Looking back on the hit project, it was a monumental point in her career
To this day, the album is perceived as Kesha’s most personal and intimate project.
Much of Kesha’s professional career has been defined by longtime producer Lukasz Gottwald, also known as Dr. Luke, as she was thrown into the public spotlight during her legal battles involving what she has described as “emotional abuse, sexual assault and mental manipulation.”
Kesha’s fans, as well as the majority of social media users and sexual assault activists, took to her side throughout the battles as she strived for justice. The legal standoff resulted in the judge throwing out Kesha’s case and Dr. Luke expectedly countersuing for defamation.
While the pivotal events may not have given the results she desired, a spark of change was ignited and spread throughout the music industry with the release of her 2017 album, Rainbow. The album may not directly address many of the traumatic events or monumental legal battles that took place in her life since her previous album “Warrior,” but that doesn’t mean the messages aren’t there.
The album’s lead single, “Praying,” shows Kesha alluding to the situation in a bright, hopeful manner. The singer courageously belts out, “And I don’t need you, I found a strength I’ve never known / I’ll bring thunder, I’ll bring rain / When I’m finished, they won’t even know your name.”
The project spawned a sole hit in the aforementioned lead single. Other than “Praying,” few songs saw the same success as her chart-topping hits “TiK ToK,” “Die Young,” and the Pitbull collaboration “Timber.” Despite its modest commercial reception, the album is regarded as Kesha’s most pivotal moment in her career to this day.
Celebrities including Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga and Kelly Clarkson made a public stand against the actions of Dr. Luke and created a wave in the music industry of justice coming to those in powerful positions as Dr. Luke was.
Over recent years, attention has been exponentially given to cases similar to Kesha’s during the #MeToo era. While Kesha may not have had the success she hoped for when beginning her tumultuous legal battle, she sparked a movement that still reigns to this day.
The strong allusions laid throughout the album form a clear conceptual album with a message that there will always be better days ahead. No matter how bad Kesha’s situation can become, she’s confident that there will always be a rainbow ahead in her future.
Review: 4.5/5