Katy Perry has released the lead single to her new album 143, titled “Woman’s World.” While the larger-than-life feminist anthem seems to fit in perfectly with the return of maximalist pop via artists like Chappell Roan and Charli XCX, Katy’s new single has been thoroughly rejected by a large portion of the pop world.
One of the initial gripes with Katy’s new single is her work with producer Dr. Luke. Dr. Luke may be best known for his legal battles against Kesha, who claims he sexually assaulted her. Many fans online have pointed out the apparent hypocrisy of Katy Perry singing about empowering and lifting up women while working with an alleged abuser.
On top of that, the single has received scathing reviews from notable critics and publications. The Guardian said that the song “made me feel stupider every sorry time I listened to it.” Dazed said that the song “sounds like it was designed by a committee in a boardroom at Capitol Records whose sole objective was a sync on RuPaul’s Drag Race and generating comments of “you ate” from white gays living in West Hollywood.” Pitchfork addressed the bad press generated from working with Dr. Luke saying “its message of empowerment would’ve rang false, because it was co-written/produced by Dr. Luke […] If she was willing to cop the built-in bad press of making a song about women’s lib with an alleged abuser, shouldn’t the song at least be a banger?”
Aside from the critics, Katy Perry’s return seems to be failing to make an impact on fans as well. According to Forbes, the track has completely disappeared from Spotify’s streaming charts. Along with the song, Perry released a music video for “Woman’s World” which fans called out for it’s “male gaze”-influenced direction.
🤔 it seems that this is a parody on what a woman is expected to be under the male gaze. i don’t think katy would go this route unironically. we’ll see.
— ladidai (@ladidaix) 💋 see linkinbyeo (@ladidaix) July 11, 2024
Despite Katy attempting to re-spin the music video as “satire” via an Instagram and X post, the public does not seem to be buying it.
While 143 is still months away, the failed release of “Woman’s World” undoubtedly casts doubt over Katy Perry’s forthcoming album, and if the pop star can regain her footing as one of the genre’s greats.
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