Katy Perry, I Stand Corrected

It does not happen often (OK, it probably happens more than I'm willing to admit), but there are times when I find myself eating my words. It's usually with my significant other, but that topic is more suited for Ask Miss Smartypants, not my typical music editorial. No, there are times when I'm wrong about a song, an album, or an artist. It's usually months later that I look back and realize that my preconceived notion or long-standing opinion needs a serious readjustment. It happened just before Christmas most recently, and this time I'm not just eating words -- I feel like I'm eating the musical equivalent of crow.

I'm referring to Katy Perry and her recent album Teenage Dream.

A few years ago I considered Perry a one-hit wonder at best. I was one of those uptight, snobbish people who found "I Kissed a Girl" to be borderline offensive, and while "Hot & Cold" was a pretty damn good pop song, it felt like it wasn't quite enough to make me a fan, or redeem the rest of her sophomore album. Something has changed, though, with the release of Teenage Dream.

With her most recent album, Perry has kept her standard formula of hook-laden pop songs, and it seems a little less controversial, but not "safe." She is playing to both her vocal and song-writing strengths in a way that makes Teenage Dream hit heavy (the first three singles from the album have all done very well), and she has started to attract some of the best collaborators in the business. If you had said three years ago that Katy Perry was going to do a song with Snoop Dogg, I probably would have laughed at you. I would have end up putting my foot in my mouth, though.

But is that not the best measure of success for a singer/musician: when they do what is least expected, shock us, and succeed? "California Gurls" with Snoop Dogg is a song I did not especially like upon first listen, and now I can't get enough of it. "Teenage Dream" is probably one of the best songs she's ever done, and one that I have some sentimental attachment to. Also, what about the last single, "Fireworks"? In a year that saw a lot of songs released about "being who you want to be," and "don't be afraid," I found that "Fireworks" did the best job of conveying the message without sounding too hokey, over the top, or even preachy.

However, she has yet to prove herself to me in a live performance. I've heard mixed reviews about her on tour, but that may have more to do with experience than shaky talent. With only one major tour under her belt, she is in the same place in her career that many other female pop stars have found themselves in. (Remember, Madonna received mixed reviews at best for The Virgin Tour, but bounced back with glowing reviews during the Who's That Girl? Tour a couple years later.) I'm fortunate enough to have tickets to see Perry in July, and that will be the true test as to whether or not the success of the album can be translated into success on the stage.

As far as considering her a princess of pop, I don't think she's quite there yet either. She doesn't have the longevity that some of her peers such as Rihanna, Britney Spears, or even P!nk. She doesn't have enough of a sales record to back up her popularity (yet!), and she's nowhere near the same league as Madonna, Kylie, or even Lady Gaga. That's not to say that she won't be there one day, but she still has a considerable way to go.

Despite the fact that she's still relatively new on the block, I do have to give credit where credit is due. Katy Perry has come a long way in an incredibly short time. She's an accomplished singer and song writer, and given enough time and experience, she'll become a hell of a live performer as well. She has shown that she is not simply a one-hit wonder, but the exact opposite: she is poised to be more of a powerhouse than I originally expected. I look forward to seeing what she comes out with next, and seeing her perform in July. Katy Perry, I stand corrected.

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