Katy Perry

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Katy Perry

Katy Perry (born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson;[3][4] October 25, 1984) is an American singer-songwriter. She has risen to prominence with her 2008 single "I Kissed a Girl" which has become a worldwide hit topping the charts in more than 20 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Ireland. In the United States, the song is also noted for being the 1000th chart-topper of the Rock Era.[5] Perry has stated in the press that it's thanks to successful British singer-songwriters Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen that more female artists had been appearing on the charts. She went on to say that Winehouse and Allen, "have introduced America to great music".[6] Perry has a contralto vocal range.[7] She is known for her distinct Tongue-in-cheek sense of humor in her artistry as well as her unconventional style of dress, often bright in color and reminiscent of different decades.[8].

Biography

Early life

Perry was born in Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, California, USA. The middle child of two pastors,[1] she grew up listening to gospel music and singing in church.[9] She graduated from Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta, California in 2003 and immediately moved to Los Angeles at the age of 18.[10] After Steve Thomas and Jennifer Knapp signed Perry to their label Red Hill Records, she released her first CD Katy Hudson in 2001, a Christian gospel album.[11] In her teenage years, Perry found a Queen album with her friend, and later said, "From then on, they have been my biggest influence".[12] Also among her musical influences are Alanis Morissette,[13] Heart, and Joni Mitchell, as well as the Incubus album Morning View.[14] She changed her surname to Perry because "Katy Hudson" was too close to Kate Hudson.[15] Perry is her mother's maiden name.[1] Perry's biggest influence are 80's pop rockers Cher, Cyndi Lauper, Pat Benatar, Joan Jett, and Shirley Manson who Perry says, "Those women still don't care. They come out with vengeance".[16]

Career

In 2004, Perry worked for the record production team The Matrix, who had previously worked with Avril Lavigne, Liz Phair, Korn and Britney Spears, among others. Perry also began working on a debut mainstream album, writing with Glen Ballard, which was due for release in 2005; some of the collaborations included "Box", "Diamonds" and "Long Shot," which were released on Perry's official MySpace page. Her burgeoning music career led to her being named "The Next Big Thing" in October 2004 in Blender Magazine, where Perry stated she wasn't "a typical Christian", mentioning that she had done "lots of bad things" during her adolescence.[17] One of the tracks she recorded with Ballard, "Simple", was released on the soundtrack of the 2005 film The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.[18] In 2006, Perry appeared on P.O.D.'s single, "Goodbye for Now".[19] She has openly talked about her struggles within the music industry, such as being dropped from record labels for much of her early career. Her songs eventually captured the attention of Virgin Records CEO Jason Flom, who was the head of Capitol Music Group, and she signed to Capitol Music in early-2007. Perry is now regularly heard on MTV, VH1, as well as commercials. She most recently appeared on the MTV VMA Awards singing Madonna's hit single, "Like a Virgin".

One of the Boys (2008-present)

(Album article "One of the Boys")

After signing to Capitol Records, Perry began recording for her official mainstream debut album, released in 2008, working with Cathy Dennis, Greg Wells, Dr. Luke, Butch Walker, Max Martin, Dave Stewart, and Ted Bruner. The full-length album titled One of the Boys was released in the USA on June 17, 2008.[20] Perry was an act in the 2008 Vans Warped Tour to promote the album.

Katy Perry on her 2008 Vans Warped Tour

The album was preceded by a digital EP in late 2007, entitled "Ur So Gay", produced by and co-written with Greg Wells (OneRepublic, Mika). A video for the song premiered in early 2008, and brought Perry to the attention of Madonna, who mentioned her on KISS FM and KRQ's JohnJay & Rich morning show in Arizona, stating that "Ur So Gay" was her "favorite song right now,"[21] as well as another mention on Ryan Seacrest's Morning Show. "Ur So Gay" has been criticized for alleged homophobia.[22][15][23][24]

On April 29, 2008, her first official single from One of the Boys, "I Kissed a Girl", debuted on the iTunes Store. The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at #76, climbing to #1 as of June 25, 2008. It has peaked on iTunes Top 100 at #1, as of June 3, 2008. The music video for "I Kissed a Girl" was released on May 21, 2008 on MySpace. The song has generated controversy due to its popularity with children, but it, like "Ur So Gay", is anti-homosexual.[25] An essay in Slant Magazine argues that the song "isn't problematic because it promotes homosexuality, but because its appropriation of the gay identity exists for the sole purpose of garnering attention—both from Perry's boyfriend and her audience."[24]

In addition, she has had songs from the album featured on MTV's series The Hills ("Self Inflicted", "Waking Up in Vegas" and "Thinking of You"), on Oxygen Network's reality series Fight Girls, and on the 2008 film Baby Mama ("Fingerprints").

As an actress, she made a cameo appearance on Carbon Leaf's video "Learn to Fly" and on Gym Class Heroes' video "Cupid's Chokehold", playing the eventual love interest for her real-life boyfriend, lead singer Travis McCoy.[26] On March 10, 2008, she appeared as herself on the ABC Family television series Wildfire, on the episode "Life's Too Short".[27] She has appeared in print advertisements for Too Faced Cosmetics' Spring 2007 line. On June 12, 2008, Perry appeared as herself on the daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless, who poses for the cover of the fictional magazine Restless Style; that same day she appeared on MTV's Total Request Live.

