Rich, White, Straight Men
{{short description|2019 single by Kesha}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Rich, White, Straight Men
| cover = Kesha - Rich, White, Straight Men.png
| type = Promotional single
| artist = Kesha
| album =
| released = {{Start date|2019|6|8}}
| genre = Pop
| length = {{duration|m=3|s=13}}
| label =
| writer = {{hlist|Kesha Sebert|Pebe Sebert|Stephen Wrabel|Stuart Crichton}}
| producer = Crichton
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|M32Jnxa7dqE|"Rich, White, Straight Men"}}
| type = song
| header = Music video
}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|0FvEYXLz6EI|"Rich, White, Straight Men"}}
| type = song
| header = Official audio
}}
| chronology = Kesha promotional singles
| prev_title = Hymn
| prev_year = 2017
| next_title = Best Day
| next_year = 2019
}}
"Rich, White, Straight Men" is a song by American singer Kesha. It was written by the artist alongside Pebe Sebert, Wrabel, and Stuart Crichton, with production being handled by the latter. The song was surprisingly released to YouTube on June 2, 2019, and later issued as a standalone single through Kemosabe and RCA Records on June 8.
Release
"Rich, White, Straight Men" was surprisingly released to YouTube on June 2, 2019, unbeknownst to Kesha's record label RCA Records.{{cite web |author1=Kesha |title=hey guys sooo i hear you!! that you want my new song 'Rich, White, Straight Men' on streaming services...not sure how to do that personally...hmmmm - maybe @rcarecords will help me if they're not too mad bout me leaking it😂 💰🤵what else do they expect from me at this point lol👽☠️👻🌈💖🦄 |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/ByTR_cwF8cP/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/ByTR_cwF8cP |archive-date=2021-12-24 |url-access=registration|website=Instagram |publisher=Facebook, Inc. |accessdate=April 1, 2020 |date=June 4, 2019}}{{cbignore}} Six days later, it impacted online music stores and streaming platforms as a standalone single. The song's artwork consists of a blurry photograph of Kesha giving the middle finger, an action she performs on loop in the accompanying video.{{cite web |last1=Besanvalle |first1=James |title=Kesha's new song takes powerful aim at 'Rich, White, Straight, Men' |url=https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/kesha-rich-white-straight-men/ |website=Gay Star News |accessdate=April 1, 2020 |date=June 4, 2019 |archive-date=July 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704111118/https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/kesha-rich-white-straight-men/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |last1=Frazin |first1=Rachel |title=Kesha in new track: 'What if rich, straight, white men didn't rule the world anymore?' |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/447038-kesha-asks-what-if-rich-straight-white-men-didnt-rule-the-world |website=The Hill |accessdate=April 1, 2020 |language=en |date=June 5, 2019}}
Composition
"Rich, White, Straight Men" is a punk rock influenced pop{{cite web |last1=Whitehead |first1=Mat |title='What If Rich, White, Straight, Men Didn't Rule The World Anymore?': Kesha Releases New Single |url=https://10daily.com.au/entertainment/music/a190604vwicx/what-if-rich-white-straight-men-didnt-rule-the-world-anymore-kesha-releases-new-single-20190604 |website=10 daily |publisher=Ten Network Holdings |accessdate=April 1, 2020 |date=June 4, 2019}} track with a carnival-esque atmosphere{{cite web |last1=Kiefer |first1=Halle |title=New Kesha Song Asks: What if 'Rich, White, Straight, Men' Didn't Rule the World? |url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/06/kesha-releases-new-song-rich-white-straight-men.html |website=Vulture |publisher=New York |accessdate=April 1, 2020 |language=en-us |date=June 3, 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Alston |first1=Trey |title=Kesha Paints A Picture Of A World Without 'Rich, White, Straight Men' |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/3126233/kesha-rich-white-straight-men-song/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607174834/http://www.mtv.com/news/3126233/kesha-rich-white-straight-men-song/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 7, 2019 |website=MTV News |accessdate=April 1, 2020 |language=en |date=June 4, 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Daramola |first1=Israel |title=Kesha - "Rich, White, Straight, Men": Listen |url=https://www.spin.com/2019/06/kesha-rich-white-straight-men/ |website=Spin |accessdate=April 1, 2020 |date=June 4, 2019}} that utilizes alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, flugelhorn, trumpet, trombone, and tuba. It features the "sounds of coins hitting the ground and cashiers opening, a reference to the money-driven political climate."{{cite magazine |last1=Aniftos |first1=Rania |title=Kesha Envisions a Government Without 'Rich, White, Straight Men' in New Song |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8514395/kesha-rich-white-straight-men-listen |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |accessdate=April 1, 2020 |date=3 June 2019}} A "power-drunk" male voice accompanies Kesha's singing; it rebutts the lyrics' progressive statements regarding free health care, free education, gender equality, reproductive rights, open borders, and same-sex marriage.