"Blah Blah Blah"
Single by Kesha featuring 3OH!3
from the album Animal
ReleasedFebruary 2, 2010 (2010-02-02)
Recorded2009
StudioLotzah Matzah Studios, New York City, New York
Genre
Length2:52
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Benny Blanco
Kesha singles chronology
"Tik Tok"
(2009)		 "Blah Blah Blah"
(2010)		 "Dirty Picture"
(2010)
3OH!3 singles chronology
"Still Around"
(2009)		 "Blah Blah Blah"
(2010)		 "My First Kiss"
(2010)
Music video
"Blah Blah Blah" on YouTube

"Blah Blah Blah" is a song by American recording artist Kesha from her debut album, Animal (2010). Produced by Benny Blanco, and co-written by Kesha, Blanco, Neon Hitch and Sean Foreman, it was released as the album's second single on January 29, 2010, and features 3OH!3. Initial writing of the song took place when Kesha, Blanco, Hitch and Foreman were discussing which sex talked more and which one was more "obnoxious." The song is a midtempo electropop song that speaks of men in the same way that they have talked about women in the music industry. The lyrics depict a woman who would rather have sex than listen to a man speak and features blatant come-ons throughout the song.

The single achieved commercial success by reaching the top five in Australia and Canada, whilst charting within the top ten in the United States and New Zealand. The song became Kesha's second top ten single in Australia, Canada and the United States.

The music video for "Blah Blah Blah" was directed by Brendan Malloy. The video follows similar suit to the song's lyrics. It depicts Kesha getting hit on by a variety of different men and her continually rejecting them. Kesha and 3OH!3 performed the song on the ninth season of American Idol to promote the single.

Writing and inspiration

"Blah Blah Blah" was written by Kesha alongside Neon Hitch, Sean Foreman, and Benny Blanco, who also produced the ballad. Kesha said that the ballad originated from a discussion they had in the studio on the politics of female-male relationships which Kesha later explained, "The song came about when the people that wrote it — me, Benny Blanco, Neon Hitch and [3OH!3's] Sean Foreman — all got in a room, and they were talking about how chicks talk too much," [...] "And me and Neon were like, 'No, no, no, guys talk too much," [...] "So, we had this war of who were more obnoxious, chicks or dudes. And the song kind of came around from that conversation. I think I make a pretty fair point both in this video and in the song, that dudes are way more annoying."[1]

Composition

"Blah Blah Blah" is a midtempo electropop song;[2] the song utilizes synthesizers and drum machines in its production. It is written in the key of D minor and Kesha's vocal range in the song spans from the note of D3 to the note of D5.[3] Lyrically, "Blah Blah Blah" depicts a woman who would rather have sex than listen to a man speak as the singer finds talkative men annoying; blatant come-ons such as "show me where your dick's at" and "I wanna be naked" leave this literal meaning unambiguous. Kesha herself has been frank about this straightforward interpretation of the lyrics.[1] The lyrics have been interpreted as a shot at the way men objectify women by speaking about them the way that they do in the music industry. "[1] Andrew Burgess of MusicOMH felt that the line "I don't really care where you live at, just turn around boy, let me hit that. Don't be a little bitch with your chit-chat; just show me where your dick's at" was a way of belittling her male peers.[4] Fraser McAlpine of BBC noted that it was cultural progress that a woman can now "sing a song[...] as dirty [...] as her male peers".[5]

Critical reception

Critics were divided over the pairing of Kesha and 3OH!3 (pictured), with some calling 3OH!3's appearance superfluous and noting she out performed them.

Fraser McAlpine of the BBC was impressed with the song saying "it's a sign of cultural progress that a modern pop lass can sing a song which is exactly as dirty as the kind of song her male peers would risk." Comparing Kesha's vocal delivery to that of Eminem, he also compared the hook, "you tah-tah-tawkin' that Blah Blah Blah" to "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga, stating that the song was a "rural, farm-girl spin" of it.[5] Jim Farber of the New York Daily News stated that the track "could become the 'whatever' anthem of the season."[6] It was described by the Winnipeg Free Press as a "hard pop-hop cut with pogo-worthy beats."[7] Daniel Brockman of The Phoenix thought that Kesha "intone[d] in a lusty, disturbingly carefree tone" on the song.[8]

