Woman's World (Katy Perry Song)
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"Woman's World" is a song by American singer
Katy Perry Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson (born October 25, 1984), known professionally as Katy Perry, is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. She is one of the List of best-selling music artists, best-selling music artists in hist ...
from her seventh studio album, '' 143'' (2024). It was released as the lead single by
Capitol Records Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007), and simply known as Capitol, is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-base ...
alongside an accompanying music video on July 11, 2024. "Woman's World" is a
bubblegum pop Bubblegum (also called bubblegum pop) is pop music in a catchy and upbeat style that is marketed for children and adolescents. The term also refers to a more specific rock and pop subgenre, originating in the United States in the late 1960s, th ...
and
dance-pop Dance-pop is a Music genre, genre of electronic dance music that originated in the late 1970s to early 1980s. It is generally uptempo music intended for nightclubs with the intention of being danceable but also suitable for contemporary hit ra ...
track that Perry co-wrote with
Chloe Angelides Chloe Angelides (born May 21, 1992) is an American singer, songwriter, and producer. She has written songs such as "Zipper" for Jason Derulo for his album '' Talk Dirty'', "Jackie (B.M.F.)" for Ciara for her album '' Jackie'', " Burnin' Up" for ...
,
Dr. Luke Łukasz Sebastian Gottwald (born September 26, 1973), known professionally as Dr. Luke, Tyson Trax, and Made in China, is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He began his professional music career as the Saturday Night Live ...
, Vaughn Oliver, Aaron Joseph, and Rocco Did It Again! (the last four of whom produced it as well). Perry conceived of the song and its
feminist Feminism is a range of socio-political movements and ideology, ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social gender equality, equality of the sexes. Feminism holds the position that modern soci ...
message after feeling inspired by the "feminine divine", observing that the most successful songs of her career, such as "
Firework Fireworks are Explosive, low explosive Pyrotechnics, pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. They are most commonly used in fireworks displays (also called a fireworks show or pyrotechnics), combining a large numbe ...
" (2010) and "
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" (2013), were "empowering" in their messaging. However, the song's announcement was met with mixed reactions from social media users, who criticized the involvement of Dr. Luke in the song due to singer
Kesha Kesha Rose Sebert (born March 1, 1987), formerly stylized as Ke$ha, is an American singer and songwriter. Her first major success came in 2009 when she was featured on rapper Flo Rida's number-one single, "Right Round". Kesha's music and ima ...
’s sexual assault allegations against him. Upon release, "Woman's World" was critically panned by the music critics, who condemned the songwriting and production, and Dr. Luke's involvement. Commercially, the single reached the top 10 in Croatia and Israel, the top 30 in Slovakia and Venezuela, number 47 in the United Kingdom, number 63 in the United States, and number 65 on the ''Billboard'' Global 200 chart. The music video, which featured Perry dressed like
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, also received complaints, and was dubbed a weak attempt at a feminist message. She defended the video as
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and
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in intent.


Release and promotion

Perry posted a fifteen-second teaser of her lip-syncing the song on various social media platforms on June 17, 2024. The artist also revealed the cover artwork featuring herself in metallic "alien-like" pants designed by Victor Clavelly with a white bikini top, photographed by Jack Brigdland. She also announced that the song would be released on July 11 and made it available for pre-order and pre-save via her website and various streaming services. On June 25, Perry arrived at the
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in a black limo for
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while wearing a red
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custom dress featuring two trains. According to ''
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'', the outfit's second train was approximately one hundred yards long and showcased the song's lyrics in white lettering. The artist later partnered with Japanese electronics company
Denon is a Japanese electronics company dealing with audio equipment. The Denon brand came from a merger of Denki Onkyo (not to be confused with the other Onkyo) and others in 1939. It originally started as Nippon Chikuonki Shoukai in 1910 by Freder ...
for a wireless earbuds commercial with a teaser of the song. The song served as the lead single from '' 143'', Perry's seventh studio album. The song became available on CD and vinyl on July 12. Three days later, an
extended play An extended play (EP) is a Sound recording and reproduction, musical recording that contains more tracks than a Single (music), single but fewer than an album. Contemporary EPs generally contain up to eight tracks and have a playing time of 1 ...
of the same name followed, containing the song and five remixes.
Dr. Luke Łukasz Sebastian Gottwald (born September 26, 1973), known professionally as Dr. Luke, Tyson Trax, and Made in China, is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He began his professional music career as the Saturday Night Live ...
's involvement in the song's production received some criticism; the singer
Kesha Kesha Rose Sebert (born March 1, 1987), formerly stylized as Ke$ha, is an American singer and songwriter. Her first major success came in 2009 when she was featured on rapper Flo Rida's number-one single, "Right Round". Kesha's music and ima ...
has previously accused him of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. Justin Curto, writing for ''
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'', questioned: "Uh, are we lucky to be living in this woman's world?" Rania Aniftos of ''Billboard'' noted negative reactions to Dr. Luke's involvement in the song on social media.


