Rich, White, Straight Men

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
"Rich, White, Straight Men"
Promotional single by Kesha
ReleasedJune 8, 2019 (2019-06-08)
GenrePop
Length3:13
Label
YouTube

"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. It received mixed reviews.

Release

"Rich, White, Straight Men" was surprisingly released to

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

free health care, free education, gender equality, reproductive rights, open borders, and same-sex marriage.[12][13] 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."[14] "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

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

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."[18]

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
  • streaming
[10][19]

References

  1. Facebook, Inc. Archived from the original
     on 2021-12-24. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c "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. ^ Murphy, Sarah (June 4, 2019). "Kesha Calls Out "Rich, White, Straight, Men" on New Song". Exclaim!. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  13. ^ Daly, Rhian (June 4, 2019). "Listen to Kesha's theatrical new song, 'Rich, White, Straight, Men'". NME. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  14. ^ Yuam, Valerie (June 6, 2019). "Kesha releases sarcastic new song, 'Rich, White, Straight, Men' – listen". Bandwagon. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  15. ^ Garza, Frida (June 3, 2019). "Kesha Imagines a World Without Rich, White, Straight Men". Jezebel. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  16. ^ Michael, Michael Love (June 4, 2019). "Kesha's New Song Skewers the Patriarchy". Paper. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ Fry, Madeline (5 June 2019). "In 'Rich, White, Straight Men,' Kesha gets political ... and boring". Washington Examiner. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  19. ^ "Rich, White, Straight Men - Single by Kesha". Apple Music. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
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