Ann Powers of the Los Angeles Times said that "Blah Blah Blah" was one of those "moments on Animal that are nearly as experimental as an Animal Collective record, but instead of some wistful, Brian Wilson-loving artiste at the song's center, there's this girl, rolling her eyes and snapping her gum."[9] Melanie Bertoldi from Billboard magazine also thought that the verse by 3OH!3 "severely slow[ed] down the momentum and never quite gel[ed] with Kesha's catty, aggressive delivery," but praised the song for its "danceability".[10] Andrew Burgess of MusicOMH said that while "3OH!3 makes a lame attempt to assert the case for male equality [on the song], Kesha comes off as so infectiously dominating, it's hard to take [3OH!3] seriously."[4] Mayer Nissim of Digital Spy gave the song two out of five stars, stating that it was not as catchy as her debut, slamming the lyrics for being "thick" and adding that she failed to deliver on many lines, calling them "faux-outrageous, faux-feminist trash".[11] Melinda Newman of HitFix criticized the song, calling 3OH!3 "slumming" and "wretched."[12]

Chart and commercial performance

Kesha performing "Blah Blah Blah" at the Get Sleazy Tour

In the United States, "Blah Blah Blah" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at position seven, and on the Hot Digital Songs chart at number two, selling a total of 206,000 downloads, both chartings would become the songs' peaks.[13] On Billboard's Pop chart, the song reached a peak of eleven.[14] On December 13, 2018, the song had received a double-platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America for accomplishing sales of 2,000,000 units in the United States.[15] As of March 2016, "Blah Blah Blah" has also sold 2.4 million digital copies in the country alone.[16] In Canada, "Blah Blah Blah" debuted on the Canadian Hot 100 at position three, which became its peak.[17] It has since gone on to be certified 2× Platinum in Canada by the CRIA (Canadian Recording Industry Association) for selling 160,000 units.[18]

In Australia, "Blah Blah Blah" entered the Australian chart at position seven on the week of January 24, 2010.[19] The following week the song moved to position four, where it held the spot for three consecutive weeks. On the song's fifth week on the chart, it reached its peak at position three where it held the spot for one week.[19] The song was certified double-platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for equivalent sales of 140,000 units.[20] In New Zealand, the song debuted and peaked at position seven. It later went on to receive gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) for sales of 7,500 units.[21] "Blah Blah Blah" made its debut onto the UK Singles Chart at number eleven on the issue dated February 7, 2010[22] with sales of 27,161.[23]

Music video

Kesha in the music video, duct taping a man's mouth closed in response to his attempt to hit on her.

The music video for the song was directed by Brendan Malloy.[24] It premiered on February 23, 2010, on Vevo.[25] Both members of 3OH!3 make an appearance in the video.[26] Kesha told MTV that the video primarily involves men (described as "douchey") hitting on Kesha, while she declines their advances. "At one point," Kesha says "I get to be strapped to this harness and bouncing around everywhere, and it was really cool [...] The whole concept of the video was a bunch of douche-y guys macking on me as usual, and me making them eat their toupees or other various items".[1] Melanie Bertoldi of Billboard said that the clip was "thoroughly entertaining".[27]

In the first scene, outside of a club, Kesha is hit on by comedian Bret Ernst. He tries to convince Kesha that they would make a good couple, meanwhile Kesha texts someone, describing the man as a "major douchemaster". The next scene has Kesha at a bar playing pool near a man, where she duct-tapes him, later pulling down his pants, after describing him as a "tool bag" in a text message. In an arcade, Kesha pushes a man away who is making conversation with her. The third suitor attempts to serenade Kesha with a guitar, to which Kesha replies by stuffing paper in his mouth. In the final sequence, a man tries to talk to Kesha in a bowling alley. She loses interest when his toupée falls off his head and she shoves the hairpiece into his mouth, in vein of the previous arcade scene. The video ends with Kesha and 3OH!3 singing and dancing together in the bowling lanes.[27][28]

Live performances

The song was first performed live for MTV Push, a program broadcast by MTV Networks worldwide.[29][30] It was also performed on January 18, 2010, at MuchOnDemand, broadcast on Canadian cable music channel, MuchMusic.[31] Kesha performed for the first time a heavily censored version of the song on the ninth season of American Idol with 3OH!3 on March 17, 2010.[32] In the United Kingdom, Kesha made two appearances to perform the song. The first was on February 18, 2010, Alan Carr: Chatty Man.[33] It was followed by a performance on breakfast television show GMTV, on February 19.[34] She also performed the song in a set for BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend,[35] as well as Willkommen Bei Mario Barth Live in Germany and So You Think You Can Dance in Australia.[36]

