Woman (Kesha song)
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Woman
| cover = Kesha Woman.png
| type = single
| artist = Kesha featuring the Dap-Kings Horns
| album = Rainbow
| released = {{Start date|2018|01|22}}
| recorded = 2017
| studio =
- Purple Dinosaur Studios{{cite AV media notes |title=Rainbow |others=Kesha |date=11 August 2017 |type=liner notes |publisher=Kemosabe, RCA. Barcode: 889854593629}}
- Westlake Recording Studios (Hollywood, CA){{cite AV media notes |title=Rainbow |others=Kesha |date=11 August 2017 |type=liner notes |publisher=Kemosabe, RCA. Barcode: 889854593629}}
| genre = {{hlist|Funk-pop}}
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=16}}
| label =
| writer =
| producer =
- Brody Brown
- Pearson
| chronology = Kesha
| prev_title = This Is Me
| prev_year = 2017
| next_title = Body Talks
| next_year = 2018
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|lXyA4MXKIKo|"Woman"}}}}
}}
"Woman" is a song recorded by American singer Kesha and featuring the Dap-Kings Horns for her third studio album Rainbow (2017). It was released as the first promotional single from the album on July 13, 2017. The song was then released as the second single from the album on January 22, 2018. It has been described as a feminist anthem.{{cite magazine |url=https://parade.com/961387/jessicasager/girl-power-songs/ |title=40 Songs That Scream Female Empowerment From Taylor Swift, Lizzo, Dolly Parton & More |last=Sager |first=Jessica |date=March 8, 2021 |magazine=Parade |access-date=April 11, 2022}} "Woman" was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling one million equivalent units in the United States.
Background and composition
In an essay for Rolling Stone, Kesha wrote:
{{Quote|text=[…] I realized that for most of my life I was intimidated to even try and run in the leagues of the people I look up to. With "Woman," I hope my fans will hear that wild spirit still strong inside me but this time it was created more raw, spontaneously and with all live instrumentation, which I found was a huge reason I loved the records I did love. There were one or two or 12 different people playing real instruments together, and all that real human energy is exciting and very fun to listen to. I wanted this song to capture that organic, raw, soulful sound and keep the imperfect moments in the recordings because I find the magic in the imperfections.|sign=Kesha|source=Rolling Stone{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/premieres/read-keshas-poignant-essay-about-celebratory-new-song-woman-w491950|title=Read Kesha's Poignant Essay About Celebratory New Song 'Woman'|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=2017-07-14}}}}
Later, Kesha revealed the real purpose of releasing the song - to protest Donald Trump in offense to his "pussy grabbing comment," according to her interview with Metro.co.uk. In another interview with Rolling Stone, she stated, "I just really love being a woman and I wanted an anthem for anyone else who wants to yell about being self-sufficient and strong."{{cite web|url=https://vmagazine.com/article/kesha-drops-donald-trump-inspired-song/|title=Kesha Drops A Donald Trump Inspired Song - V Magazine|website=vmagazine.com|access-date=10 January 2018|archive-date=November 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110011250/https://vmagazine.com/article/kesha-drops-donald-trump-inspired-song/|url-status=dead}} Along with releasing the music video, she also released an essay detailing her intentions of writing the song and releasing it early from her album.
The song is performed in the key of F minor with a tempo of 115 beats per minute.{{Cite web|url=http://www.spotontrack.com/track/woman/29558706|title=Spot On Track – The Spotify Tracker|website=www.spotontrack.com|access-date=March 4, 2018}}
Critical reception
Critics and fans alike praised the song. Rolling Stone called the song "funk-laden", while Business Insider identified the song as "funk-filled pop."{{Cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/keshas-song-woman-is-all-about-female-empowerment-2017-7|title=Kesha explained how her new expletive-filled song 'Woman' is all about female empowerment|work=Business Insider|access-date=March 4, 2018}} USA Today hailed the song as "the feminist song of the summer".
=Accolades=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;"
|+Select year-end rankings of "Woman" ! scope="col" |Publication ! scope="col" |List ! scope="col" |Rank ! scope="col" class="unsortable" |{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
| scope="row" |The Ringer
|The Best Songs of 2017 |style="text-align:center"| 10 |style="text-align:center" |{{cite web|url=https://www.theringer.com/music/2017/12/4/16732624/best-songs-2017-cardi-b-lorde-justin-bieber-kesha-st-vincent|date=December 4, 2017|access-date=December 3, 2024|last=Zoladz|first=Lindsay|website=The Ringer|title=The Best Songs of 2017}} |
|---|
| scope="row" |Stereogum
|The Top 40 Pop Songs of 2017 |style="text-align:center"|15 |style="text-align:center" |{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1971280/the-top-40-pop-songs-of-2017/columns/the-week-in-pop/|title=The Top 40 Pop Songs of 2017|date=December 14, 2017|access-date=December 3, 2024|work=Stereogum|last=DeVille|first=Chris}} |
Commercial performance
"Woman" debuted at number 96 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending August 5, 2017, selling 19,000 copies in the United States according to Nielsen Soundscan.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7881922/hot-100-chart-moves-kesha-praying-woman|title=Hot 100 Chart Moves: Kesha's 'Praying' Keeps in Top 40 & 'Woman' Debuts|author=Trust, Gary|date=July 28, 2017|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 7, 2017}} Thanks to an array of dance remixes, "Woman" topped the Dance Club Songs chart on the issue dated December 23, 2017, becoming Kesha's third number one on that chart, and her first since "Timber" in 2014.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8070630/kesha-camila-cabello-dance-electronic-charts|title=Kesha & Camila Cabello Notch New No. 1s on Dance/Electronic Charts|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2018-11-21}} In 2024, "Woman" received a platinum certification in the United States by the nation's RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for accomplishing sales of 1,000,000 equivalent units in the country.
