Why Kesha’s Jaw-Dropping Billboards Performance Was a Badass Stand Against Dr. Luke
It’s been a long and winding road for Kesha. After losing her legal battle to be released from contract with Sony and her alleged abuser, Dr. Luke, Kesha had to nab permission from both label and producer to perform at tonight’s Billboard Music Awards. Proving she’s got more than a little bit of fight in her, the artist behind “Tik Tok” and “Die Young” showed up to tonight’s Billboard Music Awards red carpet wearing a matador-inspired purple suit — as in, dressed as a bullfighter. SYMBOLISM MUCH? And while her electrifying, standing ovation performance left Twitter on fire, the energy behind her Bob Dylan tribute wasn’t even the most badass part of the whole thing.
According to our team of legal experts, by choosing to perform Dylan’s “It Ain’t Me Babe,” Kesha was denying Sony and Dr. Luke a cut of the performance’s royalties. In other words, by not singing one of the Dr. Luke-produced hits that she’s famous for, she likely kept him from getting a paycheck for tonight’s performance. In a word: Genius.
While we did NOT speak to Kesha’s own lawyers and can only speculate, one thing is for sure: This was absolutely the “statement performance” the artist had been promising us. Whether or not the song choice was motivated by money or Bob Dylan appreciation – or, y’know, both — we totally respect Kesha’s decision to distance herself from the artistic collaboration that has caused her life so much drama and heartache. This performance was definitely a mark of Kesha’s independence and will to move ahead. And girl sounded GOOD.
What’s your take on Kesha’s song choice? We welcome all forms of legal speculation @BritandCo!
(Photos via Kevin Winter/Getty)
