Katy Perry released her sixth studio album, 143, on September 20th, 2024. As this album is full of tectonic dance sounds, futuristic vibes, and loving empowerment, I was obsessively listening to each track due to their uniqueness. I am very impressed with this album and come back from the one and only, Katy Perry. 

Starting in the Christian pop genre, Katherine Hudson’s career took a shift in 2008 when her hit single “I Kissed a Girl” from her debut pop rock album, One of The Boys, hit the #1 charts, skyrocketing the  career of her stage name Katy Perry. Katy Perry is now an artist who holds record breaking titles as in the most number one singles from a singular album, Teenage Dream, in 2010. Titles such as “Teenage Dream”, “Last Friday Night”, “California Girls”, and “Firework” put the album in its historic rank. Perry has also gained success from hits “Roar” and “Dark Horse” from her third studio album Prism in 2013, “Chained to The Rhythm” from her 2017 album Witness, and “Never Really Over" along with a beautiful tribute “Daisies” for her daughter from her album Smile in 2020. Now with six full-length albums, huge single hits, and an imprint on pop culture itself with her unique brand of imagination, fashion, and self expression, Katy Perry is still proving her life on the stage is as iconic as ever.  

As a lifelong fan and listener of Katy Perry, I have confidence in calling 143 a comparable sound to some of the tracks on her 2013 album Prism. Every Perry era is iconic in its own special way and separates themselves easily for just how precise the details attach to each album, yet it is still exciting to hear new music and experience that hit of nostalgia through similar vibes from her past music. For instance, “ALL THE LOVE” from 143 reminds me of Love Me from Prism, both with beautiful messages in the lyrics and bumping backtracks. 

The whole 143 album experience gives audiences a fun world to transport into while listening. The singles “WOMAN’S WORLD”, “I’M HIS, LIFETIMES", along with “I’M HIS, HE’S MINE” set the mood prematurely for fans to get in the 143 mindset. Perry collaborated with some big names in the industry such as 21 Savage on “GIMME GIMME”, “GORGEOUS” featuring Kim Petras, and Doechi who collaborated on one of the lead singles “I’M HIS, HE’S MINE”. The collaboration “ARTIFICIAL” featuring JIDD is a song that I feel brings the techy vibe. Lyrics I believe support this go as, “Are you gonna love me like a human? / Can you touch me in a simulation? / Who’s gonna save us from losin’ our minds? / Oh you’re so dangerous / Devil in disguise.” I love how this track uses the word “artificial” to pinpoint the strangeness of this day and age’s technology and relationship struggles that seem to intertwine into the same category in some scenarios. In talking about simulations as well, it feeds from a fun machine-like theme in which fans can see through the different album covers which includes Katy Perry in glassy, shiny, and metallic outfits with bright backgrounds. The song “NIRVANA” is a song that I believe to be a vital part of the total 143 package. This song is very colorful, vibrant and a unique way to describe a relationship that is so fantastic it compares to the idea of nirvana. “Dancing in the blurry light / Found you in paradise / Floating in the diamond sky / Our bodies synchronize / You make me feel make me feel so high / You make me feel, make me feel alive / Breathe me in another dose / Take a ride on my rainbow / Keep it up, I'm getting close / About to hit kaleidoscope.” You can dance and sing along easily. “TRUTH” is a great song that adds to the album’s overall vibration. This track has an equal balance of deep meaning and keeping the upbeat streak going. “TRUTH” is about the self respect of living truthfully for yourself as well as receiving the same from others. Lyrics in the chorus such as, “I wanna know the truth even if it hurts”, capture an aura about Perry, knowing that living with the truth is easier than living with lies. I love this track and hope that it gets all of the recognition it deserves. 

This album was truly and authentically great. My overall favorite is “CRUSH”. I love her reference of “livin’ in a candy daydream” which takes my mind back to her Teenage Dream era full of sweetness and imagination. This song fused pop and electro dance together while incorporating light and daydreamy lyrics. My favorite part of this song is the outstandingly catchy chorus that plays as, “Is it a crush? / Making me blush / Here I go again I’m fallin’ in love / Catchin’ my breath / Whenever we touch / Here I go again, I’m fallin’ in love / My heart goes la dada dee, la, la dee”. Perry’s “CRUSH” has the perfect potential to be played on repeat and always having the same exquisite effect. 

Another standout song I reckon with this album is “WONDER”. Katy Perry collaborated with her daughter, Daisy, who is now four years of age by having her sing a few lyrics which is undeniably adorable in the song. Daisy Dove Bloom sang, “One day when we’re older / Will we still look up in wonder?”, with her mother’s voice repeating the same lyrics. The song “WONDER” is already a beautiful song, talking about a relationship between an individual and their children, hoping for all things adventurous and kind in their life. A specific part of the song that tugs on the heart strings is the bridge where Perry addresses a specific message to her daughter Daisy. “Stay Free, little Daisy / Don’t let the envious ones, say that you’re a weed.” Perry paints a lovely portrait for listeners about her deep love and fondness of her daughter. The tenderness of this song through lyrics, in addition to the mother-daughter duo point-of-view, creates a special connection for fans who are also mothers or to relate to the nurturing message. You can feel the warmth of “WONDER” while you listen, therefore making it one of my favorites included in the project.

143 as a whole and even singularly in its tracks is a perfect example of new pop. Katy Perry’s comeback with this album has been exciting for fans and missed from audiences everywhere. As the 143 era continues with tour teasers, a performance at the VMAs, and Rock ‘n Rio, the world can see that Katy Perry is back and better than ever.