"Raising Hell" is a song by Kesha. It is the lead single from Kesha's fourth studio album High Road and was released on October 24, 2019. The song features Big Freedia.[1] It serves as the third track from the album.
The single was certified gold in the United States in 2024.[2]
Background[]
"Raising Hell" (then untitled) was confirmed to be released in October of 2019 [3] Kesha posted a clip of the song's instrumental a few days before its release, and then a snippet of the chorus was leaked online.[4] Stint, one of the producers for the album, posted the date 10/25 on his Instagram story, confirming the release date for October 25, 2019.[5] It was later confirmed by Kesha that the song was titled "Raising Hell" and would be released on October 24, 2019.
The single was announced on October 22, 2019 through Kesha's hotline. The following day, Kesha used the hotline for a trailer of the song. The music video was directed by Luke Gilford. Kesha described the song as having a good soul but being a bad bitch. While working on the song, she thought that Big Freedia would sound good for the chorus. The two met while on Kesha's cruise and have become close friends since, even getting dead fish tattoos together. Kesha called up Big Freedia to be in the song, and she agreed.
On January 23, 2020, the Justin Caruso Remix was released to all streaming services after previously only being accessible by Shazaming Kesha's performance of "Raising Hell" at the American Music Awards. On February 20, The Pink Panda Remix, The Wild Remix, and the Steve James remixes were officially released.
| “ | I met Big Freedia on a Kesha cruise. I'd never been on a cruise before and I got on this and it was like a music festival on the ocean. We were all being so loud because there were no sound restraints, no time restraints. Everybody on this boat was just having the best time of their life but also taking care of each other and could just feel 100% themselves. There were people taking their clothes off and getting naked. It was just like this little island of magic for four days. And I also really wanted to write a song with Big Freedia after seeing her show; it was so inspiring. Spirituality shouldn't be exclusive—you shouldn't have to meet some sort of requirement to love or not love a certain gender of person to be included into getting into heaven or having eternal happiness. I find the salvation in being together and just being really supportive of people being positive and taking care of each other and living in a really loving way. But it doesn't mean you can't get naked and get drunk and be wild. I just grew up really seeing some disconnect with spirituality and religion. So I just wanted to give a shout-out to that [cruise], because it was really f**king fun. | ” |
Official versions[]
- Album version - 2:49
- Justin Caruso Remix - 3:44
- Pink Panda Radio Remix - 2:36
- Steve James Remix - 2:30
- The Wild Remix - 3:04
Music Video[]
| Music video | Information | |
|---|---|---|
|
Released | October 24, 2019 |
| Length | 3:33 | |
| Director | Luke Gilford | |
| Producer | Heather Heller | |
| Filmed | 2019 | |
| Location | ||
| Vevo views | +11 million | |
The music video was directed by Luke Gilford, who has directed videos for artists like Troye Sivan, Christina Aguilera, and Madison Beer.
The video portrays Kesha as a televangelist who is married to an abusive husband. She is loved by many fans and her services are shown on television as well as commercials of her trying to convert people to religion. One night, Kesha tries to seduce her drunk husband but is almost choked to death until he is stabbed in the head. Kesha then drags the dead body to the trunk of her car, dyes her hair dark brown, and flees to a motel out of town. She is then wanted for murder and is chased by the police until she is eventually caught and arrested for killing her husband.
Kesha explains the video by saying "The character in the video is devoted to being good and just taking it, but then she finally succumbs to the fact that not all human beings [are perfect]. In the video, it symbolizes that I am a flawed human and I make mistakes, so now I am going to raise some hell, which you’ll see with this album."
Lyrics[]
Ooh, oh, oh, oh
Let's go
Halle-lujah
I'm still here, still bringing it to ya
Ohm like Buddha
Good girls know how to get hard too, ya (Uh huh)
I'm all fucked up in my Sunday best
No walk of shame 'cause I love this dress
Hungover, heart of gold, holy mess
Doin' my best (Ha), bitch, I'm blessed
Oh, if you couldn't tell
We can always find the trouble, we don't need no help
Singing oh, mama raised me well
But I don't wanna go to Heaven without raising hell (Get in)
Get it
Drop it down low, hit it, hit the pole with it
Drop it down low, drop it down low
Drop, dr-drop it down low, drop it down low (Get it)
Drop it, drop it, drop it, drop-drop-drop it down, down low
Bounce it up and down where the good Lord split it
Hands up, witness
Solo cup for the holy spirits
Something wicked (Ooh)
Speaking in tongues in my blood-red lipstick (Brrah)
I'm all fucked up in my Sunday best
No walk of shame 'cause I love this dress (Ooh)
Only God can judge this holy mess (Ah, ah)
Bitch, I'm blessed
Oh, if you couldn't tell (Oh well)
We can always find the trouble, we don't need no help
Singing oh, mama raised me well (Uh huh)
But I don't wanna go to Heaven without raising hell (Ah)
Get it
Drop it down low, hit it, hit the pole with it
Drop it down low, drop it down low
Drop, dr-drop it down low, drop it down low (Get it)
Drop it, drop it, drop it, drop-drop-drop it down, down low
Bounce it up and down where the good Lord split it
Ladies and gentlemen (Oh shit)
Let's shake what the good Lord gave us (Oh yes, baby)
Come on, let's go
Aw dang, this that shit (Uh huh)
Beat like this, wanna shake my ooh
Oh dang, this that shit
Beat like this, wanna shake my ooh
Aw dang, this that shit
Beat like this, haters, suck my ooh
Woo, Lord, feeling it
Beat like this, make me feel that power
Oh, if you couldn't tell
We can always find the trouble, we don't need no help
Singing oh, mama raised me well
But I don't wanna go to Heaven without raising hell
Can I get an amen? (Ha)
This is for the misfits of creation (Ha)
Take this as your holy validation (Let's go now, come on)
You don't need to have your celebratin'
This is our salvation
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The music video was released exactly one year after the music video for "Here Comes The Change" was released.
- Kesha teased the "speaking in tongues in my blood red lipstick" line on June 16th as the caption to a selfie on Twitter.[6]
- According to The A.V. Club, Kesha wanted Big Freedia to appear in the music video for "Raising Hell", but she wasn't able to because of scheduling issues.[7]
- In a joint interview with Freedia for Paper, Kesha says "I'm really sad Freedia, that you're not in the video. So many people have been like, 'Why isn't Freedia in the video?' And trust me, I am so sad you're not in the video, but we tried, the schedules just didn't align. Just want to let everybody know that that was the circumstance, the timing."[8]
Videos[]
Live performances[]
Remixes[]
References[]
- ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/12/arts/music/fall-music-pop-jazz-calendar.html
- ↑ RIAA Certification – "Raising Hell"
- ↑ https://twitter.com/KeshaCrave/status/1172542972254216198
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/B3uhJtApgNSaFziULXb3zlPi3zgIG4ftby12ZA0/?igshid=1tbmhndv0d8wd
- ↑ https://twitter.com/iizmrpeepz/status/1185950844795150337?s=19
- ↑ https://twitter.com/KeshaRose/status/1140305689304285184
- ↑ https://news.avclub.com/televangelist-kesha-battles-her-abuser-in-the-video-for-1839337026
- ↑ https://www.papermag.com/kesha-big-freedia-interview-raising-hell-tattoos-2641435753.html?rebelltitem=7#rebelltitem7
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