Katy Perry, What Makes a Woman | Track Review 🎵

Katy Perry delivers a thoughtful, empowering message on “What Makes a Woman” but fails to recapture/rejuvenate her superstar status. 

After numerous singles, Katy Perry officially releases her fifth studio album, Smile, on August 28, 2020. Her previous single, “Smile”, was arguably her best to date during a drawn-out release cycle.  Essentially, it seemed like Perry needed to find the right sound and vibe for the album, particularly following the flop that was Witness.  While I’m skeptical of the amount of success that Smile will have, there appear to be generally better moments than those that graced Witness.  Still, even for its many selling points, I’m not sure that “What Makes a Woman” builds much buzz in advance of the album.

“What Makes a Woman” is respectable through and through. I admire the fact that Katy Perry opts for empowerment and exploring subjects that are relevant to everyday people.  There is nothing outlandish or odd about “What Makes a Woman” – it’s very much down to earth.  The most surprising thing is the f-bomb in the second verse, for emphasis (“I feel most beautiful / Doing what the fuck I want”). Overall, aside from the expletive, Perry exemplifies maturity, particularly as a woman in her mid-30s. And her point is crystal clear on the chorus.  You can’t describe a woman as just one thing or women as one and the same:

“Could spend your whole life, but you couldn’t
Describe what makes a woman
She’s always been a perfect mystery...”

Final Thoughts 

Socially, Perry’s message is on-point on “What Makes a Woman.” That said, my main rub with the record is that it does little to make her the superstar she once was.  Yes, Katy Perry has changed since her Teenage Dream heyday, but my fear is she loses a bit of that edge.  Still, “What Makes a Woman” is worth checking out, no questions asked.

Katy Perry • Smile • Capitol • Release: 8.28.20

Photo Credit: Capitol