With "California Gurls" (featuring Snoop Dogg), "Teenage Dream", "Firework", "E.T.", and "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)", Teenage Dream is the second album in history to have five number-one singles (after Michael Jackson's 1987 album Bad) to top the US Billboard Hot 100, and the first by a woman to achieve this milestone. Its sixth single, "The One That Got Away", peaked at number three on that chart. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 192,000 copies in its first week. The album was later certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined album sales, track sales, on-demand audio and video streams equivalent of ten million album-sale units. The album has gone onto sell 3.1 million copies in the United States, and charted within the Top 40 of the Billboard 200 year-end chart three years in a row.[2] The album also sold 1.3 million copies in the United Kingdom, where it was certified six times platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).
Upon its release, Teenage Dream received mixed reviews from music critics, who complimented its production, themes, and Perry's vocal ability while criticism was largely focused on the lack of focus and image, and vulnerability on the album. However, retrospective reviews have praised the album, ranking it on multiple decade-end best albums lists.[3]Billboard named Teenage Dream "one of the defining LPs from a new golden age in mega-pop" and The A.V. Club called the album "pop perfection".[4][5] The album and its singles earned Perry seven Grammy Award nominations including Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Record of the Year.
It also won International Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2011. All six of the aforementioned singles, in addition to two from its 2012 reissue Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection, have sold over two million digital downloads each in the US, setting a record in the digital era for the most multi-Platinum singles from one album, breaking the previous record of Fergie's debut album, The Dutchess (2006), which had five multi-Platinum songs.[6] When "E.T." and “Teenage Dream” certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Perry became the first artist to have four Diamond-certified singles from same album in the country, the others being "Firework" and "California Gurls”. To promote the album, Perry embarked on the California Dreams Tour from 2011 to 2012.[7]
Background and development
"We worked in Santa Barbara, we worked in Los Angeles. I was telling everybody I had a lot of jewels, but I didn't have the crown, and then I finally got the crown so all the jewels made sense. And now I have this thing, this crown that I'm ready to present."
Following the success of her breakthrough album One of the Boys (2008), Perry did not want her next record to alienate her fanbase, opting to "definitely keep it pop" and not shift her style, believing it would show "whether I'm meant to do this, or I got lucky". In a 2009 interview with Rolling Stone, she revealed that the album would focus on the "whirlwind" last year of her life, dealing with her newfound fame, friendships, relationships, further stating that "I'm not just gonna talk about the beat and just dancing, I like to get into the meaning".[9] At that point, the singer described the new lyrics as "very honest, if not more honest than the last ones. But they are a little bit more mature... I know how to handle boys now".[10] Perry also wanted the album to have more tempo than One of the Boys to make her live shows more dynamic. She explained: "I really love going to shows where I'm sandwiched between people, and you don't know if the sweat on you is yours or the person's next to you. I love that feeling, and when I was on tour I would see that I was missing that a bit".[11]
The Cardigans and ABBA were cited as major influences on the creation of Teenage Dream.
Recording sessions for Teenage Dream began in autumn 2009 and took place at a multitude of recording studios in the United States.[9][12] Work on the album involved collaborating with numerous artists and producers including Dr. Luke, Greg Wells, Guy Sigsworth, Max Martin,[9][13]Ryan Tedder,[14]Rivers Cuomo,[13]Kuk Harrell,[15]Greg Kurstin, Benny Blanco, Darkchild, Cathy Dennis, Esther Dean, and Tricky Stewart, who told Rap-Up in December 2009 that the sound of the album would be pop and rock, like One of the Boys, though calling it a "different gear" for himself.[16] Perry also desired to collaborate with Calvin Harris on the record, "but he got really famous so it didn't happen".[13] According to Luke, Perry gave him a mixtape of songs which inspired her in order to demonstrate how she wanted the next record to sound.[17] The singer also claimed that working with Martin and Luke was "a wonderful collaborative effort".[18] As for the visual component, the singer likens it to "going from Shirley Temple, Betty Boop to more of a Betty Paige [sic], pop art-sarcastic-fun-Lichtenstein picture: still bright, but the colors are more saturated, and it's more metallic fuchsia or purple than bubblegum pink."[19]
Music and lyrics
