Past painful chart-toppers, such as Justin Bieber’s “Baby” and summer siren Katy Perry’s “California Gurls,” one song reigns supreme as the number-one single of the 2010 decade (thus far): “Tik Tok.”  Sung by the music industry’s newest superstar, Ke$ha, “Tik Tok” topped the charts for nine consecutive weeks to open the year 2010 after being released in August 2009 and was even an international hit, reaching the number-one spot in 12 countries and the top five in 15 more.  That streak of nine weeks at the top is longer than any other song so far in the young decade (billboard.com).

Ke$ha has had similar success with other songs from her debut album Animal, which itself released in January of this year.  “Blah Blah Blah” and “Your Love is My Drug,” the album’s second and third singles, respectively, also reached numerous Top Fives around the world.  Even the album’s fourth single “Take it Off” has done well, reaching the top ten in the US, Canada, and beyond.

But who is Ke$ha?  The oft-criticized singer has, with the release of “We R Who We R,” released five top singles over the course of a single year, propelling her into the realm of mega-stardom.  But beneath the glitter and glam, there’s an ordinary girl from a simple background.  Born in Los Angeles to a single mom, Ke$ha grew up in considerable upheaval.  Her singer/songwriter mother decided to move the family to Nashville in the early 90’s to generate new opportunities for herself, and while the outcome of that effort is questionable, there is no denying the opportunity the move provided Ke$ha.

During season three of FOX network’s seminal hit show The Simple Life, airhead heiresses Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie traveled around the country searching for odd jobs and even odder places to stop and stay, and they found a place at Ke$ha’s house.  The show itself is hilarious to watch given Ke$ha’s subsequent success, but due to connections forged during filming, Ke$ha was able to move back to the west coast and sing backup vocals for Hilton’s second single, “Turn it Up” (entertainmentweekly.com).

With a solid footing in the music industry, upstart singer Ke$ha next teamed with Flo Rida on his number-one single “Right Round,” all the while writing over 200 potential songs for her first solo effort, Animal. Ke$ha remarks that when she heard the song on the radio, she felt sickened as she hadn’t collected any money for the part.

But fortune and fame are now hers, and with the November release of her first EP, Cannibal, Ke$ha has firmly established herself as a major player in the music scene.  After years of sacrifices, a fortuitous break and hard work landed Ke$ha a successful career.  Sounds good.  Sounds like…the American dream.