Katy Perry pushes release date for ‘Smile’ by two weeks

If you thought Katy’ Perry’s new album was going to make you “smile” during these not-so-summery summer days, we have some bad news for you.

On Tuesday (July 28), the pop star announced that her upcoming fifth studio record has been pushed back a few weeks back. Instead of seeing a release date of early August, Smile (also referred to as #KP5) will be released on August 28.

“Welp. I hate to throw this bad news at you like a pie in the face…but if there’s anything 2020 taught me, it’s to not get too attached to plans and be malleable,” Perry writes in a letter to fans.

“Due to unavoidable production delays, my album SMILE will now be released two weeks later on August 28 ☹”

But there’s good news. While Katycats will have to wait two full weeks for new music, Perry has unveiled plans to stay connected with her fans (until her Babycat is born) by way of Smile Sundays.

According to the singer, every Sunday, she will go live via social media for half an hour to discuss all things Smile. These Smile Sundays will include snippets of new tunes, new merchandise, and behind-the-scenes information about the record, and who knows, maybe her actor fiance may stop along for the ride.

Smile is the long-awaited follow-up to Perry’s lukewarmly received 2017 release Witness. Previously released tracks “Daisies,” “Harleys in Hawaii,” “Never Really Over,” and current single “Smile” are all featured on the forthcoming release.

“Small Talk” and “Never Won White” will be featured on the album’s fan edition version as bonus tracks.

Katy Perry heads into the wild in ‘Daisies’

When she not dressing up as a roll of toilet paper or as Dumbo (watch this, and you’ll understand) or sitting on the judge’s panel on “American Idol,” Katy Perry can sometimes be found making pop music.

After releasing some new songs here and there over the last couple of years, it looks like Perry is finally ready to unleash her long-awaited musical baby (she’s expecting her first child with fiance Orlando Bloom this summer).

On Friday (May 15), the California gurl debuted the first single off her sixth studio album on Zane Lowe’s New Music Daily show. During the chat, Perry revealed that “Daisies” was written during a particularly dark time around the release of her last studio album, Witness.

“I wrote this song just like it’s another anthem for myself. I came out of a pretty dark time on [2017’s] Witness, and I’ve been writing a record for two years,” she tells the radio host.

“I wrote some of it while I was clinically depressed and trying to find the light at the end of the tunnel. And when I’m writing songs like ‘Firework’ or ‘Roar,’ it’s not because I’m feeling hunky-dory. It’s literally because I am having really dark thoughts and trying to come out of it.”

What came out of that time was a track which she named “Daisies.”

To coincide with the audio’s release, Perry unveiled the song’s accompanying music video. The almost-three-minute clip features Perry in what appears to be a flower field at first dressed in a flowing white outfit. The location changes to a rock formation where she strips, revealing her very pregnant belly as she bathes in the rock formation’s waterfall.

Watch the music video for “Daisies” above.

“Daisies” is the first official single off Perry’s yet-to-be-titled sixth studio album. Over the last couple of years, she’s released several standalone singles, including “Never Worn White,” “Harley in Hawaii,” “Small Talk,” “Never Really Over,” and “365.”

While we don’t know its title or if the previously released singles will find a home on the forthcoming record, Perry has confirmed that her new set of tunes is due out Aug. 14 through Capitol Records.

Katy Perry ponders marriage in her new track ‘Never Worn White’

Katy Perry is taking a break from her “American Idol” judge seat to give us some brand new music, and a massive surprise.

On Wednesday night (March 4), the pop star unveiled her first new track in four months.

Titled “Never Worn White,” the almost four-minute piano-ballad finds the singer pondering, and worrying, about the prospect of marriage. Throughout the song, we hear her concerns via the lyrics. As the song progresses, we witness her come to grips with it and realize that “hey, everything is going to be okay.”

To coincide with the song’s release, the singer unveiled its accompanying video. Unlike many of Perry’s clips, this one is simple, showing the musician singing in a pastel-colored setting surrounded by flowers. The lack of dramatics, and senses overload, allows for Perry’s vocals and lyrics to shine through. Let’s just say, we get some serious Celine Dion vibes from it.

The music video concludes with a huge surprise when Perry, dressed in a transparent outfit, is shown rubbing her very pregnant belly.

Yes, guys. The “California Girl” is expecting her first child.

Maybe that’s what she meant by her “let’s say it’s going to be a jam-packed summer” and “omg so glad I don’t have to suck it in anymore” tweets.

Watch the video for “Never Worn White” above.

“Never Worn White” is Perry’s first new song since last October’s “Harleys ion Hawaii” which, unsurprisingly, was inspired by a trip she took with her fiancé, actor Orlando Bloom.

