Kesha’s Debut Single “Tik Tok” Turns 10; Revisit The Party Anthem

Where did the time go? Today marks 10 years since Kesha jumpstarted the party and her career with debut single “Tik Tok.” After capturing attention as the (then uncredited) vocalist on Flo Rida’s chart-topping “Right Round,” the hitmaker started her path to superstardom with a number one single of her own. Released August 7, 2009, the enduring anthem enjoyed a slow ride to the top of the Billboard Hot 100. It eventually peaked at number one in January of 2010 and held the position for nine weeks.

The track has been a staple at parties ever since. And for good reason considering how quotable its lyrics remain. “Wake up in the morning feelin’ like P.Diddy,” Kesha raps on the opening lines. This leads into a shoutout from Diddy himself before she hits the town. “Before I leave, brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack. ‘Cause when I leave for the night, I ain’t coming back,” she vows. Fun fact: The lyrics almost didn’t survive the song’s recording session. “I didn’t even know if it was very good,” the Rainbow siren admitted in an interview with Herald Sun.

“I wanted to rewrite the verses, I didn’t think it was funny or clever. I thought it kind of sucked. But everyone else liked it.” Her opinion changed after the song was released. “Now I’m glad I didn’t rewrite ‘Tik Tok.’ People are really connecting with that honesty. I write my songs the way I’d talk to a girlfriend over a drink. I tell it like it is. It gets me in trouble but so what? I get in trouble a lot.” That’s abundantly clear in the music video. In it, the former K-$ wakes up in a bathtub the morning after what appears to be a rager.

That leads into an eventual run-in with the police and another night of revelries. Kesha ends the Syndrome-directed release covered in confetti and laying in a different bathtub. Ridiculously fucks free and equally fun, it cemented the song’s iconic status. “Tik Tok” led into the release of her debut album Animal, which housed three more Top 10 singles. And that was just the beginning. Revisit the song that started it all below.

Is this the definitive party anthem of the last 10 years? Let us know below, or by hitting us up on Facebook and Twitter!