Ke$ha: “I’m trying to look like a cross between Keith Richards & a hobo”

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These are photos of Ke$ha at the European Music Awards, or whatever they’re called (someone just got banned after getting hysterical over me calling them the wrong thing). I totally forgot to look for Kesha’s photos, because… well, she’s Kesha. She’s just kind of an afterthought. I don’t hate the girl, and in all honesty, she kind of cracks me up, but the girl needs a new look or something. I want to force her into a hot shower with lots of soap and make her stay in there until all the badness is down the drain. Anyway, Kesha just did an interview with New York Magazine, and she’s totally open and funny, like she usually is. Kesha’s interviews are one of the reasons I changed my mind about her – she’s not some dumb-bunny pop star, she actually does think about sh-t. She’s not a genius or anything, but she’s witty:

Why did you name your new album “Cannibal”?
I think that this year has been just totally insane, and I think that there’s been a little bit of self-devouring. It’s gotten a little intense, and I’m going a little crazy. And I just took Animal a little left, and a little darker, and just a little crazier.

You were recently criticized for not having “the best voice,” and you defended yourself. Do you think your style of music prevents you from showcasing your voice?
I think that it might because it obviously has an electronic element to it. I know that I can sing. That’s the reason I started playing music when I was twelve years old. So if people haven’t seen that yet, then hopefully they will in this repackage. There are definitely two songs on here that showcase that.

A song that you co-wrote with your mom in 2002, “Good-bye,” recently surfaced, and it has a very different, surprisingly sweet sound. Would you ever want to go back to that?
I’ve been writing songs for forever, but yeah, listen to that and obviously I can sing. It’s not the kind of music I’m doing now, but the transformation happened because I went through a rebellious, angsty period of my life, as do most adolescents, and I wanted to capture the essence of youth on the record. I feel like that song was more singer-songwritery, and I can always go there. But you can only really capture the essence of youth when you’re young and living it. The one thing I don’t do is I don’t write bullshit. I write about what I’m going through.

You recently teamed up with the It Gets Better Campaign to fight bullying, particularly among gay youth. Have you had any personal experience with bullying?
Oh absolutely. I have haters. I have so many haters. People assume because you’re in the public eye that we don’t notice or we don’t care about it, but I’ve definitely experienced my fair share of hate. And that’s what doing the It Gets Better Campaign is about, because there will always be haters, there will always be cynical people, and there will always be jealousy. It’s really just learning to ignore the haters and giving them the finger and doing what you know is right for you. That’s what I’ve had to learn how to do, and that’s what hopefully any kids getting bullied would know how to do.

You’ve gotten some heat over your lyrics about subjects like brushing your teeth with a bottle of Jack. Do you actually do that?
I have, but I don’t do it every day. It wasn’t an instruction manual for 8-year-old little girls to do.

You’ve been photographed with blue lips, covered in glitter, and most recently, with a gold tooth. What look are you going for?
I’m trying to look like a cross between Keith Richards and a hobo. But like a really ridiculously hot hobo. Or like a sexy pirate.

Will you ever drop the dollar sign from your name?
I don’t know. It’s ironic. Some people have gotten the irony, some people it’s been lost on. It is definitely obnoxious. But I think part of the job of a pop star is to be a little bit obnoxious, so I think I’m doing my job well.

[From New York Magazine]

My favorite is “I’m trying to look like a cross between Keith Richards and a hobo. But like a really ridiculously hot hobo.” But I also love “It wasn’t an instruction manual for 8-year-old little girls to do.” See? She’s funny. Now that I know she’s trying to achieve the “sexy Keith Richards hobo” look, I kind of think she’s right on!

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Photos courtesy of Fame.

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32 Responses to “Ke$ha: “I’m trying to look like a cross between Keith Richards & a hobo””

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  1. anti says:

    at least she is different and doing want she wants. i liked the interview… she seems a genuine and decent person.

  2. daisyfly says:

    What she looks like is every single Misfit from Jem got blended into a milkshake that was poured all over Courtney Love’s cracked out twin sister.

  3. KJ says:

    She used to bother me before I read some interviews, and you’re very right to say that she’s not a neurosurgeon, but she’s certainly witty and has a good ability to laugh at herself, which I think takes an element of intelligence and self-awareness. Her music blows (my opinion) but Kesha herself is a-ok in my book.

  4. devilgirl says:

    She just strikes me as a filthy creature.

    Okay, but I did like her instruction manuel comment.

