A Ke$ha Guide Thanks to Her 'SNL' Gig

By Mike Hess Posted Apr 18th 2010 08:46AM

Since chart-topping songstress Ke$ha took the stage of 'Saturday Night Live' as the musical guest, we figured it would be insightful for our readers to revisit our interview with the 22-year-old girl from Nashville, who went from writing for Miley Cyrus to being a top-selling star herself. And that's all while touting a hard-partying, Diddy-esque lifestyle. "I can handle myself and I can handle my liquor. And I'm not an idiot. I don't do drugs and don't push the limits of partying to the point of dying or injury," Ke$ha told PopEater back in January. More on Ke$ha's image and ambitions after the jump!

There's an article out saying you might be the Lady Gaga of 2010. Is that a comparison you like? You seem much more Blondie to me.
Any time you want to compare me to a successful woman, I'll totally take that. It's a good thing. I like to think of myself more aligned with the likes of Madonna meets David Bowie meets the Beastie Boys. And I loooove Blondie.

Whenever your name comes up, stories about your behavior always seem to accompany it. Do you think image is something that should be separate from the music, or in your case, do they go hand-in-hand?
It does inevitably go with it, but the most important thing is that you listen to my record -- if you like it or hate it -- and if I behave the way my record says I behave, nobody should be very surprised. I warned you all when I made a record about brushing my teeth with Jack Daniels and feeling like Diddy that I'm probably a little spunky, so I don't think people should be surprised if I'm living up to the honesty of my record.

Ke$ha's 'Tik Tok'

Is that edge you have something people want now in pop music?
I'm just being myself. I don't know if people are necessarily looking for it or not looking for it. I'm just kind of being myself. There's nothing I can really do. I try not to think too much about trying to censor myself on record or off.

With the image, you've earned yourself a reputation as a hard-partying gal. Any worries given all of the recent horror stories and tragedies in the celebrity world that things might not end so well?
I think it's tragic when people can't handle themselves. Obviously there are people that have problems with drinking or drugs and this or that. I personally don't have a problem. Yeah, I do have a drink. I'm 22. I can handle myself and I can handle my liquor. And I'm not an idiot. I don't do drugs and don't push the limits of partying to the point of dying or injury.

But do you get how people might misconstrue you, being that partying is often referenced in your songs?
I'm just being honest about it. Any man could say the stuff I say, and nobody would bat an eyelash. Yeah, chicks hang too. Chicks party and not all of us walk around in high heels and push-up bras all the time.

Back to your music, the songs on 'Animal' are very varied in style with many being quite different from 'Tik Tok.' Was that intentional on your part to shake things up?
Totally. It also goes to show the influences I have growing up. My mom wrote country songs for Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton and I grew up really learning the craft of writing songs. I love the Beastie Boys and I love Madonna and I love Johnny Cash and I love the Damned ... Aaron Neville. I love different music and I love to experiment, and I hope that's all reflected in my record.

Aside from your actual solo career, you've penned hits for other stars across the board. Would you rather be behind the scenes more, or do you like the spotlight?
All of it's exciting. I always knew I was supposed to be the one singing the songs, but I also have written a ton of songs and can't keep them all myself. So hearing someone like The Veronicas or Miley Cyrus sing a song I wrote -- they even named the record after the song I wrote for her -- it's really exciting to hear other people's voices on songs I've written.

Do you think the days of pop stars who don't actually sing live or write their own songs are dwindling?
At least with me, I can sing, but more my style and swagger is different than a lot of music that's come out and may or may not have been written by some guy who's never met me before. On my record, it's important that I wrote every song and that I'm personally invested into every track to show my swagger.

You talk about swagger quite a bit. What's your swagger like today?
It depends on the day. Today, my boots are a little dirty and I'm really unapologetically fun and confident no matter what. I gotta be strong and confident and talk to people about how women are now turning the tables and talking to men the way they've spoken to us for years. The war against pretension, fist held high. That's my swagger.

Any plans to go into movies or TV?
I kind of want to start a documentary or movie just about animals and endangered animals and how to help them. We're animals! Everyone acts like we're not animals -- we forget about it because we're not covered in fur, but we are. We have animal instincts that everyone ignores because they're "unacceptable for public" or "not appropriate." People think I'm drunk all the time when really I just say what I want to say when I want to say it and do what I want to do when I want to do it because I'm an animal and I have these instincts for a reason.

Finally, my last name is Hess. Mind if I make one of those S's a dollar sign like you have? It's pretty badass.
Yea, gimme two S's! You've gotta own it. It's not about the money -- it's 'You're f***ing money.'

