Cannibal

The song "Cannibal" by Kesha is a bold and provocative dance-pop track that uses the metaphor of cannibalism to explore themes of female empowerment, sexual agency, and flipping gender-role stereotypes in relationships. Lyrically, Kesha portrays herself as a 'maneater,' a dominant figure who metaphorically consumes men. This persona was a significant part of her brand at the time of the song's release. The song's co-writer and Kesha's mother, Pebe Sebert, explained that the song was a response to the objectification of women in the music industry, particularly by male rock stars. Kesha's character in the song adopts the same predatory attitude that men have historically directed towards women, but does so in a "funny way, not in a gross way." The lyrics are intentionally over-the-top and filled with dark humor, such as wanting a lover's "liver on a platter" and the controversial reference to Jeffrey Dahmer. This hyperbole serves to assert control and confidence, presenting a narrative where the woman holds all the power, treating men as her 'playthings.' It's a statement of reclaiming identity and strength, particularly in the face of past experiences where she may have felt powerless.

The narrator begins by declaring a curious state of her heart: it exists, she swears, but it ceases to function when it comes to a specific person. This individual's declarations of love don't evoke affection in her; instead, they trigger an intense, primal hunger. She issues a veiled warning, suggesting that silence is his best course of action for his own wellbeing. She admits to finding him attractive, the kind of person she would have obsessively followed back in school. However, a significant power shift has occurred. Now that she is famous, he is suddenly desperate for her attention, a fact she describes with crude, dismissive humor. This shift in dynamics means she is no longer the pursuer but the predator, and she bluntly states her intention to metaphorically devour him.

This theme of consumption is the song's central, recurring motif. She proclaims that she eats boys for both breakfast and lunch, and quenches her thirst with their blood. It’s a bold, shocking declaration of her predatory nature, identifying herself as a carnivore, an animal—a cannibal. This chorus serves as both a boast and a warning for others to flee from her voracious appetite. She repeats her identity as a cannibal, a chant of self-proclaimed dominance, emphasizing her intent to consume those who fall into her trap.

The hunger she feels is specifically triggered by compliments. Whenever she is told she's pretty, the predatory craving intensifies. She imagines his heart beating rapidly with fear or excitement, and fantasizes about consuming his liver on a platter. The imagery becomes even more grotesque and darkly playful as she details using his finger to stir her tea and sucking on his teeth for dessert. She warns that being overly sweet or affectionate will only lead to his demise. In a notorious and controversial line, she compares her predatory actions to those of the infamous serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, escalating the shock value and cementing her persona as a dangerous, unapologetic man-eater.

The song culminates in a final, raw declaration. After repeating the chorus, the bridge breaks down into a series of primal, wordless vocalizations, almost like a wolf's howl or a triumphant predator's call. She reiterates her cannibalistic identity one last time, reinforcing her power and control. The song ends as it began, with a mix of affection and threat: a simple "I love you," immediately followed by the stark reminder, "I warned you," and a final, guttural "Rawr," leaving no doubt about the untamed, dangerous, and all-consuming force she embodies.

"Cannibal" is the title track from Kesha's first EP of the same name, which was released on November 19, 2010, as a follow-up to her debut album, Animal. The song was written by Kesha Sebert, her mother Pebe Sebert, Joshua Coleman (Ammo), and Mathieu Jomphe (Billboard). Production was handled by Ammo and Billboard. The track was recorded in September 2010 at Conway Recording Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. The creation process was notably swift, with the song being written and recorded just weeks before the EP's release.

A particularly controversial lyric, "Be too sweet and you'll be a goner / Yeah, I'll pull a Jeffrey Dahmer," was written by Pebe Sebert. Sebert later explained that the line came about through a rhyming program called MasterWriter while searching for a rhyme for "goner." She stated that at the time, Kesha and the other co-writer were too young to know who Jeffrey Dahmer was and that the choice was not intended to be insensitive to the victims' families. The song, and the line, gained renewed attention and controversy in 2022 following the release of a Netflix series about Dahmer, prompting Sebert to issue an apology.

"Cannibal" features a relatively straightforward and effective rhyme scheme that contributes to its catchy, pop-oriented structure. The verses often follow an AABB or ABCB pattern, using simple, perfect rhymes that make the lyrics memorable and easy to follow (e.g., "cool"/"school", "famous"/"anus"). The pre-chorus and chorus maintain this accessible rhyming structure, reinforcing the song's hook.

The song's rhythm is one of its defining characteristics. Set at a tempo of 130 beats per minute (BPM), it has a driving, upbeat energy perfect for dancing. The rhythm of the lyrics, delivered in Kesha's distinctive sing-rap style, often syncs tightly with the driving beat of the electronic drums and synthesizers. This creates a powerful, forward-moving momentum throughout the track. The interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the musical rhythm is key to the song's energetic feel; the verses build tension with their staccato delivery, which then releases into the more anthemic and chanted chorus. The pacing is consistent, designed to maintain a high level of energy on the dance floor, characteristic of the dance-pop and electro house genres.

