Katy Perry is having fun again. “I was frozen, I was hopeless/ Now there's poetry in every moment,” she sings on the album's mid-reflection track, “All the Love.”
Perry has been open about her struggles with mental health in recent years, especially after the lukewarm critical and commercial response to her 2017 LP. Witness. “Having been on a rocket ship and just going straight up, it was just a small change in trajectory, but it felt seismic,” the pop star explained in 2020, noting that through medication and therapy, she was able to fuel her creative side once again.
She also has a lot more love in her life these days. Her husband Orlando Bloom remains her biggest fan and supporter, and the couple welcomed daughter Daisy Dove together in August 2020. This family unit inspired 2020 Smilewhich featured songs like “Daisies,” “Never Really Over” and “Harleys in Hawaii,” as well as a much more smiling Perry.
After years of internal work, Perry has revealed her sixth studio album, 143on Friday (September 20). “I set out to create a bold, exuberant, celebratory dance-pop album with the symbolic 143 numerical expression of love as a timeless message,” Perry previously said in a statement about 143which is the text message code for “I love you”.
The album is quintessentially Katy Perry, something her beloved fans, the KatyKats, are sure to enjoy. The entire project is serotonin-fueled as Perry believes she's in love with her partner, her family, herself and her life over comfortable synth-based beats. She's healing and not taking life too seriously, and after a few wild years, it's great to see the pop star being herself again.
While all the 143 It's worth a listen, there are some clear early points. Here's a ranking of all 11 tracks from Katy Perry's latest album.
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“All the Love”
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“Truth”
“I've never been clearer, I'm at peace with moving on,” Perry sings on the penultimate 143 orbit. While the song is about a potentially unfaithful lover, the aforementioned sentiment applies to the entire album. Despite some painful bumps in Perry's career, she's in a place where she's ready to move on from the negativity and be herself. While “Truth” isn't necessarily one of the more exciting songs 143the message is something everyone needs to hear.
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“Nirvana”
Perry loves a slick club track and “Nirvana” is just that. Complete with a strong beat and repeated “ah-ohs” throughout the track, “Nirvana” feels exactly what the title suggests.
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“Woman's World”
While “Woman's World” serves as the lead single and almost a theme song for the rest of the project, it's hard to ignore the idea that a piece of female empowerment was created by Dr. Luke, who was embroiled in a years-long legal battle. with Kesha for alleged sexual assault. (Luke denied the allegations and sued for defamation; the legal battle ended in 2023 with the two sides settling the counterclaim out of court.) But without the deeper analysis, “Woman's World” has a strong, memorable hook that surely will be a staple on Perry's tours to come.
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“Crush”
Perry declares she's “living in a candy daydream” to open “Crush,” and that sentiment holds true for the rest of the dopamine-injected track. She's having fun and she's in love, which you can hear in the radio-ready anthem and throughout the album.
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“Gorgeous” (feat. Kim Petras)
There's nothing like a powerhouse pop girl group. Kim and Katy's vocals are so welcoming to each other, and they both love boosting female confidence – it's a shock they haven't collaborated before.
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“Artificial” (JID feat)
While the vast majority of 143 ready for summer pop, “Artificial” provides a nice mid-album switch. The R&B-tinged track features a verse from JID and a darker chorus about a dangerous, almost inhuman affair. “Artificial” is the perfect yin to the rest of the album's yang, making it an easy standout in the project.
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“Lives”
“Lifetimes” is the ultimate beach club track in the Mediterranean, which is why the cool music video was shot in Ibiza. The ecstatic, romantic theme of 'Lifetimes' was also the synth-laden chorus is a recipe for a long-lasting summer staple and will surely receive remixes from global DJs in the future to live on.
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“Wonder”
While 143 is fun and light throughout, Perry brings the message to a heartfelt place for the album closer. With “Wonder,” Perry speaks directly to her four-year-old daughter Daisy — who makes a sweet appearance singing the chorus at the end — asking her to keep the free, wild heart she has right now. “Can someone promise me/ Our innocence is not lost in this cynical world?” she sings as a worried mother who may have lost her own “miracle” at times along the way. However, with a mom like Katy Perry, it's safe to say that Daisy Dove's journey into adulthood will be a good one.
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“Gimme Gimme” (feat. 21 Savage)
“Gimme Gimme” is the kind of pop that Perry thrives on: sultry beats, tongue-in-cheek lyrics and a boastful verse from one of today's most prominent rappers. It's reminiscent of some of Perry's best hits, including “Dark Horse” and “ET,” and represents everything Perry fans love about her: she's sexy, she's not afraid to get a little crazy with her lyrics, she knows how to it makes you on the dance floor and he sure can sing.
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“I'm His, He's Mine” (feat. Doechii)
It's a shame it's over in the summer, because the nostalgic collaboration, which features a heavy lift from Crystal Waters' '90s dance-pop hit “Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless),” is the perfect piece of sunshine. From the retro beat and vocal chorus to Doechii's ethereal harmonies and soft lyrics, “I'm His, He's Mine” is the standout track from 143and hopefully it will be a favorite for years to come.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/lists/katy-perry-143-songs-ranked/