Promotion of the latest album Katy Perry it’s a joke. Carrying pop-feminist platitudes on their banners “Woman’s World” (check!) doesn’t work at all as the strong women’s anthem it was supposed to be. Even worse is that he co-wrote the song Dr. Lukeaccused for years by Kesha of a number of sexual abuses. In fact, Kasia Gruszka decided to end her cooperation with him a few years ago for this very reason! This move definitely did not have a positive effect on Katy’s image. Much like the widely criticized music video, which ultimately landed in patriarchy’s wet dreams for its lack of subtlety.
Music video for “Lifetimes” in turn, it was filmed in a national park in the Spanish Balearic Islands without appropriate permits, which is why the singer is accused of harming the natural environment. Really good. And we haven’t started talking about the album itself. And guess what? There’s nothing to talk about, because “143” This is a truly terrible album and a serious candidate for the worst album of this year.
You remember “California Gurls”? “Roar”? “Hot N Cold”? “I Kissed A Girl”? “Teenage Dream”? “Dark Horse”? There were some hits. No matter what you say, you have in your mind some character of Katy Perry, which she effectively transferred to her music and which intrigued. There was a lot of kitsch in it, but it very consciously played on the listener’s expectations. You could also feel the money, as well as a lot of work, thanks to which the listeners could hear these huge amounts perfectly. Arrangements, strong choruses, keywords. Katy Perry was really on top at one time.
Now imagine that from a star who has been nominated for a Grammy thirteen times, you receive 11 damn generic flat songs in terms of composition, production, arrangement, vocal parts and lyrics. I don’t feel the music in this set – I feel the tiredness that made the people involved in the work on “143” not even want to try hard.
Lazy arrangement in “I’m His, He’s Mine” based on samples from “Gypsy Woman” is an insult to everyone who knows even a little about the production profession. “Crush” it’s tired disco-house that has no power and is constantly irritating with its constant pumping and the vocal “la da da di di” artificially pushed to even higher parts. “Lifetimes” I want to refer to Eurohouse from the 90s and the whole idea was enough for about a minute and a half. 21 Savage in pop-trap “Gimme, Gimme” with his rap devoid of any energy, he perfectly conveys the listener’s weariness. There is not an ounce of melody on this album, nor an ounce of potential for a hit – which, after all, is what pop is largely about. And I’m not even talking about the texts, which are simply filled with a lot of platitudes and stupidities. The only advantage of the album is probably very good featuring JID.
Seriously, “143” is an album that will make you slap your face with an open hand when you wake up. After the first viewing of this 33-minute work, preceded by a very strong coffee, I felt really tired. And I had to write this review, so I listened to the album a few more times. Please appreciate it. By the way, I would like to ask my clients whether I am entitled to an allowance for working in conditions that are harmful to the ears for this review? Leave a reaction with a heart to support the request – I’m counting on you, dear readers.
Katy Perry, “143”, Universal Music Polska