"Cannibal" employs a variety of musical and literary techniques to create its aggressive, party-ready, and humorous tone. Musically, the song is rooted in the dance-pop and electropop genres of the era, characterized by heavy use of synthesizers, a driving dance beat, and prominent vocal processing.

Musical Techniques:

• Vocal Delivery: Kesha utilizes her signature 'sing-rap' style, delivering verses with a rhythmic, talky cadence that contrasts with the more melodic chorus. This approach enhances the song's playful and confrontational attitude.
• Vocal Processing: The track features significant use of Auto-Tune and vocoders, a hallmark of Kesha's early work and the electro-pop genre at the time. This gives the vocals a synthetic, almost robotic quality that adds to the song's stylized and larger-than-life feel.
• Instrumentation: The production, handled by Ammo and Billboard, is built on a foundation of synth-driven backings and a strong, danceable beat (approximately 130 BPM in the key of F minor). Snippets of yodeling are also interspersed throughout the track, adding a quirky and unexpected element to the soundscape.

Literary Techniques:

• Hyperbole: The entire lyrical concept is an exercise in hyperbole, from eating boys for breakfast to drinking their blood. This exaggeration is used for comedic and shock effect, emphasizing the persona's extreme confidence and dominance.
• Metaphor: The core of the song is its central metaphor of cannibalism for sexual conquest and empowerment.
• Dark Humor: The lyrics are laced with dark humor, juxtaposing gruesome imagery ("I want your liver on a platter") with casual, everyday actions ("Use your finger to stir my tea"). This creates a tongue-in-cheek tone that prevents the song from being taken literally.

Upon its initial release in 2010 as a promotional single from the EP of the same name, "Cannibal" saw moderate chart success, entering the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. and the Canadian Hot 100. However, the song's most significant cultural impact came a decade later. In February 2020, "Cannibal" went viral on the social media platform TikTok. A dance challenge created by user Briana Hantsch to a clip of the song sparked a massive trend, leading to millions of videos and a huge resurgence in the song's popularity.

This viral fame propelled the song back onto the charts, notably reaching the top 40 in Canada. Recognizing the trend, Kesha herself embraced the song's second life. She joined TikTok, posted a video of herself performing the viral dance with popular creator Charli D'Amelio, and released a new official lyric video for the song. The song's revival is a prominent example of TikTok's power to resurrect older tracks and introduce them to a new generation. The song also faced renewed controversy in 2022 due to its Jeffrey Dahmer lyric, following the release of a Netflix series about the serial killer, which led to public discussion and an apology from the song's co-writer, Pebe Sebert.

The central metaphor of "Cannibal" is the act of cannibalism itself, which represents a form of extreme female empowerment and sexual dominance. Kesha isn't singing about literal cannibalism; rather, she's using this graphic imagery to flip the script on traditional gender dynamics in romance and sexuality. The act of "eating boys up" for breakfast and lunch symbolizes a voracious and unapologetic sexual appetite and a refusal to be the passive object of male desire.

Key symbolic elements include:

• Hunger: The recurring theme of hunger, especially triggered by compliments like "whenever you tell me I'm pretty," symbolizes a craving for control and power that intensifies when faced with traditional courtship gestures. It subverts the idea that such compliments should make a woman feel docile or appreciative, instead turning them into a trigger for her predatory instincts.
• Jeffrey Dahmer Reference: The line "I'll pull a Jeffrey Dahmer" is the most extreme use of metaphor in the song. It functions as a form of hyperbole to communicate the ultimate level of control and mercilessness in her 'maneater' persona. While controversial, it serves to amplify the song's shock value and dark humor, pushing the boundaries of the predatory female archetype.
• Animalistic Imagery: Phrases like "carnivore, animal" and the rawring sounds reinforce the song's connection to primal instincts. Kesha sheds societal expectations of femininity and embraces a more 'natural,' untamed, and dangerous persona, positioning herself as a predator at the top of the food chain.

The most prominent recurring phrase in "Cannibal" is the declarative statement, "I am a cannibal." This line, often chanted and layered with backing vocals, serves as the song's central hook and thesis. Its repetition drills the core metaphor into the listener's mind, reinforcing the powerful, predatory persona Kesha embodies. The phrase is not just a lyric but an identity statement that anchors the entire narrative of the song.

Another key recurring motif is the phrase "I eat boys up." This appears in the pre-chorus and directly explains the central action associated with her cannibalistic identity. It's a blunt, unapologetic expression of her dominance and sexual agency. The repetition of this line, paired with the warning "You better run," makes the song's message inescapable and memorable.

The yodeling snippets that appear throughout the song act as a unique musical motif. This quirky, unexpected sound contrasts with the aggressive electronic beat and dark lyrics, contributing to the song's eccentric and playful tone. It's a sonic signature that adds to the track's distinctive character and memorability, reflecting the tongue-in-cheek nature of the violent imagery.