I mentioned Katy Perry in yesterday’s Nicki Minaj post as the artist with whom big hooky choruses have become synonymous. Perry, over the course of a couple of years, has become the summer hit-maker all others envy.
Last summer’s defining song was her ‘California Gurls‘ and I would not be at all surprised if this summer she earned that crown once again with ‘Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)’
Perry recently released the ambitious video for this song, which includes cameos by Glee stars Darren Criss and Kevin McHale, Kenny G, Corey Feldman, Debbie Gibson, Hanson and Rebecca Black. Now that’s a random guest list.
I like that Perry, one of the cool kids, gave outcast Rebecca Black a prominent role in this video playing a cool kid. Perry seems like she really is as nice as she pretends to be, though I don’t doubt that there’s an iron will and a strong work ethic behind her “just wanna have fun” demeanor.
Mostly I’m impressed by Perry’s — you thought I was going to say breasts, didn’t you? — ability to write and perform songs more infectious than Ebola. This woman has had a single in the Billboard Top 10 for more than 14 months, something no other artist has done, ever.
If ‘Last Friday Night’ hits #1 (and I bet it will), she will become the first woman ever to have five #1 hits from the same album (and she’ll tie Michael Jackson, who managed that feat with Bad). These are crazy stats.
The best of those songs are ‘Teenage Dream’ and ‘Firework,’ but ‘Last Friday Night’ is a whole lot of fun. I love how the lost weekend Perry describes goes from a hickey to a menage-a-trois in the course of a few lines, though I’m not sure this is the way we want our kids learning French.
There’s a pounding in my head
Glitter all over the room
Pink flamingos in the pool
I smell like a mini-bar
DJ’s passed out in the yard
Barbie’s on the barbeque
Is this a hickey or a bruise?
Pictures of last night ended up online
I’m screwed… oh well
It’s a blacked out blur
But I’m pretty sure it ruled, damn!
Last Friday night
Yeah, we danced on table tops
And we took too many shots
Think we kissed, but I forgot
Last Friday night
Yeah, we maxed our credit cards
And got kicked out of the bars
So we hit the boulevard
Last Friday night
We went streaking in the park
Skinny-dipping in the dark
Then had a ménage à trois
Last Friday night
Yeah, I think we broke the law
Always say we’re gonna stop, a-woah
This Friday night, do it all again (do it all again)
This Friday night, do it all again (do it all again)
This Friday night
Trying to connect the dots
Don’t know what to tell my boss
Think the city towed my car
Chandelier’s on the floor
Ripped my favorite party dress
Warrants out for my arrest
Think I need a ginger ale
That was such an epic fail
Pictures of last night ended up online
I’m screwed… oh well
It’s a blacked out blur
But I’m pretty sure it ruled, damn!
Last Friday night
Yeah, we danced on table tops
And we took too many shots
Think we kissed, but I forgot
Last Friday night
Yeah, we maxed our credit cards
And got kicked out of the bars
So we hit the boulevard
Last Friday night
We went streaking in the park
Skinny-dipping in the dark
Then had a ménage à trois
Last Friday night
Yeah, I think we broke the law
Always say we’re gonna stop, a-woah
This Friday night, do it all again (do it all again)
This Friday night, do it all again (do it all again)
This Friday night
T.G.I.F., T.G.I.F., T.G.I.F., T.G.I.F…
Last Friday night
Yeah, we danced on table tops
And we took too many shots
Think we kissed, but I forgot
Last Friday night
Yeah, we maxed our credit cards
And got kicked out of the bars
So we hit the boulevard
Last Friday night
We went streaking in the park
Skinny-dipping in the dark
Then had a ménage à trois
Last Friday night
Yeah, I think we broke the law
Always say we’re gonna stop, a-woah
This Friday night, do it all again
Meet Me In Montauk 
I was wondering when Katy Perry would show up… NOW it’s officially summer! 🙂
As we were watching the fireworks on July 4th, Daniel insisted that we have Katy Perry’s appropriate “Firework” as our background music, so that song is the one I would have chosen (though I guess it did peak before summer – Wikepedia tells me that it hit #1 in January!! Imagine if it had been released as a summer single, where it certainly feels more natural).
As I read today’s lyrics, I thought I might be reading one of Katy Perry’s journal entries, after she first met Russell Brand. I don’t know if I’ve actually heard today’s SOTD before this morning – is that possible? But I agree that it’s another catchy pop hit. And I do love her, which makes it even easier to root for her to break all those amazing records.
Holy 80s spectacular!! What a great video!! The song is definitely catchy, and it’s Katy Perry-style racy, so it was sure to be a hit. I wouldn’t seek it out to listen to, but I probably wouldn’t change the station if it came on in the car. Firework is one that I’d seek out – love the song, love the message.
As far as the clip for this one, I loved the great cameos in the video – Kevin McHale was my favorite!! 🙂
Based on our radio listening this vacation and even a bit before our trip, I believe that “E.T.” is her summer hit, not this song. I have heard this one once or twice though and I like it FAR better than “E.T.” which truly annoys me. I think Perry does better when, as here, she is not testing the outer/upper range of her vocals. She does that on “Fireworks” and I think it makes the chorus (at least as sung by her, though not by the Glee cast:)) a bit strained and less effective. Today’s song harkens back a bit to the spirit of “I Kissed a Girl” but with a party twist. Good stuff. And a really great video!
‘E.T.’ is currently on the charts (and I agree, that is by far the worst song on her new album) but I predict this one will make a huge splash. And this feels much more like a summer song to me.
I really like Katy Perry because she is bubbly and has a pleasing personality. –
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