Katy Perry “Thinking Of You”
Of all the breakout pop stars of 2008, none have garnered as much of a polarizing reaction as Katy Perry. Her labored singing style and cutesy Betty Boop persona can feel a bit much; the accompanying lyrics to her One of The Boys album’s three singles “UR So Gay”, “I Kissed A Girl” and “Hot N Cold” all featured attention-grabbing tactics that left a bad taste in the mouth of various sects; and you can’t help but admit that out of all the pop tarts that have taken over the airwaves in recent years, Perry ranks a tad forgettable (Are you all that interested in what she’s planning for a follow-up album? Didn’t think so).
On the other hand, ’08 wouldn’t have been as much fun without her and her irresistibly hummable confections. So what will Single #4 give us to ease us into the new year? Another great car ride/ drunken night sing-along to keep us merry over the next couple months? Or an unnecessary “serious artist” detour into the less fun ballad realm (possibly striking the beginning of the end of the masses favoring of Perry)?
Surprisingly, despite it’s lack of a new wave shimmer or glammy stomp to support her, slow tempo-ed “Thinking Of You” doesn’t really land as a major mis-step. The solo self-penned number offers some neat lyrical spins on an “you’re not as good as my ex” theme with lines like “Like an apple hanging from a tree/ I picked the ripest one/ I still got the seed” and “He kissed my lips/ I taste your mouth/ He pulled me in/ I was disgusted with myself”. And while the not-quite Morisette (or even Lavigne) caterwauling she brings to the table in the studio version aren’t as easily likable, especially on the verses where her vocals make odd jumps from prettily breathy to harsh croaking, her vulnerable live rendition perfectly compliment the woeful pen work.
She’ll still need to REALLY deliver on the next album to prove she has the goods to be more than just a one album wonder sensation, but at least with “Thinking Of You”, she manages to show that there’s more to her than the controversy-seeking “look at me” flags that initially powered her success.
Recent Comments