KATY Perry’s seventh album 143 has left many wondering whether the US pop superstar, 39, may have lost her Midas touch.
Having dropped at midnight, critics have already branded the music “mediocre” and ‘generic,’ with some even calling her comeback a ‘complete flop.”
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Her lead single, Womans World has been described as ‘dated’ and out of touch. Also at odds with Katy Kat fan base, is her decision to work with controversial record producer, Dr Luke.
Music bigwig, Lukasz Gottwald, last year settled a decade of suits and countersuits over pop star Kesha’s allegation that he drugged and raped her.
With writing credits on all but two songs on the new Katy Perry album, critics and fans alike have questioned the pop star’s judgement, in hiring a male producer whose reputation is tainted, to write from a female perspective.
In July the Woman’s World single became Perry’s worst performing release from an album in her 16-year career, debuting at number 63 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and at 47 in the UK, before finally dropping off both charts the following week.
Indeed the music video for the song which features Perry and her backing dancers on a construction site wearing tool kit belts and vintage style headscarf, have also failed to launch.
Although the intention, according to Katie Perry was satire, a so-called parody of ‘girl boss feminism’, it seems that the music video has left fans unsure of the underlying message.
Not long after the album landed, critics began sharing their reivews online. Music magazine Variety said: “
‘143’ strips away the remnants of the perky personality that catapulted [Katy] Perry into early 2010s superstardom. The album is flat, coasting on cascades of lyrical cliches and musical ideas that rarely crest.”
Another critic said: “143 is not a bad album nor is a great album. It’s really mediocre and generic but in a bad way.
It just lacks the Katy Perry charm and soul from previous albums with Katy actually making generic songs work. Any person could’ve sung those songs imo.”
Meanwhile another reviewer scathingly added: “The cotton candy gurl is gone, this is melted ice cream. Forget “Teenage Dream 2.0,” Katy Perry stars in a “Mid-age nightmare” produced by Dr. Luke.A dance-pop album filled with ai-like/elementary lyrics.”
The first sense of Perry sliding out of touch, was the release of her 2020 album Smile, released at the peak of the pandemic before promptly slumping off the charts.
Now it seems that the unique brand of sugar-coated pop is past its sell by date with artists like Charlie XCX, Billie Elish, and Sabrina Carpenter choosing a more stripped-back confessional tone, that appears popular with the fans.
But many critics have also noted Perry’s strategic move to embrace her sexy side, in a bid to keep up with the current crop of pop starlets, as the mother-of-one approaches 40.
Like many global artists in the vein of Madonna and Lady Gaga, there is a need for constant reinvention to stay relevant.
Raised by peneticostal preachers, Katy burst onto the music scene in 2008 aged 23 with her mega hit, I Kissed a girl. Since then her albums such as “Teenage Dream” and “Prism”, have sold millions of copies worldwide.
Her hit singles like “Firework”, “Roar”, and “Dark Horse” have topped charts globally, bringing in substantial revenue from sales and streaming.
The once dubbed ‘Queen of quirks’ concert tours are known for their elaborate production and high-energy performances.
Tours like “The California Dreams Tour” and “Prismatic World Tour” have been highly lucrative, grossing hundreds of millions of pounds.
As of 2024 het net worth is estimated at being £280 million.
Perry has been in a relationship with British actor Orlando Bloom since 2016 after meeting at the Golden Globes afterparty.
After getting engaged on Valentines Day 2019, they welcomed their daughter Daisy in 2020.
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