Katy Perry’s ‘Woman’s World’ marks her return to pop music. Is anyone listening?

Katy Perry just released “Woman’s World,” the first new song of her post-American Idol career. Some say her lyrics — and the writing and production credits for Dr. Luke, a producer who has been accused of sexual assault — are clinging too tightly to a 2010s era in pop music that has long since passed.

Between 2008 and 2013, nine of Perry’s songs hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her music was so ubiquitous, some fans say it defined an era. She snagged the Song of Summer title in 2008 and 2010 with “I Kissed a Girl” and “California Gurls.” “Woman’s World” emulates the empowerment anthems she had in some of her biggest hits, like “Firework” and “Roar.” The familiarity might ultimately be her new song’s downfall.

Some fans were excited about Perry’s return to releasing pop hits. She left American Idol  in May after spending seven seasons as a judge, and when she announced her departure, she told Jimmy Kimmel that she needed to “go out and find that pulse to my own beat.”

In the “Woman’s World” music video, Perry holds bedazzled power tools, pretends to use a urinal and sips a drink labeled “Whiskey for Women.” She yells “I’m Katy Perry!” to a woman seemingly recording a TikTok video and rides in a lifted truck with YouTuber Trisha Paytas. In the first half of the video, her outfit pays tribute to Rosie the Riveter — but after she’s squished by a falling anvil, she is revived in a swimsuit with robotic boots. Could that signify a new era?

From Madonna to Taylor Swift, pop stars have long ushered in new visual “eras” with new albums, but reinvention hasn’t really worked for Perry. Between this single’s release and her hitmaking era, Perry released two albums with very different rebrands attached. She had her short-haired social justice era with 2017’s Witness, and a sincere and flowery blonde era with 2020’s Smile. Neither had the same breakout success as her earlier work.

“Woman’s World” is the lead single for Perry’s first new album in four years, 143, which is scheduled for release Sept. 20. It makes sense that she would return to the same long, dark hair and high production value that made her a superstar in the first place, but the empowerment lyrics just aren’t working for fans.

“She’s a sister, she’s a mother / Open your eyes, just look around and you’ll discover, you know / It’s a woman’s world and you’re lucky to be livin’ in it,” Perry sings, touting the jobs women can do in relation to men. Others have noted that Perry’s feminist anthem was written and produced mostly by men, and the music video is directed by a man as well.

On social media, users have pointed out the irony of releasing a women’s empowerment song in collaboration with a producer who has been accused of abusing a fellow pop star.

Shortly after Perry announced “Woman’s World” in June, Rolling Stone reported that she collaborated with Dr. Luke on the song. He’s listed as a writer and producer. Perry last worked with Dr. Luke on her successful 2013 album Prism, before Kesha accused him of sexual assault. Dr. Luke denied the allegations and countersued for defamation in a case that has since been settled. Perry never disavowed him, but in 2018, her lawyers said Kesha made up “outrageous lies” about Dr. Luke.

The producer has not been convicted of anything, but artists like Kim Petras and Doja Cat have faced criticism for working with him in recent years. Kesha shared a post on X that simply said “lol” on the day Perry announced the new single. Since then, Perry’s fans have expressed their disappointment over the collaboration.

“I’m just saying … working with known abusers in any industry just contributes to the narrative that men can do abhorrent shit and get away with it,” actress Abigail Breslin posted on X, seemingly in response to Perry’s working with Dr. Luke. Breslin has since said she received “death threats” after posting the message on the social media platform.

A source at Perry’s label told Rolling Stone that Perry “knew exactly the album she wanted to make and put together the team to make it happen.” In 2021 and 2022, there were enough people nostalgic for her old work to make her Las Vegas residency one of the most successful of all time — but that act didn’t showcase her new music.

She’s reaching back into her old bag of tricks to revive her music career, but it’s possible that pop culture has already moved on.

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