“Never Worn White” appears to be Perry’s fourth standalone single. To date, she’s released the Hawaii-themed clip for “Harley in Hawaii,” dog competition-centric music video for “Small Talk,” her flower child-inspired clip for “Never Really Over,” and “365” her creepy robot love story with Zedd.

While we were all hoping Perry would announce the release of her still-not-confirmed sixth studio album, but we guess a child is also a good thing. Mazel tov!

Katy Perry takes to the Hawaiian roads in ‘Harleys in Hawaii’

Katy Perry is taking a ride on the wild side…well kind of.

On Wednesday (Oct. 16), the California girl unveiled the music video for her latest single “Harley in Hawaii.” Staying true to the name of the track, the pop star is seen riding around the road of Hawaii on a motorcycle flanked by two companions.

The group ends up at a random bar for some drinks when a random fight breaks out. Instead of getting involves, Perry is seen chuckling and taking a sip of her drink before heading to the small stage to sing some karaoke.

The rest of the clip features the singer chilling on the beach with her love interest (“Teenage Dreams” vibes anyone?) and hanging out with her girlfriends in a hotel room with a stripper pole, hula hoops, and Perry’s favorite snack, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.

So, where did the inspiration for the song come from?

A Hawaiian getaway to the magical string of islands.

“What do you get when you rent a motorcycle for a weekend with your boyfriend in Hawaii? A love song, of course,” Perry posted on Twitter.

The music video was directed by Barcelona-based studio Manson. Watch the clip above.

The track was co-written by Perry, Charlie Puth, Johan Carlsson, and Jacob Kasher. If the lineup looks familiar, it’s because all four co-wrote Perry’s previously released single, “Small Talk.”

“Harleys in Hawaii” is the third “standalone” single Perry has released in 2019. Earlier this year, the singer released the dog competition-centric music video for “Small Talk,” her flower child-inspired clip for “Never Really Over,” and “365” her creepy robot love story with Zedd.

No word on whether these songs will be featured on her still-not-confirmed sixth studio album. Perry’s last full-length album was 2017’s Witness.

Katy Perry (and Nugget) squash the competition in ‘Small Talk’

Katy Perry’s latest video is going to the dogs…literally.

On Friday (Aug. 30), the “California Girls” singer unleashed the music video for her latest standalone single “Small Talk.” The three-minute video features Perry as a dog show mother whose life revolves around dog shows and her pooch (Perry’s real-life dog Nugget).

We watch as dog mother and dog son do everything together from sleeping on the same and eating breakfast to working out and dressing up. They both arrive at the “Mutt Ball” and quickly take down the competition (it’s true what they say, pets really do look like their owners).

As she accepts her trophy, a handsome stranger (and his Weimaraner) strolls into the room and the singer’s life. Nugget’s life is suddenly turned on its head as Perry’s relationship with the stranger begins to escalate. Upset, Nugget starts to act out eventually earning a place in the dog house.

When the handsome stranger moves in, Nugget begins to realize that his time being mommy’s number one is over. While he’s busy stewing about not being the most important thing in his mom’s life, the stranger’s Weimaraner drops a toy in front of him as a form of an olive branch.

Watch the Tanu Muino-directed music video for “Small Talk” above.

“Small Talk” is Perry’s third standalone single. Earlier this year she released “Never Really Over” and her collaboration with Zedd, “365.”

No word on whether these three songs will be featured on a potential new record, but that doesn’t mean fans are not hopeful. Perry’s last full-length album was 2017’s lukewarmly received Witness.

Katy Perry heads to a love retreat to overcome heartbreak in ‘Never Really Over’

To say Katy Perry’s recently released songs have been met with lukewarm reception would be an understatement. Her last album 2017’s Witness was not well-received at all, and her collaboration with Zedd on “365” was received just the same.

Now, it looks like she’s ready to return to her sparkly self even though the subject matter seems to be the complete opposite. On Friday (May 31), the California girl released her new song, “Never Really Over,” and its music video companion.

The four-minute clip begins with Perry standing at a bus stop, luggage in hand, waiting for a bus to arrive. As it passes, she disappears and heads to what looks like a tranquil, hippie-esque retreat. While at first, Perry appears to be against all the activities, she decides rather quickly that it may be for the best to participate. She joins a group doing yoga, tries acupuncture, tries her hand at cupping therapy, and even takes part in a bonfire where she drinks some kind of potion. In the end, it seems like she’s come to terms with that relationship she was “never really over.”

It’s a summery take on a song about letting go of a temperamental on-and-off again relationship and we’re all for it, especially the new earthy, spiritual look Perry is sporting. Maybe this new earthy, free-spirit theme will play into her new era? Whatever it is, we can definitely get behind it.

Watch the Philippa Price-directed music video for “Never Really Over” above.

“Never Really Over” is currently available for purchase here.

