Witness the new Katy Perry

What is Katy Perry up to? I grant, it has been four years since her fourth album Prism was released and she must want so badly to make a big splash with her new one. So alongside a media blitz that touts her latest as truly different, Perry got a drastically new hairstyle and make-up, plus wardrobe. She looks great, by the way, and very interesting. She also allowed herself to be filmed for social media sites one entire day. The event drew millions of eyeballs and made her the most followed celebrity all over the world.

Very good. But then out of the blue, she revived her long-ago feud with Taylor Swift. Wonder what that was all about, John Mayer? And what for? Worst yet in what comes across as a very desperate move, she ranked her previous lovers for their performance in bed in an interview with James Corden! Mayer came out on top, followed by actor Orlando Bloom and in third place superstar producer Diplo. Not even Madonna during her Sex book days was that candid. She also mentioned that singer Josh Groban was the one who got away. Good for him. At least, she did not get the chance to rank him in bed.

I used to think of Perry as the wholesome one. Like I would think twice about taking kids to a Lady Gaga or Miley Cyrus show but not to watch Perry with her cute tigers and kitty cats. But she wanted a change of image and I believe her ploys worked quite well. Her new album Witness is on its way to No. 1 in the Hot 100 despite the fact that not one of the three singles released made No. 1. Then, I was not yet ready to listen to it, but I did, at once. All that Perry had been doing got me excited about what she now has to offer.

The album is loaded. There are 15 cuts. But warning. There are no traces of Roar, I Kissed A Girl or California Gurls in Witness. This is an entire about-face for Perry. This is an uneven collection of effects-laden electropop tunes with hints of R&B, hip-hop, new wave and house music. If you want the old Perry, you will be very disappointed. I was. But I commend her for daring to make the change, for her determination to delve deeper into today’s music and to adapt what she likes best to her style.

Best tracks are Swish Swish of very strong grooves, featuring Nicki Minaj; Déjà Vu and Chained To The Rhythm, which is the closest that Witness comes to having hooks. Save As Draft, a ballad with a pronounced beat, and Miss You where Perry’s singing is at its most emotional, can this be for Groban? It also has strong single potentials. The other cuts are: Witness, Hey Hey Hey, Roulette, Power, Mind Maze, Miss You More, Bon Appetit featuring Migos, Bigger Than Me, Pendulum and Into Me You See. Plus not to forget, despite the very strong reverb, Perry’s singing here is her best ever.

Justin Bieber remains on a roll with songs in numbers 1 and 3 in Billboard’s Hot 100 chart and a potential third in 2U, his collaboration with EDM star David Guetta. Here are the week’s Top 20 hits:

Despacito by Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber; That’s What I Like, Bruno Mars; I’m The One, DJ Khaled feat. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance The Rapper & Lil Wayne; Shape Of You, Ed Sheeran; Humble, Kendrick Lamar; Mask Off, Future; XO Tour Llif3, Lil Uzi Vert; Something Just Like This, The Chainsmokers & Coldplay; Stay, Zedd & Alessia Cara; Congratulations, Post Malone feat. Quavo.

Say You Won’t Let Go by James Arthur; Issues, Julia Michaels; Believer, Imagine Dragons; Body Like A Back Road, Sam Hunt; It Ain’t Me, Kygo x Selena; Redbone, Childish Gambino; Unforgettable, French Montana feat. Swae Lee; There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back, Shawn Mendes; iSpy, KYLE feat. Lil Yachty; and In Case You Didn’t Know, Brett Young.

The Top 20 titles in the Top 200 Albums listing are: Hopeless Fountain Kingdom by Halsey; DAMN, Kendrick Lamar; EPIC AF (Yellow/Pink), Various Artists; Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles; This One’s For You, Luke Combs; More Life, Drake; Divide, Ed Sheeran; Summer Latin Hits 2017, Various Artists; Last Young Renegade, All Time Low; 24K Magic, Bruno Mars.

Is This The Life We Really Want? by Roger Waters; Stoney, Post Malone; True To Self, Bryson Tiller; Relaxer, alt-J; From A Room: Volume 1, Chris Stapleton; The Joshua Tree, U2; Culture, Migos; Harry Styles, Harry Styles; Moana, the motion picture soundtrack; and Future, Future.