Applause Roars on the radio: Lady Gaga and Katy Perry release their newest singles
17 October 2013 ∙ Originally published in The Muse at Dreyfoos
For almost a year now, the world of pop music has been missing two of its usual stars. Lady Gaga’s insane creations and Katy Perry’s infectious songs have been absent from the charts and media for quite a while, which seems strange given their usual attention-grabbing antics. The internet, however, is far too clever to let the pop queens go without an album release. Over the summer, songs from both artists’ upcoming albums were leaked online, officially beginning the singers’ new eras.
For stars as chameleonic as Gaga or Ms. Perry, each album brings a new image and a brand new era. Ms. Perry made sure to let everyone know the old Perry is gone by releasing a video showing her burning her old outfits, and now brandishes a more mature image. Gaga, meanwhile, has traded in her disco stick and motorcycles for an ultra-futuristic and simplistic look.
Gaga’s ARTPOP, set for a Nov. 8 release, follows in the footsteps of Jay-Z and Björk’s latest albums by being released through iPhone apps. The ARTPOP app will include a feature to connect fans directly with Gaga. According to Gaga’s website, the app will combine music, art, fashion and technology as well as “alter the human experience with social media.” Gaga says the album musically mirrors the career moves she has experienced as an artist, resulting in a “rage of electronic passion and fury” and a “celebration of obsession.”
Prism, slated for an Oct. 18 release, will be Ms. Perry’s first release since 2010’s record-breaking album Teenage Dream. Collaborating with artists like Sia, Juicy J, John Mayer and Diplo, Ms. Perry says her new album is the result of having “something worth singing about” in the past couple of years. Her first formal album since her divorce to comedian Russell Brand, fans and critics wonder if the songs will discuss the relationship. The title of the album, Ms. Perry told MTV News, came from a newfound self-enlightenment.
“I was able to create all these songs that were inspired by letting the light in and doing some self-reflection and just kind of working on myself,” explained Perry.
The lead single of an album is a way for artists to publicly announce the creative direction their albums will be taking. Gaga and Ms. Perry have chosen two very bold songs as leads. Gaga’s “Applause” is a combination of her early “Poker Face” era songs and a completely new sub-genre of pop, which combines electronica and 80s synth music. “Applause” is an undeniable Gaga dance song with an unrelenting techno beat and staccato vocals detailing Gaga’s primal need for encouragement from her fans. The video, unusually short for a Lady Gaga video, features Gaga in several different outfits (one of which was designed by Dreyfoos theatre teacher Penelope Koleos). With no plot and heavy choreography, it has a more toned-down feel than her flashier old videos.
Ms. Perry’s “Roar” charms listeners with an easy-going, yet uplifting beat as she discusses feeling undermined and roaring through an empowering chorus about overcoming obstacles. Her live performance during the MTV VMA’s featured Perry in a boxing ring with backup dancers acting as opponents. The video for ‘Roar’ features Ms. Perry mingling with several animals and becoming Queen of the Jungle in a light-hearted jungle adventure.
The return of these two modern pop superstars has left the music world in anticipation to see what these ever-changing artists will release next. Since the beginning of their careers, Gaga and Ms. Perry have led almost parallel careers: never the same, yet equally entertaining.