Composition

Perry co-wrote the song with
Chloe Angelides Chloe Angelides (born May 21, 1992) is an American singer, songwriter, and producer. She has written songs such as "Zipper" for Jason Derulo for his album '' Talk Dirty'', "Jackie (B.M.F.)" for Ciara for her album '' Jackie'', " Burnin' Up" for ...
and producers Aaron Joseph, Dr. Luke, Rocco Did It Again!, and Vaughn Oliver. She explained the meaning of the song in an
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interview: "I think that people, when they think of me, they think of '
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', they think of '
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' sometimes they think of '
I Kissed a Girl "I Kissed a Girl" is the debut single by American singer Katy Perry. It was released on April 28, 2008, by Capitol Records as the lead single from her second studio album, '' One of the Boys'' (2008). Perry co-wrote the song with Max Martin, ...
', but I think mostly they think of these... empowering songs". Perry also spoke of enjoying when others shared stories about how her prior message could "help people get through" things in life, adding "I write these songs from a place where I need to get through something. But so I wanted to continue with that and also, this is the first contribution I have given since becoming a mother and since feeling really connected to my feminine divine."


Critical reception

"Woman's World" was panned by critics and publications, who felt the song was "out of touch". Em Casalena of ''
American Songwriter ''American Songwriter'' is a bimonthly magazine covering songwriting. Established in 1984, it features interviews, songwriting tips, news, reviews and lyric contest. The magazine is based in Nashville, Tennessee. History The ''American Songwri ...
'' wondered if
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had been used in the songwriting process upon hearing the teaser, noting a generic formula of
bubblegum pop Bubblegum (also called bubblegum pop) is pop music in a catchy and upbeat style that is marketed for children and adolescents. The term also refers to a more specific rock and pop subgenre, originating in the United States in the late 1960s, th ...
. '' Consequence'' critic Mary Siroky agreed and highlighted the irony of a female empowerment song with Dr. Luke involved. Alexa Camp of ''
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'' criticized the lyrics as uninspired whilst Justin Curto of ''Vulture'' criticized the "vague feminist empowerment". William Hughes of ''
The A.V. Club ''The A.V. Club'' is an online newspaper and entertainment website featuring reviews, interviews, and other articles that examine films, music, television, books, games, and other elements of pop-culture media. ''The A.V. Club'' was created in ...
'' described the song's production as featuring "basic synth riffs". Laura Snapes of ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
'' gave "Woman's World" one star out of five, lambasting it as "garbage". Shaad D'Souza of ''
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'' called the track "unfathomably tepid" and while deeming Dr. Luke's involvement in the song hypocritical. Alim Kheraj of ''
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'' felt "Woman's World" was reductive and creatively bankrupt. Cat Zhang of '' The Cut'' characterized the song and its social media rollout as pandering to the
LGBTQ community The LGBTQ community (also known as the LGBT, LGBT+, LGBTQ+, LGBTQIA, LGBTQIA+, or queer community) comprises LGBTQ individuals united by a common culture and social movements. These communities generally celebrate pride, diversity, individu ...
. ''
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'' included "Woman's World" on their Worst Songs of 2024 list, with Steven J. Horowitz calling it a "faux-feminist anthem about as tone-deaf as calling something 'purposeful pop.'" In more positive reviews, Erica Gonzalez of ''
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'' opined that the song "explodes with
dance-pop Dance-pop is a Music genre, genre of electronic dance music that originated in the late 1970s to early 1980s. It is generally uptempo music intended for nightclubs with the intention of being danceable but also suitable for contemporary hit ra ...
energy". ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' critic
Jon Pareles Jon Pareles (born 1953) is an American journalist who is the chief popular music critic in the arts section of ''The New York Times''.


