My Gen X Playlist: This is Me – Kesha

I read a recent article where Dan Rather quoted a Turkish proverb.

When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king, the palace instead becomes a circus.

So spot on. I don’t think anymore needs to be said.

I remember a friend once told me that The Greatest Showman was his favorite movie. I was surprised because that choice seemed to come out of left field. I would never have thought a musical about a circus would top his favorite film list. To his credit, I know him well enough to see the sensitive side many may not see. But to proclaim The Greatest Showman is his favorite movie? That was next level.

I finally streamed the movie last month. He’s right. It’s a good flick. Who would have thought a movie about a circus would be so good.

Today’s song for the playlist is This is Me by Kesha. I’m older so I don’t really know who Kesha is, but it’s a memorable song from the soundtrack.

“This Is Me” is a fight song for people who are not accepted by society. It is sung by Lettie Lutz after she and the rest of the circus troupe are barred by Barnum from an after party following Jenny Lind’s performance. The bearded lady refuses to be cut down by the fact that the showman is embarrassed by them. 

“It was really inspired by the group of oddities in the film, and what they came to represent and what [director] Michael [Gracey] talked about them representing,” Pasek told Billboard. “People who had lived in the shadows their whole lives and for the first time wanted to feel love and acceptance, and even when P.T. Barnum turns his back on them, they make a statement – not only to him, but to themselves – that they declare to love themselves for the first time.”

Songfacts

I like the message of inclusivity and acceptance. And for people from my former party, I’m not talking about DEI. I’m referring more about respecting all human beings. Yeah, I understand you may feel a little bit uncomfortable with people who are different from you. My word of advice is simply get over it. Just be open to the possibility that the issue may be more of a you thing than a they thing. At least be opened minded about that. Life is difficult enough without all the hate.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

I'm not a stranger to the dark
"Hide away," they say
"'Cause we don't want your broken parts."
I've learned to be ashamed of all my scars
"Run away," they say
"No one'll love you as you are."

But I won't let them break me down to dust
I know that there's a place for us
For we are glorious

When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown 'em out
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I'm meant to be, this is me
Look out 'cause here I come
And I'm marchin' on to the beat I drum
I'm not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me

Oh-oh-oh-oh (Oh-oh-oh-oh)
Oh-oh-oh-oh (Oh-oh-oh-oh)
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh

Another round of bullets hits my skin
Well, fire away 'cause today
I won't let the shame sink in
We are burstin' through the barricades
And reachin' for the sun (We are warriors)
Yeah, that's what we've become (Yeah, that's what we've become)

I won't let them break me down to dust
I know that there's a place for us
For we are glorious

When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown 'em out
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I'm meant to be, this is me
Look out 'cause here I come
And I'm marchin' on to the beat I drum
I'm not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me

Oh-oh-oh-oh (Oh-oh-oh-oh)
Oh-oh-oh-oh (Oh-oh-oh-oh)
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh
This is me

(Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh)
And I know that I deserve your love
(Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh)
'Cause there's nothin' I'm not worthy of
(Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh)

When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown 'em out
This is brave, this is bruised
This is who I'm meant to be, this is me
Look out 'cause here I come (Look out 'cause here I come)
And I'm marchin' on to the beat I drum (Marchin' on, marchin' on to the beat I drum)
I'm not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me

(Whenever the words wanna cut me down)
Whenever the words go
(I'll send the flood to drown them out)
Whenever the words go
Gonna drown them out
(Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh)
Oh, oh, oh, this is me