Despite beginning her music career in 2000, Katy Perry struggled to find a clear direction and style for her musical talents. Beginning in gospel, the lack of success her debut album, “Katy Hudson”, attracted found the singer moving over to secular music. Here she began to develop her style and song-writing abilities. Katy was signed and dropped from multiple record deals between 2003 and 2007, with many executives recognizing her talent and potential but failing to provide her with material and collaborators that would allow this talent to shine.
Finally, in 2007 Katy Perry was signed to Capitol Music Group where she began working with producer Dr. Luke, who co-wrote the songs “I Kissed A Girl” and “Hot n Cold”. “I Kissed a Girl” was a massive breakthrough hit for Katy Perry reaching the number one spot in the US, UK, Australian, Austrian, Canadian, German, Irish, Dutch, New Zealand and Swiss music charts. “Hot n Cold” was also a top 5 single in each of these countries, causing Katy Perry’s second album “One Of the Boys” to secure a top 10 placement in the US charts.
After the success of her first pop album, Katy Perry managed to surpass this with her second pop album, “Teenage Dream”. The album won her a Guinness World Record for being the first female artist in the world to achieve five number one hits from the same album on the Billboard Hot 100. In fact, the only other artist to have achieved this feat before her was Michael Jackson with his 1987 album “Bad”.
In addition to this award, Katy Perry has been nominated for an incredible eleven Grammy Awards across her three pop albums, and has won multiple MTV VMA awards and People’s Choice Awards.
Katy Perry cites Queen singer Freddie Mercury as her biggest influence. After hearing the song “Bohemian Rhapsody”, Katy Perry was inspired to make music, and her flamboyant outfits and image suggest that Mercury was an influence both musically and visually.
Katy Perry’s 2014 album “Prism” hit the number one spot in the US and UK album charts and shows a slightly darker edge to her musical ability. The album demonstrates Katy Perry’s musical range and willingness to experiment. Katy Perry’s immense talent and theatrical world tours have won her a legion of loyal fans across the globe. Her hard work is evident in the music she produces and her success speaks for itself.
To say right now that watching Katy Perry live is a total MUST is, actually, quite an understatement. Just a look at her current tour sales will tell you that almost no one wants to miss her latest live production. But watching Katy Perry live is more than just a show, it's more of a lovely memory you will share with friends you didn't know you had.
Katy Perry is one of those artists who fully commits herself to bring her fans an experience that displays cutting edge production while keeping a deeply intimate vibe. There's little chance you'll see her outside the local major arena these days, and still she always makes it feel like a tiny place and like every song is been sung directly to you. No, that does not have anything to do with me watching her on the stage fence everytime. It has to do with how she gets involved with every aspect of the show, as opposed to just focusing on performing, making it all even more personal. On every tour, she plays the full new album, while incorporating the fan favorite songs in a nicely balanced set, always full of awesome custome changes and stage surprises. Her long-time live band and dance crew are always a powerhouse by themselves and just add to the whole experience. The songs live always have enhanced arrangements which prove her musicianship while shocking many naysayers.
The first time she took her full tour to Mexico, was with the California Dreams Tour in 2011, with her first stop in Guadalajara. Eager to see her perform that perfect album live more than once I hopped on an overnight bus and made the trip by myself. The joy in the air that night, the perfection of the set, and the overall happiness in everyone's face throughout the show, allowed me to make new friends with whom I'm now making travel arrangements to see the 4 nights in Mexico of her new Prismatic World Tour. Only god knows what this tour has in store for me...
liveshowjunkie, May 2014