Katy Perry, the pop queen who taught us to “Roar,” is back with a glittery bang – but not everyone’s singing along. Her latest single, “Woman’s World,” has ignited a firestorm of debate about feminism, motherhood, and the music industry’s #MeToo reckoning.
At 39, Perry is entering a new chapter of her life and career. “Woman’s World” is her first solo release since becoming a mum to daughter Daisy, now four.
“It’s the first contribution I have given since feeling really connected to my feminine divine,” Perry shared in a statement. The track, from her upcoming album “143,” was meant to be an empowering celebration of womanhood.
Only, the message never quite landed.
What Are The Critics Saying?
The Cut’s Caty Zhang has described Perry’s new album, 143, as one that “reeks of desperation.” Ouch. “We used to know who Katy Perry was. Over a decade ago, in the aftermath of the Great Recession, Perry satisfied our national appetite for youth, frivolity, and hedonism. Who is Katy Perry now? Most of all, she’s a 2010s relic,” she wrote.
“Katy’s back, and everything about the rollout for her new album, 143, reeks of desperation. What the streams reveal: vacant lyrics, ill-advised guests, very obvious samples — an album that will almost certainly flop. What people want from Katy Perry is fantasy, escapism. “Woman’s World,” the lead single out today, comes off so forgettable, so cringe, that it overshadows the blatant hypocrisy of having an alleged predator produce it.”
Like I said, ouch.
It doesn’t matter how famous you are, or how much you’ve achieved, we all seek external validation.
We need approval from others. We want to keep moving forward.
Forbes estimated Perry was worth $340 million in September 2023, labelling her one of the richest self-made women in the U.S.
And yet, while money might matter to music artists, it’s your music that defines you. It’s a part of who you are. It’s your art. You want people to be moved by your art. You want people to connect with your art – and all the money in the world can’t buy connection.
What Has Katy Perry Said About “Women’s World”?
In a press statement about her new album, Perry said, “I set out to create a bold, exuberant, celebratory dance-pop album with the symbolic 143 numerical expression of love as a throughline message.”
Woman’s World is the 39-year-old’s first solo single in three years. “The first contribution I have given since becoming a mother and since feeling really connected to my feminine divine,” Perry said in a statement.
As a mum, I know what it feels like to emerge from those early days of motherhood. To find a glimmer of hope that the old you is still in there. That she’s not gone forever. I’m sure for Perry, there were days where she felt like she’d lost her identity. It happens to all of us.
Perry’s last album, Smile, came out just after Daisy’s birth. It was her first album since her 2010 Teenage Dream not to hit No 1 in the UK or the US.
At the time, Perry said: “You know, every other album cycle, there’d be some kind of celebration or party or dinner, whatever, you know… But this time, I was giving birth to the greatest gift of all for me, and then my album came out the next day, and I was in hospital, and I could not wipe my own butt. I was like, ‘This is the most unusual album release for me.’”
Who Is Dr. Luke And What Is His Relationship To Katy Perry?
But it’s not just about the music.
While Perry co-wrote the single with songwriter Chloe Angelides and the music video was directed by Charlotte Rutherford, it’s one of the four male producers, Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald, who has caused the most controversy.
Back in 2014, Kesha sued Luke for sexual assault and battery, sexual harassment, gender violence and emotional abuse.
Perry and Dr. Luke have worked together for over a decade, and he’s co-produced eight of her nine Billboard No. 1 hits. Dr. Luke denied the claims and countersued for defamation, alleging that Kesha, her mother and management had fabricated the claims to escape the record contract she had signed with him. In 2016, a judge dismissed Kesha’s claims.
Kesha had also accused Luke of raping Perry, which Perry and Luke denied, and in 2020 a judge ruled that those comments were defamatory. Last year, Dr. Luke and Kesha settled his defamation claim after an almost decade-long legal battle.
In a statement, Kesha wrote: “Only God knows what happened that night… As I always said, I cannot recount everything that happened. I am looking forward to closing the door on this chapter of my life and beginning a new one. I wish nothing but peace to all parties involved.”
Perry’s choice to work with producer Dr. Luke on a women’s empowerment anthem feels tone-deaf to many.
Is The “Women’s World” Video Satire?
When the backlash hit, Perry took to Instagram to explain that the song and its glitzy video were meant to be satirical.
Decked out in a bejewelled bikini top and wielding a rhinestone-covered drill, she insisted, “We’re just kind of having fun and being sarcastic with it.” But should satire need an explanation?
As gender equality activist Gina Martin said: “Satire pokes fun at power in a clear way. If you have to explain the satire it’s not working as satire and just works to reinforce the power system at play. Also, does the satire part also apply to working with an alleged abuser? We’re confused.”
How Do Female Artists Navigate Ageing In The Youth-Obsessed Music Industry?
I think the general feeling is one of slight confusion. In 2024, when you’ve got over 200 million followers on Instagram, is this how you shout about women’s empowerment? Is this how you make us roar?
And yet, there’s so much to unpack in how this has all unravelled. We have so many questions.
Firstly, how do female artists navigate ageing in the youth-obsessed music industry?
And what are the expectations placed on working mothers, even superstars?
Also, how can the entertainment world genuinely support women while addressing its troubled history?
Perry’s loyal “KatyCats” as she calls them are standing by their pop queen, calling the song an “iconic bop.” But the divide between fan adoration and critical panning raises questions about the evolving relationship between artists and audiences in the social media age.
As we await the full “143” album, one thing’s clear: Katy Perry isn’t afraid to take risks. Whether “Woman’s World” marks a triumphant reinvention or a well-intentioned misstep, it’s got us talking about the challenges women face – in music and beyond.
So is “Woman’s World” a feminist anthem for 2024, or does it miss the mark?
This article originally appeared on Marie Claire Australia and is republished here with permission.
