ruined your life to 'take care' when you really mean 'fuck you,'"[26] while Billboard's Weiss interpreted the recording as a "coded threat that [Kesha] will no longer be silenced."[22] According to Tatiana Cirisano of the same publication, "While the chorus aims for reconciliation with an unnamed listener...there's still a flicker of anger in the singer's words, like in the lyric '...When I'm finished, they won't even know your name.'"[27]
Kesha has said that "Praying" "showcases [her] voice in a way [it] has never been showcased in [her] entire life."
Critical reception and accolades
"Praying" received universal acclaim from music critics,
Kesha's vocals and emotional delivery were also praised by reviewers. Eve Barlow of Variety commented that the song would "be enough to induce goosebumps in even the harshest of cynics."[25] Weiss of Billboard similarly commended the track, saying: "It would hard for even the biggest pop agnostic to not be rendered speechless by Kesha's new video and song 'Praying.'"[22] In a separate Billboard article, Gil Kaufman thought that the song was "pure ecstasy for your ear buds."[8] Time's Raisa Bruner called "Praying" "powerfully emotional", adding that "when she breaks out into a flawless whistle tone, it pretty much seals the deal: this new Kesha is stronger than ever, both as an artist and, seemingly, as a human."[33] The Atlantic praised it for being "deeply felt", and said that "Kesha's voice is powerful here—and more capable than people might expect".[23] William Ferrer of The Seattle Times said that "Praying" was "a bone-chilling must-listen," writing that "we're only one single into Rainbow...and I'm already certain her record is going to be one of the year's finest."[34] According to Sampson of The Guardian, "Praying" is "a full-on chest-thumping, foot-stamping inspirational ballad, and [Kesha's] voice sounds better than ever....and it's good enough to make you forgive her for 'Timber' [sic]."[24] Pitchfork's Jillian Mapes said that the song was "a powerful statement of resiliency, even if the resulting song's familiar piano melody sounds comparatively tepid." She favorably compared "Praying" to the works of Adele and Florence Welch.[26] Althea Legaspi and Elias Leight of Rolling Stone similarly called the track "triumphant" and "uplifting",[19] while Patrick Hosken of MTV deemed it "about as soul-baring as anything gets."[35] Tom Breihan of Stereogum opined that the recording was "grand and expansive".[36] The Singles Jukebox ranked "Praying" as the best song of 2017, writing: "The music nods at large-scale drama but, rather than letting the drum and piano echo into space, the thuds stay close to the ear, like Kesha's singing to her own heartbeat."[37] At the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, "Praying" was nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance.[38]
Commercial performance
"Praying" debuted at number four on
Music video
Background and development
The song's accompanying video, directed by Jonas Åkerlund, was released on July 6, 2017.[19][23] Kesha has described the experience of working with Åkerlund as "a dream come true" and said that the process of shooting the video was akin to a good, long therapy session.[28] The video was shot at Salvation Mountain, Niland, California, and the Salton Sea over the course of a single day. The outfits that the singer wore were inspired by the locations of the clip, as well as her fondness for vintage 1960s and 1970s clothing. Kesha and her stylist for the video, Samantha Burkhart, picked a rainbow dress for the singer to wear in the video, despite Åkerlund's concerns that the dress was too similar to that used for Beyoncé's "Hold Up" (2016) video. The director also wanted the singer to wear black angel wings in the video to make her appear "fucked-up", but Burkhart insisted that Kesha should wear white angel wings to emphasize her purity and beauty.[51] Kesha has said that the music video depicts her life metaphorically.[28] According to Burkhart, Kesha portrays a fallen angel who is "still very pure" in the clip.[51]
Synopsis
The video alternates between black-and-white and color,[19] while featuring title cards stylized to resemble Hindi script.[52] The video commences with a shot of Kesha inside of a coffin, flanked by a pair of men wearing suits and drooling pig masks with a neon cross in the background.[20] While inside of the casket, Kesha is seen wearing a nose ring, dark blue lipstick and a headpiece.[53] Following this, she appears on the surface of the open ocean lying in a rafter.[17] In a voice-over, she says: "Am I dead? Or is this one of those dreams? Those horrible dreams that seem like they last forever? If I am alive, why? If there is a God or whatever, something, somewhere, why have I been abandoned by everyone and everything I've ever known? I've ever loved? Stranded. What is the lesson? What is the point? God, give me a sign, or I have to give up. I can't do this anymore. Please just let me die. Being alive hurts too much."[15] In the clip, the singer plays the piano while wearing a crown of thorns, angel wings and what Christina Cauterucci of Slate described as "a scaly mermaid-looking suit". Later, Kesha is seen with an eye painted on her forehead as she prays at an altar before a neon cross,[52] while also chased by the men with pig masks.[20] A recurring scene in the video features a wall of television sets with messages such as "the television will not be revolutionized", "weapons of mass deception", "do not engage," and "you're too thin" painted on them in red, with Kesha eventually ravaging them.[52][54] Shots of her crying black tears are interspersed throughout the main plot of the visual.[54] At the song's climax, Kesha throws around colored powder in a manner similar to what is done during Holi, a Hindu festival which celebrates the victory of good over evil. The clip ends with the singer walking on water like Jesus[52] and text that says "the beginning".[23]
Reception and analysis
Weiss of Billboard praised the video, highlighting it as the best work Kesha released in her career. He found the religious imagery in the video reminiscent of Madonna's "
Vox's Framke felt that the video referenced Beyoncé's visual album
Live performances
Kesha performed "Praying" live during her
Track listing
- Digital download – The Remixes[63]
- "Praying" (Frank Walker Remix) – 2:59
- "Praying" (Oliver Nelson Remix) – 3:57
- "Praying" (Tim Legend Remix) – 3:38
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Rainbow.[21]
Recording
- Engineered at The Village (Los Angeles, California), Studios 301 (Alexandria, Australia) and Robert Lang Studios (Shoreline, Washington)
- Mixed at Mirrorball Studios (North Hollywood, Los Angeles)
Personnel
- Kesha Sebert– writing, lead vocals
- Ben Abraham – writing
- Justin Armstrong – engineering
- Milo Eubank - engineering
- Heather Borror – violins
- Ingmar Carlson – assistant engineering
- Jon Castelli – engineering
- Billy Cenrenaro – engineering
- Hannah Crofts – backing vocals
- Rebecca Chung Filice – cello
- Christopher Foerstel – viola
- Antonia Gauci – engineering
- Andrew Joslyn – writing, strings, violins
- Andrew Kam – violins
- Ryan Lewis – writing, production
- Sarah Malmstorm – violins
- Seth May-Patterson – viola
- Georgia Mooney – backing vocals
- Ryan Nasci – engineering assistance
- Garrett Overcash – violins
- Elana Stone – backing vocals
- All Our Exes Live in Texas – backing vocals
- Eli Weinberger – cello
- Katherine Wighton – backing vocals
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[91] | 4× Platinum | 280,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada)[50] | 4× Platinum | 320,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[92] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[44] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000‡ / 428,120[43] |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Region | Date | Format | Version | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Various | July 6, 2017 | Digital download | Original | Kemosabe | [15] |
Italy | July 14, 2017 | Radio airplay | Sony | [93] | |
United States | July 18, 2017 | Contemporary hit radio |
|
[94] | |
Various | September 29, 2017 | Digital download | The remixes | Kemosabe | [95] |
United States | October 16, 2017 | Adult contemporary radio | Original |
|
[96] |
See also
References
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{{cite AV media notes}}
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