Perry stated about the album "You're getting the sugary sweet but you're also getting the 'Oh my goodness, she had to sit down for a minute and let things off her chest'".[20] The music of Teenage Dream is derived from a wide variety of pop genres, while heavily incorporating different musical styles not heard on her previous releases; disco and electronic are examples.[1] Musically, Teenage Dream is considered to be a departure from One of the Boys (2008), which was pop rock and soft rock driven. The album features a very wide range of rock subgenres, which include disco rock,[21]glam metal,[22]indie rock,[23]pop rock,[24]hard rock,[25]electronic rock,[26] and goth rock.[27]
Teenage Dream's fourth track is the self-empowerment song "Firework". Written in a disco-rock style which runs over the backing track, it consists of a mix of violins and house music.[21][42][43] The song has generated comparisons to artists such as Coldplay and Leona Lewis.[34][44] According to Perry, "Firework" was inspired by Jack Kerouac's novel On the Road, and she has said on many occasions that it is her favorite song from the album.[45][46] "Peacock" is a dance-pop song, with an up-tempo house music beat.[21] Lyrically, the track contains a double entendre with suggestive wording. New York magazine writer Willa Paskin observed that Perry did the obvious with the song's hook ("she used a common word for penis and made it mean penis!").[47] Rob Sheffield from Rolling Stone thought of "Peacock" as a sequel to Gwen Stefani's 2005 single "Hollaback Girl" by noticing the two songs shared a drum hook.[48] The album follows with "Circle the Drain", a disco-rock song where, lyrically, Perry is telling off a self-destructive drug-addicted ex-boyfriend. Its candid lyrics[49][50] also discuss the strains his addiction put on both of them. In the track's chorus, she sings about how she wants to be his lover, not someone who has to take care of him, such as a maternal figure. She also sings about how he had ultimately lost large opportunities.[49] The song is styled in the genres of disco-rock,[21] and gothic rock tones.[27] Following this track is "The One That Got Away", which is a rock and popballad.[51] Perry stated that she wrote the song "about when you promise someone forever, but you end up not being able to follow through. It's a bittersweet story. Hopefully, the listener learns from hearing it and never has to say they had "the one" get away."[52]
The eighth song, "E.T." is a song about "falling in love with a foreigner".[53] A remix of the song features Kanye West. Musically, the track is an electronic and hip hop ballad influenced by drum and bass, rave, and techno. The eleventh track, "Hummingbird Heartbeat", was inspired by Perry's boyfriend at the time, Russell Brand.[54] Musically, it is a 1980s-styled hard rock song that contains a mixture of elements from rock and electronica. Lyrically, the song compares the feeling of being in love to the speed of a hummingbird's heartbeat.[55][56] The last track is "Not Like the Movies" a power ballad about a love relationship where a woman does not feel in love and still waits for the man of her dreams, or "charming prince", as a Terra reviewer put it.[57] Its melody was compared to Britney Spears' "Everytime" (2003) and Evanescence's "My Immortal" (2003).[58]
On June 14, 2010, a beach-themed listening party took place in New York, where a number of tracks from the album were played.[59] Before the album's release, "Not Like the Movies", "Circle the Drain", and "E.T." were made available exclusively on iTunes Store as a countdown to Teenage Dream.[60][61][62]Capitol Records first released Teenage Dream in the United States and Canada on August 24, 2010, as a standard and deluxe edition, which contained remixes of "California Gurls" and "Teenage Dream".[63][64] A two-CD edition titled Dream On was later released, consisting of a CD featuring the 12 original tracks, plus another one with two tracks on which Perry had previously appeared as a featured artist — 3OH!3's "Starstrukk" and Timbaland's "If We Ever Meet Again", and remixes of "California Gurls" and "Teenage Dream".[65] The album was distributed by EMI Music Japan on August 25 in Japan,[66] and released three days later in the United Kingdom.[67]Teenage Dream was eventually released worldwide on August 30, 2010 by EMI.[68] It was re-released on October 20, 2023 as a two-edition vinyl.[69][70]
The album's title was revealed as Teenage Dream in May 2010, with Perry explaining it was named after a song on the album she wrote on her hometown in Santa Barbara, which "kind of exudes this euphoric feeling like everyone remembers what their teenage dreams were", Perry explained.[71] The title attracted controversy as it had a similar title to duo Beach House's Teen Dream, released earlier that year; a member of the duo addressed the issue on Twitter, writing they "can't believe this, and not in a good way", further tweeting that "guess we have to write a song called 'i kiss a girl'", referring to a song with similar title by Perry, "I Kissed a Girl".[72] Their fans also reacted by posting comments on Perry's Wikipedia page, including one that read: "Mrs. Perry's album title may or may not be ripping off the brilliant indie duo Beach House and their critically acclaimed record Teen Dream. It will be a challenge for her to achieve the same aural masterpiece".[73]
