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This review of Womans World was published on July 12, 2024.
On September 20, Katy Perry released her album143.
When a major pop star needs a hit, they usually know who to call first.
For Katy Perry, unfortunately, its Dr. Luke.
Since they struck a partnership in 2007, Lukasz Gottwald has co-produced eight of Perrys nine No.
And this year, Perry needed a hit.
Other past collaborators like P!nk and Kelly Clarkson disavowed him, but never Perry.
Too bad that song,Womans World,sounds like the stalest sort of retread.
Its technically sound, sturdy even.
Perry reminds us of her vocal talent without oversinging.
But an anthem needs a message too, and Womans World doesnt have one to offer.
Thats all without accounting for Lukes presence on Womans World, which negates the songs entire message.
(When Luke and Keshasettled his defamation lawsuitin 2023, he continued to deny wrongdoing.)
It worked, too Roar hit No.
1, set her fourth albumPrismup for success, and now has over a billion streams on Spotify.
Butmostofthosenew songs sounded lazy, lacking the energy and spryness that defined his early work with Perry.
Womans World, a song thats totally hollow beneath its just-strong-enough bones, is no different.
Perry is trying to return to a world thats just not there anymore.
