Where is the real Katy Perry? Her new single, ‘Woman’s World’, is being trashed by many fans and critics alike

A decade ago, there was no pop artist more famous and influential in the world than Katy Perry. Madonna had been relegated to a memory of the 80s and 90s, and the phenomenon that Taylor Swift has become was still far from exploding.

After the release of her album “Prism” in 2013, Perry gave the world, and a generation of girls and young women who are now adults, a new empowerment anthem with “Roar,” which joined the iconic “Firework” to become battle themes for the female empowerment movement.

But since then, Perry has simply not been as successful. Her albums “Witness” (2017) and “Smile” (2020) didn’t receive the same attention or success, without a single track becoming iconic like her previous hits. The charts were no longer her domain as before, so Katy focused on being a mom and a judge on American Idol, maintaining some level of fame.

After four years, Perry recently announced the release of a new album, “143“, set to launch on September 20th, along with a new song, “Woman’s World,” which she released yesterday with much fanfare, including the accompanying video. It was the highly anticipated comeback of an artist like her.

A failed comeback, for now

But things haven’t exactly gone as expected. The song hasn’t had, so far, the initial impact of many of her previously mentioned hits and has been harshly criticized by specialized music critics. Sites like The Guardian, Pitchfork, Vulture, The Cut, and Consequence of Sound, among others, have reviewed the first single from her new album, and the reviews are not good.

The Guardian described the song as “a regressive, warmed-over hell,” while Vulture noted that “an anthem needs to have a message, and ‘Woman’s World’ does not have one.”Pitchfork commented: “Defying all sense of taste, the pop singer’s comeback single is too dispiriting to even approach camp. It’s abysmal,” and The Cut published: “Katy Perry is stuck in 2016.”

Additionally, there is controversy due to her collaboration once again with the famous producer Dr. Luke, who has been behind her biggest hits but faces several accusations of sexual violence, particularly from singer Kesha, who sued him years ago for abuse.

This has not sat well with Perry’s fans, who are wondering: Where is the Katy Perry that little girls and young women followed, who identified with her thanks to iconic songs like “Firework” or “Roar“? Where is the Katy who gave one of the best Super Bowl halftime shows in years?

And then they don’t want any talk of conspiracy theories that she sold his soul to the Devil for a success she no longer has.

Where are you, Katy Perry?