Is Katy Perry the new Madonna? It sure seems like she’s poised for that role as she continues to sell out tours, appear in high-profile gigs such as performing with Kanye West on “American Idol” and grace magazine covers.
“I’m giving everyone the full spectrum on this record,” Perry said of her latest album. “Teenage Dream.” “You’re getting the sugary sweet, but you’re also getting the ‘Oh my goodness, she had to sit down for a minute and let some things off her chest.’ ”
| Onstage |
| Katy Perry |
| When: 6 p.m. Wednesday |
| Where: Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia |
| Info: Sold out at press time; tickets may be available through online retailers; 202-397-SEAT; ticketmaster.com |
As fans know, Katy has spoken extensively about growing up the child of born-again evangelical ministers. Some of the childhood rules she followed included never listening to pop music and not reading any books except the Bible.
Though she has since reconciled her differences with her parents, in reflection Perry has told Vanity Fair that the experience robbed her of a childhood. That understandably gave her pause.
“I can’t run from where I came from, nobody can,” Perry said.
That’s why her second album drew her back to her Santa Barbara, Calif., hometown.
“I love the vibe that Santa Barbara gives off and I wanted to really tap into the purity of my childhood and that feeling,” said the two-time Grammy-nominated singer. “It was really fun to get away and walk into the studio with no makeup on.”
Perry set out with the goal of having the songs on the album move fans emotionally and physically.
“When I was touring, I wanted people to dance more,” Perry said. “So I wrote an album that made people move, yet didn’t sacrifice the story substance that I had on the last record.”
Like any good dream, though, the songs on the album are also a reflection of the artist.
“I called the album ‘Teenage Dream’ because I feel like I will always want to be that pin-up poster,” Perry said. “I definitely want to be in everybody’s dreams at all times until I get to [the late] Liz Taylor’s [final] age when I’m not in your dreams anymore, and I’m just a diva! I don’t ever really want to come off as trashy, but I want people to know I’m definitely having fun.”
