STACK #190 Aug 2020

MUSIC FEATURE

visit stack.com.au

KATY PERRY: THE WHOLE WORLD SMILES WITH YOU

T he world’s enduring romance with Katy Perry is full of the kinds of milestones that prove the Californian artist could never have been a flash in the cupcake pan; her sixth album Smile – out this month – follows five others (2001’s Katy Hudson [released under her birth name], 2008’s One Of The Boys , 2010’s Teenage Dream , 2013’s PRISM , and 2017’s Witness ) which all – with the exception of her debut – were met with ardent approval from critics and immediate devotion from fans. She was the first female artist to have four videos surpass a billion YouTube views each, and in Australia, her combined single sales total over 95 times platinum. She’s been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2013 and she received the Audrey Hepburn Humanitarian Award

in 2016, having advocated for awareness around HIV/AIDS, empowering girls, and children’s rights to health, education, and protection. FOR THE LOVE OF OZ And lo, it turns out she digs us Down Under. In March this year, Perry performed at the final of the International Cricket Council Women’s T20 World Cup, held on International Women’s Day – a show which saw the Aussie women’s team take to the stage in their gold medals and dance about like wild things as Katy sang her hit Firework (from Teenage Dream ). Three days later she performed a free concert in Victoria’s regional town of

Katy in Bright, VIC, for her free charity concert

Bright, to raise money for bushfire-affected communities and our incredible firefighters. “As a native Southern Californian, I know firsthand the devastation of wildfire across my home communities, and was particularly heartbroken by the Australian bushfires,” she said. “Australia has always given me so much love and support, so FIGHT ON is one way to return that love, and help provide a little bit of joy to a country that’s given me so much joy.” THE MAKING OF A MOMENT Then there’s the fact that her massive 2015 Super Bowl performance – the one with the dancing sharks and the giant, golden,

Performing at the final of theT20Women's World Cup

On stage with the dancing sharks

18 AUGUST 2020

jbhifi.com.au