"Ur So Gay" | |
---|---|
Song by Katy Perry | |
from the EP Ur So Gay and the album One of the Boys | |
Released | November 20, 2007 |
Recorded | 2007 |
Studio | Rocket Carousel Studio (Los Angeles, California) |
Genre | Trip hop [1] |
Length | 3:39 |
Label | Capitol |
Songwriter(s) |
|
Producer(s) | Greg Wells |
Music video | |
"Ur So Gay" on YouTube |
"Ur So Gay" is a song released by American singer Katy Perry from her EP of the same name. She co-wrote the song with its producer Greg Wells while Drew Pearson served as the track's engineer. It was later included on her second studio album One of the Boys .
When asked about the song, Perry and her mother said it was about sex. The song "wasn't meant to be a big single or show what the album is going to be all about. That was for my Internet bloggers, so I'm not coming out of nowhere." [2] Perry's A&R representative Chris Anokute confirmed this by saying that they had no plans for radio coverage but just wanted to put this "novelty" song out online as an introduction to see "what the attraction was". As expected, sales were low, but Anokute said the track did well in terms of building a press story. [3] Due to the song's content, there was concern from the label over commercially releasing "Ur So Gay". [4]
"Ur So Gay" moves at a moderate pace. [1] According to digital sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Sony-ATV Music Publishing, the song is written in the key of E minor and the tempo is at 80 beats per minute. Perry's vocal's in "Ur So Gay" span from the lower note of E3 to the higher note of D#5. [5]
The song's lyrics have been described in a positive review as "eighteen different kinds of wrong". [6] The song itself has been described as an "emo-bashing anthem that's either horribly homophobic, a sly piece of social commentary or, possibly, both". [7] The Tampa Bay Times wrote that the "boyfriend-skewering..... isn't homophobic, but it does pummel straight guys who can't handle her edge". [8] Billboard senior editor Chuck Taylor believed the song "has all the potential to amuse the masses," further commenting that the song is "just too good" for top 40 programmers to not play. [9]
Some critics, however, conclude the song is homophobic. Ugo.com says the song settles for "catchphrase-homophobia" [10] while AllMusic describes the lyrics as "gay-baiting". [11] Writing for Glamour , Christopher Rosa called the track Perry's worst song. He criticized its "offensive queer tropes" and found its lyrics problematic. [12]
The video was directed by Walter May [13] and released in November 2007. According to senior vice president of A&R at Capitol Records Bob Semanovich, the purpose of the video was to introduce Perry to audiences in a way that was "fun and playful". Perry conceived the idea to center the video around dolls, as she wanted audiences to know that the song was meant as a "tongue-in-cheek dis[s] track". [4]
In the video, Perry plays the song in front of a bright cartoon-like background with clouds that have smiley faces on them. The characters in the video are played by Fashion Royalty dolls.
Perry performed the song as part of her MTV Unplugged set. Also on Hello Katy Tour and California Dreams Tour.
Credits and personnel adapted from the One of the Boys album liner notes. [14]
Chart (2008) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Hot Singles Sales ( Billboard ) [15] | 2 |
US Dance/Electronic Singles Sales ( Billboard ) [16] | 1 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [17] | Platinum | 60,000* |
United States (RIAA) [18] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
* Sales 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 of all time, 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.
Ur So Gay is the debut extended play (EP) by American singer Katy Perry. It was released digitally on November 20, 2007 by Capitol Records. A physical edition of the EP was released on January 15, 2008. The EP contains four tracks: the title track "Ur So Gay", a remix of the title track by American DJ Junior Sanchez, "Use Your Love", and "Lost". "Ur So Gay" and "Lost" would later appear on Perry's second studio album, One of the Boys (2008).
"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.
"Thinking of You" is a song written and recorded by American singer and songwriter Katy Perry from her second studio album, One of the Boys (2008). It was produced by Katy Perry and Butch Walker, and released on January 12, 2009, as the album's third single. "Thinking of You" deals with a break-up in which Perry does not want to move on but has no choice, and feels nostalgic of a previous lover while in a relationship with another man. Retrospectively, "Thinking of You" has been described as a favorite among her fans.
The Hello Katy Tour was the debut solo concert tour by American singer Katy Perry, in support of her second studio album, One of the Boys (2008). It ran from January 23, 2009, to November 28, 2009, and visited North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
"Waking Up in Vegas" is a song by American singer Katy Perry, released as the fourth and final single from her second studio album, One of the Boys (2008). Perry wrote the song with Desmond Child and Andreas Carlsson, and Greg Wells produced it, who is also credited for playing all the instruments on the song. It was officially released to US radio stations on April 21, 2009. "Waking Up in Vegas" is a pop rock track about an underage couple getting drunk and blowing their money in Las Vegas, paying homage to the phrase "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas."
MTV Unplugged is an extended play (EP) and live album by American singer Katy Perry, released in the United States on November 13, 2009, by Capitol Records. After airing more than 100 MTV Unplugged specials, MTV wanted to bring back the series, in order to expose them to a younger generation. The channel recruited various mainstream and popular artists to perform as part of the series, including Perry, who particularly expressed interest in the idea as it would allow her to showcase herself as an artist and share the stories behind her songs.
"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.
Chris Anokute is an American Music Executive, specialized in Artist Development and Executive Music Production. He was born from Nigerian parents, grew up in New Jersey, and currently resides in Los Angeles, California. His first stint in artist development was when he was hired at Virgin/Capitol Records in 2006 as their Senior Director of A&R at the age of 23 years old. While at Virgin/Capitol Records, Chris oversaw the A&R/Development for Katy Perry and Joss Stone. He later held senior vice-president of A&R roles at Universal Music Group and Epic Records between the years of 2011 and 2018.
"Birthday" is a song by American singer Katy Perry from her fourth studio album, Prism (2013). She co-wrote the song with Bonnie McKee and its producers Dr. Luke, Max Martin, and Cirkut. Critics, as well as Perry herself, have compared the track to the music of Prince and Mariah Carey. Through double entendres in the lyrics of "Birthday", Perry makes sexual references while celebrating a partner's birthday. Capitol Records sent the track to mainstream and rhythmic radio on April 21, 2014 as the album's fourth single.
"Who You Love" is a song by John Mayer featuring Katy Perry, for Mayer's sixth studio album, Paradise Valley (2013). It appears as the sixth song on the album and is the third single from the record. Mayer co-wrote the song with Perry and co-produced with Don Was and released it as an Internet download on August 12, 2013. Lyrically, "Who You Love" is a ballad about accepting falling in love with someone, on the theory that "you love who you love". The song has been praised by critics and has received mostly positive reviews.
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