Katy Perry, WOMAN’S WORLD | Song Review 🎵

Katy Perry misses the mark with the controversial “WOMAN’S WORLD,” the long-awaited lead single from her sixth studio album, 143. 

“It’s a woman’s world and you’re lucky to be livin’ in it.” That’s an empowering statement from Katy Perry BUT, it’s not that simple… It’s bad when a comeback seems doomed from the start. Grammy-nominated pop singer/songwriter Perry was a pop superstar from the late aughts to the mid-2010s.  Things began to slip with her 2017 album, Witness, while Smile (2020) did little to move the needle (an understatement).  Despite losing some luster, Perry announced her sixth studio album, 143 (arrives September 20, 2024) led by its controversial lead single, “WOMAN’S WORLD”.  Before I heard “WOMAN’S WORLD,” I noticed fans and critics were crying foul.  Why? Perry collaborated on this purported feminist anthem with controversial producer Dr. Luke. Is “WOMAN’S WORLD” a case where the intent of the song can be separated from the controversy brought on by a producer and songwriter? NO… the song itself isn’t good enough, honestly.

The lyrics in “WOMAN’S WORLD” say the right things. “She is heaven-sent / So soft, so strong,” Perry sings in the first verse, adding in the pre-chorus, “She’s a sister, she’s a mother.” In the second verse, Katy asserts, “Fire in her eyes / Feminine divine / She was born to shine.” The empowerment is empowering. Perry sings respectably, infusing personality into her performance. Not game-changing, but okay. The production is well-rounded (Aaron Joseph, Rocco Did It Again!, and Vaughn Oliver also produced with Dr. Luke). It’s bright, rhythmic, and energetic.  Is it the ‘second coming’? No, but, again, respectable.  The fact that Dr. Luke had any hand in “WOMAN’S WORLD” is a reason it feels underwhelming and shortchanges it.  BUT also, the song itself feels painfully average at best.  We’ve been there, done that many times. Uplifting women come through ‘loud and clear,’ but the song, like many Katy Perry songs as of late, fails to move the needle.  I’m not sure the controversy aids Perry in this case.  “WOMAN’S WORLD” is forgettable.

Katy Perry // 143 // Capitol // 9.20.24

[📷: Brent Faulkner/The Musical Hype; Capitol; Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Królestwo Nauki, OpenClipart-Vectors, Pete Linforth, Tumisu from Pixabay]