Chart performance

"Woman's World" debuted at number 63 on the US
''Billboard'' Hot 100, dropping entirely off the chart the following week. Internationally, the song reached number 77 on the
Canadian Hot 100 The Canadian Hot 100 is a music industry record chart in Canada for songs, published weekly by ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' magazine. It was launched on the issue dated March 31, 2007 as the standard record chart in Canada; a new chart ...
, number 47 on the UK singles chart, and number 163 in France, and was a top ten hit in Croatia, Israel, and Paraguay. Following the song's poor chart performance, multiple journalists described the song as a failed comeback for Perry.


Music video and controversy

The music video was directed by Charlotte Rutherford and released alongside the song. It features Perry singing the lyrics while dressed as a skimpy
Rosie the Riveter Rosie the Riveter is an allegorical cultural icon in the United States who represents the women who worked in factories and shipyards during World War II, many of whom produced munitions and war supplies. These women sometimes took entirely n ...
using power tools and drinking whiskey before being crushed by a falling anvil. There is a quick, rapid montage of internet memes. After awakening in a white knit bikini and bionic legs, she goes off to explore new scenery, stopping once to fuel herself by putting a gas pump into her buttocks. Perry then joins media celebrity
Trisha Paytas Trisha Paytas (; born May 8, 1988) is an American media personality. Her content consists of a wide variety of genres including lifestyle-oriented vlogs, music videos, and mukbangs. As of July 2022, she has accumulated roughly 5 million subscr ...
in a
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, and they ride it until crushing a car. Perry exits the truck to walk through a nearby house, smashing through a glass door in the back. She sees a young woman using a female
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-shaped light for a
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dance, and takes it for herself. After being repeatedly asked "Who are you?", she screams "I'm Katy Perry!" while flying away on a helicopter. A censored "Modest Edit" of the video, which removed a scene depicting a gay couple kissing, was released in some countries. The video received generally unfavorable reviews from journalists. Pareles felt that the "overblown video clip" was inferior to the song. On July 13, Perry uploaded
behind-the-scenes https://www Googlefinans.co= In filmmaking, behind-the-scenes (BTS), also known as the making-of, the set, or on the set, is a documentary film that features the production of a film or television program. This is often referred to as the EPK ( ...
footage of the making of the video to social media with a caption reading "YOU CAN DO ANYTHING! EVEN SATIRE!" In the footage, she stated that her intention was for the video to be satirical, "very
slapstick Slapstick is a style of humor involving exaggerated physical activity that exceeds the boundaries of normal physical comedy. Slapstick may involve both intentional violence and violence by mishap, often resulting from inept use of props such as ...
and very on the nose". Perry's explanation failed to convince music critics, who believed that the quick release of the behind-the-scenes footage showed that she had been anticipating an unfavorable response to the video.


Live performances

Perry first sang the track live at the Evita event in West Hollywood on August 23, 2024. In September 2024, she also performed "Woman's World" at the
Rock in Rio Rock in Rio is a biennial Brazilian multi-day music festival held at City of Rock in Rio de Janeiro. It later branched into other locations such as Lisbon, Madrid and Las Vegas. Ten incarnations of the festival have been held in Rio de Janeir ...
music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. On December 8, 2024, she performed the song at 2024 Jingle Bell Ball.


Track listing

7-inch vinyl and CD # "Woman's World" – 2:43 # "Woman's World" (instrumental) – 2:43 Digital download and streaming – EP # "Woman's World" – 2:43 # "Woman's World" (BRB Woman version) – 2:43 # "Woman's World" (Doing the Most Woman version) – 3:51 # "Woman's World" (Transcendental Woman version) – 3:18 # "Woman's World" (Super Woman version) – 2:17 # "Woman's World" (Naked Woman version) – 2:43


Charts


Weekly charts


Monthly charts


Certifications


Release history


References

{{Portal bar, Music, United States 2024 singles 2024 songs American satire Bubblegum pop songs Capitol Records singles Katy Perry songs Music video controversies Obscenity controversies in music Slapstick comedy Song recordings produced by Dr. Luke Song recordings produced by Rocco Did It Again! Songs with feminist themes Songs written by Chloe Angelides Songs written by Dr. Luke Songs written by Katy Perry Songs written by Rocco Did It Again! Songs written by Vaughn Oliver