Did Katy Perry Once Criticize Beyoncé and Shakira’s Music?
Beyoncé and Shakira are two of the biggest pop stars alive, however, Katy Perry made a comment abut their music that could be seen as shady. More specifically, she compared Beyoncé and Shakira’s work to music from earlier pop stars. Afterward, Perry clarified her comment and had some harsh words for the news media.
Katy Perry didn’t want to release a song that sounded like this Beyoncé and Shakira hit
The 2010s were a phenomenally successful decade for Perry and Rihanna. The Washington Post reports Perry discussed the possibility of collaborating with Rihanna during a 2012 interview with BBC Radio 1. While entertaining the possibility, Perry discussed “Beautiful Liar,” a duet between Beyoncé and Shakira.
“I was telling her, you know that Eurythmics song with Aretha Franklin, Annie Lennox, ‘Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves’?” Perry said. “That’s like the kind of song that I’d want to do instead of, like, ‘Hips Don’t Lie,’ which was still a great song by Shakira and Beyoncé. I mean, not ‘Hips Don’t Lie,’ what’s that duet? ‘Beautiful Liar.’” She continued, “I loved it, but I definitely want to do something that is just kind of like, so iconic.”
Katy Perry’s subsequent comments about Beyoncé and Shakira
Perry’s comments could be interpreted as a slight against both Beyoncé and Shakira. At the same time, her comments simply could be interpreted as a slight against “Beautiful Liar” rather than either artist’s work as a whole. Perry, on the other hand, took to her Twitter account to say she wasn’t dissing anyone. “F*ck all y’all (press) dat thinks I dissed anyone, puhlez, u havin a slow news day or what?!” she wrote. “Get a life, cuz it’s not mine! #hoodratcominout.” She also tweeted “If ya ears are filled with wax it’s time to get a cleanse boo.”
Other comments Perry made about Beyoncé and Shakira are unambiguously positive. For example, she discussed the topic of role models with Women’s Wear Daily. In that interview, she said “With Beyoncé and Rihanna it’s very obvious they know what they are doing and you can see that they are micromanaging as well. They are multitaskers.” During the lead-up to Super Bowl LIV, she tweeted “You got this @JLo &@shakira #PepsiHalftime.” This message of support was notable as Perry previously performed at the Super Bowl. Perry may dislike “Beautiful Liar,” but she never criticized Beyoncé and Shakira as people nor their work as a whole.
Was ‘Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves’ more popular than ‘Beautiful Liar?’
Perry’s comments seemed to elevate “Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves” over “Beautiful Liar.” That doesn’t mean the public felt the same way. “Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves” reached No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100. On the other hand, “Beautiful Liar” reached No. 3 on the same chart. Regardless of what Perry said, “Beautiful Liar” seems to have resonated more with audiences.
