Katy Perry’s ‘Wide Awake’: A billion-view hit that marked the end of an era Katy Perry is one of the most successful pop stars of the 21st century, with a string of hits that have dominated the charts and the culture. But one of her most memorable songs is also one of her most personal: ‘Wide Awake’, a power ballad that reflects on her divorce from Russell Brand and her journey as an artist.
‘Wide Awake’ was released on May 22, 2012, as the final single from Perry’s reissue album Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection. It was co-written by Perry with Max Martin, Bonnie McKee, and its producers Dr. Luke and Cirkut. The song was specifically written for Perry’s autobiographical film Katy Perry: Part of Me, which documented her California Dreams Tour and her split from Brand.
The song is a dance-pop track with elements of rock and electro. It features lyrics about the reality of a break up and moving forward with strength and clarity. Perry sings: “I’m wide awake / Yeah, I was in the dark / I was falling hard / With an open heart / I’m wide awake / How did I read the stars so wrong?” The song also references some of Perry’s previous hits from Teenage Dream, such as ‘Firework’, ‘California Gurls’, and ‘The One That Got Away’.
‘Wide Awake’ became another commercial success for Perry, topping the charts in Canada and New Zealand while reaching number two in Lebanon and the United States. In America, the song was kept off the top spot by Carly Rae Jepsen’s ‘Call Me Maybe’. It also peaked within the top 10 in Australia, Hungary, Ireland, and the United Kingdom as well as the top 20 in Brazil, Italy, and Slovakia.
The song’s music video was directed by Lance Drake and featured a fairy tale-like story, starring Perry and a child version of her. The video also makes references to Perry’s Teenage Dream singles and the previous Complete Confection single ‘Part of Me’. The video has been praised for its symbolism, creativity, and production values. It has also been viewed over 1 billion times on YouTube, making it one of Perry’s most popular videos.
‘Wide Awake’ marked the end of an era for Perry, who closed the chapter on her Teenage Dream era with a bang. The song showcased her vulnerability, maturity, and resilience as an artist and a person. It also proved that she could make music that was not only catchy but also meaningful and relatable.
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