Get More: Katy Perry, Teenage Dream, Music, More Music Videos A firework, a dancing flame.” That’s a great image, and it lets you know that this diva will not be broken. And I love the lyrics of the bridge, too: “Now look at me, I’m sparkling. The structure of the entire song is that exciting, pounding away with force in the verses, exploding in the chorus, and then pulling back in the bridge so we can catch our breath. They drive the declaration of independence-“this is the part of me that you’re never gonna ever take away from me”-to anthemic heights. I have been working out to this song for months, and I am still thrilled by the thundering drums underneath the chorus. The rest of the track is just as stirring. It would make my Katy Perry Top 5 just for the soaring melody on the line “in another liiiiiife,” which is so much fun to sing and which tells you right away about the intensity of the regret Perry’s feeling. How can any human being resist the electro-pop perfection of the chorus? There’s “UR So Gay,” which mocks a guy for acting too feminine, and there’s “Hot ’N Cold,” which blasts a dude for PMS-ing “like a bitch.” That’s insulting to both men and women, so… yay?īut honestly, I am not made of stone. On her first album, Perry spent a lot of time shaming people for not upholding gender norms. Space age and vaguely threatening, it doesn’t sound like any of Perry’s other singles (and especially not her sunny beach hits.) Kanye’s rap also feels really integral, making us understand the sexy menace of the guy that Perry is obsessed with. I like this song because it’s such a curveball. Since the words are about seeing clearly, the dreamy music is a nice contrast. It’s a great fit for Perry, who can sell the drama of that style, and it’s a great fit for these lyrics, which are about seeing the world (and your life) as they really are. Production-wise, “Wide Awake” reminds me of 90s hits like Duran Duran’s “Ordinary World” or PM Dawn’s “Set Adrift on Memory Bliss,” which wash you in an ocean of elegant sound. For instance, at the end of the verses, when she shouts phrases like “on the concrete,” she adds these little growls that give her performance texture and personality. Maybe she worked out some issues or got better studio help or who knows, but she really kills the vocal here. Now this is a power ballad I can get behind. I’m grooving along, and then I’m like, “Wait… that’s so interesting!” And Lord knows, I’m always happy to be intrigued by a hot hit.
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Like all good Timbaland songs, it’s full of weird little scratches and yelps that always get my attention. It’s a flirty duet with a soaring chorus and a killer dance track underneath. But do yourself a favor and check it out. Katy Perry)Ī lost classic! Even though it was a moderate hit, it’s possible you’ve never heard this song, which came from an unsuccessful Timbaland album. (8) “If We Ever Meet Again” (Timbaland feat. No matter how I feel about the message or the power notes, I cannot deny the hook.
And I don’t really buy the “love yourself” message, considering what’s going on in “I Kissed a Girl.” But at the same time, I know every single word. I know, I know! People loooooove “Firework.” I just… don’t think her voice sounds that great. Get More: Katy Perry, Firework, Music, More Music Videos For all of her talents, she can’t always hit the big notes-especially in live performances-and here, that works against her. Everything is strained, from the desperate-to-sound-epic production to Perry’s sub-par vocals. This is Perry’s first attempt at a power ballad, and god love her, it just doesn’t work. And if I kiss a woman, I promise not to think it makes me cool. If you think you’re a rebel for having a sloppy same-sex kiss at a bar… go tell someone else. But forgive me if I don’t want to sing along with a song that’s just so scandalized about a lesbian encounter. I know that sexual experimentation can be thrilling and that gay kisses are taboo in many places. Because real feelings are for girls who like boys.Īnd look: I know lots of straight people feel this way about fleeting gay encounters. So apparently, a lesbian encounter is taboo! It’s naughty and a little shameful! But don’t worry: The forbidden, terrible kiss doesn’t mean Perry’s in love. Perry kisses a girl and says it “feels so wrong” even though it “feels so right.” She says it’s not what “good girls do.” I have always hated this song for its exhausting, ignorant attitude about girl-on-girl action.
I don’t care how trashy-sexy the beat is, and I don’t care about the taste of cherry Chap Stik. In chart terms, this is Perry’s most successful song, but you know what? I don’t care.
Get More: Katy Perry, I Kissed A Girl, Music, More Music Videos