Katy Perry: The Fad That’s Never Really Over

By Meg Clemmensen

Edited by Kaylee Ainsworth

Graphic: Emily Lantzy

         Have you ever heard a new song from an artist you used to love with all your heart and immediately been transported back in time? That’s exactly how I felt the second I turned on Katy Perry’s latest single, “Never Really Over.” While I was a huge fan of the global superstar throughout the Teenage Dream and Prism eras, I slowly stopped listening to her music as often once her name was less threaded throughout the media. Funnily enough, the only name I’ve heard repeated in the media all week leading up to this release was hers.

         The American singer’s first solo release since 2017 is a tale of love, relationships, and growth— and overall, a much stronger comeback than her previous album, Witness. “Never Really Over” is a taste of the absolute pop-perfection that we all need blasting through our speakers in 2019. It became evident this would be a summer anthem the moment the track was teased with bursts of bright colors and flower-filled aesthetics. This suspicion was confirmed within the first verse of the track. Though the lyrics sounds as if they could relate to an on-again, off-again relationship, Perry states that the message she was aiming to convey was that past relationships will only succeed to grow and teach you about yourself and your place in the world. She puts a positive spin on the ending of a relationship and claims that there is no such thing as a mistake, only learning opportunities.

         The element of “Never Really Over” that stood out to me the most was the reminiscence upon Perry’s golden dream-pop era that peaked with the release of 2010’s Teenage Dream, the record that launched her into stardom. It seems as if Perry is attempting to return to her roots as a pop star with this release, and she’s doing it like a goddess. With vulnerable lyrics and an earworm of a chorus, she proves that she never really lost her charm during her hiatus.

         If Katy Perry’s next record sounds anything like its lead single, it’s definitely going to turn into a top favorite of mine. Perry’s statement stands loud and clear with this release— she will never be forgotten as one of the most iconic modern pop artists. “Never Really Over” has absolutely everything that a sugary-sweet pop anthem needs, as well as a set of lyrics that have a much deeper meaning once you begin to dive beyond the surface. This hit single is available on all major streaming services, as well as the stunning accompanying video streaming on YouTube. Find your 2019 summer anthem provided by the pop queen Katy Perry!