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Joyride (Kesha song)

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"Joyride"
Single by Kesha
ReleasedJuly 4, 2024 (2024-07-04)
Genre
Length2:30
LabelKesha
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Zhone
Kesha singles chronology
"Only Love Can Save Us Now"
(2023) 		"Joyride"
(2024) 		"Delusional"
(2024)
Music video
"Joyride" on YouTube

"Joyride" (stylized in all caps) is a song by American singer and songwriter Kesha. It was released on July 4, 2024, by her own self-titled record label as the lead single from her upcoming sixth studio album. An official lyric video was released on the same day. The song marks Kesha's first release since departing from RCA and Kemosabe Records. The single was written by Kesha, Madison Love, and Zhone, who also produced the song.

"Joyride" debuted at number 88 on the UK Singles Chart, which marked Kesha's first solo entry since "Praying" (2017), while also debuting at number 83 on the Irish Singles Chart. The song also reached number 6 on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100, and number 27 on Billboard Pop Airplay chart, becoming her first top-40 entry on the latter since "Raising Hell" in 2019, and eighteenth overall. As of November 2024, Joyride has amassed over 70 million streams on Spotify.

Background and release

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From 2014–2023, Kesha had been embroiled in a legal battle with her former producer, Dr. Luke. She had originally sued him for sexual assault and battery, then he countersued for defamation. The lawsuit halted Kesha's career for a few years and she had filed a preliminary injunction in 2016 to be released from her contract with RCA Records and Kemosabe Records which she signed when she was 18. She was denied the injunction and has since released three more albums under the label. Her fifth and final album under the labels, Gag Order, was released in May 2023. Her lawsuit was set to go to trial in July 2023, but a settlement was reached a month before the trial date, thus ending the near decade long suit.[1] In December 2023, it was officially reported that Kesha had parted ways with both RCA and Kemosabe, as well as her management team, Vector Management. "In need of a fresh start in my life, we have parted ways, but I will remain forever grateful for the run we had," Kesha said in a statement to Variety.[2] She signed with a new management team, Crush Music in late February 2024.[3] In an interview with V Magazine, Kesha had hinted about music saying there is a day marked when she is free to release music.[4]

Kesha announced the single on June 29, 2024 with a teaser video. She initially teased a lyric, "GET IN LOSER" with a photo on social media teasing the song's title and release date. The singer was seen sporting red vinyl and sheer looks. The single was released by Kesha's self-titled label, Kesha Records published through Warner Chappell Music and distributed by Alternative Distribution Alliance.[5] The song marks Kesha's first release since departing from RCA and Kemosabe Records, as well as her first release as an independent artist.[6] Kesha unveiled the song four days before its release in Brooklyn at Planet Pride.[4]

Composition

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"Joyride" runs a total of two minutes and thirty seconds, and is described as an electropop and EDM track. The song is a "bold" celebration composition with hyperpop and polka influences utilizing accordions, heavy synths, and modulated vocals. The song sees the return of Kesha's "talk-singing" style, reminiscent of her earlier works.[7][8][9][10] Lyrically, Kesha uses metaphors comparing driving cars to self-love and self-empowerment.[10]

Music video

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Kesha teased the song's music video on November 19, 2024, announcing its release date for the following day.[11] The video was written and directed by Laura Gorun, Dimitri Basil, and Couper Roussel, with Kesha contributing as a co-director.[12] The video pays homage to Quentin Tarantino's film series, Kill Bill, with the singer wearing a red leather hell-raiser on the run from a group of assassins. The video starts off with Kesha leaving prison, with the radio announcer reporting her release after nine years, referring to her work relationship with Dr. Luke.[13] She then finds out that her unnamed tormentor has "60 miles of blacktop" to catch her, which is dubbed in Italian. Throughout the chase, each of the names of the assassins pop up on the screen as they pursue Kesha in the desert. At the end of the video, a link to pre-save her next single, "Delusional", shows up during the credits.

The video stars Marc Hertle as Yippie & the Kiyays, Anna Malygon as Sadie the Stabler & the Crazyboys, Neil Stephens as Rowdy Ricky & the Red Flags, and Mike O'Hearn as Derk Delusional the One to Outrun.

