Katy Perry, Watch It Burn → Song Review

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Grammy-nominated pop superstar Katy Perry releases a respectable, empowering single with “Watch It Burn.”

“There’s nothing more you can take / No, I don’t want to cause a scene / But give me the gasoline.” Oh, snap, Katy Perry is about to set shit on fire! And you know what we, the listeners, are going to do? “Watch It Burn”! Perry has had an uphill battle for a while regarding releasing impactful, meaningful pop.  Things started to slide during her Witness era.  She’s never regained that Teenage Dream /PRISM mojo.  Still, the Grammy-nominated pop superstar rocks the ‘respectable’ characterization throughout “Watch It Burn.” “Burn” was written by Perry, Justin Tranter, Jason Gill, Eren Cannata, Amanda “Kiddo” Ibanez, Skyler Stonestreet, and Daniel Crean. Tranter, Gill, and Cannata produced, with additional production from Crean.

“Watch It Burn” commences predictably with rhythmic guitars – standard pop/rock fare.  Also, pretty standard is the pop/rock beat that anchors.  The production is good, but nothing too sexy, let alone innovative.  Katy Perry, likewise, keeps the same energy.  She sings respectably but doesn’t blow me away with the vocals, specifically in the verses.  Still, give her credit for the excitement of that f-bomb during the first verse: “For years, I tried to rise above / Was only light and love / But now I’m, ‘Shut the fuck up,’ woah.”  Whoa, indeed! There you have it, ladies and gentlemen; that’s where the parental advisory explicit lyrics designation comes in.  No more profanity rears its obscene head. Even so, Perry still brings enough bite in the second verse: “Thank you for showing me the pain / This was not a mistake / The mistake would be to stay.” Word.  Following the pre-chorus, she packs more of a punch during the chorus, the biggest, most intense moment.  The chorus is tuneful and relatively catchy.

“Tonight’s the night; I light a match

Throw it hard behind my back

Gonna try to forgive and forget

Light a cigarette, and watch it burn

With the past, I’ma breathe in the ash

Gonna try to forgive and forget

Light a cigarette and watch it burn.”

All told, “Watch It Burn” is respectable.  It’s not bad.  Is it great? No, but good. Again, Katy Perry is in a much better spot in her current singles cycle compared to 143.  The empowering message deserves credit.  That said, it’s not new, and maybe it’s grown overused… Is it game-changing? No. Does Katy Perry deliver one of the better vocal performances of her career? No, despite being respectable. Does it move the needle for Perry? Again, no.  Is it respectable? Yes.

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