The lowdown: Pop music has a long history of barely veiled sexual metaphors. (Nearly fifty years ago, Nina Simone just wanted a little sugar in her bowl.) Many of them are notoriously awful—here’s to you, Warrant, Bryan Adams and Sheena Easton!—but Katy may take things to a new cringe-inducing low on “Birthday,” which features a host of childlike party imagery best left unassociated with intercourse. The song is saved, however, by a glittery disco melody so irresistible even a mess of popped confetti can’t sully it.
ATRL says...: Most members were not too kind. "Katy, what is wrong with you?" asked madonnas. "You took a perfectly acceptable beat with a fun chorus and ruined it by some horrible disturbing 'big balloons' metaphor. EW." adrianbeane called it "Last Friday Night's failed attempt at having a genetically modified nu-disco baby." lovesong thought it started out as "a catchy produced pop song, but then she starts talking." August hoped "the cringe-worthy 'happy birthday' at the end of this song haunts Katy every October 25 from now on." J. YONCÉ fumed, "SEXY BIRTHDAY SONGS BY POP GIRLS WILL NEVER HAPPEN." But helloDer thought it was "damn sexy" and Doogle called it "possibly the catchiest song of all-time."
Best bit: the dubstep breakdown (which ironically runs beneath the song's worst lyrics)
I always wish Katy would go back to her old sound but Birthday is seriously one of the greatest pop songs of our time. I don't care if it's riddled with cliches or anything. She sounds so damn sexy and the song is a total bop from start to finish. It's sickeningly sweet but in the best way possible. I've never had such a thing for a Katy song before.
I am so mad. I am devastated. Truly saddened.
Good thing I'm away for a week, LAWD I need it now.
I gave it a 10 because the beat is a SERIOUS jam; enough for me to ignore the ****** lyrics. I mean Walking On Air is better because the lyrics aren't (as) bad but seriously, Birthday is a JAAAAAAM.
It deserved top 20.