Katy Perry One Of The Boys Review
Debut Album Features I Kissed a Girl: Produced by Ballard & Dr. Luke
Katy Perry release her sexy and sought after debut album, One Of The Boys. Currently in concert on the Vans Warped Tour, this Santa Barbara, CA born singer-songwriter is daughter to two Christian Pastors. Katy, however, decided the strict upbringing wasn’t her cup of holy water and high tailed it to LA where she’s been cultivating her bold musical talents ever since.
Her undeniable ability to captivate audiences with her sassy attitude and powerful vocals makes it no surprise that the 2007 digital release of her hilarious, and somewhat jaw dropping, single “ Ur So Gay” launched the 23 year old songstress into the spot light. Perry’s fiery number gathered her a following of devout fans from all over the globe, including the trail blazing queen of pop herself, Madonna, and set the pace for the saucy girl powered hits to come.
The Creation of One Of The Boys
When the fans demanded more, Katy delivered, with the help of Capitol Records of course. They enlisted two musical masterminds to help her carefully select and modify twelve of her collection of around seventy self written, delightfully risqué, ballads for our listening pleasure.
“I hope you hang yourself with your H&M scarf, While jacking off listening to Mozart” are just some of the lyrics used to diss her metro sexual ex in “Ur So Gay” and in “Hot N Cold“ she puts a certain someone in his place with “You change your mind like a girl changes clothes/Yeah you, PMS like a b*tch /I would know”.
When Capitol Records read over lyrics like these it seemed only natural that One Of The Boys should be produced in its entirety by Glen Ballard and Dr. Luke, who have worked with two of the most rebellious and lyrically uncensored gals in the industry, Alanis Morissette and Avril Lavigne.
Perry brings a unique and clever sense of fun and humor to this CD, all the while managing to create stories that you want to hear again and again. Rebellion aside, don’t assume that her debut is one dimensional. The album is chalk full of beats that are sure to have you running to the dance floor and auditioning for American Idol in your mirror, but it also brings with it a sincerity and depth found in the softer songs.
Together they have managed to resuscitate what was beginning to seem like a dying genre. With the pop industry ridden with flat one hit wonders and cookie cutter hopefuls, fans are rejoicing at the chance that the breath of fresh air that is Katy Perry will help influence a turn of a new leaf with her collection of exciting and heartfelt songs on this new album.
Katy Perry’s Inspiration for the Album
In a recent interview with Prefix, when asked about her influences, Katy had said to Blurr “I still love Freddie Mercury. He was flamboyant with a twist of the operatic, but more importantly he just didn’t give a ****. And then there was Alanis Morissette. Jagged Little Pill was huge for me.” You can pick up notes from Queen in up beat and in your face songs like “Ur So Gay” and “Hot N Cold”, which are lyrically influenced by soured tales of lost love . . . Or at least “like” gone terribly wrong.
Perry takes a cue from Alanis as she hits stretched notes that attempt to emphasize the somber lyrics in “Lost” and “I’m still dreaming”. These tracks take the high energy electronica meets bubble gum pop-rock vibe down a notch and provide balance that can be appreciated.
While “Lost” is a tale of the aftermath of leaving home to make it on your own, “I’m Still Dreaming” conveys a tale of love and regret with a bit of sass. As quoted by Perry herself on her official website, “The whole angst thing is cool, but if that’s all you’ve got, it's just boring. Everything I write, whether it’s happy or sad, has a sense of humor to it.”
Fans will appreciate the diversity in the album and it will, without a doubt, be played to death by all. Fortunately for Perry she seems to be just getting started, and I’m sure after purchasing One Of The Boys her following will be eagerly awaiting the next release.