The album cover, which shows Perry lying naked on clouds of pink cotton candy, was painted on a 6x6 canvas by Will Cotton and revealed on July 21, 2010.[74] Perry first approached Cotton in early 2010, asking him if paintings from his "Cotton Candy Clouds" series, which depicted pinup girls laying nude in a pink sky, were available for purchase. After viewing photographs from Perry's One of the Boys album, he instead suggested she pose for a painting, as he thought Perry had the same pin-up burlesque style he looked for in a model. He baptized the artwork as Cotton Candy Katy, and later art directed the music video for "California Gurls".[75] She explained the reason on choosing a painting for the cover: "Maybe CDs will be extinct next time I put out the album...so I wanted to go out with a bang for people to remember this. I think our collaboration will make it memorable".[74] Perry decided not to include her name or the album's title on the cover and stated, "Hopefully they know it's me by the actual picture".[76] A limited number of copies carried a cotton candy scent, described by MTV News' Kyle Anderson as "not unlike that artificial bubblegum smell you sometimes get".[77]
Promotion for the album began with a live performance of "California Gurls" on May 20, 2010, at the CW networks' annual "upfronts" presentation in New York.[78][79] Perry later performed the track at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards alongside Dogg; MTV News described the performance as "postcard come to life", with the singer taking style notes from "1950s 'greetings from' state postcards, I-t-t-t-totally-love-the-'80s fluorescents, a little 1960s sci-fi", as well as "a dash of 1970s Wonder Woman flair".[80] Before the performance, MTV had tweeted that the singer would appear naked on stage, which made Perry upset.[81] She also promoted the song that same month on Le Grand Journal,[82] and on the fifth season of Germany's Next Topmodel.[83] The Candyland theme from the "California Gurls" video was used in the performance at the 2010 MuchMusic Video Awards;[84] she had previously stated that her performance would be different from the music video, as it would not feature "cupcake boobies".[85]
In July, Perry performed at the MTV World Stage Live in Malaysia with a set that included lifesize cupcakes, backing singers dressed like candy canes and Perry wearing a white glitter unitard and tutu; during her set, the singer premiered "Peacock".[86] The next month, she opened the 2010 Teen Choice Awards with a rendition of "Teenage Dream" with cheerleaders, jocks, and dancers surrounding her on stage.[87] During a promotional visit to Australia, Perry performed a small concert for Sunrise.[88] On the album's release day in the United States, she appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman and gave a small concert and performed several tracks from the album along with older songs. The rendition was broadcast live across the web.[89] Two days later, the singer appeared at Rockefeller Plaza for Today and sang "California Gurls" and "Teenage Dream".[90] She then made a return to Le Grand Journal to perform the title track.[82]
The California Dreams Tour was officially announced in October 2010.[101] Before the announcement, Perry had expressed she wanted her next concert tour to be very focused on visuals, and wanted it to be "10 times better" than her previous tour.[101] She also stated that it would "engage all of your senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, touch".[102] Baz Halpin was signed up as the tour director, and designed the show to be a "jukebox musical".[103] It was originally designed as an essentially theater-based tour. However, as Perry's popularity grew, the tour was scaled up and revamped to accommodate larger venues.[103]Robyn, Yelle, and Marina and the Diamonds served as opening acts for the concerts, which Perry described as "super girl power".[104] The tour was a commercial success, and was ranked 16th in Pollstar's "2011 Top 25 Worldwide Tours", earning over $59.5 million.[105] At the conclusion of 2011, it ranked 13th on Billboard's annual "Top 25 Tours", earning nearly $50 million with 98 shows.[106] It won an award for Favorite Tour Headliner at the 38th People's Choice Awards.[107] It was announced that the tour's stop at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on November 23, 2011 would be filmed for a future DVD release, but it was never released.[108]
"California Gurls" was the lead single from Teenage Dream, which features rapper Snoop Dogg. The single made its radio debut on May 7, 2010 and was digitally released four days later.[109][110][111] The song had received generally positive reviews from music critics, with many critics highlighting it as an album favorite. The song also received worldwide success as well, peaking at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, staying there for six consecutive weeks. It also peaked at number one in New Zealand, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Ireland, and Scotland. It was the best selling digital song of 2010.[112]
"Teenage Dream" was released as the second single from the album. The song went to radio stations in the US on July 22, 2010.[113] The song received positive reviews from music critics, with Jocelyn Vena of MTV said it "picks up right where 'California Gurls' leaves off", describing it as having "a strong beat".[114] The song had also had chart success as similar to the first single, peaking at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 for two consecutive weeks, and also peaked at number one in Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, Slovakia and other sub-charts in the US.
