A New Decade (+Up Top)

    Another ten years have passed. Music has long been grouped by the decade songs were released in, with various genres being associated with the appropriate era. The 80's perhaps are best known for new wave and disco, the 90's for grundge/alternative and bubble gum pop. While it may be a little early to declare a trend for the newly finished ten-year set, the most obvious rumblings I can see are the rise of heavy electronic beats, auto-tune, and Indie music.
    I've heard much about the close of the year and start of a new one, but surprisingly less of the decade. Single digits are over, and we'll be entering a new identifier for pop culture, music and movies included. I therefore find it fitting to look at the first number one hit on the Billboard charts in the US. Now, any chart should be accepted carefully and alongside other sources, and the first song certainly does not necessarily mark the direction of the whole decade. NONETHELESS, it certainly has a unique title: The First Number One Song of the 2010s.

    If only the song was deserving of the title.... the first song to hit the #1 spot? Ke$ha's "TiK ToK". Now, I suppose one could argue this song is SUPPOSED to be enjoyed by the dancing, drunken masses and it honestly has no other meaning than to be a song to listen to. I'm not sold though, as Lady GaGa's "Poker Face" has an equal amount of "dancability" with more creative and less demeaning lyrics. Whereas "Poker Face" tells of a manipulative gal hunting love like the Most Dangerous Game, "TiK ToK" seems to be the target. The facade of control Ke$ha claims to be going for is blown to pieces on such lyrics as "Ain't got a care in the world, but I've got plenty of beer; Ain't got no money in my pocket, but I'm already here." Take a step backwards and read that alone. Sound like someone you want to strive to become?
    Which brings me to the most frustrating part about the kick-off of the decade. This song bleeds the very opposite of class. From every pitiful orifice. Even without the music video, which implies that being a stumbling, fluttering ditz is a perfectly acceptable path to take in life. The verses are not sung, but rather drawled in a valley girl "LIKE OMG" voice that grates on the nerves. The way she recites "pedicure on my toes" and "errbody gettin' crunk, crunk" well... they speak for themselves, don't they? I suppose considering the writing process, one shouldn't expect genius though. According to an interview she did with Esquire, she would write down some words after coming home wasted from a night out. Drunken ramblings can be entertaining, sure, but for a number one song?
    I find it odd, the end of the year of '09 had some good vibrations on the chart, with the Indie "Fireflies" getting two non-consecutive weeks atop and Jay-Z getting his first topper (as a lead). It looked like a few new wonders could await the decade's start. Well, I guess "TiK ToK" comes as a surprise, just... not a welcome one. Hopefully, this will not be the embodiment the 2010s will take. Even if, the majority of the good stuff isn't really even on the charts anyway.
    I'll leave you with a quote of Ke$ha's about the motivation of the song, taken from an interview with PopEater (found on Wikipedia, if you're really curious). Take it as you will:

"I just really wanted to embody the lifestyle that I live. We're all young and broke and it doesn't matter. We can find clothes on the side of the street and go out and look fantastic, and kill it. If we don't have a car that doesn't stop us, because we'll take the bus. If we can't afford drinks, we'll bring a bottle in our purse. It's just about not letting anything bring you down."