How Katy Perry (Nearly) Tied MJ's Singles Record, and Why She's More Relatable Than Beyonce

By Rebecca Haithcoat Wed., Aug. 3 2011 at 2:07 PM

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Yesterday Katy Perry's boppy single "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" rose to the number one slot, making Teenage Dream the first album in the near 19-year history of Billboard's Mainstream Top 40 chart to produce five number ones.

Big news. But today could bring Perry's career an even bigger boon: If "Friday" reaches the number one position on Billboard's Hot 100, Teenage Dream will become only the second album in the Hot 100's 53-year history to generate five number ones. The other? Michael Jackson's Bad. (Editor's note: Friday was held off by LMFAO...for now.)

Huh? How did this happen?

As noted in Genevieve Yue's feature on Bonnie McKee (the singer-songwriter who works with Perry) a few weeks ago, Perry is appealing to a new generation of girls, the ones who largely comprise pop's demographic: "There's pleasure -- and power too -- [in] having a broader range of expression, an expanded sense of what women can do, even if that means falling down drunk," Yue wrote. "In the world she writes, trying often is met with 'epic fails' of the sort described in 'Last Friday Night,' but that's no reason to feel ashamed. Pick yourself up and 'do it all again,' as the chorus affirms."

For better or worse, these girls are handling feminism far differently than any other generation. They don't want to be put on a pedestal, not only because it's too hard to balance up there, but also because it becomes an open-air cage. You aren't allowed to make mistakes -- never mind fuck up royally. Like so many women in the past, you find yourself trapped, burying any slips internally. Eventually, the weight of those secrets tip you off the pedestal. See: Marilyn, and your mom.

But as with any drastic ideological shift, these young girls are guinea pigs--and Katy Perry has become their de facto leader. While Yue took their side, it's telling that in LA Weekly's staff pick for Perry's concert this weekend, the writer, a man, alludes to Perry's sexuality, saying "her chest gets more love than her chops." When I asked a male friend what he thinks of when I say, "Katy Perry," he responded with three things: "Lollipops. Sexy Betty Boop. Whipped cream."

While men see her as a sex symbol with questionable choice in men, girls see her as relatable. She does Proactiv commercials. She talks about farting. Many--maybe all--pop and R&B divas are shaped to be sexy fantasies (Beyonce, Britney, Xtina, Rihanna, Keri Hilson), but would Beyonce ever be caught dead puking into a roller skate or discovering herself licking a guy's stomach online the next morning? Perry does all of this and more in the "Friday" video. Whereas pop starlets intentionally give off an air of unattainability, Perry isn't afraid to look stupid. Yes, she's Saran Wrapped in a mini and crop top, but when she gazes sexily at the camera, her fingertip uncurls her lip to reveal a full set of metal braces.

Tags:

Katy Perry, Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.), Nokia Theatre, Rebecca Haithcoat

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I think that most people on here are too harsh to be the judge because they are stuck in a nostalgic "time warp". Well people, take a look around, the times and MUSIC has changed and to add to that, just because music has changed doesn't mean that it has "gone down the crapper" as others might say. To make a feat as Katy has is a major monument in her career and if it has gotten her 5 #1's then she must be doing something right. No? I mean, out of all that is playing on radio right now, don't you think that Katy's music is still true to what POP music SHOULD be? It's not the electro-alien-princess-esque music Lady GaGa spews out, or the hip-hop gone house type of music that every R&B singer now days seems to put out or the hooker-hillbilly mush that Kesha farts out and calls music. If some of you who are quick to criticize Katy for making history would take an honest and unbiased listen to some her music you would realize that Katy's music is in all honest form is POP music. Maybe its because half of you are too insecure about your macho-man levels to even dable into Katy's music or to even take an honest listen to judge her on a first rate level. And in all conclusion, if Michael Jackson was alive and making music today what would that exactly sound like? Would he resort back to the type of music he made some 23 years ago, or would he take the likes of his colleagues and release the same type "crap" music that you say exists today? I think we all know the answer. I even think that he would collaborate with some the artist that some of you criticize.

onmjb

Michael Jackson was a great singer, dancer, song-writter. His music video's were epic.

Katy Perry??...... Someone save this world

SC3441

I haven't even heard of her first 4 'hits' till recently. She doesn't deserve it imo. Music nowadays is fake autotuned crap.

chet

That's an amazing accomplishment. Congrats Katy!!

burninchops

umm...Britney did a reality show w/ Ferderline...She's def. in the same ballpark as Katy Perry.

Axshun04

It look's like she's got two major hits behind that dress. Screw T.G.I.F.....T.I.T.S.

Terrycart

It is not the first time that this kind of thing has happend to her!

MarkMan

MJ wrote his hits, did Katy Perry? If not then its not the same thing. Music is going down the crapper pretty quickly lately.(sighs)

ganatronic

MJ didn't write Thriller, Man in the Mirror, Rock With You, Ben... and others. This isn't to say he didn't write a lot of great songs. I'm just pointing out that he didn't write all his hits. Additionally, Katy Perry has written a bunch of her songs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C...