The Writer of ‘Teenage Dream’ Gave It to Katy Perry So She Could Afford Hot Water

“Teenage Dream” is arguably Katy Perry‘s signature song. One of the writers did not want to hand the track over to the “Dark Horse” singer, but she had to because she was in a desperate situation. The songwriter revealed why she felt so connected to “Teenage Dream.”

Katy Perry’s ‘Teenage Dream’ is connected to Britney Spears and Taio Cruz hits

Bonnie McKee is a professional songwriter who gave us Britney Spears’ “Hold It Against Me” and Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite.” She also co-wrote about half of Perry’s hits, including “Teenage Dream,” “California Gurls,” “Roar,” “Wide Awake,” “Birthday,” and “Part of Me.” During a 2013 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, McKee discussed the progression of her career. “It kept going up step by step by step where the names kept getting bigger and the sessions started getting more real,” she said.

McKee was asked which of her songs made her the most proud. “‘Teenage Dream,'” she replied. “That’s a title I’d had bouncing around in my head for years that I had been holding onto for myself.”\

It’s better that Katy Perry sang the song

McKee said “Teenage Dream” bore her trademarks. “That was tough one to give up,” she recalled. “There’s a lot of little Bonnie-isms in ‘Teenage Dream’ that I was hoping to keep for myself. 

“But at that moment I didn’t have hot water, I didn’t have a cell phone, I didn’t have a car,” McKee added. “So it was now or never. I’m glad that I did it. And of course I wouldn’t want anyone else to do it — Katy is the perfect fit for that, so I’m really grateful to have an amazing artist to put my lyrics on.”

McKee has a singing career of her own, so it’s not hard to listen to her music and imagine her singing “Teenage Dream.” The tune might’ve worked for McKee. However, it feels perfect in Perry’s hands. In the song’s verses, she sounds girlish and delicate, but during the chorus, she goes into full stadium rock mode. Perry’s voice hasn’t received too much acclaim, but when she sings “Teenage Dream,” she sounds just as vocally gifted as Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey.

‘Teenage Dream’ took over the pop and rock worlds

“Teenage Dream” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks, staying on the chart for 33 weeks in total. The track appeared on the album of the same title. Teenage Dream was No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for one week, lasting on the chart for 380 weeks. It is Perry’s most successful album in the United States by far.

Teenage Dream produced five No.1 singles in total. Those songs were “Teenage Dream,” “California Gurls,” “E.T.,” “Firework,” and “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.).” “Teenage Dream” struck more of a chord than the other singles, with the exception of “Firework.” “Teenage Dream” was name-checked in three rock songs from the past decade: “Centuries” by Fall Out Boy,” “Shut Up and Dance” by Walk the Moon, and Olivia Rodrigo’s “Brutual.” Perry and McKee made the rare pop song that rock ‘n’ rollers seem to love.

“Teenage Dream” is a great pop song and it helped McKee find stability during a difficult time in her life.