Pandora Plays Ke$ha

I have really been enjoying the Pandora challenge, now in its third week. But I needed a break and wanted to listen to a familiar, sinfully enjoyable station for Tuesday’s 6-mile run.

If those crazy Crossfitters can have a cheat day, then why can’t I, right?

So Tuesday I bypassed the heavy metal, country, jazz and electronic stations in my queue for my trusty Ke$ha station. Yeah, that’s right, Ke$ha — don’t forget the dollar sign either.

She’s crazy, kind of weird looking without glitter and her songs are all about stuff that I’m too old for now, but I still love her music, so no matter how hot or how bad this run would be, at least I’d have some good music to go with it. Expectations were high as I was lacing up my shoes, and Pandora smashed them.

Ke$ha — “We R Who We R”

Really, there aren’t any BAD Ke$ha songs Pandora could have chosen to start the run — “Crazy Kids” is pretty weak, though — but “We R Who We R” is a damn good one. The energy is high like any other Ke$ha single, but the lyrics make this a hit.

The song is littered with hot pants, eye glitter, looking sick and sexyfied and even Jesus on a necklace-ace-ace. There’s so much going on lyrically — even if it is on a superficial level — to enjoy that it’s impossible not to take the run har-har-har-har-har-hard even on a hot day.

Song Energy: 7/10
Run Motivation: 7/10
Glitter Level: Looking sick and sexyfied
Overall: A

Anna Kendrick — “Cups”

If Katie was doing this review, she’d probably put up straight 10s across the board for this song. She has become a huge Anna Kendrick and “Cups” fangirl since watching “Pitch Perfect,” which is good with me because this song — and Anna Kendrick — isn’t bad at all.

will. i. am. and Britney Spears — “Scream and Shout”

I always feel a bit of shock when this song keeps playing after 30 seconds because I’m so used to hearing it in the Beats by Dre commercial.

Far East Movement — “Like a G6”

Ke$ha — “Die Young”

Ke$ha song No. 2. When I do these write-ups, I like to read up on the songs first, and I was completely unaware of the “controversy” with this song.

From Wikipedia:

The day after the Newtown shooting in Connecticut transpired, the song was pulled from some radio stations, causing a controversial online message with “Not Your Fault Kesha” trending on social networking site Twitter. The track, which features the lyrics “like we’re gonna die young”, was refused airplay by certain radio stations because they center around premature death. The withdrawal sent out a mixed response online. Responding to the event, the pop singer tweeted: “I’m so so so sorry for anyone who has been affected by this tragedy and I understand why my song is now inappropriate. Words cannot express.”

But like gun control regulation, this Newton reaction has ebbed as I hear “Die Young” regularly on Sirius/XM.

Miley Cryus — “We Can’t Stop”

Halfway done. The first three miles went by really fast. Sadly, I couldn’t hold the pace and the last three were slower.

Avril Lavigne — “What the Hell”

My college roommate and I bought Avril Lavigne’s Let Go album in 2002. That’s how much we both, embarrassingly, like her music. This song is no “Sk8er Boi,” but really, what is?

Flo Rida — “Low”

There is no Flo Rida song out there that will make me feel sad. Me listening to a Flo Rida song is similar to Zoolander and his orange mocha frappuccino.

I had a discussion last night with Katie which Flo Rida song was better, “Low” or “Right Round.” I contended at first that “Low” was better because it put his career on the map, showcased pornography posters and popularized boots with the fur. She said “Right Round” was better because it had Ke$ha in it. I can’t argue with that. Katie wins.

But “Low” is a fantastic song with great energy

Song Energy: 7/10
Run Motivation: 8/10
Glitter Level: Fly just like my Glock
Overall: A

Ke$ha — “Your Love Is My Drug”

Ke$ha song No. 3.

Icona Pop — “I Love It”

I’m ready for this song to go away soon.

Katy Perry — “Last Friday Night”

I just learned that Kenny G. didn’t play the saxophone in the original song; he just appeared in the video. That kind of takes away from this song a bit.

Iyaz — “Replay”

One more mile to go.

Kesha — “Blow”

Yes, that makes Ke$ha song No. 4 on this playlist. I told you Pandora did not disappoint.

“Blow” is an edgier song than the previous three Ke$ha tracks on this playlist, and that’s not a bad thing when you’re crapping out at the end of a run.

If you’ve never seen it before, please please please watch the video. The second half is just one complete WTF mess. Ke$ha and James Van Der Beek start shooting at each other — poorly — but keep missing and instead hit unicorns, who bleed out rays or rainbows. There’s also this genius dialogue — “Well, well, well. If it isn’t James Van Der Douche.”, “I don’t appreciate you slander-Beeking my name, Ke dollar sign ha.” — in the middle of it. The final seconds will also haunt your dreams.

Enjoy!

Song Energy: 8/10
Run Motivation: 6/10
Glitter Level: Throw some glitter, make it rain on ’em
Overall: A

Straight A’s for Ke$ha and Pandora, but I knew that would likely happen before I took my first step out the door. Wednesday I plan to restart the Pandora challenge, but it was nice to get this small break and enjoy my sinful music choices.