"Firework" was released as the third offering from the album. The song was released on October 18, 2010 through radio airplay, followed by a digital release on November 2, 2010 in the UK. The music video for "Firework" is part of a cross-promotional deal with European telecommunications group Deutsche Telekom. Deutsche Telekom hosted a series of activities and competitions from which fans around Europe were recruited to be in the video.[115] The song had commercial success as well, peaking at number one in the US and spent four non-consecutive weeks. The song also topped the charts in Brazil, Canada, New Zealand and subcharts in the US.
"E.T." was released on February 11, 2011. For its single release, the song was remixed to feature new verses from Kanye West.[116][117] The music video for the song, directed by Floria Sigismondi, was filmed in February 2011 and features both Perry and West. The video was released on March 31, 2011.[118] The song topped the charts in the US for five non-consecutive weeks, and also peaked at the top position in Canada, Germany, Poland and New Zealand.
"Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" was released on June 6, 2011 on contemporary hit and rhythmic contemporary radios as the fifth single from the album.[119] The song received generally mixed reviews from music critics. The song also received commercial success, peaking at number one in Canada, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and the US, topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two consecutive weeks. The music video was released worldwide on June 14, 2011. It guest stars Darren Criss, Rebecca Black, Kevin McHale, Kenny G, Hanson, Corey Feldman and Debbie Gibson. A remixed version of "Last Friday Night" was released on August 8, 2011, featuring American rapper Missy Elliott. On August 17, 2011, with "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)", Perry made history as the second artist overall, and first female, to achieve five number one singles on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart from one album. The song also became Perry's fourth number one in Canada.
"The One That Got Away" was released as the sixth single from Teenage Dream. The song was released on October 11, 2011 on US Mainstream radio.[120][121][122] The song received mostly positive reviews from most music critics, who complimented Perry's serious tone. A teaser of the music video was also released in early November, and the full music video premiered on November 11, 2011 on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.[123] On November 24, the single entered the top five of the Billboard Hot 100, making Teenage Dream one of only seven albums in US history to have six or more top 10 singles. On December 14, it became one in two albums to yield six top four songs, when it soared to number four, it later peaked at number three.[124]
Promotional singles
"Not Like the Movies" and "Circle the Drain" were released as promotional singles as album previews in the United States.[citation needed]. They debuted at numbers 53 and 58 on the Hot 100, respectively. The solo, album version of "E.T." was also released as a promotional single on the same day of the album release, before later being given an official single release. A remix of "Peacock" was released on March 26, 2012 on iTunes as the fourth and final promotional single of the album.[125] It reached number 64 in Canada, number 52 in the Czech Republic,[126] and number one on the US Dance Club Songs chart.[127] It has also sold over 500,000 copies in the US[128] and certified Gold on July 9, 2012. A dance remix of it was released on March 26, 2012.[129]
Teenage Dream received mixed reviews upon release from music critics.[131] Giving the album 4 out of 5 stars, Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote that "There's no question Perry is smart enough to know every rule in pop but she's not inspired enough to ignore them, almost seeming nervous to break away from the de rigueur lite club beats that easily transition from day to night or the chilly, stainless-steel ballads designed to lose none of their luster on repeat plays." He felt that it contained "accents to her old One of the Boys palette" and distinguished itself through vulgar lyrics.[132] Mikael Wood of Spin gave a mixed review, noting that the album "won't disappoint parents looking for reasons to worry about their kids".[49]Rob Sheffield from Rolling Stone described the album as "heavy on Eighties beats, light on melody, taking a long dip into the Daft Punk filter-disco house sound."[1]Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune gave a negative review to the album. He criticized the production, calling it "Frankenstein-like", as well as calling Perry's vocals "robotic" and lacking "any elegance or nuance".[27] Matthew Cole of Slant Magazine called it "over-produced bad-girl debauchery", claiming that Perry has "found a way to lower the bar".[34]
