REVIEW
FALL 2020
Photos in this story by Christine Hahn | Universal Music Group
KATY PERRY SMILE ALBUM REVIEW
By Rebekah Shanks Digital Director
Katy Perry has been at the forefront of the popular music scene since her 2008 breakout single, "I Kissed a Girl." Her second studio album, Teenage Dream, set world records rivaling Michael Jackson's Bad. Katy Perry's iconic sound incorporated captivating melodies and powerful vocals that shot her to the top of the charts for a decade. However, Perry's 2017 album release, Witness, failed to impress fans and critics alike, which in turn damaged her status as a top pop icon. Smile tackles the backlash of Witness and the trials of being in a then-turbulent
ROCK & ROAMER | 6
relationship with Orlando Bloom, her present fiancé. This album calls back to Perry's roots with disco-pop and 80s synthpop rushing through its melodies. She continues her catchy staccato vocal style in various songs throughout. Perry presents metaphorical lyrics with powerhouse vocals to describe her insecurities and eventual hope over her future in the industry and her personal life. Introduced in the first track of Smile is Perry's struggle to handle the on-again/offagain breakup with Bloom in synth-heavy "Never Really Over," produced by Zedd.
@ROCKANDROAMER
