In Kesha’s new album Rainbow the album that “Praying” is on is all about her difficult experiences and how she has grown from them. In “Praying” she discuss women’s liberation and women’s empowerment. Through this song Kesha gives subtle social critiques and offers small solutions to the problems being discussed. Through watching the music video and reading about the song it becomes more clear what Kesha is discussing. She discusses her lawsuit and sexual assault allegations and how those days were super dark for her but she learned to grow from them. This song came out during the time that the #MeToo movement was really getting started. This song empowers people to speak up and not be afraid to take back their lives and stand up for themselves. Her main critique is in relation to women’s liberation and not letting people take advantage of you and your life.

 

“Well, you almost had me fooled

Told me that I was nothing without you

Oh, but after everything you’ve done

I can thank you for how strong I have become”

(link to lyrics)

These lyrics discuss how people can be deceiving and break you but how through these difficult situations you can become stronger.

 

“I’m proud of who I am

No more monsters, I can breathe again

And you said that I was done

Well, you were wrong and now the best is yet to come

‘Cause I can make it on my own, oh

And I don’t need you, I found a strength I’ve never known

I’ll bring thunder, I’ll bring rain, oh

When I’m finished, they won’t even know your name”

 

Within these lyrics you can see how she is discussing women’s liberation and women’s empowerment. How this situation or person took over for so long but you are stronger than this, you are someone without them.

 

In terms of her offering concrete solutions to the problems she addresses, I wouldn’t say that she offers concrete solutions but more so idealistic solutions. She discusses how although these terrible terrible things are happening to people and herself, you are not defined by them and are so much stronger than you think. How she had years of darkness and times where she just couldn’t handle it but every time she took these experiences and became the strong person she is today. This song gives others the empowerment to speak out, to realize that you aren’t defined by these experiences that broke you. The lyrics of “Praying” don’t necessarily offer a concrete solution to the problem but the song in general has been impactful amongst the #MeToo movement. There isn’t policy-like solutions being offered within “Praying” but has empowered people to speak out and tell their stories.