The Los Angeles Times gave it three stars, saying, "On "Teenage Dream," the songs alternate between weekend-bender celebrations of hedonism and self-help-style affirmations encouraging listeners to get an emotional makeover. Either way, acquisition is the goal: of a great love, a happy hangover, a perfect pair of Daisy Dukes". Leah Greenblatt, writing for Entertainment Weekly, stated, "beneath the fruity outfits and fart jokes, Perry is clearly serious about the business of hit songcraft; that doesn't make Dream nearly cohesive as an album, but it does provide, intermittently, exactly the kind of high-fructose rush she's aiming for."[134] On the album's 10th anniversary, Patrick Gomez of The A.V. Club praised it as "pop perfection", writing that "the magic of the album is that it remains cohesive" and "the heightened emotions of teen love, lust, and self-discovery remain a constant throughout".[138] Writing for The Republican, Kevin O'Hare gave the album 3.5 stars out of five, praising its titular track and "California Gurls" for being "infectious" and "joyous [blasts] of nostalgia." He had a similar opinion for "Who Am I Living For?" for Katy Perry's "powerhouse singing" and "Not Like the Movies", calling the lattermost a "delicately beautiful piano ballad". O'Hare was far less favorable towards "The One That Got Away", criticizing the track as "fairly thin."[139]
No. 4 – Rolling Stone Brasil's Top 25 international songs of the year for "California Gurls".
No. 25 – Rolling Stone Brasil's Top 25 international albums of the year for Teenage Dream.
No. 71The Fader's 2017 list of "150 More Great Albums Made By Women"[157]
Commercial performance
After its release, Teenage Dream debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, with a total of 192,000 copies sold in its first week.[158] In the week July 21, 2012, the album jumped from 21 to two on the chart (up 417% on sales) with sales of 80,000 copies, becoming best sales frame since Christmas of 2010 after being discounted to 99 cents on Amazon.[159] On the week ending March 14, 2015, the album completed 200 weeks in the chart since it debuted on September 11, 2010 making it the 25th album to spend more than 200 weeks or more on the Billboard 200.[2] On the week ending July 13, 2024, the album completed 380 weeks in the chart, making it the fifth album to spend more weeks by female artist on the Billboard 200.[160]Teenage Dream has been certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for combined album sales, track sales, on-demand audio and video streams equivalent of ten million album-sale units [161] and has sold 3,100,000 pure copies in United States as of August 2020.[162] The album also debuted at number one on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling a total of 26,000 copies,[163] and was later certified quadruple-Platinum by Music Canada.[164]
In Australia, Teenage Dream debuted at number one for a two-week run at the top of the chart. The album was certified triple-Platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), for shipments of 210,000 units.[165] In New Zealand, Teenage Dream debuted at number two, and reached number one after four weeks on the chart. It was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ).[166] As of June 19, 2012, Teenage Dream is the 12th best-selling album of all-time in the country, resulting her as the fifth female to make it on the list (behind Adele, Norah Jones, Shania Twain, and Bic Runga).[167] In the United Kingdom, Teenage Dream debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, selling more than 54,176 copies.[168] It was certificated 4× Platinum by British Phonographic Industry for shipments of 1,200,000 units.[169] As of February 2017, the album has sold 1.3 million copies in the UK.[170]
In France, Teenage Dream debuted at number 14 on the French Albums Chart and peaked at number three. The album was certified Platinum by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP).[171] In Mexico, the album debuted and peaked at number 11. The album was certified Gold by (AMPROFON) Association. In Spain, Teenage Dream debuted at number four on the Spanish Albums Chart and stayed on the chart for 27 weeks. In Brazil, Teenage Dream peaked at number four on the Top Álbuns Brasil.[172] As of July 2013, Teenage Dream has sold 6 million copies worldwide.[173]
Teenage Dream achieved a multitude of records throughout its run. Perry scored five Billboard Hot 100 number one singles from Teenage Dream, making her the second artist in the chart's 53-year history to amass five number-one singles from one album over its first release after Michael Jackson achieved the feat with his 1987 album Bad. Perry is the first female in history to achieve this milestone.[182][183] The album is one of only three albums to produce six or more top-five singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (along with Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 and George Michael's Faith), and the first album to have seven songs top the Dance Club Songs chart, breaking the previous record set by Beyoncé's I Am... Sasha Fierce and Kristine W's The Power of Music, both with six songs.[184][185][186][187] Also, the album is the fifth album in history with the most weeks by a female artist on the Billboard 200. Perry was able to replicate this success in the United Kingdom, breaking the Official Charts Company's record for the most Top 10 singles from one studio album by a female solo artist.[188]
Teenage Dream came to have a good time and to hit it really, really big. "Teenage Dream," "Last Friday Night," "California Gurls," "Firework" and "E.T."—five No. 1 songs in a row. Some pop stars spend their whole lives trying to put together a string of hits that amount to a lasting legacy; Katy Perry did it in the first 15 minutes. This album is a crowning achievement, not just of her career but of its style: EDM and disco and pop, bold and belting, entirely processed yet instantly recognizable, robust yet chintzy.
