Katy Perry has dropped “Woman’s World,” the first single from her seventh studio album, the dance-oriented 143—the title of which, according to Perry, represents “a numerical expression of love.” The track is the singer’s first solo single since 2021’s “Electric,” from the Pokemon 25 soundtrack.
“Woman’s World” reunites Perry with Dr. Luke, a.k.a. Lukasz Gottwald, who helmed her career-making hits “I Kissed a Girl,” “Teenage Dream,” and “Roar.” Perry reportedly chose to cease working with the producer until after his legal dispute with fellow pop star Kesha, who accused him of sexual assault, was resolved. (The parties reached a settlement last year.)
Gottwald has maintained his innocence, but that hasn’t stopped some fans from questioning Perry’s decision to collaborate with him on a song about female empowerment. The upbeat electro-pop song is stacked with toothless, pseudo-inspirational declarations like “Fire in her eyes/Feminine divine/She was born to shine.”
In time-honored pop fashion, the special effects-laden music video for “Woman’s World” sees the “Con Calma” singer reclaiming female sexual agency by ironically depicting herself as a blow-up doll, dressed up like Rosie the Riveter, and flattening a suburban sedan with a giant-wheeled pickup truck.
Watch the video, directed by Charlotte Rutherford, below:
143, the follow-up to 2020’s Smile, is set for release on September 20 via Capitol Records.
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