After being forced to step away from the spotlight at the height of her career, Kesha spent the past few years embroiled in an ugly legal battle with her former mentor and producer, Dr. Luke. Finally allowed to release new music once again, Kesha has hit the ground running, dropping her stunning single and video for “Praying” earlier this month.
The emotional video opens open with a voice-over from Kesha, who speaks about one of the lowest points in her life. Shot in black and white, a shipwrecked Kesha is floating in the middle of the sea as she says, “Am I dead? Or is this one of those dreams? Those horrible dreams that seem like they last forever? If I am alive, why? If there is a God or whatever, something, somewhere, why have I been abandoned by everyone and everything I’ve ever known? I’ve ever loved? Stranded. What is the lesson? What is the point? God, give me a sign, or I have to give up. I can’t do this anymore. Please just let me die. Being alive hurts too much.”
Kesha belts out her new single, with the lyrics most likely directed at her former producer Dr. Luke, who Kesha alleges sexually and emotionally assaulted her during their time working together.
“’Praying’ is a song that showcases my voice in a way that my voice has never been showcased before in my entire life,” says Kesha.
Now, Kesha is taking fans behind the scenes on the set of “Praying,” a song that shows off a whole new Kesha to her listeners. “Praying” had Kesha working with director Jonas Akerlund, who has been behind the camera for other iconic videos including Lady Gaga and Beyoncé’s “Telephone” and Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful.”
“Jonas Akerlund is someone I’ve always wanted to work with my entire career, my entire life,” says Kesha in the newly released BTS video. “When I started making music I was like, one day I will work with him,” says Kesha. “It’s another dream come true.”
Kesha says that she’s hoping the message of “Praying” with help others. “It’s me talking about going through hard things and coming out the other side and being okay. Hopefully it inspires other people that they can get through something if they’re going through something hard too.”
“Praying” is the lead single from Kesha’s upcoming highly anticipated album Rainbow, which is set to be released on August 11. The singer has already followed up “Praying” with her second single and video for “Woman,” a hard-hitting feminist anthem that has the singer teaming up with The Dap-Kings horns.
