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The Alchemy of Pop | Kesha | TED

TED

146.1K Views . 2024-07-11

"You can write a song and you can not tell the truth, but your song will suck," says pop star Kesha. So what's the secret to making a great pop song? She explains the special alchemy of her own hits like "TiK ToK" and "Praying" and gives a stunning debut performance of her new song, "Cathedral." (This talk contains mature language.) If you love watching TED Talks like this one, become a TED Member to support our mission of spreading ideas: https://ted.com/membership Follow TED! X: https://twitter.com/TEDTalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ted Facebook: https://facebook.com/TED LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ted-conferences TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tedtoks The TED Talks channel features talks, performances and original series from the world's leading thinkers and doers. Subscribe to our channel for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit https://TED.com to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more. Watch more: https://go.ted.com/KBdGj https://youtu.be/MJd6Y50hfAM TED's videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy: https://www.ted.com/about/our-organization/our-policies-terms/ted-talks-usage-policy. For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at https://media-requests.ted.com #TED #TEDTalks #Kesha

Kesha introduces herself as a pop star and describes her passion for songwriting, comparing it to scuba diving in its exploration of deep, sometimes dark emotions. She emphasizes that honesty is crucial for creating powerful music, as it allows for a direct connection to one's truth.

Songwriting
Honesty
Emotions
Truth

  • Kesha believes that pop music is a powerful form of expression that can change emotions and energy in just a few minutes.
  • She draws a parallel between songwriting and scuba diving, explaining that both require exploring the deepest, darkest aspects of oneself to find truth and meaning.

Insights from Kesha's Speech on Songwriting and Truth:

1. Songwriting as a Dive into the Depths:

Kesha's analogy of songwriting to scuba diving beautifully portrays the act of delving into one's deepest, darkest thoughts to find truth and meaning. It highlights the courage required to confront the unknown and the potential for profound discoveries within those unexplored depths.

2. The Alchemy of Honesty:

Kesha argues that honesty is the cornerstone of good songwriting. She emphasizes that true emotions, even those considered "frivolous" or "guilty pleasures," can resonate deeply with audiences. This suggests that authenticity, not just technical proficiency, is key to crafting songs that connect.

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