Katy Perry: A Modern-day Composer

Logan HubbardMusic AppreciationSemester Project

Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson

Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson• d.o.b. October 25, 1984

Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson• d.o.b. October 25, 1984• Santa Barbara, CA

Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson• d.o.b. October 25, 1984• Santa Barbara, CA• Stage name: Katy Perry

Parents:

Keith & Mary Hudson

Parents:

Keith & Mary Hudson

Career Beginnings

Career BeginningsBackground

Career BeginningsBackground

• Born to two pastors for parents

Career BeginningsBackground

• Born to two pastors for parents• Very involved in parents’ ministry

Career BeginningsBackground

• Born to two pastors for parents• Very involved in parents’ ministry• Attended Christian schools

Career BeginningsBackground

• Born to two pastors for parents• Very involved in parents’ ministry• Attended Christian schools• Solely listened to Christian and gospel music;

secular music was not allowed in the home

Career Beginnings

Career Beginnings

Career Beginnings

Career BeginningsStarted singing, dancing, and performing at a

young age

Career Beginnings• Started singing, dancing, and performing at a

young age• Left high school after 1 year, took GED, and

moved to Tennessee to pursue dreams of a career in music

Career Beginnings• Started singing, dancing, and performing at a

young age• Left high school after 1 year, took GED, and

moved to Tennessee to pursue dreams of a career in music

• 2001 (still performing as Katy Husdon): released self-titled gospel rock album

Career Beginnings• End of 2001, changed surname to Perry

(mother’s maiden name)

Career BeginningsAge 17, moved to Los Angeles, CA and signed to

Island Records

Career BeginningsWatched VH1 and discovered

Alanis Morissette

Career BeginningsWatched VH1 and discovered

Alanis Morissette

One of Katy’s greatest

influences!

Career Beginnings

• 2004 – Dropped by The Island Def Jam Music Group, so she signed to Columbia Records

Career Beginnings

• 2004 – Dropped by The Island Def Jam Music Group, so she signed to Columbia Records

Did NOT believe in Katy’s vision!

Career Beginnings

• 2004 – Dropped by The Island Def Jam Music Group, so she signed to Columbia Records

Did NOT believe in Katy’s vision!

DROPPED

Career Beginnings

• Former Columbia Records publicity executive stole Katy’s files and brought them to Virgin Records

2008Wrote and recorded:• “I Kissed a Girl”• “Hot & Cold”

2008Wrote and recorded:• “I Kissed a Girl”• “Hot & Cold”

“I Kissed a Girl” peaked at

2008Wrote and recorded:• “I Kissed a Girl”• “Hot & Cold”

“I Kissed a Girl” peaked at

2008Wrote and recorded:• “I Kissed a Girl”• “Hot & Cold”

“I Kissed a Girl” peaked at

for 7 weeks on

2008Wrote and recorded:• “I Kissed a Girl”• “Hot & Cold”

“I Kissed a Girl” peaked at

for 7 weeks on

This was just the beginning…

History of Music

History of Music

History of Music• “California Gurls” released May 11, 2010

History of Music• “California Gurls” released May 11, 2010– Peaked at #1 on Billboard Hot 100 for six

consecutive weeks– Reached #1 in over 10 countries– #1 on Billboard’s 30 Summer Songs of All Time

listing

History of Music• “California Gurls” released May 11, 2010– Peaked at #1 on Billboard Hot 100 for six

consecutive weeks– Reached #1 in over 10 countries– #1 on Billboard’s 30 Summer Songs of All Time

listing

History of Music• “Firework” released October 16, 2010

History of Music• “Firework” released October 16, 2010– 3rd consecutive single to reach #1 on Hot 100– Has sold over 5,000,000 copies in the USA alone• Making Katy the only artist with 3 songs topping in the

5,000,000 mark

History of Music• “Last Friday Night”

History of Music• “Last Friday Night” – Reached #1 on US Billboard Hot 100 & Canadian Hot

100– Also reached #1 in Slovakia, Czech Republic, and

top-ten positions in Austria, Ireland, Italy, and Poland

– This song set a record, making Katy the 1st female artist in history to have five #1 singles from a single album• Only other person to achieve this was Michael Jackson

Listening Guide

Listening Guide

Listening Guide• Firework

Listening Guide• Firework

• California Gurls

Listening Guide• Firework

• California Gurls• Teenage Dream

Listening Guide• Firework

• California Gurls• Teenage Dream• Last Friday Night

(T.G.I.F.)

Song 1: Firework

Song 1: Firework• Written as a tribute to people overcoming

obstacles in their lives

Song 1: Firework• Written as a tribute to people overcoming

obstacles in their lives• Written to inspire others to find peace

Song 1: Firework• Written as a tribute to people overcoming

obstacles in their lives• Written to inspire others to find peace

• Katy believes we all have a spark and a lot of times its only us that’s standing in the

way of reaching our goals

Song 1: Firework

:08 Section A :39 Section B – strings, cello :54 Section C 1:25 Section A

1:56 Section B2:11 Section C – faint harmony

vocals2:43 Section D

2:58 Breakdown (section c)

3:13 Peak 3:30 Section C - with Section D

vocals3:48 end

Song 2: California Gurls

:07 Section A :24 Slap bass :38 Section B :53 Section C

1:24 Section A 1:40 Section B 1:55 Section C2:25 Guest Feature –

Snoop Dogg rap

3:03 Section C – multiple layers

of vocals3:35 descant 3:54 end

Song 3: Teenage Dream

:04 Section A – guitar/drum :20 Bass + Keys

:35 Section B – dissonant

harmony vocals

:52 Section C – two high harmony

1:24 Shortened section A 1:39 Section B 1:56 Section C –

faint high harmony

2:27 Section D – bridge, descending

melody

2:44 Breakdown2:51 Section C –

multiple layers of vocals

Song 4: Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)

:07 Section A – panned vocals

:22 Section B – sung in octaves

:35 Section C – several layers

harmony1:20 Section A

1:38 Section B – dissonant

harmony1:50 Section C

2:34 Breakdown – gang vocals

2:47 Sax Solo

3:02 Section C 3:40 end