Teenage Dream, Pat

I've been going through something of a Katy Perrissance this year. First, I reexamined Perry's Super Bowl halftime show, and came away with a new appreciation for her talent and work ethic. Now, I'm relistening to Teenage Dream. My opinion? I like it!

Why do I like it? Because it's fun. Katy Perry is fun. Yes, Katy Perry is talented (see: vocals on "Firework") and hot (see: album cover). But she's also fun. Her songs and music videos (I watched the YouTube playlist) have a sense of humor to them. That unseriousness—the slighty self-deprecating playfulness of it—elevates the endeavor for me. I can picture same-era Lady Gaga doing an over-the-top Candy Land theme for a music video like Perry does with "California Gurls," but I can't quite picture Lady Gaga getting flipped off by a gummy bear.

Perry can do the hot-talented combo as well as any other pop star. She's even good at throwing some weird into the mix (see: music video for "E.T.") But she can also do all that while winking at the audience. I suppose that why she's the Queen of Camp. That's fun, and being fun goes a long way with me. Case in point: none of the guys on Mountain Monsters are hot or talented, but they're all fun as hell, which is why I'm watching it as I write this.

A few more thoughts. I read into a couple of the other songs I wasn't as familiar with. Apparently, music critics didn't like "Peacock." This is a ridiculous take. This song rocks. I guess when a woman asks to see your dick, it's crass, but when a character in a Paul Thomas Anderson movie does it, it's art. Fuck you, music critics of 2010. You wouldn't know art if it mushroom stamped you in the face.

As far as "Circle the Drain" goes, I've never heard Katy Perry say "fuck" before. She's super mad at that guy, huh? On a human level, Perry is really twisting the knife in her ex. That's not an easy listen, especially if it's about a real, specific person. On the other hand, the critical hand-wringing over it seems disingenuous. The music industry abdicated the right to say when someone is being a psycho to their ex in 1984, when "Every Breath You Take" won the Grammy for Song of the Year.

Overall, I liked Teenage Dream. Not every single part of it, but most of it. Good on the Sweeties for picking it. Them seem like a fun group.

Rating: 🦚🦚🦚
3 out of 5 peacocks (cocks-cocks)

Most Surprising Cameo in a Music Video (Good): Diego Luna (!!!!!!!<3) in "The One That Got Away"

Most Surprising Cameo In A Music Video (Bad): Corey Feldman (*heave*) in "Last Friday Night"

Random Thought That I Must Include Because I Don't Know When I'll Have a Chance to Say It Again: Fuck Russell Brand. I've thought Russell Brand was trash ever since I paged through a copy of My Booky Wook back in 2009. History has only vindicated my snap judgment. Russell Brand's career is the strongest argument against sobriety I've ever seen. Him quitting heroin has been a disaster for the human race. At least if he was high all the time, he wouldn't be on Alex Jones to claim COVID doesn't exist and 5G is turning us all woke. Misinformation vectors of the world: Just Say Yes.