Katy Perry released her album “143” on Sept. 20, marking her seventh studio album. Perry hoped “143” would rekindle her flame as a pop artist after a disappointing performance with her last album, “Smile,” which debuted at No. 5 on the US Billboard 200 chart in 2020. Instead, “143” debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200, Perry’s worst debut since her album “One of the Boys” in 2008. Perry has received an astounding amount of backlash from listeners for her uninspiring melodies, with many saying she has dug herself a deeper hole in the music industry. While the name of the album itself is code for “I love you,” I thought of the opposite of “love” when I listened to the tracks.
The album was kept brief, totaling just over 33 minutes across 11 songs. Her first single, “WOMAN’S WORLD,” initially gained popularity over its controversial music video. The collection of clips depicts Perry strutting the downtown city streets with a group of scantily clad women climbing lamp posts, and guzzling alcohol. The lyrics are purportedly designed to empower women, calling them “so intelligent” and “strong,” but the corresponding video is a complete mockery of feminism. Why was vandalizing city streets and walking through glass doors considered appropriate choreography to represent intelligent women? After watching that sad excuse for a music video, it is safe to say I now feel more empowered than ever to run over people’s cars with my monster truck, all thanks to Katy Perry! But truth be told, due to the combination of elementary rhymes and basic production, the song would not have nearly as much popularity without the idiotic display of nudist criminals on the screen. The one thing I can commend Perry on for this song, however, is the accuracy of her lyrics. She sings, “It’s a woman’s world and you’re lucky to be livin’ in it/You better celebrate/‘Cause baby we ain’t goin’ away.” After a quick look into biology and basic common sense, it turns out that women are not in fact “goin’ away.” Thank you, Perry, for this enlightening discovery.
At least Perry is consistent. The songs are each horrible in the same vapid way. A similar flat beat started every song, quickly followed by some overly auto-tuned vocals. The only song with potential was “Lifetimes,” as it had relatively catchy vocals and an original beat. Unfortunately, as the song progresses, the lyrics “I know you feel it/Can you believe it?/I’m gonna love you ‘til the end and then repeat it” are sung over and over again. In case you didn’t “believe” her the first time, Perry made sure to incorporate these lyrics six different times during the song, with only one verse between the identical pre-choruses and choruses. The one song that I did enjoy was “GIMME GIMME” (ft. 21 Savage). I thought 21 Savage had a relatively decent rap verse at the end of the song. As for Perry, her parts of the song were insufferable.
The dumb lyrics, inappropriate music video, and flat songs of “143” show a once-formidable artist has regressed. But, at the end of the day, Katy Perry has successfully proven that women are strong, for millions of us worldwide have endured listening to this 33-minute-long album and somehow have walked away with no lasting damage.
