PRISM
Katy Perry
Released by Capitol Records
Katy Perry’s third album, PRISM, is a different experience from her first two albums.
It doesn’t have the bubblegum pop that the last two had, with more songs on the sombre side than the other two combined.
PRISM is in itself a recovery, filled with different phases of emotion one would go through when recovering from heartbreak, as Perry had been doing when she was developing this album. There are elements of angst and rebellion evident in the hit singles “Dark Horse” and “Roar” that express an individuality and remorseless nature that would be ideal after suffering emotional trauma.
“Roar” deserves its success. It’s a very upbeat and individualistic song that puts individuality and inner strength on a pedestal in a very simple and innocent way, using iconic lines like “eye of the tiger” and “stinging like a bee” to inspire an idea of resilience and being your own champion.
“Dark Horse,” however, is on a different side of that spectrum. It is a more negative and biting song—a warning, essentially, that states the dangers of betraying a woman in love. It has a steady gyrating beat that encourages movement on a simple level and has elements of rap that make this song a perfect mix of angst, frigidity, and power.
Then there are the songs that are a part of the partying, recovery phase such as “International Smile” and “This is How We Do.” They are energetic and rambunctious beats that say it is okay to just let loose, party, and indulge in romance.
“International Smile” has a groovy rhythm that makes dancing a very good idea and inspires a need to just have fun. “Birthday” is similar in its groovy design but is more about simple sensuality and romance. It’s a very cheeky and free- spirited song.
The final part of this message of recovery is acceptance—letting go of remorse and accepting new love in equal parts. The more remorseful bits such as “By the Grace of God” and “Ghost” address the sadder emotions that come along with the anger and the freedom after a break up.
“By the Grace of God” is a truly sad song that admits that the pain of loss is something that takes time to cure and isn’t something you can party off. The more positive song “It Takes Two” serves as a sort of transition—an acceptance of blame and heartbreak.
“This Moment” is the final piece of this healing cycle, embracing the present with a powerful and joyful beat that crowns the album.
Overall, PRISM is an emotional mix of anthems and beats that delivers Perry’s experience with love and loss to the listener in a simple and heartfelt way, creating an album that was well worth the wait.
