Since her major mainstream debut in 2008, Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, better known as Katy Perry, has been a force to be reckoned with. After taking a short hiatus following the major success of her third studio album, Teenage Dream, which produced five singles topping the Billboard Hot 100, Perry is back with a brand new sound on her latest album, Prism.
Clearly, this new album is not intended to be as lighthearted her previous works, as its sound is a bit darker. Regardless, there’s no doubt that this album will be a hit.
Which songs on the album could bring Perry’s career to new heights?
1. Prism kicks off with the lead single of the album as the first track; “Roar” is an upbeat, fun, and relatable breakup song. Whether you like it or not, “Roar” is inescapable and is known internationally as Katy Perry’s triumphant comeback track. The song has already gained a legacy for itself and the album, becoming Perry’s eighth number one single on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart, topping the iTunes chart and boasting over 100,000,000 views on its music video on YouTube.
Rating: 8/10
2. “Legendary Lovers” takes on a completely different sound. The song contains a Bollywood undertone and is an “anthem that flattens the jungle around it like a herd of elephants,” according to The Guardian. Perry’s intense vocals are on point. Personally, I think this song is easily one of the highlights of the entire album.
Rating: 8.5/10
3. The third song on the album, “Birthday,” is a fun, positive song. Perry encourages listeners to dance with the beat and states she’ll “make it like your birthday everyday.” “Birthday” definitely has the potential to reach the top of the charts like some of her other hits.
Rating: 8.5/10
4. “Walking on Air,” the fourth song on the album, is another upbeat song about having a good time. USA Today stated that the track is a “90’s house-music homage,” and this is exemplified by its opening lines. Perry performed this song on Saturday Night Live as the second promotional track to the album. “Walking on Air” will certainly do well as a single, but there are many other tracks on the album that are far better.
Rating: 8/10
5. Prism’s second single, “Unconditionally,” gives an a powerful message about Perry loving her listeners regardless of their circumstances or who they are. It is similar to the third single of Teenage Dream, “Firework.”
Rating: 8/10
6. Coming up fifth on the track list is “Dark Horse,” which features a rap from guest Juicy J and was released as the first promotional single. The song contains dark elements and is very different from Perry’s usually upbeat sound. I can see its massive potential to become the biggest hit on the album.
Rating: 9/10
7. “This is How We Do” is similar to “Dark Horse” in its darkness. It’s catchy but also slightly repetitive. Fans will appreciate the song’s fun, laidback lyrics as Perry gives a shout out to women and college kids.
Rating: 8/10
8. The seventh song on the album, “International Smile,” talks about a beautiful girl who attracts all the guys. “Smile” echoes Perry’s old sound that is heard in “Hummingbird Heartbeat,” a track from Teenage Dream. The song’s bridge of the song perfectly creates a dubstep vibe, similar to what Ke$ha had done in some of her recent songs.
Rating: 7.5/10
9. “Ghost” starts off slow, talking about Perry’s broken marriage with actor/comedian Russell Brand and the pain she dealt with over the fact that he ended their marriage via text. The song is easily the most personal song Perry has ever done. “Ghost” deserves major acclaim for its ability to tell a story.
Rating: 8.5/10
10. Similar to “Ghost,” “Love Me” also discusses Perry’s broken marriage and how she lost her identity when she fell in love. It also discusses self-confidence and how love should be completely honest.
Rating: 8/10
11. The eleventh song on the album, “This Moment,” is mediocre at best. The song discusses the cliched theme of living for the today. Personally, I’m not sure why the song even made the album.
Rating: 6/10
12. Right from the beginning of “Double Rainbow,” Perry discusses a newfound relationship after the failure of another. It makes perfect sense that the track follows other songs about her recent breakup. “Double Rainbow” is also the fourth song in a row to have a slower tempo, but it balances her positive and negative personal experiences. It’s not Perry’s best work.
Rating: 6.5/10
13. The final song of the standard version of the album, “By The Grace of God” discusses the personal struggles Perry deals with everyday. She also goes into full detail of the repercussions of her divorce. Similar to “Ghost,” the song is filled with personal details. A perfect ending, this song has a cathartic effect.
Rating: 9/10
14. “Spiritual” is the first extra song on the album, included only on the deluxe version. The song discusses how Perry’s current relationship makes her feel. Although it is an average song, it does a good job at showing off Perry’s strong vocals.
Rating: 7/10
15. The fifteenth song of the deluxe edition of Prism functions as Perry’s apology for everything she has said about her past relationship. While Perry admits she isn’t as innocent as the public may think, she shows how mature she can be. “It Takes Two” is definitely worth having on the album.
Rating: 7.5/10
16. Finally, “Choose Your Battles” wraps up the album. Perry assures fans that they will “win the war” if they “choose [their] battles.” Personally, I do not see any use for this song; there could have been a better song to put last.
Rating: 6/10
Album Rating: 8.5
Katy Perry’s Prism contains an extremely diverse track list. Although it is no Teenage Dream, Perry makes it clear that she is no longer finding herself; she knows exactly who she is. The album can be found in stores everywhere and on iTunes on October 22.