-- By Mike He$$

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Ke$ha Snapshots

Ke$ha is seen here kicking out a tune during a December performance in New York City. More Pics of Miss 'Tik Tok' Out and About >>>

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Amy Adams Snapshots

Actress Amy Adams (Right) and actor Darren Le Gallo attends the premiere of "Leap Year" at the Directors Guild Theatre on January 6, 2010 in New York City. "Leap Year" New York Premiere - Outside Arrivals Directors Guild Theatre New York, NY United States January 6, 2010 Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage.com To license this image (59235392), contact WireImage.com

Jim Spellman/WireImage.com

Actress Amy Adams attends the premiere of "Leap Year" at the Directors Guild Theatre on January 6, 2010 in New York City. "Leap Year" New York Premiere - Outside Arrivals Directors Guild Theatre New York, NY United States January 6, 2010 Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage.com To license this image (59235381), contact WireImage.com

Jim Spellman/WireImage.com

NEW YORK - JANUARY 06: Actress Amy Adams attends the after party for the premiere of "Leap Year" at the Rouge Tomate on January 6, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Amy Adams

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NEW YORK - JANUARY 06: Actor Matthew Goode and actress Amy Adams the after party for the premiere of "Leap Year" at the Rouge Tomate on January 6, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Matthew Goode;Amy Adams

Getty Images

NEW YORK - JANUARY 06: Actor Matthew Goode and actress Amy Adams attend the after party for the premiere of "Leap Year" at the Rouge Tomate on January 6, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Matthew Goode;Amy Adams

Getty Images

Actor Matthew Goode and actress Amy Adams attend the after party for the premiere of "Leap Year" at the Rouge Tomate on January 6, 2010 in New York City. "Leap Year" New York Premiere - After Party Rouge Tomate New York, NY United States January 6, 2010 Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com To license this image (17093661), contact WireImage.com

Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com

Tags: Kesha, saturday night live, snl

Comments

(167)

Sunday 18 April

By GPUPPY1

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Oh goody, just what we all need - another Lady Gaga.

By jon

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

She's just as ugly as Lady Gaga, and her music is just as dumb.

By ................................

YOU SHUT THE FRICK UP ABOUT LADY GAGA AND KESHA! I BET THEY CAN SING BETTER THAN YOU! MY GOD,IF YOU DONT HAVE ANYTHING NICE TO SAY THEN DONT FREAKIN SAY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By ........................

IF YOU GUYS DONT HAVE ANYTHING NICE TO SAY ABOUT KESHA AND LADY GAGA, THEN DONT YOU FREAKIN EVEN SAY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Kesha Hater

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The worst EVER!!!!!!!!!!

By thehdot

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I know, right... Gotta hate it when talented people make it.

By maxiesmom067

That wigga couldn't lick GaGa's boots!

Monday 19 April

By BTDT

I saw her on SNL. My word it was awful.

By kathy

OMG She is AWFUL!!!! Lady GaGa I don't think so. She looks bad and cannot sing or rap if that is what she was trying to do YUK< YUK< YUK

By JT

Kathy, you are so right. If anyone has a desire for this garbage, let them suck it up. Thank God for the remote control. The very talented singers of the times are no longer with us.

By bigtinylittle

Tik Tok Tik Tok....your 15 minutes are just about up. The cardinal in my backyard has more talent....at least it can sing! How do these trashy wannabes get where they are, besides the usual 'sleeping with the boss'?

By Dayna

Sorry, little girl...the instant that you simply offer the little tidbit of information that "you can handle your liquor" at age 22, and no one asked the question, you have a problem with booze. End of story.

By julie

hun, read the interview, it was asked. and just because somebody knows how to drink without puking doesnt mean they have an alcohol problem.

By Phil

I know people that drink without puking and they do have an alcohol problem! The more you drink the more your body gets used to the abuse.

Just because you have a problem doesn't mean everybody must have it too.

By What??

Anyone could be the next Lady Gaga, the kind of music needs no talent or skill

By olivia

I am not a fan of Lady Gaga but your wrong, she CAN sing.

By Nick

Lady Gaga? Wow, maybe you should close your eyes to get past all of her outrageous costumes and listen with your ears. Not only can this woman sing but she's proven in a very short time to be an exceptional song witer...and she plays a mean piano. I'm a 61 year old ex rock N' roller and I absolutely find her amazing and a rare talent.

Then why don't you bring it - Lady What??

By David

Very attractive young lady... Seems like she has a nice voice. But, when the rapping started, I began to laugh. Quite amusing, and I really thought it was a SNL joke.

Too bad. Seems she has potential

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