Cannibal (Kesha song)

This article is about the Kesha song. For other songs, see Cannibal (disambiguation) § Music.
"Cannibal"
An image of Kesha looking angrily to her right is placed upon a multicolored galaxy background. The word "Kesha" is embossed in a gold glitter font in the bottom left corner. Underneath it is the word "Cannibal", in a smaller white font.
Promotional single by Kesha
from the EP Cannibal
ReleasedNovember 9, 2010 (2010-11-09)
RecordedSeptember 2010
StudioConway Recording, Hollywood, California
Genre
Length3:14
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Ammo
  • Billboard
Lyric video
"Cannibal" on YouTube

"Cannibal" is a song by American recording artist and songwriter Kesha, from her first EP of the same name (2010). The song was written by Kesha alongside Pebe Sebert, Joshua Coleman and Mathieu Jomphe, with production completed by Ammo and Billboard. The song was released as a promotional single as part of the countdown to Kesha's EP Cannibal on November 9, 2010.

Background and recording

The track was written by Kesha Sebert, Joshua Coleman, Mathieu Jomphe and Pebe Sebert, whilst Ammo and Billboard produced the track. The track was recorded in September 2010 at Conway Recording Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. The song serves as the title track to her first EP, Cannibal and was written, recorded and completed only weeks before the release of the EP.

Promotion and release

Upon its initial release, the song charted on the Canadian Hot 100 and American Billboard Hot 100 charts at numbers 62 and 77, respectively. Kesha performed the song on her tours Get Sleazy Tour (2011) and Kesha and the Creepies: Fuck the World Tour (2016-2017).

Composition

Kesha employs a rap-sing style on the track where she raps lyrics like "Whenever you tell me I'm pretty / That's when the hunger really hits me" and "I have a heart I swear I do / Just not baby when it comes to you". "Cannibal", makes use of synth and dance driven backings while Kesha sings about maneater tendencies and makes a reference to notorious serial-killer Jeffrey Dahmer. This song is set in the key of F minor with a tempo of 130 BPM. Her vocal range spans from low note of F4 to high note of F5.[1] Present throughout the song are snippets of Kesha yodeling.[1] The use of Auto Tune and vocoders are prominent throughout the track, also.

In February 2020, the song gained viral status following a dance trend using it on the TikTok app. Following the revival of interest in the song, the song reentered numerous charts, becoming a top 40 single[2] in Canada. In response, Kesha joined the app and released a video of herself performing the viral dance routine alongside Charli D'Amelio and released a lyric video for the song.[3][4]

Controversy

Following renewed interest in cannibalistic serial killer Dahmer due to the 2022 Netflix series Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, the song was criticized for a line in which he is referenced. In the second verse, Kesha sings "Be too sweet and you’ll be a goner / Yeah, I’ll pull a Jeffrey Dahmer." Co-writer Pebe Sebert defended Kesha and the song's other writers on TikTok, taking responsibility for writing the lyric and apologizing for offending the families of Dahmer's victims.[5] Very shortly after the release of the Netflix series, Kesha appeared as a musical guest in Hulu's variety special, Huluween Dragstravaganza, where a pre-filmed performance of the song was featured. As a result of the controversy, the lyric was edited and removed.[6]

Charts

Chart (2010) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[7] 77
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[7] 62
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Argentina (Argentina Hot 100)[8] 55
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[7] 31

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[9] Gold 35,000‡
United States (RIAA)[10] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b Vena, Jocelyn (2010-11-05). "Kesha Is A 'Cannibal' On Her New Track Singer plays a maneater on title track from Cannibal". MTV News. MTV Networks (Viacom). Archived from the original on November 12, 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-19.
  2. ^ McIntyre, Hugh. "10 Years After It Was First Released, Kesha's 'Cannibal' Hits The Top 40 Thanks To TikTok". Forbes.
  3. ^ "Kesha's 'Cannibal' Lyric Video: Watch". Billboard. March 4, 2020.
  4. ^ "TikTok Is Giving Kesha's Old Hits the Second Life They Deserve". PAPER. March 4, 2020.
  5. ^ Najib, Shafiq. "Kesha's Mom Addresses Controversial Jeffrey Dahmer 'Cannibal' Lyric in Wake of Netflix Series". People. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  6. ^ "Kesha - Cannibal (Live at the Hulu's Huluween Dragstravaganza)". Youtube. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  7. ^ a b c "Cannibal - Ke$ha - Billboard". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  8. ^ "Kesha – Chart History (Argentina Hot 100)" Billboard Argentina Hot 100 Singles for Kesha. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  9. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2018 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  10. ^ "American single certifications – Kesha – Cannibal". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 17, 2024.