Katy Perry’s comeback is already in trouble – but she only has herself to blame
Get The Scoop On Music With Roisin O'Connor's Free Newsletter!
Sign Up For Our Free Now Hear This Email
Katy Perry's latest song is a disappointingly old-fashioned mess, pretending to be feminist while praising the idea of the "feminine divine". Called "Woman's World", it would have been embarrassing enough at a campaign event for Hillary Clinton in 2016. But now, in 2024, it just sounds like it's painfully outdated.
Featuring visuals reminiscent of Rosie the Riveter and melancholic lyrics discussing themes of sisterhood, motherhood, and empowerment, the song also signifies Perry's comeback to the music scene after releasing two unpopular albums and spending multiple years as a judge on American Idol. The show's enduring popularity can be compared to Tony Blair and the resilient mice infesting my kitchen cabinets.
On the internet, people have been criticizing Katy Perry like they did with Jennifer Lopez and Justin Timberlake this year. Perry's ethics, creativity, fashion choices, and collaborations have all been questioned online. Many viral tweets and memes are making fun of Perry, saying she is not keeping up with the current trends and deserves to be mocked and criticized.
Some parts of it are reasonable – the enthusiastic cheering on of “Woman’s World”, for example, feels insincere because Dr Luke, who has been accused of rape by Kesha, is credited on the song. Some parts seem critical. However, it all indicates that the future may be more challenging for Perry than she anticipated.
This is a familiar topic for her. People have been talking for a long time about whether Katy Perry is still popular as a pop star and if her music is getting repetitive. It's been over ten years since Katy Perry released an album without any issues. The last successful album was Prism in 2013, which had popular songs like "Roar" that were played everywhere.
The situation took a turn for the worse not long after. Fans noticed in 2017 that Perry hinted at a shift towards "purposeful pop" - a term that didn't quite match the mainstream and unoriginal sound of the album itself (think "Swish Swish"). Three years later, when Smile was released, it showed some improvement, but the standout track - the catchy and romantic "Never Really Over" - was the only outstanding aspect. The rest of the album felt like Perry was just going through the motions creatively.
Since Madonna switched from wearing visible underwear and chunky jewelry to wearing cone bras and being publicly nude, change has been important in the world of pop music. Many of the biggest pop stars have only kept the same look for about two album cycles at most. However, Katy Perry has always been known for her consistent image – the exaggerated, playful nature of her music videos and the simplistic empowerment of her lyrics. In a recent interview with Apple's Zane Lowe, she stated, "When people think of me, they think of songs with a powerful message, songs that could be written on a T-shirt, and I really appreciate that."
Perry seems to really like what she is doing, and there is something interesting about someone who continues to fully embrace a character even when others have lost interest (just like the anvil that falls on her in a funny way in the "Woman's World" music video). However, this also makes her quite boring as a pop star. In the world of pop music, you need more than just catchy songs - you need a story, a show, excitement, and the feeling that you are watching someone who is truly captivating. Perry is not meeting these expectations.
At one time, it was simple to understand Perry as a musician. She began with Christian pop music using her real name Katy Hudson, then made her official debut in 2008 with the song "I Kissed a Girl." This catchy mix of pop elements solidified her as a star with a playful edge. Perry resembled Zooey Deschanel but had her own unique artistic style: bold synths, a strong voice, and a lively pop-punk sound reminiscent of Avril Lavigne colliding with Britney Spears.
Experience endless listening to over 70 million songs and podcasts without any annoying advertisements on Amazon Music.
Register today to start your 30-day trial at no cost
Experience endless listening to a vast library of 70 million songs and podcasts without any annoying ads on Amazon Music.
Register today to start a 30-day trial at no cost
The album "One of the Boys" is still considered Katy Perry's best work and was a huge success, selling seven million copies. "Teenage Dream," released in 2010, was even more successful, tying with Michael Jackson's album "Bad" for the most number-one singles on the US Billboard charts. It was the epitome of pop music in the 2000s: flashy, polished, and filled with catchy choruses. Songs like "Firework" and "California Gurls" are iconic. However, the album's success may have hindered Perry's artistic growth. Instead of experimenting with new sounds and collaborators, she stuck to what worked, trying to recreate the success of "Teenage Dream." This prevented her from evolving as an artist.
The upcoming release of Perry's new album - 143 on September 20th - signifies a comeback to her collaboration with Dr. Luke, who was absent for both Witness and Smile. This suggests that she still values the success she had during that time. Teenage Dream was seen as her masterpiece, and it seems like she is trying to recreate that success by working with Dr. Luke again. However, Dr. Luke's involvement brings a negative and uncomfortable vibe to the 143 campaign, which may be a challenging topic for Perry to address.
The music scene in 2024 is full of honesty, with artists like Charli XCX, Taylor Swift, and Ariana Grande sharing their personal experiences. Katy Perry is also making a comeback with a new sound and unclear intentions. It's hard to say who she is now, even she may not know the answer.
The latest edition of 'Woman's World' is now available.
