By Han Sang-hee
Staff reporter
Blonde, blue eyes, a sweet smile and a distinctive voice easily translates into a formula for a pop princess. But when it comes to personality, American singer Ke$ha is all about being different.
Instead of sexy pink outfits, perfect makeup and gorgeous hair, Ke$ha dons animal prints and glitter, dark eye makeup (usually smeared) and matted blonde hair.
``Garbage chic'' was how she explained her overall look during an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
The 23-year-old released her first single ``Tik Tok'' in late 2009 and her studio album ``Animal'' early this year. ``Tik Tok'' reached No.1 in 11 countries, becoming the longest running No.1 debut single by a female artist since 1977.
The song also skyrocketed in online music charts here, and she has now become one of the hottest and trendiest young singers in Korea, with the eyes of young, hip local fans on her every move.
The tracks on her album, including the hit ``Tik Tok,'' ``Blah Blah Blah'' and ``Take it Off,'' were made based on her adventures, and it seems the wackier the episode, the better the song.
The song ``Take it Off'' was written after she visited a transgender bar in Los Angeles' Korea Town.
``I just have fun going out and I write about any inspiring experience I have, so I went to a transgender bar in L.A. and thought it was so inspiring that I did write a song about it,'' she said in an email interview with The Korea Times.
``I saw men (that) looked like (women) and it was really confusing but really fun, I'm a big supporter of any kind of lifestyle, so I just thought I might write a song about it,'' she added.
Categorizing her music as ``trash-glam-pop-electro,'' Ke$ha knows exactly why so many people follow and enjoy her music. It is basically the same reason why she is pursuing her career.
``I think people like my music because it is just really fun. It is unapologetically fun. It's a celebration record. I'm young now and I just want to capture the essence of crazy fun youth, so hopefully people like the fact that it's just fun, period. And I also wrote every song on my record and I feel like it's a very honest (one). I don't beat around the bush too much,'' she said.