Charlie Garner

Opinion Editor

avg6206@psu.edu 

Many fans of pop music or 2010s pop culture, especially members of Gen Z, look back very fondly on Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” from over a decade ago. Personally, I see this era to be one of the best eras in pop music, producing so many great hit songs, memorable music videos, amazing visuals and concept art, and an album that stands the test of time. 

In 2010, Katy Perry already had quite a bit of fame from her 2008 album, “One of the Boys,” and her popular singles from that album such as: “I Kissed a Girl” and “Hot N Cold.” But, “Teenage Dream” took her fame to a whole new level. The lead single for the album was “California Gurls,” which features Snoop Dogg, became an instant hit and became the song of the summer. The music video displayed a sultry, candy themed wonderland that became the main theme for the album after its release. “California Gurls” may seem like a typical sounding pop song by today’s standards, but it was pretty unique upon its release. Shortly after, the title track, “Teenage Dream,” was released and immediately topped the charts just like its predecessor. “Teenage Dream” encapsulates the feelings of a new relationship and how it starts off as innocent love. The song really resonated with people with its lyrics, theme, and daydream-esque sound. “Firework,” “E.T.,” and “Last Friday Night” went on to go number one on the charts as well. The album, as a whole, had five number one singles, which made Katy Perry the first woman to achieve this milestone. 

“Firework” was in everyone’s heads in the early 2010s and you really could not escape this song because it played anywhere and everywhere. Perry explored more of a darker theme with “E.T.” The song was a stark contrast from her previous singles, but it still became very popular and fits organically on the album nonetheless. Her last single from “Teenage Dream” was “Last Friday Night,” which became an instant party song and is still seen as that today. 

Although these songs did not hit number one, “The One That Got Away,” “Wide Awake,” and “Part Of Me” – the last two being on the deluxe album- are seen as some of Katy Perry’s best and are still fan favorites. I cannot really discuss “Peacock,” due to its lyrical content, but this song has been seeing some popularity recently from social media. Even if you are not a Katy Perry fan or a pop music fan, I bet everybody remembers this era in some way and it brings nostalgia to so many people, especially myself. Also, can you believe that Katy Perry did not receive a single Grammy for this album? Excuse me? She was robbed. This album deserves all of the recognition for being one of the best modern pop albums. 

“Teenage Dream” was certainly the peak for Katy Perry and she has struggled to top it ever since. Honestly, we have not seen an era quite like this one since in the pop music scene. Many artists have come close and have had some memorable pop eras, but I do not think any have quite topped “Teenage Dream” in popularity, influence, or nostalgia.