Track listing

Credits and personnel

  • Songwriting – Kesha Sebert, Benny Blanco, Neon Hitch, Sean Foreman
  • Production – Benny Blanco, Dr. Luke (As Executive Producer)
  • Instruments and programming – Benny Blanco
  • Recording – Benny Blanco
  • Engineering – Benny Blanco

Source[40]

Charts

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Blah Blah Blah"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[20] 2× Platinum 140,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[18] 2× Platinum 80,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[21] Gold 7,500*
Sweden (GLF)[67] Gold 20,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[68] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[15] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Blah Blah Blah"
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
United States February 2, 2010 Rhythmic contemporary radio RCA [69]
Australia February 19, 2010 Sony [37][38]
South Korea February 26, 2010 Digital download [70]
United Kingdom February 28, 2010 RCA [39]
March 1, 2010 CD Columbia [71]
Germany April 23, 2010 RCA [72]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Vena, Jocelyn (February 8, 2010). "Kesha Gets Into Battle Of The Sexes With 3Oh!3 For 'Blah Blah Blah' Video". MTV News. MTV Networks (Viacom). Retrieved February 10, 2010.
  2. ↑ Skripnokov, Iyla (March 18, 2010). "Ke$ha Gives 'Blah' Performance on 'Idol'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Kesha, 'Blah Blah Blah' – Composition Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc. January 26, 2010.
  4. 1 2 Burgess, Andrew (February 1, 2010). "Kesha – Animal". MusicOMH. Archived from the original on October 4, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
  5. 1 2 McAlpine, Fraser (February 3, 2010). "BBC – Chart Blog: Ke$ha ft 3Oh3! – 'Blah Blah Blah'". BBC Chart Blog. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved February 8, 2010.
  6. ↑ Farber, Jim (January 5, 2010). "Kesha, 'Animal'". Daily News. Retrieved January 19, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Kesha – Animal (RCA)". Winnipeg Free Press. FP Canadian Newspapers. January 16, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2010.
  8. ↑ Brockman, Daniel (January 8, 2010). "Kesha | Animal". The Phoenix. Phoenix Media/Communications Group. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  9. ↑ Powers, Ann (January 5, 2010). "Kesha is a wisecracking 'Animal'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  10. ↑ Bertoldi, Melanie (February 26, 2010). "Kesha Blah Blah Blah on Billboard". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2010.
  11. ↑ Nissim, Mayer (March 1, 2010). "Ke$ha ft. 3OH!3: 'Blah Blah Blah'". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  12. ↑ Newman, Melinda (January 4, 2010). "Album review: Ke$ha's 'Animal' aims straight for the party girls". HitFix. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  13. ↑ Pietroluongo, Silvio (January 13, 2010). "Kesha Holds On Hot 100; Doubles Down On Digital Songs". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
  14. 1 2 "Kesha Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  15. 1 2 "American single certifications – Kesha – Blah Blah Blah". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  16. ↑ Gary Trust (June 3, 2016). "Ask Billboard: Rihanna's Record Streak of Seven Studio Albums With Hot 100 No. 1s". Nielsen. Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Canadian Hot 100 – Week of January 23, 2010". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. January 23, 2010. Retrieved January 15, 2010.
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  19. 1 2 3 "Ke$ha feat. 3OH!3 – Blah Blah Blah". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
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  21. 1 2 "Latest Gold / Platinum Singles". Radioscope. August 21, 2011. Archived from the original on August 31, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  22. ↑ "The Official Charts Company – Singles Chart For 13/02/2010". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  23. ↑ Jones, Alan (February 8, 2010). "Album sales jump as Alicia tops the charts". Music Week (United Business Media)
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  25. ↑ "Kesha Blah Blah Blah Music Video Debut". Vevo.
  26. ↑ Messer, Lesley (February 3, 2010). "First Look at Ke$ha's Latest Video Shoot". People magazine. Time Inc. Retrieved February 4, 2010.
  27. 1 2 Bertoldi, Melaine (February 24, 2010). "Ke$ha Crushes Men's Hearts In 'Blah Blah Blah' Video o". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Archived from the original on May 30, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
  28. ↑ Vena, Jocelyn (February 24, 2010). "Ke$ha Teaches Boys A Lesson (Or Four) In 'Blah Blah Blah' Video". MTV News. MTV Networks (Viacom). Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  29. ↑ "Watch Ke$ha on MTV Push!". columbia.com. Columbia Records. Archived from the original on January 1, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  30. ↑ "MTV NETWORKS INTERNATIONAL ROLLS-OUT MTV WORLD STAGE & MTV PUSH". MTV Networks. Viacom. Archived from the original (Press release) on July 29, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2009.
