This Day in Pop: Katy Perry releases 'One of The Boys' in 2008 (June 17)

[Adriannn]

13 years ago, Katy Perry released her debut album (well, if we pretend 'Katy Hudson' didn't exist). I remember listening to 'I Kissed a Girl' for the first time and becoming obsessed with it. Of course, I was going to go deep into the album.

The album was not very well received by critics, getting a score of 47 by Metacritic 

Looking back, many lyrics are quite problematic and cringy; however, I think that pop rock sound suited Katy's vocals pretty well (in the studio, because back then she wasn't the best live vocalist) 

I think the singles were a good representation of the record. We all know the hits 'I Kissed a Girl' and 'Hot N Cold'. Here in Latin America, I'd say the latter was even bigger.

'Thinking of You' is a beautiful ballad and the aesthetic in the music video is gorgeous. 'Waking Up in Vegas' is sort of underrated in my eyes, so I'm glad she's using it to promote her residency.

As for the rest of the songs, 'One Of The Boys', 'If You Can Afford Me', 'Ur So Gay' and maybe even 'Self Inflicted' are definitely problematic today, but they are perfect examples of the pop rock sound mentioned before. 'Mannequin' and 'Fingerprints' are good instances of this sound too.

The songs I keep coming back to are two of the ballads: 'I'm Still Breathing' and 'Lost'. They are heartfelt and problem-free. 

It's crazy to have witnessed the growth to stardom Katy had... and then falling out of it... Either way, this is the album that started it all.

What do you think, Exhale? Is it a good album or has it aged like milk in the counter during summer days?

[Jordan Miller]

Iconic

Thanks so much for making this!! @Adriannn

[Adriannn]

34 minutes ago, Jordan Miller said:

Iconic

Thanks so much for making this!! @Adriannn

[Popcornie]

I love Fingerprints and "If You can afford me". Ur So Gay is the one song that aged like milk. I wish we had pop rock katy for a little bit longer tho. Hot N Cold is the song that made me a katycat. I stanned Katy hard in her prime. After Chained To The Rhytm i kinda lost interest in her, CTTR was her last single i rly enjoyed. 

[Adriannn]

3 minutes ago, Popcornie said:

I love Fingerprints and "If You can afford me". Ur So Gay is the one song that aged like milk. I wish we had pop rock katy for a little bit longer tho. Hot N Cold is the song that made me a katycat. I stanned Katy hard in her prime. After Chained To The Rhytm i kinda lost interest in her, CTTR was her last single i rly enjoyed. 

I'd headbang to IYCAM back then... yes, I'd love more songs from her with that sound.

[Spicechinodiva]

When she was the original warped tour queen, but I remember all the people that rock Van's called her a sell out for what her next album was straight forward dance pop..

 

Plus I kissed a girl aged badly, even Katy regrets it now. 

[Adriannn]

6 minutes ago, Spicechinodiva said:

Plus I kissed a girl aged badly

I know! but those drums at the beginning will always get me 

[Midnight]

I always thought this album was cute visually, very simple but cute. 

However, I truly only liked "I Kissed A Man" and "Hot and Cold" 

[CHAOTIC STYLE.]

42 minutes ago, Midnight said:

I always thought this album was cute visually, very simple but cute. 

However, I truly only liked "I Kissed A Man" and "Hot and Cold" 

Same + Thinking Of You 

[thebritmaster]

Her second best album after Teen Dreams  I like problematic

[Adriannn]

2 hours ago, Midnight said:

"I Kissed A Man"

[Adriannn]

1 hour ago, thebritmaster said:

Teen Dreams

not teen dreams 

[Strauss]

Thinking Of You, Lost and I'm Still Breathing showcased that she can be a good lyricist. 

[Adriannn]

Just now, Strauss said:

Thinking Of You, Lost and I'm Still Breathing showcased that she can be a good lyricist. 

[FemmeFataleBrit]

8 hours ago, Adriannn said:

Lmao I remember this skit from SNL. This video and her titś were everywhere during this time.

[princessmimi]

Aww this takes me back to my teen years.

I was a BIG fan back then!

Heck 'I kissed a girl' was one of my most played songs on my then ipod shuffle (omg that sounded SO 2000s lol)

[Adriannn]

49 minutes ago, princessmimi said:

my then ipod shuffle

[Stefani]

The album that spawned 3 Top 10 singles, endless fillers, and a homophobic anthem.