  5. Alexa says:

    whatever . . . not feeling it . . .

  6. Obvious says:

    Sh’es growing on me. Do i like her music? not particularly but she has a brain. therefor PASS.

  7. Kaiser says:

    Note: To the commenter posting under multiple names, I am very close to banning you. You are on notice.

  8. I Choose Me says:

    Who is this chick? I’m serious. Is she on a reality show? Is she a singer of some sort – trying to be the next Gaga? What’s her deal?

    Edit: I see she’s a pop star. Eh, Whatever.

  9. chasingadalia says:

    She’s a peculiar creature, but she does say some witty stuff. 🙂

  10. Ferguson. says:

    I always say the same thing when talking about her: I like her music, a lot. I know maybe I shouldnt but I just do.

    And I like her, I always did.

  11. lilred says:

    The 80’s called…that crap’s already been done to extinction.

  12. di butler says:

    Some of her radio play stuff is catchy, but she always is so poor live. I saw her “It Gets Better” clip on YouTube, and she looks so cute with no make up and the whole outfit.

  13. jover says:

    At least she doesn’t take herself too seriously unlike a lot of these rappers but her statement about knowing she can sing – she had a chance this spring on SNL – twice – to showcase her live non-autotuned voice and she sucked both times embarassingly bad. Honey. you’re not Aretha, Janis, Pat Benatar or Selena; you’re a novelty act, have fun with it while it lasts.

  14. Trillion says:

    Explaining irony is just bad form.

  15. wunderkindt says:

    Mission accomplished!

  16. wonderful says:

    The key word of her’s here is “repackage.”

  17. Liana says:

    Her music, to me, blows, but she, as a person, is growing on me.

  18. I’m into this look. Very “Hungry Like the Wolf”.

  19. gillie says:

    her music is fun, and i unabashedly love it. i want to be her friend!

  20. wonderwoman21 says:

    I can’t stand and don’t listen to her music (though maybe that’s judgmental because I’ve only heard 2 songs) but yeah her interviews are ok, that’s a lot more than I can say about other pop stars. *cough* katy perry *cough*. Her act is a bit much, but it is an act and I think it probably has genuine bits of her in it.

  21. jc126 says:

    She’s too auto-tuned. Let’s here what she really sounds like.

  22. Gabriela says:

    She is funny. She’s not a brilliant artist/songwriter and she’s not trying to be. She knows popstars are annoying and she’s playing along with it. Gotta give her some love over it.
    Gaga, on the other hand, thinks she is revolutionary and writes brilliant lyrics. She’s not. I liked her better when she didn’t take her music so seriously.

  23. Kricket says:

    bwahahahaha! i love me some ke$ha! thanks for the article and the pics 😀

  24. My2Cents says:

    She is dressed like that because she had just done a UV/Glow In the Dark performance at the EMA’s. She looked great under the black lights. I was actually surprised how good she sounded live and I’m kind of warming up to this chick. I loved her faux tail she made.

  25. Lia says:

    If her daddy didn’t have all that money to push her through, nobody in the biz would give her a second look. Poor thing is homely and silly, and there are hundreds of high-school kids out there who can outsing her on a bad day.

  26. NYC007 says:

    I really don’t care for her , and her songs are ridiculous! Can’t even listen to it.. Please don’t encourage her stupid songs and her

    wanna be what ever she calls its hobo,richard Gerico..look..not sexy @ all!Ugh!and as for witty, my 9yr old is witty not his chic..and Trust nobodys hatin on you darlinnn..bbm hand to face.. Lol

  27. KO says:

    i just can’t grow to like her from the lies she’s spit about her “past” (being poor, etc.). :/

  28. Kricket says:

    Lia, she grew up not knowing her father, so i don’t know who you are talking about….?

  29. LT says:

    I absolutely LOVE this girl – she’s my nonsexual crush. She cracks me up & brings the fun. Rock on Ke$ha, you crazy sexyKeithRichards/hobo/pirate hybrid!

  30. C-DUB says:

    she got the hobo part right

  31. gg says:

    Keith Richards? FAIL. Keith doesn’t do neon greasepaint. But without the camo, the girl looks like she’s in her 40s so I get why she does it. She needs to chop all of her hair off and try to be unique. somehow.

  32. Emmy says:

    Who knew she was actually fairly witty, and dare I say it… completely conscious of absurd she is?

    I always suspected pop music was a giant joke being played on us all…