Eight songs from Teenage Dream have topped Billboard's Adult Top 40 chart as well as the Mainstream Top 40 chart, both more than any other album in each respective chart's history. Additionally, with seven chart-toppers from "Waking Up in Vegas", Perry broke the record for the longest streak of number ones on the Mainstream Top 40 set by Lady Gaga's first six singles.[189] The singles also allowed Perry to have an unprecedented 69-week long streak in the Hot 100's top-10, as well as a 71-week top-10 streak on the Airplay chart.[190] Perry also has the most number-one singles (four) from one album to top the Canadian Hot 100. Combined, the songs have sold a total of over 35 million copies worldwide aside from the album.[191] Also, the first five singles from the album topped the charts in the United States and attained top-10 positions in more than 20 countries. All five singles also topped the Digital and Airplay charts, making her the first artist ever to have five number-one singles in the Airplay chart.[192] Perry became the only artist to spend over 52 consecutive weeks in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, and later heightened this to 69 weeks, with the first five singles from album, breaking the 15-year long previous record held by Ace of Base of 48 weeks with three singles .[193] On the Mainstream Top 40 the album holds the unique record in the chart's history to have four songs from the same album in the top five of "Most weekly plays"; 1. "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" (12,468), 2. "E.T." (12,361), 3. "California Gurls" (12,159), and 4. "Firework" (11,857).[194]
In a retrospective review of the Teenage Dream, Pitchfork called the album "a crowning achievement, not just of her career but of its style: EDM and disco and pop, bold and belting, entirely processed yet instantly recognizable, robust yet chintzy."[136] uDiscover Music wrote in 2020 that the album "holds an outsized influence on pop music landscape and the many artists she helped inspire" and that it along with the "Teenage Dream" song "lives on as a nostalgic spectacle that set the course for the pop icon's aesthetic".[195] In 2015, VH1 called Teenage Dream "the most important pop album of the last 10 years" and added "it surged a blend of silliness into the dance genre that had been dominated by Lady Gaga's Fame Monster edge".[196] In an interview for Apple Music for her album If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power, American singer-songwriter Halsey called Teenage Dream the "perfect pop album", saying: "Anyone who's trying to make a perfect pop album is wasting their time because Katy already did it with Teenage Dream."[197]
^[c] The North American CD edition hidden tracks are also included on the Japanese standard CD edition, as tracks fourteen and fifteen. No other regions included these hidden tracks on physical copies of the album, until they were later released on disc two of the deluxe edition.[203]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, known professionally as Katy Perry, is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. Perry is one of the best-selling music artists in history, having sold over 143 million units worldwide. She is known for her influence on pop music and her camp style, being dubbed the "Queen of Camp" by Vogue and Rolling Stone. Billboard ranked her fourth on its "Greatest of All Time Pop Songs Artists" list and twenty-fifth on their "Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century" list.
One of the Boys is the second studio album by American singer Katy Perry. It was released on June 17, 2008, by Capitol Records. She collaborated on the album with producers Greg Wells, Dr. Luke, Dave Stewart, Max Martin, and Ted Bruner among others, and wrote most of the songs in collaboration with other producers and writers. However, the title track, "Thinking of You", and "Mannequin" were all written by Perry alone. The EP Ur So Gay, containing the song of the same name, was released in 2007 to generate interest in the singer and the album.
