Pop icon Katy Perry released her seventh album, “143,” to a wave of negative reviews, marking the conclusion of a tumultuous rollout that saw a series of poorly received singles and backlash over her collaboration with controversial producer Dr. Luke. Critics slammed the album for stripping away Perry’s signature personality and lyrical cliches, with her voice sounding disaffected and removed. The decision to work with Dr. Luke, who faced a now-settled lawsuit from Kesha over allegations of sexual assault, stained the album’s narrative, according to Variety.
The Guardian gave “143” two stars out of five, acknowledging it wasn’t as disastrous as expected but still failed to impress. The album was criticized for feeling dated compared to more inventive pop music by other artists. Similarly, The Independent panned the album as painfully dated, noting a sense of weariness and hesitance in the songs that failed to match Perry’s former playful, tongue-in-cheek bops. NME also gave the album two stars, calling lead single “Woman’s World” a disastrous comeback single and criticizing Perry for seemingly grasping for ideas on tracks like “Artificial.”
The rough rollout of “143” began with lead single “Woman’s World” receiving negative reviews and failing to make an impact on the charts. Critics called the song a dated attempt at a feminist anthem with mixed messaging, ultimately peaking at No. 63 on the Billboard Hot 100. The second single, “Lifetimes,” faced controversy as the music video shoot in Spain’s Balearic Islands prompted an environmental investigation for filming without proper authorization. The behind-the-scenes footage revealed Perry’s satirical intent, but the concept fell short for many critics.
Controversy surrounded Perry’s decision to work with Dr. Luke on “143,” given the producer’s history with Kesha’s assault allegations. Despite defending her choice as working with a longtime collaborator, Perry faced criticism from media outlets and celebrities like Abigail Breslin. Dr. Luke and Kesha settled their legal battle, but the producer’s involvement in “143” remains a point of contention. The album follows Perry’s 2020 release, “Smile,” which also failed to match the chart success of her earlier work, marking a decline in Perry’s once record-breaking string of hit singles.
As critics continue to pan “143” and question Perry’s choices in the album’s production, the album’s performance on the charts remains to be seen. With a history of chart-topping success in the early 2010s, Perry’s latest release faces an uphill battle to regain her former glory. The fallout from the underwhelming rollout of “143” raises questions about Perry’s future in the ever-evolving pop music landscape and whether she can overcome the negative reception to reclaim her status as a pop icon.
