First Posted: 4/27/2015
It’s been a minute since we have heard new music on the radio airwaves from Kesha. The wait could be over sooner than later as the songstress returned to the stage this month for the first time since 2013.
The pop star entered rehab – allegedly for an eating disorder – in January 2014. By March 2014, a rep confirmed to ABC News that she had left the facility. The following May, Kesha performed at the Billboard Music Awards alongside ABC “Rising Star” cohorts Josh Groban, Ludacris and Brad Paisley.
Kesha, born Kesha Rose Sebert, went on to fulfill her role as coach/mentor on the ABC competition last summer. She also kept up appearances at various events, including some shows surrounding New York Fashion Week. I actually remember running in to her at a Yankees/Mets game in Queens two years ago. I was reminded of this recently as a quick Google News search of the artist brought up an article that showed the singer at Citi Field last week.
For what it’s worth, the Mets won both times.
Regardless, Kesha is in front of a live audience again – performing at a number of colleges and other one-off shows, including the University of Pennsylvania. Last Tuesday, the “TiK ToK” singer took the stage at Black Cat DC in our nation’s capital. After the show, Kesha posted a video on her Instagram page, covering Nick Jonas’ “Jealous.” Her acoustic medley from the concert also included hits from Big Sean and Chris Brown.
But the fact that a pop star who once played amphitheaters and arenas was headlining a 750-plus capacity indie rock venue proved enough for media fodder. The Atlantic, in an article titled “The Mystery of Kesha’s Comeback” asked, “Why was an ultra-famous pop star mounting her comeback in a tiny venue that usually hosts indie rock?”
Yahoo Music, equally curious, published a piece called “What’s Driving Kesha’s Under-the-Radar Comeback?” in which they ask, “Is this any way for one of the biggest pop stars of the 21st century to mount a comeback?”
“An an ultra-famous pop star” and “one of the biggest pop stars” jump out to me. Both articles seem to paint Kesha as if she is attempting to return to the plateau of a Katy Perry, Taylor Swift or Lady Gaga. Sure Sebert has gained a fair share of hit singles and airplay, but album sales and touring would suggest more of a contrast than a comparison to pop music’s heavyweights. In this light, it makes perfect sense for the artist to “return to her roots” with lucrative college dates and small, intimate performances.
As she sorts through a number of lawsuits, counter-suits and attempted dropped suits, it seems the only evident item in Kesha’s comeback is that she won’t reunite anytime soon with super-producer Dr. Luke, the man who signed her to a record deal.
But, in a world where the Mets currently have the best record in baseball, maybe we should just learn to never say never.