{{cite web |last1=Murphy |first1=Sarah |title=Kesha Calls Out "Rich, White, Straight, Men" on New Song |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/kesha_calls_out_rich_white_straight_men_on_new_song |website=Exclaim! |accessdate=April 1, 2020 |language=en-ca |date=June 4, 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Daly |first1=Rhian |title=Listen to Kesha's theatrical new song, 'Rich, White, Straight, Men' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/listen-kesha-theatrical-new-song-rich-white-straight-men-2504910 |website=NME |accessdate=April 1, 2020 |date=June 4, 2019}} Bandwagon{{'s}} Valerie Yuam wrote that the song "places Kesha’s humorous side in the spotlight while still effectively delivering her core message" and is "a commentary on the current socio-political situation in the United States."{{cite web |last1=Yuam |first1=Valerie |title=Kesha releases sarcastic new song, 'Rich, White, Straight, Men' – listen |url=https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/kesha-releases-sarcastic-new-song-rich-white-straight-men-listen |website=Bandwagon |accessdate=April 1, 2020 |language=en |date=June 6, 2019}} "Rich, White, Straight Men" was compared to the works of Danny Elfman and Brendon Urie. The lullaby "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" is invoked in the lyrics "Twinkle, twinkle little star/How I wish the world was different/Where who you love and who you are/Was nobody’s fucking business".{{cite magazine |last1=Zemler |first1=Emily |title=Kesha Rids the World of 'Rich, White, Straight Men' on New Track |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kesha-rids-the-world-of-rich-white-straight-men-on-new-track-844010/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |accessdate=April 1, 2020 |date=June 4, 2019}}
Critical response
Sam Van Pykeren of Mother Jones complimented the song's uniqueness and political tone, writing, "Kesha finally sheds the restraints of her recent work for the direct and literal, returning to what made her a star in the first place: excessiveness packaged in oddity."{{cite web |last1=Pykeren |first1=Sam Van |title=Kesha Gets Her Old Weird Sparkle Back With Her New Single "Rich, White, Straight, Men" |url=https://www.motherjones.com/media/2019/06/keshas-gets-her-old-weird-sparkle-back-with-her-new-single-rich-white-straight-men/ |website=Mother Jones |accessdate=April 1, 2020 |date=June 7, 2019}} Frida Garza of feminist website Jezebel also praised the song's lyrical and musical characteristics while affirming that "this song is unlike any other Kesha's ever released; [...] This is far from the perfectly manicured pop songs that were once her calling card."{{cite web |last1=Garza |first1=Frida |title=Kesha Imagines a World Without Rich, White, Straight Men |url=https://themuse.jezebel.com/kesha-imagines-a-world-without-rich-white-straight-me-1835211180 |website=Jezebel |accessdate=April 1, 2020 |language=en-us |date=June 3, 2019}} At Paper, Michael Love Michael questioned the song's effectiveness against the political group it addresses, although he connected to its premise, commenting, "Toppling an oppressive and domineering patriarchy starts with that kind of rage. As it should be."{{cite web |last1=Michael |first1=Michael Love |title=Kesha's New Song Skewers the Patriarchy |url=https://www.papermag.com/kesha-rich-white-straight-men-2638680371.html |website=Paper |accessdate=April 1, 2020 |language=en |date=June 4, 2019}} Hollywood Life{{'}}s Brandy Robidoux deemed the track "controversial".{{cite web |last1=Robidoux |first1=Brandy |title=Kesha Drops Surprise, Politically-Charged Anthem 'Rich, White, Straight, Men' — Listen |url=https://hollywoodlife.com/2019/06/03/kesha-new-song-rich-white-straight-men-listen/ |website=Hollywood Life |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |accessdate=April 1, 2020 |language=en |date=June 3, 2019}}
Writing for the conservative website Washington Examiner, Madeline Fry called the song "boring" and criticized Kesha's intention to "blame the ills of society on all white males."{{cite web |last1=Fry |first1=Madeline |title=In 'Rich, White, Straight Men,' Kesha gets political ... and boring |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/in-rich-white-straight-men-kesha-gets-political-and-boring |website=Washington Examiner |accessdate=April 1, 2020 |language=en |date=5 June 2019}}
Credits and personnel
Credits organized in alphabetical order by surname and adapted from Tidal.
- Dale Becker – mastering
- Stuart Crichton – songwriting, production, keyboards, mixing, programming
- Matt Dyson – engineering
- Woitek Goral – alto saxophone
- Tomas Jansson – baritone saxophone
- Magnus Johansson – flugelhorn, trumpet
- Peter Johansson – trombone, tuba
- Kesha Sebert – lead vocals, songwriting
- Pebe Sebert – songwriting
- Stephen Wrabel – songwriting, backing vocals
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
! scope="col" | Region ! scope="col" | Date ! scope="col" | Format ! scope="col" | Label ! scope="col" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row" | Various
| June 8, 2019 | {{hlist|Digital download|streaming}} | {{center|{{cite web |title=Rich, White, Straight Men / Kesha |url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/110743402 |website=Tidal |date=8 June 2019 |accessdate=April 1, 2020 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Rich, White, Straight Men - Single by Kesha |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/rich-white-straight-men-single/1467282032 |website=Apple Music |accessdate=April 1, 2020 |language=en-us}}}} |
|---|