Perry released the second single "Hot N Cold" on September 9, 2008.[28]

Lyrics

Her two songs, "Ur So Gay" and "I Kissed a Girl", have been cited as being homophobic as well as misandric by columnists, activists, and commentators including Glenn Sacks,[29] and gay periodicals like the Washington Blade.[30][31]

MSNBC contributor Tony Sclafani wrote, "The litmus test of hypocrisy here is that if you substituted a different minority in Perry’s tunes, they’d never get airplay. 'I Kissed a Black Guy' or 'Ur So Korean' would not be Top 40. For that matter, a song called 'I Kissed a Boy,' sung by a guy, would probably die on the vine."[32]

Others, such as Chicago Sun-Times columnist Dr. Laura Berman, find the lyrics positive, arguing that "the fact that this song (I Kissed a Girl) is sparking so much interest "[33] suggests that our society is beginning to accept that there isn't always one box (gay or straight) for people to check."[34]

Perry responded to the controversy about "Gay" with, "It’s not a negative connotation. It’s not 'you're so gay', like 'you're so lame', but the fact of the matter is that this boy should’ve been gay. I totally understand how it could be misconstrued or whatever...I wasn’t stereotyping anyone in particular, I was talking about ex-boyfriends."[35]

Discography

Main article: Katy Perry discography

Videography

Cameos

Awards and nominations

Year Title Award Nominated work Result
2008 MTV Video Music Awards Best Art Direction "I Kissed a Girl" Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards Best Cinematography "I Kissed a Girl" Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards Best Editing "I Kissed a Girl" Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards Best Female Video "I Kissed a Girl" Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards Best New Artist "I Kissed a Girl" Nominated
Teen Choice Award Choice MySpacer MySpace Page Nominated
MTV Video Music Brasil International Artist Katy Perry Nominated
MTV Europe Music Award Best New Act Katy Perry Nominated
MTV Europe Music Award Most Addictive Track I Kissed A Girl Nominated
Los Premios MTV Latinoamérica Best International New Artist[36] Katy Perry Nominated
Los Premios MTV Latinoamérica Song of the Year[37] I Kissed a Girl Nominated

Television appearances

References

  1. ^ a b c "Biography for Katy Perry". The Internet Movie Database. 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
  2. ^ Katy Perry at the VMAs.
  3. ^ http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Music/Story?id=5256149&page=1
  4. ^ Breimeier, Russ. "Katy Hudson". Christianity Today. Christianity Today International. Retrieved 2008-06-25.
  5. ^ Jenison, David (2008-06-26). "Hot 100 Seals Its 1,000th Hit with Katy's "Kiss"". E!. Retrieved 2008-06-27.
  6. ^ http://angryape.com/news/2008/09/26/katy-perry-says-lily-allen-amy-winehouse-have-paved-the-way-for-female-artists
  7. ^ Katy Perry at the VMAs.
  8. ^ http://www.latimes.com/features/lifestyle/la-ig-katy15-2008jun15,0,5072847.story/Singer Katy Perry has the fashion world abuzz
  9. ^ Interview on The Hook. Retrieved on July 11, 2008.
  10. ^ http://www.independent.com/news/2008/jun/12/major-league/.
  11. ^ Breimeier, Russ. "Music - Katy Hudson - self-titled". Christianity Today. Retrieved on June 19, 2008.
  12. ^ "Katy Perry 'Ur So Gay' album - MusicRemedy". MusicRemedy. Retrieved on June 19, 2008.
  13. ^ Andrew Leahey & Jason Birchmeier (2008)."Katy Perry" biography, AllMusic.
  14. ^ Dunleavy, Kristen (June 17, 2008). "Katy Perry Exclusive Interview". KiwiBox. Retrieved on June 19, 2008.
  15. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2008). "One of the Boys - Katy Perry" review, AllMusic. Retrieved June 24, 2008.
  16. ^ LAtimes.com Katy Perry
  17. ^ Duerden, Nick (October 2004). "The Next Big Thing! Katy Perry Article". Blender. Retrieved on June 19, 2008.
  18. ^ Amazon.com: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Soundtrack
  19. ^ P.O.D. - Testify
  20. ^ Katy Perry - Official Website
  21. ^ Markus Molinari. Sharenow.com: Markus is the Drug.
  22. ^ French, Marguerite. "Katy Perry - One of The Boys Album Review", Ugo.com. Retrieved June 22, 2008.
  23. ^ The New Gay Zack (2008). "Katy Perry: The New Gay Interview", The New Gay. Tuesday, June 10, 2008. Retrieved June 22, 2008.
  24. ^ a b Cinquemani, Sal (2008). "Katy Perry - One of the Boys" review, Slant Magazine. Posted: June 15, 2008. Retrieved June 22, 2008.
  25. ^ O'Crowley, Peggy. ""'Girl' talk"". The Star Ledger. Retrieved 2008-05-27. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  26. ^ Katy Perry 'Ur So Gay' album - MusicRemedy
  27. ^ "Wildfire" Life's Too Short (2008)
  28. ^ "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!". Retrieved 2008-09-14.
  29. ^ Sacks, Glenn (June 13, 2008). "Katy Perry--Anti-Gay or Anti-Male?", glennsaks.com blog.
  30. ^ Armendariz, Rebecca (June 20, 2008). "One of the clueless: Katy Perry proves that talent doesn’t make up for vapid and offensive lyrics" The Washington Blade.
  31. ^ The New Gay Zack (June 10, 2008) "Katy Perry: The New Gay Interview", TheNewGay.net.
  32. ^ Sclafani, Tony (July 22, 2008). Media giving Katy Perry a pass on ‘Kiss’, MSNBC.com
  33. ^ , "Six Questions with Girl Kisser Katie Perry", August 2008, AOL Music.
  34. ^ Berman, Laura (July 23, 2008). "Katy strikes blow for exploration", Chicago Sun-Times.
  35. ^ Katy Perry: The New Gay Interview
  36. ^ MTVla.com - Premios MTV 2008 - 15 Años
  37. ^ MTVla.com - Premios MTV 2008 - 15 Años

Rove Live (1 episode, 12 October 2008, 2008) .... Herself

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Katy Perry.

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