  31. ↑ "Ke$ha – Jan 18, 10'". MuchMusic. CTVglobemedia. Archived from the original on May 25, 2012. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
  32. ↑ Roberts, Soraya (March 18, 2010). "Ke$ha performing on American Idol". Daily News. New York. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  33. ↑ "Series 3 | Episode 3 | Alan Carr: Chatty Man". Alan Carr: Chatty Man. Channel 4. February 18, 2010. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
  34. ↑ "KE$ha Television Appearance | What's on GMTV". GMTV. ITV. February 12, 2010. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  35. ↑ "BBC – Radio 1's Big Weekend – Ke$ha". BBC. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
  36. ↑ Cameron (February 9, 2010). "Ke$ha to perform on 'So You Think You Can Dance Australia'". TV Central. Archived from the original on November 11, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
  37. 1 2 "Blah Blah Blah – Kesha (Australia CD Single)". JB Hi-Fi. jbhifionline.com.au. Archived from the original on November 4, 2010. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
  38. 1 2 "Kesha (Australia Digital Download Release)". bandit.fm. Sony Music Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 25, 2010. Retrieved February 21, 2010.
  39. 1 2 "Ke$ha: Blah Blah Blah (feat. 3OH!3) (United Kingdom EP)". Apple Inc. iTunes Store. February 19, 2010. Retrieved March 1, 2010.
  40. ↑ Animal digital album booklet via iTunes. RCA (Media notes).
  41. ↑ "Ke$ha feat. 3OH!3 – Blah Blah Blah" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  42. ↑ "Ke$ha feat. 3OH!3 – Blah Blah Blah" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  43. ↑ "Ke$ha feat. 3OH!3 – Blah Blah Blah" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  44. ↑ "Ke$ha Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
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  46. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201013 into search. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  47. ↑ "Ke$ha – Chart Search" Billboard European Hot 100 Singles for Ke$ha. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  48. ↑ "Ke$ha feat. 3OH!3 – Blah Blah Blah" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  49. ↑ "Kesha feat. 3OH!3 – Blah Blah Blah" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  50. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Blah Blah Blah". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  51. ↑ "Ke$ha – Char History – Luxembourg". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
  52. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 10, 2010" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  53. ↑ "Ke$ha feat. 3OH!3 – Blah Blah Blah". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  54. ↑ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay New. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  55. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  56. ↑ "Circle Chart". circlechart.kr. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  57. ↑ "Ke$ha feat. 3OH!3 – Blah Blah Blah". Singles Top 100. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  58. ↑ "Ke$ha feat. 3OH!3 – Blah Blah Blah". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  59. ↑ "Kesha: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  60. ↑ "Kesha Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  61. ↑ "Kesha Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  62. ↑ "Kesha Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  63. ↑ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2010". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on December 5, 2010. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
  64. ↑ "Best Of 2010 Canadian Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
  65. ↑ "End Of Year Charts: 2010" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 28, 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
  66. ↑ "Best Of 2010 Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
  67. ↑ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2011" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  68. ↑ "British single certifications – Kesha Ft 3Oh3 – Blah Blah Blah". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  69. ↑ "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!". FMQB. February 2, 2010. Archived from the original on March 3, 2010.
  70. ↑ "Blah Blah Blah (Single)". Sony Star (in Korean). Sony Music Entertainment Korea Inc. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  71. ↑ "Kesha – Blah Blah Blah (United Kingdom CD Release)". HMV Group. Archived from the original on September 22, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  72. ↑ Amazon Mp3. "Blah Blah Blah (German Cd Release)". Amazon.de. Amazon. Retrieved April 23, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

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