Glitter, chaos, and a whole lot of attitude: the early 2010s belonged to Kesha. Long before TikTok became a social app, Tik Tok the song ruled every house party, car ride, and school dance. Kesha’s glitter-pop era wasn’t just a phase; it was a moment in pop culture that felt loud, messy, carefree, and, honestly, kind of liberating.
Kesha didn’t just make music, she made statements. From brushing her teeth with a bottle of Jack to shouting self-love from the rooftops, her songs celebrated the weird, the wild, and the unapologetic. She wore glitter like armor turning rebellion into a brand. Whether you loved her or side-eyed her, there’s no denying she defined a sound, a style, and a feeling.
The Kesha Era: Loud, Proud, and Viral

Back when pop was polished and predictable, Kesha crashed the party with smudged eyeliner, neon leotards, and lyrics that made your parents nervous. She wasn’t just different she was disruptive, and the world couldn’t look away.
Her songs didn’t just climb charts they exploded. Tik Tok broke records as one of the best-selling digital singles of all time. We R Who We R became an anthem of self-acceptance, going viral not just for the beat, but for its message. Even deep cuts like Cannibal and Animal gained cult status, with fans quoting them years later on Tumblr, Twitter, and now TikTok (yes, the app this time).
The reason these songs went viral? They were unfiltered. They weren’t trying to be "perfect pop" they were messy, bold, and fun. And honestly, sometimes that’s exactly what people need.
Tik Tok
The glitter-pop blueprint. This song made waking up in the morning feel like a rager. It turned Kesha into a global name overnight, mostly because no one else was making party anthems sound this offbeat and oddly poetic. It was bratty, it was catchy, and it was everywhere.
We R Who We R
This was more than a pop hit it was a movement. Released in response to LGBTQ+ bullying and teen suicides, it served as a reminder that being yourself is enough. Kesha channeled her party energy into something powerful, and people felt it.
Your Love Is My Drug
One word: addictive. This song lived rent-free in every teen’s playlist. It had that flirty, over-the-top obsession energy that made it perfect for blasting on summer road trips or dramatic lip-syncs in your bedroom mirror.
Die Young
If glitter-pop had a thesis statement, this might be it. “Let’s make the most of the night like we’re gonna die young” wasn’t just a line it was a lifestyle. The beat was euphoric, the vibe unstoppable.
Blow
This one felt like laser tag in audio form. It was pure chaos, in the best way. The music video with James Van Der Beek? Iconic. The lyrics? Nonsensical and brilliant. The vibe? Glitter bombs and dance floor destruction.
Take It Off
Kesha told us to take it off, and the world listened. The song is all about letting go of expectations, of image, of clothes (maybe). It became a club staple and a metaphor for shedding societal norms, whether she meant it or not.
Crazy Kids
The whistle hook alone could power a whole Gen Z trend today. This song was a love letter to the misfits, weirdos, and rule-breakers. Kesha practically invented “main character energy” before it was cool.
Cannibal
This one aged like fine, glitter-covered wine. At first, people didn’t know what to do with lyrics like “I’ll eat your heart out,” but now? Cannibal has found a second life on TikTok and Halloween playlists. It’s wild, unhinged, and weirdly empowering.
C'Mon
Probably one of her most underrated singles. It had the same joyful chaos of her bigger hits, but with a little more sweetness. It felt like the kind of song that plays while you and your best friend sneak out to chase the sunrise.
Animal
A total curveball in the best way. It’s emotional, dreamy, and stripped of the party-girl persona. Animal showed Kesha’s vulnerable side and proved she wasn’t just about glitter she had depth, too.
Kesha’s glitter-pop era wasn’t just about music: it was a vibe, a mood, a moment. It gave a generation permission to be weird, messy, loud, and unfiltered. Her songs might’ve started on the dance floor, but they ended up carving a space for authenticity in pop.
Even years later, those songs still hit not just because they’re catchy, but because they captured a feeling we all needed at the time: freedom. So throw on some glitter, scream-sing Tik Tok, and remember: we were all just trying to brush our teeth with a bottle of Jack once.