(no subject)
In light of the fact that smash sensation Ke$ha's song Tik Tok recently became the seventh best selling song in digital history (source: Wikipedia), I thought I would take a deeper look at the song itself.
Tik Tok by Ke$ha
Clearly, the purposeful misspelling of tick tock is a reference to the problems with the American education system. Right off the bat, Ke$ha provides stinging social commentary.
Wake up in the morning feeling like P Diddy
P.Diddy, as we all know, is African-American; she is telling us that she is empathetic to the trials that black people have to go through on a daily basis.
Grab my glasses, I'm out the door, I'm gonna hit this city
Corrective lenses are often used to treat myopia, which is the inability to focus on more than one thing at a time. "I'm gonna hit this city" is clearly about the terrorist attacks on 9/11. America's inability to see that we weren't as invincible as we thought we were resulted in many, many horrible deaths.
Before I leave, brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack
In the 19th century, many drugs that are demonized today were thought to have legitimate curative effects. Brushing one's teeth with whiskey probably wouldn't have seemed too outlandish. Ke$ha definitely feels it's worth noting how far we've come as a society.
'Cause when I leave for the night, I ain't coming back
The world is a dangerous place and it's very possible that when you exit your home it may be the last time. Accepting that as a reality can be frightening, but being paralyzed by the fear is not healthy. Ke$ha embraces that she might not live through the night, but does not allow those dark thoughts to hold her back.
I'm talking pedicure on our toes, toes
Everybody knows that "pedicure" is slang for protesting. Being on one's toes at a rally makes being struck in the face with a can of tear gas or arrested by the police a lot less likely.
Trying on all our clothes, clothes
America, as a country, wears many hats. We try to police the world, be a partner to many countries, setting universal policy. Ke$ha believes America wears far too many hats. Clearly she is an isolationist.
Boys blowing up our phones, phones
Cell phones are often used as a triggering device for homemade explosives.
Drop-topping, playing our favorite CDs
Dropping one's top is a euphemism for exposing one's breasts in public, which can lead to sexual encounters with strange men that result in Cervical Diseases (CDs).
Pulling up to the parties
"Pulling up" is a little known phrase used to snorting cocaine...
Trying to get a little bit tipsy
"Tipsy" is a southern California slang term used to represent regret after drug binges.
Don't stop, make it pop
DJ, blow my speakers up
She is daring Mahmoud AhmaDineJad (see what she did there?) to attack the Politicians of Washington (her "speakers") with bombs.
Tonight, I'mma fight
'Til we see the sunlight
The most perfect martial arts philosophies originated in China and Japan, the East, where the sun rises.
Tick tock on the clock
But the party don't stop, no
The ticking clock here is her heart, and despite the harsh world, she continues to live.
Ain't got a care in world, but got plenty of beer
Ain't got no money in my pocket, but I'm already here
This, by far, is the most scathing indictment of the Tea Party movement that I've ever heard.
And now, the dudes are lining up cause they hear we got swagger
But we kick em to the curb unless they look like Mick Jagger
Ke$ha only wants politicians who are experienced. While she is not racist and clearly does not agree with the Tea Baggers, she sees Obama as an inexperienced leader, popular only because of his good looks.
I'm talking about everybody getting crunk, crunk
Boys tryin' to touch my junk, junk
Gonna smack him if he getting too drunk, drunk
It's surprising that, as a young person, Ke$ha would be so strongly against alcohol abuse, but these lyrics definitely illustrate her hatred of men who overindulge.
Now, now, we go until they kick us out, out
Or the police shut us down, down
Police shut us down, down
Po-po shut us
Again, Ke$ha extols the virtues of activism in a responsible democracy.
DJ, you build me up
You break me down
My heart, it pounds
Yeah, you got me
With my hands up
You got me now
You got that sound
Yeah, you got me
DJ, as we know, is Ahmadinejad. She feels trapped by Iran's possession of nuclear weapons.
Now, the party don't start 'til I walk in
Ke$ha is an interesting political animal. She is staunchly against America's military involvement in other countries, but she is far from Liberal. She's a Moderate/Republican and she feels that what the Republican party needs is the energy of her youthful generation.