“All of our relationships – from first love, through failed love, to great love – all become a part of you, so that none are ever really over, and once you accept both the dark and the light, you may find that the darkness brought you to the light,” Perry said about the inspiration behind the new song in a press statement.

No word on whether “Never Really Over” is a standalone single or if it will be featured on Perry’s follow-up to Witness.

Lil Dicky enlist Brendon Urie, Charlie Puth, Katy Perry, and more for ‘Earth’

When Lil Dicky claimed he had recruited a slew of big-name artists for his new song, he wasn’t kidding. On Friday (April 19), the Philadelphia-born rapper shared the music video for his environment-inspired new track, “Earth.”

The seven-minute music video begins with footage of a city with smog from cars clogging the air, giving the scenery an orangey hue. The clip shifts to a group of kids hanging out and causing mayhem in their path. As they joke around, they knock over a trash can, allowing the content to litter the floor. As they go to leave, Lil Dicky passes by and tells them to clean up the trash.

After changing some choice words, the kids take their leave, but one decides to stay behind and pick up the trash. While picking up the garbage, the kid finds a book laying there. He picks it up and takes a look inside. When he does, it transports the viewer into an animated world where all the cartoon animals (or plants) in the jungle are voiced by the musicians the rapper enlisted.

The song features Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Halsey, Zac Brown, Brendon Urie, Hailee Steinfeld, Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg, Kevin Hart, Adam Levine, Shawn Mendes, Charlie Puth, Sia, Miley Cyrus, Lil Jon, Rita Ora, Miguel, Katy Perry, Lil Yachty, Ed Sheeran, Meghan Trainor, Joel Embiid, Tory Lanez, John Legend, Bad Bunny, Psy, Kris Wu, Backstreet Boys, and Leonardo DiCaprio.

The video concludes with Lil Dicky encouraging the viewer to “look into whatever the f*** Leonardo DiCaprio is always pushing” because if anyone knows about climate change, it would be him.

Watch the music video for “Earth” above.

“Earth” is currently available for purchase here.

In conjunction with the song’s release, the Lil Dicky launched a website to give fans more information about climate change and the different ways they can do their part to help. The profits generated from “Earth” streams and views will be donated to select groups of nonprofits that tackle issues like climate change, the energy crisis, and sustainable farming. For more information about this cause, head on over to the We Love the Earth website.

Watch: Katy Perry and Zedd embark on an AI relationship in ‘365’

Can robots feel love?

That’s the question Katy Perry and Zedd pose in the music video for their brand new joint track. On Thursday (Feb. 14), the singer and the DJ released their new song “365” mere hours after confirming its existence on social media. The four-and-a-half-minute video finds Perry taking on the role of a robot created in a sterilized laboratory.

Zedd, on the other hand, plays the role of a human who is being used for an experiment by the same scientists that created the Perry-bot. The viewer watches as Perry is first introduced to a life-size teddy bear as an experiment to see if she can truly interact with other beings. Once it seems that Perry-bot can interact successfully with other beings, the scientists pair her with Zedd for the real test.

The video continues with the duo going through the beginning stages of a relationship like awkward first conversations, dinner, dancing, and even sleeping together. Perry’s robot seems to be trying her hardest to make it work out, but it appears like Zedd isn’t ready for that giant step yet. This becomes evident as he runs away during a house tour, chooses to sleep on the couch rather in the bed, and even falls asleep during a movie.

As the Perry-bot begins to shed tears, the scientists are thrown into a frenzy because can robots really feel emotions?

Watch the music video for “365” above.

“365” is Perry’s first new song since her Christmastime single “Cozy Little Christmas.” Her last studio album was 2017’s lukewarmly received fifth studio album, Witness. As for Zedd, the DJ recently gave Shawn Mendes’  “Lost in Japan” the remix treatment and was even nominated for several Grammys for his smash collaboration with Maren Morris and Grey, “The Middle.”

Listen: Katy Perry gets into the holiday spirit with ‘Cozy Little Christmas’

Katy Perry – Cozy Little Christmas single album art

The holiday season is clearly upon us which means a batch of new holidays songs are about to flood our favorite music streaming services. On Thursday (Nov. 15), Katy Perry released her new Christmas song just in time for the “kick-off to Christmas” time of the year.

Titled “Cozy Little Christmas,” the three-minute song finds the American Idol judge sticking to what she does best; giving fans super-catchy, ultra-bubbly tunes.

Taking to social media, the “Teenage Dream” singer expressed her excitement for her first new original song since the release of her 2017 studio album, Witness.

“For all my friends secretly buying their tree already… SURPRISE! Christmas comes early!” Perry tweeted.

“Cozy Little Christmas” is an Amazon exclusive, so make sure you log in to give it a listen here. If not, you can get a little taste here.

