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Dinosaur (Kesha song)

"Dinosaur" (stylized as "D.I.N.O.$.A.U.R.") is a song by American recording artist and songwriter Kesha, taken from her debut studio album Animal (2010). The song was written by Kesha in collaboration with Max Martin and Shellback; the latter two also produced the song, while all three are responsible for the instrumentation. The song's conception stems from an encounter Kesha had with an older man that had been hitting on her, which she compared to a prehistoric dinosaur. The lyrics discuss an older man that is attempting to hit on a younger female, which is ultimately rejected. The song received generally negative reviews from music critics.

"Dinosaur"

January 1, 2010

2009 at Maratone Studios, Stockholm, Sweden

2:55

RCA

  • Max Martin
  • Shellback

Critical reception[edit]

"Dinosaur" received generally negative reviews from most music critics. Ian Gittins of The Guardian called it a "bitchy put-down of ageing suitors".[10] Doug Rule of Metro Weekly criticized the song's chorus, which according to him is "spelt out like a "modern-day Toni Basil", saying: "Are we supposed to think that's cute, even clever? It's neither."[11] The UrbanWire's Cheryl Chia was critical of the song, saying that it "has the potential to be very annoying after a few rounds."[7] Billboard's Monica Herrera also gave a negative review. She used the song as an example of one of the album's "missteps", stating that it could "only appeal to the most heartless of teens".[8] Ailbhe Malone of NME stated that "Dinosaur" contains the pay-off "Honey, your toupee is falling to the left side/Get up and go bro/Oh wait, you're fossilized".[12]


Fraser McAlpine of the BBC was positive in his review of the song. McAlpine felt that "Dinosaur" was the album's best track, and went on to note that its conception was enough to "drive rock-bores into a state of spluttering fury." McAlpine's consensus on the song was that "it is made of nothing but sugar and sass and additives, a song from a young girl to an older man who is attempting to pick her up in a club. All she has to offer him is a scattergun spray of insults, and cutie-pie whistling. It's childish and Parental Advisory Required at the same time, and is going to infuriate any adult within hearing range."[5]

Recorded by Max Martin and Shellback at , Stockholm, Sweden.

Maratone Studios

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Animal, Kemosabe Recordings, via RCA Records.[1]