Backstabber

Album: Animal (2010)
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Songfacts®:

  • Kesha explained in publicity materials that this song is about the time "some dumb b--ch fronted like she was my friend but then secretly tried to bring me down."
  • Kesha co-wrote this with former Scritti Politti keyboardist David Gamson, whose biggest hit was "Perfect Way."
  • Kesha expanded on the story behind this song to Billboard magazine: "A very close friend of mine stole my car one night. The car is gone, and I was like, 'What a backstabber!' And then I found out that she was also talking s--t, so I was like, 'What a s--t-talker!' The next day, I had a writing appointment in Long Beach [California]. I got there and I was like, 'We should write a song about this girl.' The line in the song is, 'Jeanie, why you gotta tell the secrets about my sex life?'"
  • Kesha dropped the official "Backstabber" video on October 26, 2026, 16 years after the song's release. She made it herself in 2009 to persuade her team that the song deserved to be a single, shooting it with friends overnight in Los Angeles - they did their own glam. She calls it her first music video.

    So why the delay? Kesha called the reason a "longggg storyyyyyyy" and said she had been trying to release it "this whole time." She has not said exactly why it was shelved.

Comments: 13

  • Yep from No@hi and @cupcakke stan, lily from heaven is right; kesha wrote this song about katy perry, even in the lyrics “katy’s to the left”, and she wrote this song about katy because their producer (who is the same person for both) raped BOTH of them, and kesha wanted to bring attention to it. however, to keep making money, katy didn’t follow through. therefore kesha calls her a “backstabber”
  • HiLily from heaven, How does this song sound anything like a rape story, she literally says GIRL you are such a back stabber.
  • Cupcakke StanLily from Heaven, as much of a heartbreaking event Dr. Luke raping Kesha was, this song is not, in any way, related to that. Please check your facts from sources other than TikTok.
  • Kesha Is The Best Singer from 7955I literally love this song so much, this song reminds me of me. #LOVE YOU KESHA!!!
  • MeowThis song reminds me of myself, I have a friend that I hate too much
  • AnonymousBruh i sent this soundtrack to my backstabbing ex friend >:(
  • Hey Im Souyathis song reminds of my backstabbing friends who talked about behind my back and made up lies
  • Someone from Somewherelove how tiktok made all of yall believe its abt kesha's producer r@aping her, honestly yall are the backstabbers /s
  • Tommydamn thats like my friends we play minecraft on twitch and i get blamed for EVERYTHING like someone blowing my house and its sick of them to do that
  • Cera from LampitTell that to my f__king friend
  • Lily from Heaventhis song is about how kesha was raped by her producer, that's what its about
  • Janey from Shenandoah, IaTells about my friend too, she's such a s--t talker!
  • Lacey from Chicago, Ili like the lyrics to this song thats about it
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