SUNDAY DROP - SPIN #67
If last week was too heavy for your ears then welcome to the complete opposite for our 67th spin from our record collection. This week we have chosen the hit-heavy album, 'Teenage Dream' from one of Night Kat Kiz favourite artists, Katy Perry. When we were dating I managed to get tickets to see Katy Perry in Sydney for her birthday and even though we didn't have the closest seats, we still had fun. Perry knows how to put on a show and it was after this album that really shot her into super stardom. Night Kat Kiz was a fan from the start and I'm not sure if she even had the very first album under the name of Katy Hudson (more of a gospel style album). She has changed over the years and settled down a bit now that she has started a family but get ready as we drop the stylus on this one and transport back to 2010!
Our children are particularly energetic today so I think we will play this one loud in the front room whilst the sunshine is coming through. I was able to work from home this week and catch up on the computer work part of my job. So many good albums came out in the same year as 'Teenage Dream' and I've listed a few below for you to explore. I highly recommend 'Nightmare' by Avenged Sevenfold and lately have been getting right into their newest one. Contender for album of the year and tough competition with 'Take Me Back To Eden' by Sleep Token. What has been your album of the year so far? Let me know on our social pages or in the comments section below.
ALBUMS OF NOTE (2010): My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West, Recovery - Eminem, Doo-Wops & Hooligans - Bruno Mars, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys - My Chemical Romance, Brothers - The Black Keys, Opus Eponymous - Ghost, Nightmare - Avenged Sevenfold, The Final Frontier - Iron Maiden, Contra - Vampire Weekend, Deep Blue - Parkway Drive
Image : Katy Perry (Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson)
If you happen to have a copy of 'Teenage Dream', then get ready and place your LP1 on the turntable as we #dropthestylus
The stylus moves along the outer groove on LP 1 of Perry's third studio album and starts off with the second single that was released, also the name of the album title, called 'TEENAGE DREAM'. I read that the writers and Perry all wrote and collaborated on five different versions of this song before getting it right and started with the chorus or hook first. Luckily they took their time with this one because I don't know anyone that wouldn't remember how big this song was at the time. It's obviously about falling in love or new love and the feeling it gives you. There is a consistent dance beat throughout this one that just gets quicker and catchier by the time the chorus starts playing, " You make me feel like I'm livin' a teenage dream. The way you turn me on, I can't sleep. Let's run away and don't ever look back, don't ever look back". Maybe Perry's gospel upbringing assisted with her voice and vocal range but it was her ambition to do what she wanted that made her make hard decisions.
'LAST FRIDAY NIGHT (T.G.I.F)' follows up next and is a song about partying hard, dealing with the consequences whether they are good or bad and then repeating it all next week. I get worried when I think about the future and what our children will get up to regarding house parties and hopefully Night Kat Kiz and I can give them a good foundation to respect other people's houses (and ours!). It's a fun song and was another single released from 'Teenage Dream'. I think she broke some record for singles released on an album for female artist. I can't remember the last time Night Kat Kiz and I ended up at a house party but we did meet at one. So thank you to people who are brave enough to host house parties, without you I wouldn't have met my lovely wife and had our children. Check out the music video for this track by clicking here.
Now, I didn't realise this next song had a different spelling for girls before looking into this. In order to be different to the the Beach Boys, who had a song called the same and to add a bit more West Coast flair they named it, 'CALIFORNIA GURLS'. They even added Snoop Dogg into the mix to collaborate with Perry to add that something special. Definitely one of the most recognisable songs from my 2010's and at the time you couldn't take a car trip without hearing it on the radio. Have a look at the video clip here - I had forgotten that it was based on the board game, Candyland. I like the little nod to Snoop Dogg's 'Gin 'n' Juice' song by Perry and wonder if this album was too big of a hit to follow it up. We here at R'nR like all her albums but commercially this one was an absolute beast. Our daughter (Q) is two next month and she has become such an independant, stubborn bundle of personality lately. She has to have hop bunny with her and loves getting everyone's shoes for them before we leave the house. Our Son (K) made me so proud last night when we practiced spelling his name and after a short time he got it. The smile on his face when he achieved that was very heartwarming.