“Cozy Little Christmas” is Perry’s first new song since the release of her fifth studio album, Witness. The album was released in June of 2017 and though it did peak at the number one spot on the Billboard 200 chart, it was met with mixed reactions by critics and fans alike.

Earlier this month, Perry announced she had contributed to the deluxe re-issue of the Dear Evan Hansen (Original Broadway Cast Recording). The pop star was given the opportunity to take on the Broadway musical’s signature song, “Waving Through a Window.”

Kendrick Lamar leads MTV Video Music Awards nominations

Now that the dog days of summer are starting to die down, MTV is getting ready for one of their major end of summer award shows. On Tuesday (July 25), the once music-centric channel announced the nominees for the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards. Leading the pack with a total of eight nominations this year is Kendrick Lamar. “Video of the Year,” “Best Hip-Hop,” and “Best Cinematography” are just some of the categories his single, “HUMBLE.” is nominated for.

Falling behind Lamar with a total of five nominations each are Katy Perry and The Weeknd. Perry is nominated for categories such as “Best Pop,” “Best Direction,” and “Best Visual Effects” for her Skip Marley-assisted, “Chained to the Rhythm.” The Weekend is nominated for categories such as “Video of the Year,” “Best Editing,” and “Best Art Direction” for his single, “Reminder.”

Following their decision to feature non-gendered categories at the 2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards, the network announced that the “Best Female Video” and “Best Male Video” categories have been combined into “Artist of the Year.” Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar, the Weekend, Ed Sheeran, Ariana Grande, and Lorde are nominated for that honor this year.

In addition to the combined “Artist of the Year” category, MTV has also revealed the addition of a new category: “Best Fight Against the System.” The “Best Fight Against the System” category was added to celebrate music videos that inspire viewers to stand up for injustices.

Fans can begin to vote for their favorite music videos by heading over to the VMA’s website here. While all the major categories will close before the awards show in late August, the “Best New Artist” category will remain open until the night of the live broadcast. Another category, “Best Song of Summer,” will be announced at a later date.

The 2017 MTV Video Music Awards will air live from the Forum in Inglewood, California on Sunday, Aug. 27, at 8 p.m. ET. The complete list of nominees, with the exclusion on “Best Song of Summer,” can be seen below.

Video of the Year

Kendrick Lamar — “HUMBLE.”

Bruno Mars — “24K Magic”

Alessia Cara — “Scars To Your Beautiful”

DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller — “Wild Thoughts”

The Weeknd — “Reminder”

Artist of the Year

Bruno Mars

Kendrick Lamar

Ed Sheeran

Ariana Grande

The Weeknd

Lorde

Best New Artist

Khalid

Kodak Black

SZA

Young M.A

Julia Michaels

Noah Cyrus

Best Collaboration

Charlie Puth ft. Selena Gomez — “We Don’t Talk Anymore”

DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller — “Wild Thoughts”

D.R.A.M. ft. Lil Yachty — “Broccoli”

The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey — “Closer”

Calvin Harris ft. Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry & Big Sean — “Feels”

Zayn & Taylor Swift — “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker)”

Best Pop

Shawn Mendes — “Treat You Better”

Ed Sheeran — “Shape of You”

Harry Styles — “Sign of the Times”

Fifth Harmony ft. Gucci Mane — “Down”

Katy Perry ft. Skip Marley – “Chained to the Rhythm”

Miley Cyrus — “Malibu”

Best Hip Hop

Kendrick Lamar — “HUMBLE.”

Big Sean — “Bounce Back”

Chance the Rapper — “Same Drugs”

D.R.A.M. ft. Lil Yachty — “Broccoli”

Migos ft. Lil Uzi Vert — “Bad & Boujee”

DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper & Lil Wayne — “I’m The One”

Best Dance

Zedd and Alessia Cara — “Stay”

Kygo x Selena Gomez — “It Ain’t Me”

Calvin Harris — “My Way”

Major Lazer ft. Justin Bieber and MØ — “Cold Water”

Afrojack ft. Ty Dolla $ign — “Gone”

Best Rock

Coldplay — “A Head Full of Dreams”

Fall Out Boy — “Young and Menace”

Twenty One Pilots — “Heavydirtysoul”

Green Day — “Bang Bang”

Foo Fighters — “Run”

Best Fight Against the System

Logic ft. Damian Lemar Hudson — “Black SpiderMan”

The Hamilton Mixtape — “Immigrants (We Get the Job Done)” (Immigration)

Big Sean — “Light” (Race)

Alessia Cara — “Scars to Your Beautiful” (Body image)

Taboo ft. Shailene Woodley — “Stand Up / Stand N Rock #NoDAPL” (Environment)

John Legend — “Surefire” (Immigration & Anti-Muslim hate)