Music video
The music video for the song was released on July 13, 2017{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2017/07/13/keshas-woman-feminist-song-summer/475438001/|title=Kesha's 'Woman' is the feminist song of the summer|first=Sara M|last=Moniuszko|website=USA Today|access-date=March 27, 2025}} and was directed by Kesha and her brother Lagan Sebert.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/music/news/kesha-drops-another-new-song-the-f-bomb-filled-woman-watch-1202494567/|title=Kesha Drops Another New Song, the F-Bomb-Filled 'Woman' (Watch)|date=July 13, 2017|access-date=March 31, 2020}} In the video, she performs at a dive bar in Delaware with glitter and confetti streaming.{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2017/07/kesha-woman-video-listen/|title=Watch Kesha's Glittery, Celebratory Video for Her New Single 'Woman'|first=Winston|last=Cook-Wilson|website=Spin|date=July 13, 2017|access-date=March 27, 2025}}
Live performances
The song was part of the setlist of Kesha's Rainbow Tour. She performed the song on Good Morning America, where she also performed "Praying". Kesha also performed the song at numerous iHeart Radio festivals. On January 22, 2018, Kesha released the official live version, which was recorded during her Rainbow Tour.
Usage in media
This song was included at the end of the 2017 Christmas Comedy film A Bad Moms Christmas. This song was also featured in the 2020 DC Extended Universe film Birds of Prey with Kesha praising the usage of her song.{{cite web|url = http://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases|title = Top 40/M Future Releases - Mainstream Hit Songs Being Released and Their Release Dates|publisher = AllAccess Music Group|date = January 23, 2018|access-date = January 11, 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180111060154/https://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases |archive-date = January 11, 2018}}{{cite web| url = https://comicbook.com/dc/2020/03/27/kesha-woman-harley-quinn-birds-of-prey-twitter/| title = Kesha Loved Her Song Being in Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey| last = Jirak| first = Jamie| date = 27 March 2020| access-date = 31 March 2020}}
Track listing
Digital download and streaming{{Cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/1GmsXcA0tgkdpfAuKvczPV|title=Spotify – Woman|author=Kesha|author-link=Kesha|date=July 13, 2017|website=open.spotify.com}}
- "Woman" – 3:16
Digital download and streaming (Remixes){{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/6BMQhvKZghPkcrlK0QvRdV?si=VuZmu0skRGe5WFlVJCGEGQ|title=Kesha - Woman (The Remixes)|publisher=Spotify|access-date=January 10, 2018}}
- "Woman" (Dave Audé Remix) – 3:25
- "Woman" (Rare Candy Remix) – 2:59
- "Woman" (Tobtok Remix) – 3:08
Charts
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2017–18)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| scope="row"| Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.auspop.com.au/2017/07/aria-chart-watch-430/|title=ARIA Chart Watch #430|publisher=auspOp|date=July 22, 2017|access-date=July 22, 2017|archive-date=July 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729152147/https://www.auspop.com.au/2017/07/aria-chart-watch-430/|url-status=dead}}
| 78 |
| {{single chart|Canada|80|artist=Kesha|rowheader=true|access-date=July 25, 2017}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcanadahotac|49|artist=Kesha|rowheader=true|access-date=February 26, 2018}} |
| scope="row"| New Zealand Heatseekers (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/2017-07-21|title=NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=July 24, 2017|access-date=July 21, 2017}}
| 3 |
| {{single chart|Scotland|66|date=20170721|rowheader=true|access-date=July 22, 2017}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|96|artist=Kesha|rowheader=true|access-date=July 25, 2017}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|26|artist=Kesha|rowheader=true|access-date=March 6, 2018}} |
| {{single chart|Billboarddanceclubplay|1|artist=Kesha|rowheader=true|access-date=December 12, 2017}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|33|artist=Kesha|rowheader=true|access-date=February 27, 2018}} |
{{col-2}}
= Year-end charts =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2018)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Dance Club Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2018/dance-club-songs|title=Dance Club Songs - Year-end 2018|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 20, 2018}}
| 44 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Kesha|title=Woman|award=Platinum|relyear=2018|certyear=2024|access-date=September 17, 2024|refname=RIAA}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|noshipments=true|nosales=true}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release dates and formats for "Woman" ! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format(s) ! scope="col"| Version ! scope="col"| Label(s) ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|References}} |
| scope="row" rowspan="2"| Various
| July 13, 2017 | rowspan="2"| {{Hlist|Digital download|streaming}} | Original | rowspan="2"| Kemosabe |
|---|
| September 29, 2017
| Remixes |
| scope="row" rowspan="2"| United States
| January 22, 2018 | {{Hlist|Adult contemporary radio|hot adult contemporary radio|modern adult contemporary radio}} | rowspan="2"| Original | rowspan="2"| {{hlist|RCA|Kemosabe}} |
| January 23, 2018 |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Kesha songs}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Drew Pearson (songwriter)
Category:Songs written by Kesha
Category:Songs written by Wrabel
Category:Songs with feminist themes
Category:Kemosabe Records singles