While her contemporaries like Beyoncé and world-tour-back-up-thief Taylor Swift build their fan-bases through idiosyncratically defined personas and artfully disclosed personal details, Perry is at her best when she’s at her most universal — when she fashions herself little more than an empty vessel for the highly relatable emotions evoked by anthems like “Firework,” “Roar,” and “Teenage Dream.” This is part of the reason her songs are so ubiquitous. It’s safe, one-size-fits-all empowerment: She does not have to change up the set list when she performs at a sporting event or a political convention
This appearance felt like the greatest risk Katy Perry’s taken in ages — underscored by the fact that so few other contemporary pop stars have yet spoken out about what will probably end up being the most important election of our time. Taylor Swift makes a lot of noise about supporting strong women in positions of power, but when it comes to the country’s first viable female presidential candidate, she’s been weirdly silent. And after some recent comments about the election, Blake Shelton took to Twitter on Thursday to say, “I haven’t enforced ANYBODY for president”… uh, his words, not mine. So in a pop-scape otherwise barren of electoral comment, you have to at least give Perry credit for putting herself out there. Sure, the whole thing was a little bit awkward, but that made it seem all the more genuine. Katy Perry (like her fellow pop-art patriot, Lady Gaga) is currently, and very publicly, trying to figure out how to transition into the second, more “respectable” phase of her career. What we got last night wasn’t exactly Katy Perry 2.0, but at least Katy Perry 1.5.
Risky? ✓
Riskier than her peers? ✓
believes in intersectional feminism? ✓
vocals? ✓
not afraid to alienate fans cuz of her political stance? ✓
supports other women & doesn't tear them down ? ✓
woke ✓
a real feminist? ✓
The only explanation I have for the convention’s continued use of Rachel Platten’s infernal “Fight Song” was to make “Firework” sound that much brighter when it finally popped off. The juxtaposition between the two showed the subtle, underappreciated craftsmanship of Katy Perry’s anthems: Anybody can write a fight song, but only the best pack a punch.
both candidates suck, nobody is forced to support any of them if they don't want to, katy likes hillary, good for her. some artists don't believe in Hillary or Trump, deal with it.
Funny these bitches want Taylor to go away and at the same time they want her opinion on everything
Risky? ✓
Riskier than her peers? ✓
believes in intersectional feminism? ✓
vocals? ✓
not afraid to alienate fans cuz of her political stance? ✓
supports other women & doesn't tear them down ? ✓
woke ✓
a real feminist? ✓
