Katy Perry has been on the forefront of pop culture for most of this decade, breaking social barriers and redefining mature music for the millenial generation. Her brand of fun, youthful anthems and flirty pop has made her one of the most recognisable faces in the world now, scoring her a Guinness World Record for the most amount of top 10 hits by a solo artist in 2017!
While she may be best known for her music, it is her relationship with actor Robert Pattinson that has truly made her a superstar. After starring together in the films The Twilight Saga (2008-2012), and then the music video of “Chained To The Rhythm” in 2014, the couple officially announced their engagement in March 2017.
The Early Days
Katy Perry first rose to fame when she starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie Camp Rock as the cute and bubbly “It Girl”. Her breakout performance earned her a Young Artist Award and launched her into superstardom. The following year she appeared in the music video for “Hot n Cold”, which was directed by Diane Martel and featured cameos from Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and more.
In 2010, Katy Perry released her debut album, Witness, which became her first album to debut at number one on the Billboard Top Selling Albums chart, where it stayed for three consecutive weeks.
The album contained the hit singles “Hot n Cold”, “I Love You”, and “Last Friday Night”. The first two singles were top 15 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, while “Last Friday Night” was an international hit, reaching the top 10 in the UK and Canada. These days, Witness is regarded as one of the greatest debut albums of all time.
The Breakthrough
It wasn’t long before fans and critics alike began to notice Katy Perry’s talent. After starring in the music video for “Hot n Cold”, she was subsequently selected to participate in the 2010 edition of the VMA’s (Video Music Awards) as a Best Pop Video nominee, which she subsequently won. Her win made her the first solo artist to ever win in this category, launching her into super stardom.
The next year saw the release of Katy Perry’s sophomore album, Teenage Dream. The album spawned the hit singles “Roar” and “Part of Me”, the latter of which was inspired by Kanye West and Lupe Fiasco’s track “The Show” and featured a guest appearance from John Mayer. The album also featured the hit single “Unconditionally”, which was written and produced by Max Martin and Shellback and reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100.
The worldwide commercial and critical success of Teenage Dream propelled Katy Perry to new heights and firmly set her as one of the most popular and influential artists of the decade. To date, the album has sold over 7 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time.
The Rise Of “Sober”
Even before the release of her third album, Katy Perry had become an influential voice in pop culture. The song “Firework” made its appearance as the iTunes exclusive preview track for the album Prism, and it was the first song released from the album. The song was inspired by the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and its lyrics “Hold my hand, we can make a wish come true” became something of a mantra for the singer.
The summer of 2017 was another eventful one for Katy Perry as she and Robert Pattinson became engaged. In order to celebrate this exciting news and honor Katy Perry’s iconic status in pop culture, we are going back in time to revisit some of her most influential moments and key songs from her illustrious career. First up, is one of the most recognised and beloved songs in pop history, “Barney’s Version”, originally performed by Cyndi Lauper in 1989.
“Barney’s Version” (Barney’s Version)
“Barney’s Version” is the perfect example of pop music at its finest. Cyndi Lauper’s classic song has become an unofficial anthem for Generation X, regularly covered by stars such as Daryl Hannah, Whoopi Goldberg and more. The song is a delightful ode to the charms of a well-bred Barney, and its infectious chorus makes it near-impossible to listen to without smiling. It has become so popular that it was covered by a 17-year-old Swedish singer named Sofia in 2014, which in turn, led to the Swedish singer being compared to Cyndi Lauper. While the comparisons may be a bit far-fetched, Sofia definitely possesses that special quality that makes “Barney’s Version” so timeless and appealing:
- Her voice is pure and sweet, yet it has a sassy edge
- Her voice is a wonderful mix of both femininity and spice
- She puts a unique spin on many classic songs
- She is extremely versatile
- She is incredibly youthful
- Her songwriting is incredible
- She is a genius when it comes to melodies
- Her voice has become a staple in modern pop
- She has a very loyal fanbase
Nowadays, “Barney’s Version” is one of the most recognizable and iconic pop songs of all time and will be forever linked to Cyndi Lauper. The singer has acknowledged the popularity of the song, and in 2017 she performed a special version of the song at the Billboard Music Awards.
The Dark Side Of Fame
It’s fair to say that fame can be both wonderful and terrifying at the same time. One of the most recognizable and respected pop singers of the 21st century, Katy Perry has managed to combine the two, making her a true phenomenon. It’s not every day that you see someone rise to such iconic status with such rapidity or achieve the level of success that Katy Perry has, and it certainly takes its toll. She has spoken about how fame can be both liberating and overwhelming at the same time, and that is clearly evident in her music, acting and style choices, as well as the incredible support she has garnered from fans.
From her chart-topping albums to her countless iconic performances, Katy Perry has undoubtedly shaken the world with her music. While her talent and achievements will live on for years to come, it’s important to take a step back and remember the humble beginnings that made her who she is today: an incredibly talented, funny and inspirational woman who will forever be linked to the 2010s.