There was a time when unity among internet users was brought about by a common adversary, and surprisingly, the singer famed for ‘I Kissed a Girl’ has become that adversary. Katy Perry, despite her vast wealth and an impressive resume, including a music catalog valued at $225 million and numerous platinum records, has become a continual subject of mockery. Her ventures, ranging from releasing recent albums to starting a shoe line, or even anchoring her global tour, seem to end with her being the butt of the joke.
Take, for instance, her latest ‘Lifetimes’ tour. This was Perry’s first worldwide endeavour in seven years, journeying from Mexico, crossing the United States, Canada, Europe, and coming to a close in Abu Dhabi. Despite being well attended, the tour adopted an uncomfortable air, evident in instances like when Perry brought an 11-year-old onstage to perform with her. Nonetheless, her attempts lack the grace and charisma previously associated with her persona.
Perry’s musical journey has witnessed a steep decline, primarily highlighted by her recent album, 143. This underperforming record is only outranked in terms of failure by her 2001 debut album Katy Hudson. Critics have paralleled her album 143 to an overpriced and glamorized restaurant that disappoints when the actual food turns out to be moderate at best. The music star of the yesteryears, Katy Perry, has hit a fork in the road at the age of 40.
Her past album releases primarily fell flat, while her once iconic music videos have either slipped into oblivion or are merely noted for their regrettable content. Perry’s stint as an American Idol judge amounted to nothing more than highlighting her diminishing relevance. None of Perry’s endeavors since her hit Teenage Dream have left a lasting impression on the charts, culture, or the collective memory of listeners. The only exception might be her ill-advised plunge into space-centred video entertainment.
Despite all this, Perry still commands quite a sizeable audience. But there’s a caveat—tickets to her Madison Square Garden performance in August remain aplenty, left unsold. Her dwindling stardom can be traced back, past her less than successful ventures, to one pivotal decision she made while working on her latest album.
Choosing to work again with Dr. Luke, the same producer accused a decade ago by singer Kesha of sexual assault, battery, and harassment, seems to have sped up Perry’s decline. While the case, which was eventually settled outside of the court in 2023, with Dr. Luke fervently refuting Kesha’s allegations, might have concluded, the public has not forgotten.
In stuffier corners of elite gatherings, Perry stands shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Jeff Bezos or Kamala Harris. The apparent inconsistency between her public persona of a progressive advocate and her private camaraderie with the wealthy and influential, paints her as a living contradiction. Her support for Kamala Harris’ political campaign and fizzled-out enthusiasm for Hilary Clinton’s campaign seem insincere, a simple checkbox tick in the list of PR stunts. With the recent wave of public awareness, the cracks in Perry’s facade are becoming harder to ignore.
Being a pop star usually comes attached with various labels, ranging from ‘too naive’ to ‘too excessive’. Perry had, once upon a time, managed to sidestep this ceremonious humiliation through her humour. What separated Perry from every other aspiring star with a pretty face and a melodious voice back in 2010 was her refreshing ability to jest—about herself, her surroundings, or even her audience.
She challenged stereotypes through her music, taking jabs at men with a warped view of women and concurrently sending messages of confidence to her female audience. Such was her prowess that she managed to perform on giant toilet paper rolls with a life-sized dancing caricature of fecal matter during a performance in Las Vegas, transforming an otherwise absurd situation into a hilarious and captivating spectacle.
Today, however, Perry is seen shedding tears over a flower in a space-themed music video. The cheerful jokester who once enthralled millions with her wit and quirkiness seems to have become the target of ridicule, evoking laughter pointed at her, not with her.
For context, Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, better known as Katy Perry, had humble beginnings. Born to Pentecostal pastors in Santa Barbara, she sang in her family’s church at the tender age of 13 before moving to Los Angeles at 17 to pursue her secular music career under the alias Katy Hudson.
At the onset of Perry’s career, her musical style resembled that of Alanis Morissette more than Madonna. Perry was neither indomitably leading a female empowerment wave nor was she aggressively advocating for gender pay equality. Perry, shying away from predictable prototypes, embraced a unique third position, balancing the fine line between a guy’s girl and a girl’s girl. She had an endearing habit of not letting her fame cloud her interaction with her audience.
However, time has seen a shift in Perry’s humour, which has transitioned from being an impactful attribute to a misfired and misdirected attempt to grab attention. In the meanwhile, her fan base evolved, shifting its preference from her version of comforting poptimism to more relevant themes. The present-day state of affairs leaves little to no room for a star like Perry.
The Katy Perry that captured hearts and topped charts is lost in a myriad of changes, self-inflicted and externally influenced alike. From teaming up with a controversial producer and endorsing questionable political figures, to losing grip of her humorous charm, she seems to be spiralling downward. The future of Perry’s career hangs in an uncertain balance, tilting ominously towards oblivion.