Cannibal (song)
"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.
"Cannibal" | |
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Promotional single by Kesha | |
from the EP Cannibal | |
Released | November 9, 2010 |
Recorded | September 2010 |
Studio | Conway Recording, Hollywood, California |
Genre | |
Length | 3:14 |
Label | RCA |
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Lyric video | |
"Cannibal" on YouTube |
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 Canadian and American Billboard 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 autotune and vocoders are prominent throughout the track, also.
In popular culture
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]
Charts
Charts (2010) | Peak position |
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US Billboard Hot 100[5] | 77 |
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[5] | 62 |
Chart (2020) | Peak position |
Argentina (Argentina Hot 100)[6] | 55 |
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[5] | 31 |
References
- 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). Retrieved 2010-11-19.
- McIntyre, Hugh. "10 Years After It Was First Released, Kesha's 'Cannibal' Hits The Top 40 Thanks To TikTok". Forbes.
- "Kesha's 'Cannibal' Lyric Video: Watch". Billboard. March 4, 2020.
- "TikTok Is Giving Kesha's Old Hits the Second Life They Deserve". PAPER. March 4, 2020.
- "Cannibal - Ke$ha - Billboard". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
- "Kesha – Chart History (Argentina Hot 100)" Billboard Argentina Hot 100 Singles for Kesha. Retrieved June 30, 2020.