Katy Perry – “The Complete Confection” Previews
Published March 13th 2012
Filed under Reviews
The previews of Katy Perry’s re-release of 2010’s Teenage Dream, entitled The Complete Confection, has been released online. The new additions to the album include the number one single Part of Me, the Tricky Stewart produced Dressin’ Up, the Bonnie McKee penned Wide Awake and Tommie Sunshine’s Megasix Smash-Up of the six singles from the original release of the album.
Dressin’ Up has probably been the most anticipated song by many since it leaked online sometime last year. The leak was a small clip of the first verse and chorus. It’s believed that at the time, the rest of the song had yet to be written. The finished version of Dressin’ Up keeps the basics of the original demo but has a more polished production which almost takes away from the edgy, rawness of the demo. Had I not heard the demo, on first listen to the finished product, I’d have called it E.T. Part II. This is not necessarily a bad thing. However, the chorus is given an extra punch to become a bit of a stomper and leaves the original demo vocals untouched. The vocals on the verses have been given backing vocals but they sound a bit muffled under the production. Overall it’s still an excellent track and it will no doubt be a huge hit for Katy – and we’ve still yet to hear the middle eight.
[audio:dressinup.mp3]Wide Awake is the other previously unreleased track. It was apparently originally recorded by co-writer Bonnie McKee. It’s a gorgeous electro-pop ballad that also cries for a single release – like almost every song that hasn’t been a single yet from Teenage Dream.
[audio:wideawake.mp3]The Complete Confection will be released on March 26th through Capitol Records.
P!nk – “Raise Your Glass”
Published October 05th 2010
Filed under Reviews
Raise Your Glass, from P!nk’s upcoming greatest hits album, Greatest Hits…So Far!!!, just premiered via her official site.
The Max Martin track is a clear progression from her last lead single, So What, and the perfect single to sell a greatest hits album with.
While there are clear elements of Max Martin and Dr. Luke’s current sound from songs like Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream, P!nk always manages to make these tracks sound like her own with her angry, controversial lyrics and her very distinctive vocals. It’s not trying to be anything other than a catchy pop song and it doesn’t need to be. P!nk has plenty of time for artistic moments with her album tracks and Raise Your Glass perfectly carries on P!nk’s incredible collection of singles.
One lyric that stands out on first listen is a well known phrase reversed in the middle 8:
So if you’re too school for cool
Raise Your Glass is released November 8th followed by Greatest Hits…So Far!!! on November 15th.
Katy Perry – “Teenage Dream”
Published July 27th 2010
Filed under Reviews
Katy Perry has released the second single, the title track from her upcoming album, Teenage Dream. Like her previous, huge, summer hit California Gurls, Teenage Dream is also a Max Martin, Dr. Luke and Benny Blanco collaboration.
Teenage Dream still has a strong beat with an insanely catchy melody which California Gurls has, except it’s less fun but this isn’t a bad thing. It’s an end of the summer song which is perfect for the time of year it’s being released. Katy sings about how someone she fell in love with reminds her of being a teenager. Lyrically, it’s much more serious than California Gurls and the melody is very melancholic to support the lyrics. The lyrics also make a reference to California again in a subtle way. The tempo is almost the same as California Gurls which will make sure Teenage Dream gets played in clubs just as much as the latter.
Katy’s official Youtube channel uploaded a music and lyric video with images from the yet to be released video for Teenage Dream which you can view below:
Teenage Dream is out now in support of the upcoming album of the same name to be released August 22nd.
Katy Perry – “California Gurls” Video Preview
Published June 04th 2010
Filed under Videos
A short preview of Katy Perry’s video for California Gurls was released. It’s a very candy, plastic and fun-looking video. The video seems to have a good mixture between a candy land theme and a beach theme, which are both very fitting for the song. The end of the preview is the most interesting as it shows Katy behaving like a fembot from the movie Austin Powers, before cutting the teaser reel.
Check it out:
The full video for California Gurls is due to be released soon.
Katy Perry – “California Gurls”
Published May 09th 2010
Filed under Reviews
Katy Perry’s lead single California Gurls from her upcoming second album premiered this week via her official website with the statement “Summer starts now!”. California Gurls, produced by Dr. Luke, features rapper Snoop Dogg and sounds like a summer anthem which could rival the success of Katy’s 2008 huge hit I Kissed A Girl.
The problem with California Gurls as a lead single and also a comeback single is that the chorus has no stand out lyric to catch onto. Having listened to the song quite a number of times, it’s hard to remember any of the lyrics from the chorus. The only thing that keeps me returning for another listen is the addictive melody present throughout the track.
The production on the track sounds a bit raw and unfinished. On first listen, it sounded like it was an unfinished demo. The vocals are swallowed by the music for most of the song and it’s hard to understand why it was intentionally produced that way. California Gurls also sounds very similar to Dr. Luke’s recent hit with Ke$ha, TiK ToK, to the extent where the chorus of each song could be interchanged between their respective tracks and fit perfectly with the only alteration being the pitch.
Regardless, California Gurls is a strong enough lead single to become a hit despite its similarities to TiK ToK and it’s a solid effort from Katy showing some progression from the sound of her debut album One of The Boys. Even Snoop Dogg’s rap doesn’t sound out of place or forced although the misspelling of “girls” in the title could have been avoided but it’s hardly surprising as it seems to be a Dr. Luke reoccurring trend.
You can listen to California Gurls on Katy Perry’s official website now.