On Sept. 20, Katy Perry released her seventh studio album titled “143,” her first album since “Smile” in 2020. While she is known for creating catchy pop songs that can be described as feel-good, “143” gives off more of a club vibe with a synthetic sound, featuring collaborations with artists like Kim Petras.
“143” explores two very important things in Perry’s life: motherhood and female empowerment. Throughout the album, Perry unveils her experience of being a mother while also sending a message about female empowerment, especially in the midst of a tense election season. Perry explains the title as her “angel numbers,” a belief that certain numbers grouped together are a message from angels. Perry describes the numbers as meaning “I love you” and “We got you,” two statements of affirmation that fit into the theme of the album.
Perry released the first single on “143,” titled “WOMAN’S WORLD,” on July 11. The song received criticism from the general public before the release when Perry first teased the song on TikTok. People specifically disliked the song’s choppy lyricism. However, people expressed further disapproval with the song when it was revealed that Dr. Luke –– who was sued by Kesha for sexual assault in 2014 –– produced the music video, which was supposedly advocating for female empowerment. The video also featured Trisha Paytas, a controversial social media star highly criticized by the public. While the message the song sends is important –– especially given the important upcoming election –– it seems as though Perry is trying to send a more complex message through symbolic and satirical casting.
The album’s third track titled “GORGEOUS” features Kim Petras, an artist who has a similar feel-good vibe to her music. The choice of collabing with Petras, who identifies as a transgender woman, strengthens the message of not just women’s empowerment, but LGBTQ+ empowerment as well, something that has always been important to Perry.
The second single off of “143” titled “LIFETIMES” was released Aug. 8. Perry said the song is dedicated to her 4-year-old daughter Daisy Dove Bloom because Perry tells Daisy that she “will love her for lifetimes” every night. The song has a very upbeat tempo similar to hits on Perry’s first two albums, “One of the Boys” and “Teenage Dream.”
Perry could not have closed out the album better than she did with the song “WONDER,” where Perry tells Bloom to be strong and chase her dreams. Although Perry has never confirmed it, the song opens and closes with what sounds like a child’s voice, which is assumed to be Bloom saying, “One day when we’re older / will we still look up in wonder?” The track comes full circle with the opening track, “WOMAN’S WORLD,” where Perry brings listeners through her own childhood, womanhood and motherhood as she guides her daughter through the same path.
Although it is not one of Perry’s best albums, “143” still shows the same Perry that fans know and love. The criticism surrounding the lead single, “WOMAN’S WORLD,” and Perry’s choice of collaborators misrepresents the otherwise solid album. Other than “WOMAN’S WORLD,” “143” is a fun-feeling album that deserves more credit than it is receiving. If Perry had used a song such as “LIFETIMES” or the third single of the album, “I’M HIS, HE’S MINE,” as the lead single, the reactions from the general public might not have been so harsh.
