With “The One,” Kesha Delivers a Sologamist’s Anthem That Topples “thank u, next”

For many, Ariana Grande’s 2019 hit, “thank u, next” (from the album of the same name), was “merely” an autobiographical song about an ultimately promiscuous (a.k.a. “serial monogamist”) woman who dusts herself off and easily moves on after a breakup. Those people would be patently wrong in their assumption/interpretation. For it was, in the end, an anthem of sologamy and self-love, as conveyed by the verse, “Spend more time with my friends/I ain’t worried ‘bout nothin’/Plus, I met someone else/We havin’ better discussions/I know they say I move on too fast/But this one gon’ last/‘Cause her name is Ari/And I’m so good with that.” In effect, Grande acknowledged that the only truly “lifelong” relationship anyone can have is with themselves. This being the one person they can’t escape or, short of death, “end things” with.

Accordingly, they ought to treat themselves with the love and respect they so often reserve, instead, for others (who so rarely deserve it). This is why it usually takes many people (particularly women, conditioned as they are by society to be self-hating) so long to come around to the notion of “being their own soul mate” or “best friend.” A conclusion Grande arrives at when she also sings of herself, “She taught me love/She taught me patience/How she handles pain/That shit’s amazing/I’ve loved and I’ve lost/But that’s not what I see/‘Cause look what I’ve found.” And what she’s found, finally, after all the abuse from other “romantic” partners, is a relationship with herself. 

Kesha, too, has clearly found the same. At least if “The One,” her latest single from Period is anything to go on. For, as the name suggests (unlike Taylor Swift’s “the 1”), the true “one” in her life is herself. This being a hard-won realization after many years of insidious self-loathing (particularly whilst under the “tutelage” of the verbally abusive Dr. Luke). And, although “The One” exudes the same sense of empowerment as her previous four singles from the record (“Joyride,” “Delusional,” “Yippee-Ki-Yay” and “Boy Crazy”), there is something unique about this particular song in terms of its jubilance and unapologetic “cornball-ness”—but, like, in a good way. The kind of way that few other singers can carry off (whereas Kesha does it fairly regularly, including on songs like “Dear Me,” released earlier this year in honor of the documentary Diane Warren: Relentless). 

Like “Delusional,” “The One” can be considered a mid-tempo track. Not quite a full-on ballad (even if the emotionally-driven lyrical content might suggest it “should” be), and not quite an outright “bop.” At the same time, it delivers the type of “I’m thriving” lyrics that makes it come across as a dance floor-ready ditty (and it probably will be thanks to the gay penchant for remixing everything). Produced once again by Zhone, the trumpet-esque musical flourish at the outset of the track feels designed to herald an important announcement. And it is an important one, starting with Kesha commanding, “Turn on the lights, look at me shine/There’s the feelin’ I’ve been searchin’ for/All of my life, I’ve been run-run-runnin’ to find it/I ride ‘til I die, but there is a line/And you were tryna own what isn’t yours/You had a diamond, you had a one-one-one of a kind, yeah.” 

While it’s safe to assume the song could be directed at an ex (like “Delusional”—and yes, these two tracks share a similar theme in that regard), there’s no denying its dual addressment potential, with the other person she could easily be referring to here being none other than Dr. Luke (particularly with that “tryna own what isn’t yours” line, and even the “you had a diamond” one—for a “diamond certification” in music indicates an artist has sold ten million units of an album or single). Whoever she’s speaking to, it’s obvious she wants to thank them (a.k.a. “thank u, next”) for making her “stronger than yesterday” (to quote Britney). For were it not for their mind games and general bullshit, she wouldn’t have arrived at the revelation, “My heart got used to breakin’/I should thank you, baby/Found what I’ve been chasin’/Found the one I’ve waited for/I’m comin’ home tonight/It’s been a long run to say goodbye/And now I know that it can’t be broken/I finally found the love/Baby, I’m the one.”

An epiphany that is no small feat in the present day. Because, although it might seem as though everyone is in love with themselves based on their social media, the truth of the matter is that most of those images and videos are nothing more than a bid to be “loved” in some way, even if it means by a stranger who can only project their own fantasies onto the digital version of that person. What Kesha is talking about here is something much realer when she says, “I’m what I’ve been chasin’/I’m the one I’ve waited for.” It means she no longer relies on other people/outside forces to validate her or the love she has for herself. An especially herculean task when one has lived most of their life in the spotlight, basking in the criticisms far more than the accolades (and for women, the criticisms are nonstop when it comes to how they look).

During the triumphant bridge of “The One,” Kesha is more confident than ever when she announces, “Now I know that I’m the one/That I run to and that I chase/I am the savior, I am the safe/I got a sun nobody can break/Now I know that I’m the one.” Of course, that doesn’t mean she still doesn’t want a sugar daddy to put her on a pedestal (while buying her assorted luxury trinkets and trips), should she achieve her dream of finagling one, as she’s mentioned a few times this year. Because, having become so wise over the past harrowing decade, Kesha seems to now adhere to the Madonna adage, “A lot of people are afraid to say what they want. That’s why they don’t get what they want.” Kesha, her own soul mate, is now well-aware of that.