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TL;DR:

  • Katy Perry worked with a famous music video director for one of her videos.
  • Barbarella inspired Perry’s character in the clip.
  • Perry’s song became a huge international hit.
Jane Fonda wearing a cape as Barbarella
Jane Fonda as Barbarella | Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

One of Katy Perry‘s most famous music videos is very different from other videos she released during her early career. The director of the video explained how Barbarella influenced the clip. In addition, the director elaborated on the unusual video’s meaning.

The director of Katy Perry’s ‘E.T.’ music video says it’s about a character trying to save humanity

One of Perry’s most unusual videos is her video for “E.T.” The video features Perry as an alien who flies through space and evolves into something more human. She lands on a post-apocalyptic earth that’s filled with trash, finds a mate (played by model Shaun Ross), and kisses him before turning into a satyr.

Floria Sigismondi directed the video. She previously directed videos such as Marilyn Manson‘s “The Beautiful People” and Christina Aguilera‘s “Fighter.” During a 2011 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Sigismondi explained her interpretation of the clip.

“On ‘E.T.,’ I was a little bit skeptical that an artist of Katy’s stature would be an alien, but she was so up for anything, which was fantastic,” Sigismondi recalled. “Half the video is her in alien form and how she is shape-shifting from an alien to a human as she gets closer to earth to save humanity through this kiss.”

‘Barbarella’ inspired the end of the song’s music video

Sigismondi explained why Perry’s character became a satyr. “Then she gets her signals crossed, and there’s a little bit of animal lust [shown by] her fawn legs,” she added. “It’s a very interesting extraterrestrial love story, but it paints a bigger picture about humanity and what happens on earth.”

Sigismondi then mentioned Barbarella. “There’s a bit of a Barbarella influence at the end there,” she said. “She’s kind of a sexual goddess. She has intentions to save the world, and she’s a very strong character, but she has a lot of passion that you can see in her eyes. Hopefully they go off and create a new kind of being that inhabits the earth.”

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How Katy Perry’s ‘E.T.’ performed in the United States and the United Kingdom

“E.T.” became a huge hit in the United States. For five weeks, the song topped the Billboard Hot 100. It spent 30 weeks on the chart in total. Perry released the song on her album Teenage Dream. For one of its 269 weeks on the Billboard 200, the album was No. 1.

“E.T.” was a hit in the United Kingdom too. According to The Official Charts Company, the song reached No. 3 in the U.K. and stayed on the chart for 24 weeks. Teenage Dream was No. 1 for one of its 221 weeks on the U.K. chart.

“E.T.” was a chart juggernaut and its music video wouldn’t be the same without Barbarella.

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