"Learn to Let Go" is a song recorded by the American singer-songwriter Kesha. It appears on her third studio album, Rainbow (2017). It was released as the second promotional single from the album on July 28, 2017. Digital remixes were released worldwide on November 10, 2017.
Composition
Kesha was inspired to write "Learn to Let Go" by one of her friends who went through "the worst childhood imaginable." The track was the first to be written for the album and was also based on Kesha's struggles while making Rainbow.1 About the song, Kesha told HuffPost:
[...] The only way to truly evolve is to let the past be the past and move forward with an open heart. If you let your demons haunt you, they will haunt you forever. Learn from your mistakes but don't dwell on them, and if you feel like someone has wronged you, let that be their problem – not yours. As much as our past creates who we are, we can't let it define us or hold us back. And especially if you've been through something hard, and we all have, you can't hold on to resentment because it's like a poison. You have to learn to let go of those bad feelings and move forward.
— Kesha, HuffPost23
She has also described the song's title as "one of my mantras over the last few years."4
Music video
The music video for "Learn to Let Go" was released on July 27, 2017. In the video, Kesha shares home video footage of herself as a child, running in nature, singing and dancing wildly.5 The Costco bear appears in the video.
Live performances
The song was first performed live at the 2017 MTV Europe Music Awards on November 12. On November 14, Kesha performed the song live at the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge, as well as a cover of Marshmello's song "Silence" featuring Khalid.
Kesha appeared on The Graham Norton Show to perform her song live, on November 24.
Commercial performance
Despite not being serviced as a single in North America, "Learn to Let Go" debuted at number 97 on the US Billboard Hot 100 issue dated August 8, 2017 as a promotional single. It also peaked at number 81 on the Canadian Hot 100.
Accolades
Select year-end rankings of "Learn to Let Go"| Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dazed | The 20 Best Tracks of 2017 | 12 | 6 |
Track listing
Digital download and streaming- "Learn to Let Go" – 3:38
- "Learn to Let Go" (Feenixpawl remix) – 3:22
- "Learn to Let Go" (Michael Brun remix) – 3:37
Charts
Chart performance for "Learn to Let Go"| Chart (2017) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)8 | 81 |
| New Zealand Heatseekers (RMNZ)9 | 6 |
| Scotland (OCC)10 | 30 |
| US Billboard Hot 10011 | 97 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)12 | Gold | 500,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history
Release dates and formats for "Learn to Let Go"| Region | Date | Formats | Version | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | July 28, 2017 | Original | Kemosabe | 13 | |
| November 10, 2017 | The remixes | 14 |
References
Baillie, Katie (July 6, 2017). "Kesha's new album Rainbow is a powerful, emotional and strongly feminist record that is worth the 4-year wait". Metro. Retrieved July 6, 2017. http://metro.co.uk/2017/07/06/keshas-new-album-rainbow-is-a-powerful-emotional-and-strongly-feminist-record-that-was-worth-the-4-year-wait-6759009/#ixzz4m5IQnnv6 ↩
"See Kesha Exorcise Her Demons in 'Learn to Let Go' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 27, 2017. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/see-kesha-exorcise-her-demons-in-learn-to-let-go-video-w494431 ↩
"Kesha Shares Childhood Home Movies In New Video, 'Learn to Let Go': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2017. http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7881752/kesha-new-video-learn-to-let-go-watch ↩
"Kesha on Twitter ""Learn to Let Go" is more than a song title… it's become one of my mantras over the last few years. Full letter:..."", Twitter, retrieved July 27, 2017 https://twitter.com/KeshaRose/status/890548966311555072 ↩
"See Kesha Exorcise Her Demons in 'Learn to Let Go' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 27, 2017. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/see-kesha-exorcise-her-demons-in-learn-to-let-go-video-w494431 ↩
"The 20 best tracks of 2017". Dazed. December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 3, 2024. https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/38399/1/the-20-best-tracks-of-2017 ↩
"Learn to Let Go – Single". iTunes Store (AU). November 10, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2017. https://music.apple.com/au/album/learn-to-let-go-the-remixes-single/1307175131 ↩
"Kesha Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2017. https://www.billboard.com/artist/Kesha/chart-history/CAN ↩
"NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 7, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2017. https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/2017-09-01 ↩
"Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 2, 2017. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/20171201/41/ ↩
"Kesha Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 8, 2017. https://www.billboard.com/artist/Kesha/chart-history/HSI ↩
"American single certifications – Kesha – Learn to Let Go". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 17, 2024. https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Kesha&ti=Learn+to+Let+Go&format=Single&type=#search_section ↩
"Kesha Shares Emotional Home Movie Footage in Her Music Video For "Learn to Let Go"". popsugar. July 28, 2017. Retrieved January 3, 2018. https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/Kesha-Learn-Let-Go-Music-Video-43798647 ↩
"Learn to Let Go – Single". iTunes Store (AU). November 10, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2017. https://music.apple.com/au/album/learn-to-let-go-the-remixes-single/1307175131 ↩