It's time to flip the LP over to Side B and drop the stylus on the goosebumps giving hit, 'FIREWORK'. I think this one is loved by Night Kat Kiz and I've chosen it as the featured lyrics below. I did however select another song as my favourite but I think this track has better lyrics. Pretty much if you have ever felt unloved or low on confidence relating to your self-worth, then this is the song you need to listen to on repeat. This one was released as a single from the album and offered something different compared to the pop/upbeat sound. I think lyrically this one stands out, "You don't have to feel like a waste of space. You're original, cannot be replaced. If you only knew what the future holds, after a hurricane comes a rainbow. Maybe a reason why all the doors are closed, so you could open one that leads you to the perfect road. Like a lightning bolt, your heart will glow and when it's time, you'll know".
To be honest when I first heard this song upon release, I wasn't expecting it but on 'PEACOCK' there is no hiding that Perry wants to see your peacock. It's funny because the kids are so young, all they hear is the fun and high energy song that makes them want to dance. Night Kat Kiz and I just look at each other and have to laugh. Paired with the dark and sinister sounding next song, it is quite a funny match up for the track list. 'CIRCLE THE DRAIN' closes out Side B on LP1 and I could have sworn was written in reference to her relationship with Russell Brand. How wrong I was, as whilst looking into the album now, I found it the song was written about Travie McCoy (Gym Class Heroes). I like the grittiness behind this song and the different approach from Perry in tackling this style of music. "Thought that I was the exception, I could reroute your addiction. You could've been the greatest, but you'd rather get wasted" Once again Perry has made a song that the children can dance along with by including infectious rhythms and lyrics that go way over their heads. Time to put LP1 back in the sleeve and put LP2 for Side C on the turntable.
I hope that it has been nice weather for you, wherever you are reading this from. We have had a bit of winter sun coming through and is nice when not in the shade. However, this week has been annoying with those icy cold winds and terrible for having washing on the line. I keep getting worried that my three peg technique may have to be upped to four pegs per item because they'll end up blowing into the lake! First song on Side C is called 'THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY' and I wonder who this song was written about. I like this track because it is similar in feeling to 'Firework' and you can hear the emotion behind her vocals. I think I remember seeing this music video and they have Perry all old and reminiscing. Probably my second favourite song on the album and one that I'll be singing if one of the pieces of laundry blows into the lake.
'E.T' is up next and I didn't remember that it also featured Kanye West in the official music video. I was listening to the LP and prefer that they took out that feature for the record. Now that I've heard both versions I can say that the feature doesn't seem to flow as well as just Perry's version. Let me know what you think in the comments below - do you like Kanye feature or straight into the song. The sounds coming through the speaker and production are really crisp and the speakers are begging for me to turn this one up a little more. Check out the film clip here. Up next is a song that I didn't recall until we started spinning this one again - not because its bad but because there is just so many hits on this album.
'WHO AM I LIVING FOR?' has Perry battling with her inner demons as she continues to make the choice of her life - do I move away from religion and upbringing into the pop world or do I stop. This one is very close in feeling to 'Firework' and 'The One That Got Away'. She has a knack of mixing it up and probably the first couple of songs that our children have decided to run off and play with their toys.