"I Kissed a Girl" is the debut single by American singer Katy Perry. It was released on April 28, 2008, by Capitol Records as the lead single from her second studio album, One of the Boys (2008). Perry co-wrote the song with Max Martin, Cathy Dennis, and its producer Dr. Luke, with additional production from Benny Blanco. "I Kissed a Girl" is a pop-rock, electropop and new wave song with elements of disco and glam rock. Perry stated its lyrics are "about the magical beauty of a woman". The song sparked controversy for its handling of bi-curious themes, but in retrospect has been credited with increasing LGBT awareness in pop music.
"Hot n Cold" is a song by American singer Katy Perry. The song was written by Perry, Dr. Luke, and Max Martin and produced by Luke and Benny Blanco for her second studio album, One of the Boys (2008). It was released as the album's second single on September 9, 2008. The lyrics address an unstable romantic relationship caused by a partner's mood swings.
American singer Katy Perry has released seven studio albums, seven extended plays (EP), 40 singles, and 11 promotional singles. According to Recording Industry Association of America, Perry has sold 121.5 million digital singles and 19 million albums in the United States. She is also the sixth best-selling digital singles artist in the United States. Throughout her career, Perry has sold 48 million album units and 135 million singles worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Billboard listed her as the fourth top female artist of the 2010s decade and the 61st greatest artist of all time. Perry has scored nine number one songs on Billboard Hot 100 and three number one albums on Billboard 200.
"California Gurls" is a song recorded by American singer Katy Perry. It served as the lead single for her third studio album, Teenage Dream (2010). The song features verses from rapper Snoop Dogg. Both artists co-wrote the song with Bonnie McKee and its producers Dr. Luke, Benny Blanco, and Max Martin. According to Perry, "California Gurls" is an answer song to "Empire State of Mind" (2009), by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys. Its mid-tempo production incorporates disco-pop and funk-pop with influences of new wave and electropop. Its lyrics are an ode to the state of California, in which both Perry and Snoop Dogg were born and raised.
"Teenage Dream" is a song by American singer Katy Perry. It was released as the second single from her third studio album of the same name on July 23, 2010. This song was written by Perry, Bonnie McKee, Dr. Luke, Max Martin, and Benny Blanco. McKee describes "Teenage Dream" as a throwback song to the euphoric feelings of being in love as a teenager while Perry described the song as reminiscent of her youth. Musically, "Teenage Dream" is a mid-tempo pop song with a retro sound. It is styled in the genres of power pop and electropop, while taking influence from other genres such as disco and pop rock. Perry starts the song in a high-pitched voice while her vocals grow stronger as the song progresses. Lyrically, "Teenage Dream" discusses being with a lover who makes one feel young again.
"Not Like the Movies" is a song by American singer Katy Perry from her third studio album, Teenage Dream (2010). She co-wrote the song with its producer Greg Wells. Capitol Records released it on August 3, 2010, as the album's first promotional single. The song is a power ballad from the point of view of a teenage girl. Lyrically, the girl contemplates her first time and how "it wasn't right". She realizes through that experience that her "prince" is still "out there" waiting for her. It was written when Perry first started dating her then-husband, Russell Brand.
"Circle the Drain" is a song by American singer Katy Perry, from her third studio album, Teenage Dream (2010). It was written by Perry, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart and Monte Neuble. Lyrically, "Circle the Drain" candidly focuses on a former lover's drug-addiction and the strains it put on both of them. Following its release, several media outlets reported it to have been inspired by her former relationship with Travie McCoy. Critics were divided on the track, with some finding Perry to be in a hypocritical position, given the album's other material. Other reviewers found it nice to see a different side to the singer.
"Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" is a song by American singer Katy Perry from her third studio album, Teenage Dream. The song was produced by Dr. Luke and Max Martin, who also co-wrote the song with Perry and Bonnie McKee. Perry stated that she was inspired to write the track after a night of wild partying and streaking. It was released as the album's fifth single on June 6, 2011, by Capitol Records, with a remix featuring American rapper Missy Elliott released to US radio stations and digital retailers on August 8, 2011; this version was included in Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection edition. It is a dance-pop song with lyrics about drunken fun and debauchery. Some of the risqué lyrics are often censored in radio versions of the song.
