Personally, I loved One of the Boys for the nature of the songs. They were interesting to listen to and relatable for girls. I think she hit the mark with that album.
Now, this album, I go back-and-forth with. I like a few of the songs for the same reason as the older ones, but she went much more Pop with this album. Everything's an outreach for the younger crowd who doesn't really get it. But it's still a lot of fun. I feel like you can't help but dance around to a lot of her songs - well, girls can't at least.
Let's see some of the highlights here. This is Katy's third studio album. The themes are said to be love, image, empowerment, and partying. Basically, youth. It hit #1 on the Billboard 200, and has sold over 2 million copies here, and 5.5 million worldwide. We're at five #1's later, and the current single is hovering in the top 5 as we speak. When "Last Friday Night" hit #1, Katy became the only artist since Michael Jackson to have 5 number one singles from one album (his was Bad). So yeah, she's done a pretty good job here.
"Teenage Dream" kicks things off.
And now for one of my favorite videos of the past year.... "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)."
Next up, the song that I'm predisposed to hate, "California Gurls" featuring Snoop Dogg.
Moving right along, because the first 4 songs were all singles, here's the next one, "Firework."
Onto one that's not actually a single, the next track is "Peacock." This may not make it to single status. Heh. It's just a little more annoying that the other ones. It is, after all, one of the explicit labeled tracks from the album. It's kind of got a good beat though, and it's fun enough to go well with the album, but I don't know. Not a great follow-up to the last one.
"Circle the Drain" has a little more edgy feel to the music right off the bat. It's a pretty intense one actually. There's a drug addiction, and she's got the good sense to not want to remain involved and be the savior. Probably something that more than a few of us could stand to hear. "Can't be your savior, I don't have the power. I'm not gonna stay and watch you circle the drain."
Next one's the latest single, "The One That Got Away."
Onto the one that's supposed to be about falling in love with a foreigner, here's the video for "E.T." featuring Kanye West.
"Who Am I Living For?" begins the final stretch of non-single songs. The outer space feel sort of continues with the ominous tones throughout the start. I don't like the music on this one at all. Here is where I get the comments from some reviewers that this album was over-produced. This one could have been pulled way back, at least for the album version of the song, and been much more impact-ful.
One of my favorite non-singles on the album is "Pearl." Again, a little much on the production, but it's a great song about who a girl used to be and what she could be. It's a strength song, even though it's hidden beneath what a guy has done and controlled in her. Trust me, those of us that have been there know how valuable this song is.
"Hummingbird Heartbeat." The opening line, mind you, is "you make me feel like I'm losing my virginity." It's in the same vein as "Teenage Dream." So much love that you feel unreal. I think it's a really adorable song actually. Musically, it's fun and got more guitar to it that brings it enough out of the pop realm to be okay. Definitely a dance-around-your-room sort of number.
The final song is "Not Like The Movies." It's the major slowed-down song on the album, making it an interesting choice for the final album track. It's for all us hopeless romantics out there. "If it's not like the movies, then that's how it should be." I mean, when you're talking about love, yeah. It should feel that fantastic. "When he's the one, you'll come undone, and your world will stop spinning... and it's just the beginning."
Added to My Playlist:
- "Teenage Dream" - Spotify, YouTube
- "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" - Spotify, YouTube
- "Firework" - Spotify, YouTube
- "Pearl" - Spotify, YouTube
- "Hummingbird Heartbeat" - Spotify, YouTube
- "Not Like The Movies" - Spotify, YouTube
FULL SPOTIFY ALBUM LISTEN LINK
This is a really good album. It's not past the line of greatness as a whole, because the songs that suck are really bad. But it's a good one, and the good songs on it are borderline great. The thing that sets Katy apart isn't her voice, because it's not that great. It's not even her looks, as out there as she may get. It's her songwriting. She's unique and write what she wants and how she wants. That's admirable, and it shows.