REVIEW: Katy Perry - "Chained to the Rhythm feat. Skip Marley" (1)

After 3 long years of touring, fragrance releases, super bowl performances and getting cosy with Orlando Bloom, Katy Perry has returned to the music scene with her new lead single. The return was announced in what can only be described as the second biggest social media drop of 2017, following Beyonce's pregnancy news, storming her accounts with the single artwork that marked a new era.

The track, titled "Chained to the Rhythm feat. Skip Marley" has a strong disco flavour, with modern reggae notes, courtesy of Marley. Initially, the track seems retro, dare I say ‘stale’. However, Perry works her pop magic with crystal vocals, reminiscent of Madonna's "Confessions on a Dance-floor". Sia's lyrical influence is made obvious when Perry delivers a dangerously catchy hook: "so comfortable we're living in a bubble, bubble, so comfortable we cannot see the trouble, trouble." While the track is generally quite ephemeral, the verses add much-needed lyrical density as the songstress questions “living our lives through a lens, trapped in our white picket fence, like ornaments.” Credit is also due to Max Martin's reliable production, making this a digestible pop tune sure to dominate summer radio.

Unfortunately the track is slightly one-dimensional, failing to reward us with the captivating final chorus and instrumental-layering that Perry is renowned for. Marley's surprise entrance is what really beefs up the track, and while it may offend some die-hard fans, it's sure to lure in the mainstream listener. Perry's acapella exit however is nothing short of pop bliss, likely to give you chills.

Overall, "Chained" gives us a 4 minute sugar high. Perry's new direction in the track is unsurprisingly glittery and buckets of fun, but admittedly repetitive and a bit monotonous. It's the kind of track to sit early on a party playlist, a subtle banger for when the guests are rolling in. That said, however, it's also the kind of track to grow on you tenfold, because it's just so catchy at heart - and we can definitely expect some banging remixes. For me, it's a comfortable 7/10, but nothing life-changing. At the very least, she has a chance to redeem herself with an impending fourth studio album and her upcoming Grammy’s performance, but for now, let's hop on Spotify and get #chainedtotherhythm!

Listen HERE: http://youtu.be/8gsGhdZDC-0