"Peacock" is a song by American singer Katy Perry, taken from her third studio album, Teenage Dream (2010). Because the song was filled with suggestive lyrics pertaining to male genitalia, Capitol Records initially opposed the idea of including it on her record. Similar to what happened with another song of hers – "I Kissed a Girl" (2008) – she refused to withdraw it from the record. "Peacock" was panned by music critics and, musically, was compared to the 1980s song "Mickey" by Toni Basil, and Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl" (2005). On March 26, 2012, a remix version was released as a promotional single on iTunes.
"Firework" is a song by American singer Katy Perry from her third studio album, Teenage Dream (2010). Perry co-wrote the song with Ester Dean and the song's producers Stargate and Sandy Vee. It is a dance-pop self-empowerment anthem with inspirational lyrics, and Perry felt it was an important song for her on the record. Capitol Records released it as the album's third single on October 26, 2010.
"E.T." is a song by American singer Katy Perry from her third studio album, Teenage Dream (2010). She co-wrote the song with its producers Dr. Luke, Max Martin, and Ammo. "E.T." was serviced to radio stations as the album's fourth single on February 16, 2011. One version of the song features verses from American rapper Kanye West, and that version was included on the reissue of the album, Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection. Musically, it is an electronic and hip hop ballad which draws heavily from dubstep and techno, along with smaller amounts of drum and bass. According to Perry, the song lyrically speaks of "falling in love with a foreigner".
"Part of Me" is a song by American singer Katy Perry, released as the lead single from Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection. It was written by Perry and Bonnie McKee, with production and additional writing by Dr. Luke, Max Martin, and Cirkut. The song was not included on the original edition of Teenage Dream because Perry felt that it did not fit the composition of the album. A demo of the song leaked online in late 2010, amid speculation that the lyrics were directed to the singer's ex-boyfriend Travie McCoy. "Part of Me" was re-worked and officially released on February 13, 2012, through Capitol Records with artwork by art director Gavin Taylor and photography by Mary Ellen Matthews.
"The One That Got Away" is a song by American singer-songwriter Katy Perry from her second studio album, Teenage Dream (2010). The song was produced by Dr. Luke and Max Martin, both of whom also co-wrote the song with Perry. The song is a mid-tempo pop ballad about a lost love. It features a reference to the rock band Radiohead, and compares the strength of the relationship to that of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. The song was released on September 30, 2011, by Capitol Records as the album's sixth single.
Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection is a reissue of American singer-songwriter Katy Perry's third studio album, Teenage Dream (2010). It was released on March 23, 2012, by Capitol Records, nearly two years after the original album. Perry collaborated with producers including Tricky Stewart to refine leftover material from the recording sessions at Playback Recording Studio for Teenage Dream. The final product features three newly recorded songs, which incorporate pop styles previously seen in the original album, an acoustic version of "The One That Got Away" and three additional official remixes.
"Wide Awake" is a song by American singer Katy Perry from Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection. She co-wrote the song with Max Martin, Bonnie McKee, and its producers Dr. Luke and Cirkut. It was specifically written for Perry's autobiographical film Katy Perry: Part of Me. Capitol Records released the song onto radio stations on May 22, 2012. The track is a power ballad styled in dance-pop, and features lyrics about the reality of a break up and moving forward.
"Hummingbird Heartbeat" is a song recorded by American singer Katy Perry for her third studio album, Teenage Dream (2010). It was written by Perry, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, Stacy Barthe, and Monte Neuble. Stewart handled the production of the song, while Kuk Harrell produced Perry's vocals. "Hummingbird Heartbeat" was inspired by Perry's boyfriend at the time, Russell Brand.
Prism is the fourth studio album by American singer Katy Perry. It was released by Capitol Records on October 18, 2013. While the album was initially planned to be "darker" than her previous material, Prism ultimately became a prominently dance-inspired record. Perry worked with several past collaborators, while enlisting new producers and guest vocals. Much of Prism revolves around the themes of living in the present, relationships, and self-empowerment. The album garnered generally positive reviews with critics praising its lyrics for being more "mature" and personal, while others considered Prism to be more formulaic than her previous material.
References
1 2 3 4 5 Sheffield, Rob (August 23, 2010). "Teenage Dream". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 25, 2014. Retrieved June 10, 2011.
1 2 Greenblatt, Leah (August 11, 2010). "Teenage Dream". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 15, 2010. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
↑ Petersen, Jeremy. "Best of 2010: Staff Lists". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
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