Tik Tok by Ke$ha
Clearly, the purposeful misspelling of tick tock is a reference to the problems with the American education system. Right off the bat, Ke$ha provides stinging social commentary.
Wake up in the morning feeling like P Diddy
P.Diddy, as we all know, is African-American; she is telling us that she is empathetic to the trials that black people have to go through on a daily basis.
Grab my glasses, I'm out the door, I'm gonna hit this city
Corrective lenses are often used to treat myopia, which is the inability to focus on more than one thing at a time. "I'm gonna hit this city" is clearly about the terrorist attacks on 9/11. America's inability to see that we weren't as invincible as we thought we were resulted in many, many horrible deaths.
Before I leave, brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack
In the 19th century, many drugs that are demonized today were thought to have legitimate curative effects. Brushing one's teeth with whiskey probably wouldn't have seemed too outlandish. Ke$ha definitely feels it's worth noting how far we've come as a society.
'Cause when I leave for the night, I ain't coming back
The world is a dangerous place and it's very possible that when you exit your home it may be the last time. Accepting that as a reality can be frightening, but being paralyzed by the fear is not healthy. Ke$ha embraces that she might not live through the night, but does not allow those dark thoughts to hold her back.
I'm talking pedicure on our toes, toes
Everybody knows that "pedicure" is slang for protesting. Being on one's toes at a rally makes being struck in the face with a can of tear gas or arrested by the police a lot less likely.
Trying on all our clothes, clothes
America, as a country, wears many hats. We try to police the world, be a partner to many countries, setting universal policy. Ke$ha believes America wears far too many hats. Clearly she is an isolationist.
Boys blowing up our phones, phones
Cell phones are often used as a triggering device for homemade explosives.
Drop-topping, playing our favorite CDs
Dropping one's top is a euphemism for exposing one's breasts in public, which can lead to sexual encounters with strange men that result in Cervical Diseases (CDs).
Pulling up to the parties
"Pulling up" is a little known phrase used to snorting cocaine...
Trying to get a little bit tipsy
"Tipsy" is a southern California slang term used to represent regret after drug binges.
Don't stop, make it pop
DJ, blow my speakers up
She is daring Mahmoud AhmaDineJad (see what she did there?) to attack the Politicians of Washington (her "speakers") with bombs.
Tonight, I'mma fight
'Til we see the sunlight
The most perfect martial arts philosophies originated in China and Japan, the East, where the sun rises.
Tick tock on the clock
But the party don't stop, no
The ticking clock here is her heart, and despite the harsh world, she continues to live.
Ain't got a care in world, but got plenty of beer
Ain't got no money in my pocket, but I'm already here
This, by far, is the most scathing indictment of the Tea Party movement that I've ever heard.
And now, the dudes are lining up cause they hear we got swagger
But we kick em to the curb unless they look like Mick Jagger
Ke$ha only wants politicians who are experienced. While she is not racist and clearly does not agree with the Tea Baggers, she sees Obama as an inexperienced leader, popular only because of his good looks.
I'm talking about everybody getting crunk, crunk
Boys tryin' to touch my junk, junk
Gonna smack him if he getting too drunk, drunk
It's surprising that, as a young person, Ke$ha would be so strongly against alcohol abuse, but these lyrics definitely illustrate her hatred of men who overindulge.
Now, now, we go until they kick us out, out
Or the police shut us down, down
Police shut us down, down
Po-po shut us
Again, Ke$ha extols the virtues of activism in a responsible democracy.
DJ, you build me up
You break me down
My heart, it pounds
Yeah, you got me
With my hands up
You got me now
You got that sound
Yeah, you got me
DJ, as we know, is Ahmadinejad. She feels trapped by Iran's possession of nuclear weapons.
Now, the party don't start 'til I walk in
Ke$ha is an interesting political animal. She is staunchly against America's military involvement in other countries, but she is far from Liberal. She's a Moderate/Republican and she feels that what the Republican party needs is the energy of her youthful generation.