I missed our son's Karate class last week for the first time because I was away for work. Luckily my parents were kind enough to take him and take lots of photo's as he was able to earn the yellow tip on his white belt. The photo of him holding his pose and certificate was so lovely and I was a very proud father. I love watching our little ones grow up, but at the same time, I have to remind myself to appreciate each moment as they are going by too quickly. Everytime I go away for work, I swear that I come back and they are so so much older. Hopefully the life choices that Night Kat Kiz and I are making for our little family bear some fruit soon. Whilst you were reading this I have flipped the LP 2 over for 'PEARL' which starts playing on Side D. A slower, more heartfelt number that discusses there is ambition and accomplishment buried within all of us and it is up to us to make something of ourselves each day. Perry is such an upbeat person in front of the camera but she sure can write a song that brings you back down to earth. I like how the song ends with, "You don’t have to be a shell, no. You're the one that rules your world, oh, You are strong and you'll learn that you can still go on and you'll always be a, a pearl. She is unstoppable"
I think because we were dating at the time and this song was easy to relate to in terms of our relationship. That is what makes 'HUMMINGBIRD HEARTBEAT' my favourite track on this album. It instantly makes me think of who I was at the time of dating Night Kat Kiz and how far we have both come. We still have a bit to go but I know together we make a pretty good team. " I see the sun rise in your eyes, your eyes. We've got a future full of blue skies, blue skies". The album needed a pick-up song after a few more emotional numbers and this was placed at the tailend for a reason. If it was the last track on the album, it would be a pretty good ending but for some reason they have chosen another sad one to finish. 'NOT LIKE THE MOVIES' has moments where it could have been a Taylor Swift song with its storytelling. I like the slowness and use of piano but for such a high energy album, the second LP provides some insight into the darkness within Perry's mind. If you're are struggling, speak to someone, it really does help.
The secret to a good record collection is to make sure that you have at least one record that will please everyone. Good music is respected in our household and I give credit to albums that deserve it. 2010 will go down as a standout year because of 'Teenage Dream' and almost every song could have been released as a single. Thank you for coming along this week and taking time out of your weekend to spend it with us Rylos. I might change things up soon and alter how this blog looks but for now it's working. If you enjoyed this week, then stay tuned for our MWSP clues for what will be our 68th Spin!
"Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free" - Paul Tillich
Until our next Spin, be Kind to Katy Kats and be Kind to your Wax!
YEAR RELEASED | 2010 |
PRODUCED BY | TOO MANY TO NAME |
LABEL | CAPITOL |
PRICE RANGE | $50AUD+ |
SPEED PLAYED AT | 33 1/3RPM |
ALBUM BEFORE | ONE OF THE BOYS (2008) |
ALBUM AFTER | PRISM (2013) |
FURTHER LISTENING | PRISM (2013) |
FAVOURITE SONG | HUMMINGBIRD HEARTBEAT |
RATING OUT OF 5 | 5 |
WHAT'S INSIDE THE RECORD SLEEVE | 2 X BLACK LP HOUSED IN PEPPERMINT STYLE SLEEVE, GATEFOLD WITH IMAGES OF PERRY AND LYRIC INSERT |
Favourite lyric:
"You don't have to feel like a waste of space, You're original, cannot be replaced. If you only knew what the future holds, After a hurricane comes a rainbow. Maybe a reason why all the doors are closed, So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road. Like a lightning bolt, your heart will glow and when it's time, you'll know"~ Firework - Side B
TRACK LISTING
LP 1 | SONG | TRACK LENGTH |
​SIDE A | TEENAGE DREAM | 3:47 |
​ | LAST FRIDAY NIGHT (T.G.I.F) | 3:50 |
​ | CALIFORNIA GURLS | 3:54 |
SIDE B | FIREWORK | 3:47 |
​ | PEACOCK | 3:51 |
​ | CIRCLE THE DRAIN | 4:32 |
LP 2 / SIDE C | THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY | 3:47 |
E.T | 3:26 | |
​ | WHO AM I LIVING FOR? | 4:08 |
SIDE D | PEARL | 4:07 |
​ | HUMMINGBIRD HEARTBEAT | 3:32 |
​ | NOT LIKE THE MOVIES | 4:01 |
Katy Perry performing live during the Teenage Dream era