Katy Perry’s new single “Lifetimes” is the second release from her upcoming album 143.
Videos by American Songwriter
Her seventh studio album is out September 20 via Capitol Records. The album’s first single “Woman’s World” arrived last month. “Woman’s World” is Perry’s attempt at a feminist anthem but fans and critics reacted negatively to the controversial choice of Perry working with Dr. Luke. (Pop singer Kesha accused Dr. Luke of sexual harassment in 2014.)
However, on “Lifetimes” Perry zooms in and focuses on her daughter.
A Soulmate Takes Many Forms
Perry explained the meaning behind the song in a statement, “‘Lifetimes’ is a song about eternal love. It’s about finding that one deep and satisfying love of your life.”
She added, “A soulmate doesn’t always have to come in the form of a partner—it can come in all different ways, a child, a best friend, a pet.”
I know you feel it
Can you believe it?
I’m gonna love you till the end
And then repeat it
For Perry, her daughter is the soulmate she describes in the song. “For me, it is my daughter—I ask her every night, ‘Will you find me in every lifetime?’ She says, ‘Yes,’ and I feel found. You’ll find each other, over and over again, for lifetimes.”
Like the sun is always rising
Like the stars are in the sky
You and I will find each other
In every single life
Music Video Controversy
Stillz directed the music video for “Lifetimes,” which finds Perry on Spain’s Balearic Islands. She rides in a boat off the Ibiza coast, bikes across Formentera, and plays on the beach.
But the video was allegedly filmed on protected dunes. The Guardian reported the government of the Balearic Islands is looking into how the video was filmed on the protected island without receiving proper permission.
In a press release, the environmental department of the islands claimed Perry’s production team didn’t secure authorization before filming.
The dunes exist on a privately owned, uninhabited island. According to the regional government’s tourism website, the dune system in the Balearic Islands is of “great ecological value.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Capitol Records told Variety, “The local video production company assured us that all necessary permits for the video were secured.” They said production followed all regulations required and they “have the utmost respect for this location and the officials tasked with protecting it.”
To Infinity and Beyond
Controversies aside, Katy Perry’s music helped inspire the current generation of pop stars. You can hear her influence all over Chappell Roan’s excellent The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. Still, Perry’s new album singles have thus far failed to achieve the commercial success of her past hits.
“Lifetimes” isn’t going to reshape pop music, but it doesn’t need to. Perry’s music has always sounded like an endless summer. Though it arrives in the waning days of this season, “Lifetimes” attempts to stop time with eternal love for her daughter.
Four years have passed since Perry’s last album Smile. Since then, Olivia Rodrigo and Chappell Roan have reformed pop music in their images—not to mention Charli XCX’s lime-green “Brat Summer” or the radical optimism of Dua Lipa. Love may last a lifetime, but pop culture evolves and part of that evolution is expiration.
“Lifetimes” and its video seem better suited to the beginning of summer. Maybe the bumpy rollout behind Perry’s new album is a looming metaphor for her comeback.
Baby, you and me for infinity
My eternity
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Photo by London Entertainment/Shutterstock
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