The pop vocalist has been penning tunes for other famous musicians throughout their professional journey.
In 2001, Katy Perry started her career as a Christian pop artist under the name Katy Hudson. However, no one could have predicted that by 2008 she would become a sensation in the pop world with her daring and provocative album One of the Boys. The record, which featured songs like “I Kissed a Girl” and “Ur So Gay,” showcased Perry’s new sound that blended pop, rock, and electro. Since then, Perry has also been busy writing songs for other artists, including Nicki Minaj and Selena Gomez. Check out some of Perry’s catchy and anthemic tracks on Minaj’s song “Get on Your Knees,” featuring Ariana Grande.
Despite fans’ wishes for an official Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj collaboration, the two pop stars have yet to release a song together. However, Perry did contribute lyrics to Minaj’s seductive song about dominating a male partner, which was featured on her 2014 album The Pinkprint. There were also rumors that Perry was originally supposed to sing the song’s chorus but Ariana Grande ended up delivering the repeated title line and belting the chorus. Interestingly, Minaj even gives a nod to Perry in one of the song’s verses with the lyrics “Got me seein’ them fireworks/I’m on my Kate Perry.” Another noteworthy collaboration was Kelly Clarkson’s “I Do Not Hook Up”.
Initially, Katy Perry intended to include the song “I Do Not Hook Up” in her debut secular pop album. However, she decided to pass it on to American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson for her fourth LP, “All I Ever Wanted.” Had the song been included in Perry’s “One of the Boys” era, it would have perfectly fit the spunky and dance-y pop-rock genre, with its lyrics full of biting sass. Clarkson’s clear and powerful vocals were also a great match for the song, having helped her transition from the darker and introspective sounds of her previous albums, “Breakaway” and “My December.” On another note, Selena Gomez & The Scene’s “Rock God” is a song that is worth mentioning as well.
Gomez’s second album with her pop-rock band saw her moving away from the rock genre and focusing on her pop abilities. The album titled “A Year Without Rain” featured the song “Rock God,” which was co-written by Katy Perry. The song was a final farewell to Gomez’s rocker style and incorporated religious references flipped on their head atop a funky beat. Gomez’s vocals were playful and included a sweet falsetto towards the end of her phrases. Despite being different from her usual sound, Gomez fought for the song and claimed it as one of her favorites. She mixed Perry’s style with her own and added some techno elements. Perry also provided backup vocals for the track. Another artist, Jessie James, released a song called “Girl Next Door.”
Perry had a hand in crafting some tunes for Jessie James’ first album, but “Girl Next Door” is a real gem among them. James’ delivery is reminiscent of Perry’s, complete with a scratchy falsetto, but she infuses the track with a country flair that celebrates going back to one’s origins. Another of Perry’s writing credits, “Passenger,” appears on Britney Spears’ album as well.
The song “Passenger” from Britney Spears’ 2013 album, Britney Jean, was written by a team of renowned writers, including Diplo, Sia Furler, and Katy Perry, who originally intended it for her album Prism. The track is a powerful ballad with a catchy riff, accompanied by a techno beat, booming drums, and background vocals. Spears delivers one of her most passionate vocal performances in the song. Spears and Perry’s paths crossed again when Perry paid homage to the iconic denim dress Spears wore at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards by bringing Riff Raff as her “denim date” at the 2014 ceremony. Another noteworthy track is Selena Gomez & The Scene’s “That’s More Like It.”
Katy Perry contributed a new dance-y track to Selena Gomez’s band’s last album, “When the Sun Goes Down.” The song features a fierce and chunky beat with biting lyrics. According to Selena Gomez, the song has a cheeky 50s theme that flips the traditional gender roles of women cooking for men while men work. Instead, the song says “you can massage my feet, you can take care of me, you can cook me dinner.” Selena Gomez thinks girls will enjoy singing it, but apologizes to boys who might not like the message.
Did you know that Iggy Azalea’s hit song “Black Widow” was initially intended for Katy Perry’s album Prism? However, the song didn’t make the cut and was eventually given to Azalea for her first album, The New Classic. Despite not having Perry on the track, Azalea found a great collaborator in Rita Ora who delivered the mesmerizing chorus of the single. Interestingly enough, Kelly Clarkson also has a similar-sounding song titled “Long SH๏τ.”
During the time period between Perry’s initial Christian pop release, “Katy Hudson,” and her later, more daring album, “One of the Boys,” she penned a lively tune called “Long SH๏τ” that was intended for an unpublished LP on her former label, Def Jam. However, the song ultimately found a home on Kelly Clarkson’s fourth album, “All I Ever Wanted.” Perry collaborated on the song with her ex-boyfriend from Relient K, Matt Thiessen, and together they explored the potential dangers of pursuing romantic relationships. Thanks to Clarkson’s soulful delivery, the lyrics take on an added layer of heartbreak that complements the guitar-heavy melody beautifully. Another noteworthy track from this era is Ashley Tisdale’s “Time’s Up.”
Musical star, Tisdale, decided to give a new life to the track “Love Is a Train”. Though it was written by Katy Perry, she never got to release it.
