From rule-breaker to reigning pop queen, here’s why we love Katy Perry unconditionally.
From rule-breaker to reigning pop queen, here’s why we love Katy Perry unconditionally.
On May 11, 2015, the Singapore Indoor Stadium hosted a feline convention unlike any other when Katy Kats from all corners of the country gathered to hear their mother not meow, but roar. Meowing, after all, is for sweet little kitties who belong to someone and never venture past the comfort of their familiar haunts. As for roaring, well, that’s a job for lions and tigers – fiercely independent creatures whose survival often depends on their ability to fight.
It’s a fitting metaphor for one Ms Katy Perry, the global pop phenomenon who announced her presence to the world with the infectious, but controversy-baiting single, “I Kissed A Girl”. Seven years after her first no. 1 hit, she’s still speaking her mind through her music, and refusing to go unheard with her unfailingly addictive pop melodies, perfectly crafted music videos, and dazzling live shows. “She makes sugary, plastic pop so well, and makes it sound smart and amazing,” gushes Charli XCX, her European tour-mate, to Billboard. “But she also has such a vision with her videos and her live show. I love that she goes all the way with it.”
Indeed, where Katy was once the up-andcoming pop starlet looking up to the likes of Freddie Mercury and Alanis Morissette, she’s now very much leading the charge for future princesses of pop. She’s also very much the queen of her own Katy empire – a job that doesn’t just entail sitting like the cherry on top of her intricate stage sets, but signing off on everything that happens around her – from her perfume line to big-picture concepts for her videos, even down to little details like her dancers’ costumes.
And as Katy’s recent triumph at the Super Bowl Halftime Show Performance 2015 goes to show, “epic” doesn’t even begin to cover the limitless scope of her imagination. From riding astride a towering metallic lion during her performance of “Roar” to soaring off on a shooting star for her “Firework” finale, Katy proved that if there’s one thing this pop powerhouse knows how to do, it’s put on a grand show.
This Is How She Do
These days, however, Katy seems intent on keeping the Katy Perry show strictly a stage affair, and not letting it leak into her daily life. For instance, while Taylor Swift and Kylie Jenner make it their business to look perfectly turned out every time they leave their homes (because you never know who might be watching), Katy has been snapped wearing the same Adidas tracksuit and pool slides for the past year. That’s because, when it comes to the paparazzi, “I’m just not playing the picture game,” says Katy, in an interview with Billboard. “If I wear the same thing every day, the pictures don’t sell.”
In the same way, Katy’s also taking charge of her love life. Two high-profile relationships with former husband Russell Brand and then John Mayer had previously kept her affairs in the headlines, but since her split from John Mayer in early 2014, Katy appears determined on letting her music and artistry speak for themselves. “To have any relationship at this level, you have to just be protective and figure out how to navigate it,” she tells Billboard, before adding, “In all my relationships, I’ve learnt how I have to be more careful and that it’s not up for public consumption.”
Still, the single lady was happy to share her idea of Mr Right with Harper’s BAZAAR: “I have less time for bullshit,” she says, with her signature wry humour. “I look for the same characteristics: a sense of humor – someone who makes me laugh off the charts – someone who is sensitive, someone who loves and understands music, and who is really smart. A lot of times I’ve ended up with people who have been intimidated by me, unfortunately. They say they’re not, but it comes out in the long run. They’re threatened, or there’s resentment because they don’t know how to handle it.”
As for lessons in love, she continues, “What I’ve learnt is that if you don’t have the foundation of self-love first, you really have nowhere to pull love from to give it away. I had to learn about taking care of myself before I could take care of others. I want to mommy everyone. I want to take care of them. I want to save them, and I forget myself in the meantime.”
“I’m looking for someone who’s inspired and could be inspiring with me,” she concludes. But for now, Katy Perry is doing a perfectly good job of inspiring the rest of us, all on her own.
GIRL ON AN ADVENTURE
A bottle of Pink Dolphin complements Joey Feng’s zest for life.
“Even though my job as a Sales Director keeps me busy, it’s really important that I take some time out to travel and have a break to rest and unwind – even if it’s a weekend of shopping with my friends! Whether I’m out exploring other parts of the world or hitting the streets in Singapore, it’s important that I stay energised and refreshed so I can fully enjoy this me-time.
That’s why I keep a bottle of Pink Dolphin Peach With Vitamins C, B6 & B12 in my bag when I’m out and about. Not only does it taste yummy with its peach fl avour, it’s also a healthy way to stay hydrated as it contains zero fats and cholesterol, and 25 percent less sugar than regular still beverages. As I love discovering new places and keeping active, this fruity pick-me-up is just what I need to keep me going strong throughout the day.”
Did you know?
We all know the benefits of vitamin C, but here’s how vitamins B6 and B12 help our body: the former supports our immune system, while the latter is essential in keeping our nerve cells healthy.
The Best Katy Perry Lyrics We Don’t Get
“Do you ever feel like a plastic bag…” Sometimes, we just don’t quite get the lyrics, but we love singing along anyway. Here are our favourite head-scratchers.
“Bikinis, zucchinis, martinis, no weenies…” California Gurls (ft. Snoop Dogg)
“This love’s too strong like mice and men / Squeezing out the life that should be let in.” Pearl
“This love will make you levitate / Like a bird without a cage.” Dark Horse (ft. Juicy J)
“Throw your sticks and stones, throw your bombs and bones…” Part of Me
