Although Katy Perry’s new studio album doesn’t come out until August 14, a few songs have already been released, like the earworm breakup song “Never Really Over” and the more recent inspirational ballad “Daisies.” As it turns out, Perry’s latest single “Smile” is the title track for the release previously only known as KP5. She explains on Instagram, “I wrote the title track for the album when I was coming through one of the darkest periods of my life and had lost my smile.”
Perry is expecting her first child with partner Orlando Bloom this summer (it’s a girl!), which means that she’s not really up for the strenuous dance moves that usually mark her performances. So for “Smile”’s video, a pregnant Perry in overalls lets some striking, surreal background images—circus-by-way-of-Alice-In-Wonderland—do most of the visual work for her. The song itself is less-than-inventive, although the lyrics spell it out pretty clearly: “Yeah, I’m thankful / Scratch that, baby, I’m grateful / Gotta say it’s really been a while / But now I got back that smile.” It’s clear that Perry is (understandably) psyched for this new chapter in her life; for the rest of us, turning that frown upside down may be a bit tough at the moment, but perhaps the cheery if repetitive “Smile” will offer some inspiration.
19 Comments
We’re all going to die some day. Not sure why, but that was my first thought to this news.
The pop charts this year have been such a grab-bag because we’re all just constantly updating our feeds and burning through content super-fast. Even 6ix9ine and Nicki Minaj got a #1 single…for a week, before it plummeted, but still! It makes me wonder what an established artist doing a proper album cycle can accomplish.
6ix9ine — is that pronounced “Six-ix Nine-ine?”
I guarantee he initially wanted to straight-up call himself “Sixty-Nine” for the sex pun, but some other dipshit rapper beat him to it.
Clowns are creepy
Katy Perry’s smile in this video was creepy. Also clowns, sure
*Katys Perry
It’s actually Latin, so it’s Katy Perrii.
Full name: Katitulus Pericles
Correct. Just like “Attorneys General” or “quarters pounder”
https://www.theonion.com/william-safire-orders-two-whoppers-junior-1819565735
Perry…lets some striking, surreal background images—circus-by-way-of-Alice-In-Wonderland—do most of the visual work for her.This description made me think it was going to be something like every female country music ballad video in the ‘90s: The singer seated on a stool wearing a white dress, looking vaguely lonely or sad. She is seated on a stool in front of a stage curtain backdrop. The camera is soft focus, and there may be glitter falling from above. While she sings, a litany of circus performers—jugglers, clowns, unicyclists, acrobats, etc.—parade in front of her. She seems to have no awareness of them, or of the camera, until the very end when she looks directly at the camera before lowering her head and looking askance. Fade out. I know it sounds ridiculous, but there were literally dozens, if not hundreds, of videos exactly like this. And they weren’t all country, but the country artists seemed to get the most mileage out of it.
Maybe I’ve been watching too much Corridor Crew on YouTube, but did those green screen effects look bad to anyone else? You could clearly see the outline on her, and that CG ball didn’t sync with her steps at all, among other problems. I feel like a jerk calling this out, but it feels like they should have paid for more expertise on this, cuz you can fix this stuff without spending a dime.As for the song? It’s… fine? Hook doesn’t hook, though. Should have taken better advantage of the horns. Whatever.
I wonder if she filmed some of this at home in front of a green screen due to covid or something
Katy Perry songs always sounds like they’re written purely by committee, just cashing in on what execs perceive as the next hot thing. She’s the queen of mediocre inauthenticity.Her music videos I can’t make heads or tails of- they always feel like they’re designed & executed by a team of teenagers that had their wisdom teeth pulled after not sleeping for three days. I wish I meant that in a good way.
Remember when this was a site you could go to discover exciting new music, rather than just hear about the latest by has-beens from a decade ago?
DO NOT WANT
It’s just LOUD. That’s it. That’s all there is.
Hi Gwen Ihnat,After i read this reviews then i listen the song. Actually it was awesome. I enjoy a lot.Again Thanks for this informative post.Regards,Hridoy