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash8/10[14]

"Joyride" received positive reviews from critics and publications. Zoe Guy of Vulture called the song a "banger" that is perfectly in sync with summer.[7] Tomás Mier of Rolling Stone called the song "delightfully campy" with a taste of a "carefree Kesha summer".[15] Variety echoed Guy's sentiments, describing the song as an "electro-banger" perfectly timed for the summer, as well as a callback to her earlier hits such as "Tik Tok" and "We R Who We R".[16]

Track listing

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Digital download and streaming[17]

  1. "Joyride" – 2:30

Digital download and streaming – EP[18]

  1. "Joyride" – 2:30
  2. "Joyride" (radio edit) – 2:30
  3. "Joyride" (instrumental) – 2:28
  4. "Joyride" (acapella) – 2:22

Digital download and streaming (remixes)[19]

  1. "Joyride" – 2:30
  2. "Joyride" (radio edit) – 2:30
  3. "Joyride" (extended) – 4:25
  4. "Joyride" (Revved Up remix) – 2:04
  5. "Joyride" (slowed) – 2:59
  6. "Joyride" (sped up) – 2:08
  7. "Joyride" (instrumental) – 2:28
  8. "Joyride" (acapella) – 2:22

7-inch vinyl

  1. "Joyride" – 2:30
  2. "Joyride" (instrumental) – 2:28

Charts

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Chart performance for "Joyride"
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[20] 83
Lithuania Airplay (TopHit)[21] 90
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[22] 17
UK Singles (OCC)[23] 88
UK Indie (OCC)[24] 27
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[25] 6
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[26] 6
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[27] 27

Release history

[edit]
"Joyride" release history
Region Date Formats Version(s) Label Ref.
Various July 4, 2024
Original Kesha [17]
July 19, 2024 EP [18]
August 2, 2024 Remixes [19]
United States August 20, 2024 Contemporary hit radio Original [28]
Various November 11, 2024 7-inch vinyl
  • Original
  • instrumental
 [29]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Cullins, Ashley (June 22, 2023). "Kesha and Dr. Luke Settle Legal Battle Ahead of Trial". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  2. ^ Aswad, Jem (December 18, 2023). "Kesha Parts Ways With Dr. Luke's Kemosabe Label, RCA Records and Vector Management". Variety. United States: Penske Media Corporation. ISSN 0042-2738. OCLC 810134503. Archived from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  3. ^ Havens, Lyndsey (February 7, 2024). "Kesha Signs With Crush Management". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Hart, Lily (July 3, 2024). "Kesha to Release New Single 'JOYRIDE' on July 4". Glitter.
  5. ^ Horowitz, Steven J. (September 23, 2024). "Kesha Enters Independent Era With Launch of Kesha Records, Plots New Album for 2025". Variety.
  6. ^ Legaspi, Althea (June 29, 2024). "Kesha Teases 'Joy Ride,' Which Arrives on Independence Day". Rolling Stone.
  7. ^ a b Guy, Zoe (July 4, 2024). "Kesha Releases Her First Independent Single". Vulture.
  8. ^ Santiago Cortés, Michelle (July 4, 2024). "Kesha Declares Her Independence With "Joyride"". Nylon.
  9. ^ Dailey, Hannah (July 4, 2024). "Kesha Celebrates an Extra Special Independence Day With New Single 'Joyride': Stream It Now". Billboard.
  10. ^ a b Currinn, Jonathan (July 10, 2024). ""JOYRIDE": Kesha Stuns With Awesomely Addicting First Independent Single of Her Career". Good Star Vibes.
  11. ^ "JOYRIDE VIDEO. TOMORROW". Twitter. November 19, 2024. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  12. ^ "Kesha Outruns a Gang of Murderous Assassins in Action-Packed 'Joyride' Video: Watch". Billboard. November 21, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  13. ^ Inman, Jessica (November 21, 2024). "Kesha escapes various foes in 'Joyride' music video". UPI. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  14. ^ Murray, Robin (July 4, 2024). "Kesha - 'Joyride'; Pop Icon Taps Into Her Roots | Reviews". Clash. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  15. ^ Mier, Tomás (July 4, 2024). "Kesha Takes a Pop 'Joyride' as a Free Woman With New Single". Rolling Stone.
  16. ^ Horowitz, Steven J. (July 4, 2024). "Kesha Releases 'Joyride,' Her First Independent Single After Parting Ways With Kemosabe and RCA". Variety. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  17. ^ a b "JOYRIDE by Kesha on Spotify". Spotify. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  18. ^ a b "JOYRIDE by Kesha on Spotify". Spotify. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  19. ^ a b "JOYRIDE (The Remixes) by Kesha on Spotify". Spotify. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  20. ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  21. ^ "Top Radio Hits Lithuania Weekly Chart: Oct 10, 2024". TopHit. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  22. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. July 15, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  23. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  24. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  25. ^ "Kesha Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  26. ^ "Kesha Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  27. ^ "Kesha Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  28. ^ Cantor, Brian (August 20, 2024). "Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars' 'Die With A Smile' Also Earns Most Added Honor At Pop Radio". Headline Pop. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  29. ^ "JOY RIDE LIMITED EDITION 7" VINYL". Kesha Official Store. Archived from the original on July 16, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
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