One Of The Boys - Music (Katy Perry)

Katy Perry is the all-new singing and sort-of-dancing-but-probably-too-cool-for-all-that, rebellious, girl-kissing, Avril Lavigne v2.0 bad-girl of high-production American pop. She's not exactly out to be ignored. In fact she's out to become both an idol for disenfranchised Britney fans and a poster-girl for emo-boys, not to mention tabloid-fodder and gossip-page regular. She is also, it should be noted, the daughter of two pastors and made her recorded debut with a Christian pop album aged 17 (she's now 23). And while a leopard changing its spots, or at least its wardrobe, might all be part of growing from a teenager to a feisty young woman, it is easy to be cynical about this package, headed up by the ready-to-download controversy of her "I Kissed a Girl" single. That tune at least has the bold beats and choreographed raw heat to match its sassy premise; it is a little disappointing that for someone resting on rebellion as her central cause that the music on One of the Boys is so conformist. "Mannequin" is Kelly Clarkson American-Idol style modern power-rock, the lyrically questionable "Ur So Gay" takes Lily Allen and adds a dash of Christina, "Hot 'n' Cold" is a Pink-esque floor-filler, "Thinking of You" a Britney ballad of some scale and the title track like an Avril Lavigne reworking of a brazen Cyndi Lauper classic. But while she brings little originality to the table, there are certainly no half measures covering the bases on this efficient debut. --James Berry

Customer Reviews of One Of The Boys

31st October 2008

Need ur opinion
Ok, this is gonna say KIDS REVEIW i am not a baby goat and don't act like an 8yr old! lol coz im not 8! duh!
I havent heard all the songs on this album but I've heard "I Kissed A Girl" and "Hot and Cold" I Loved Both The Tracks! I'm just a little worried that if there are explicit lyrics, i mean i don't mind some swearing on some good tracks but i don't want to buy this CD and find out that there is some sexual/rude lanuage that should be taken into account or just a little rude and just ignored!
Plz inform me wheather I should buy this because I Like katy Perry's singing and want the CD but dont really want to be listing to sexual lyrics too much......I don't mind 1 or 2 songs that are have a bit of sexual language but not sure if all of them are to be advised
Thanks, leave a comment telling me advice(if u can)
Anyway You Should Defenatly buy this!

lillie2374
Ipswich
26th October 2008

Not bad, some catchy tunes.
I bought this on the strength of 'I kissed a girl' not because I loved that song, but because it was catchy enough to make me curious (pardon the pun) about what else she had to offer.
There are some great tunes on here, very catchy and the lyrics aren't too much of a pain to listen to. It doesn't say much about anything, it's just easy listening. Some people like to think that a singer projects themselves through there songs, in this instance, I just think she jotted a few lines down, put a tune to it...simple as that really, no hidden meaning. Or maybe I'm missing something.
She has a good voice, if not a bit nasal and shouty at times almost like she is trying too hard and it comes across as a stroppy goth throwing a strop. (it's the best way I could describe it, so no abuse please, I know what you fans are like).
I think it's a good album, Mannequin being one of my favourites. She has a great voice and it would be interesting to hear some singing without as much shouting.

Gideon's Mom
Michigan, USA
22nd October 2008

Very Entertaining Song Lyrics
I have a rule for buying CDS: I have to like at least four of the songs to make it worth my while...I took a chance and bought this after hearing only two of the songs played on the radio, but it turns out that I like almost every song.

There are a couple where she sings with a very high yet soft voice that I thought was kind of boring, but I enjoyed her vocals the rest of the time. Her style reminds me of the Go-Gos Beauty and the Beat, Kim Wilde, and Thompson Twins. (Yeah, I am an an 80s fan).

The lyrics are hysterical; she's very good at telling stories, and even though you might be tempted to think she is exagerating, I could relate to a lot of the scenarios she describes.

I love ALL KINDS of music - I have very eclectic tastes, but I have to say it was refreshing to hear a female vocalist who didn't create another hip-hop album or a whiny alternative album (you know, the ones where every single song is directed to some guy).

willow
The Universe
2nd October 2008

Great Album, Great Lyrics, Katy Will Be Fun To Watch!
Katy Perry is a breath of fresh air, she doesn't try to set a positive example for her younger fans & she loves provoking the media & making a story (a.k.a claiming that she wanted to kiss Miley Cyrus.)
One Of The Boys is a prime example of pop at its best.
Over the summer pretty much everyone fell in love with I Kissed A Girl a fun track that would make even the most strait-laced person smile.
For me the best songs on the track are I Kissed A Girl, Ur So Gay & Hot n' Cold. Ur So Gay is pretty much Katy poking fun at a metrosexual ex although I personally don't agree with the use of the word gay to describe anyone but a homosexual (they're not all feminine, people!) but the lyrics are great; 'your so sad you should buy a Happy Meal, your so skinny you should probably suppersize the deal'.
All in all a great album, in my opinion its not better than Rihanna (Rihanna is like the next Madonna) but still great lyrics, great fun & Katy looks like she'll be entertaining to watch.

James Prouten

2nd October 2008

One Of The Boys
I first discovered Katy Perry while I was on holiday in the states and never heard of her before as she had never released anything in the UK! I Kissed A Girl was at the top of the charts in the USA at the time and I heard it in a pub and instantly loved it! But I never knew who sung it or what the song was called!

So when I found it on You Tube I also discovered she had another video out for UR So Gay and I have to say I loved it even more than I Kissed A Girl!

With the strength of these two songs I instantly was a Katy Perry fan and become obsessed with her! I found her a really refreshing artist in the world where r'n'b seems to be ruling the charts!

I love her self-confessional lyrics and when I found out she writes her own material I was really impressed and I also found out that this album is produced by Glen Ballard the genius behind Jagged Little Pill one of my favourite albums if not my favourite!

I was so excited about this album and I wanted this it as soon as I could get my hands on it! So when I got it I listened to it straight away and I'm still playing it now!

1. One Of The Boys - Very poppy song! It sounds like an Ashlee Simpson song! Has a very teenage feel to it and I don't think it really suits Katy she too good for the song!- 4/5

2. I Kissed A Girl - You know this one by now! Brilliant song! Perfect pop song that will be around for years! I think it's is brilliant that she's singing about kissing a girl and liking it! Penned by Cathy Dennis the genius behind hits like Can't Get You Out Of My Head & Toxic! 5/5

3. Waking Up In Vegas - Very catchy song! Another self confessional song! Very funny and good lyrics! Very tongue-in-cheek song! Puts a smile on my face! Just a fun song! Potential single! 4/5

4. Thinking Of You - One of the more mature songs on the album! One of my favourites! Katy sings it perfect and she really pours her heart out on this song! You can feel the emotions she is going through agonising over two lovers! The most Alanis sounding one! 5/5

5. Mannequin - I love this song! One of the highlights on the album! Very witty lyrics from Katy that shows what a brilliant song writer she is! A song about her man not being man enough! And comparing him to Mannequin! It reminds me of Lily Allen 5/5

6. UR So Gay - My Favourite track on the album! Brilliant one of the best songs about an ex-boyfriend! I love the lyrics so clever! "UR So Gay and you don't even like boys!"! I read somewhere that Madonna loves this song she said it on an American radio! 5/5

7. Hot'N Cold - One of the most upbeat tracks! Rumoured to be the next single which is a shame as I think there are better songs to choose from! About a picky lover! I love the line "You're worse than a girl"! A good sing-along song! Another song about an ex-boyfriend 4/5

8. If You Can Afford Me - Another tongue-in-cheek song with Katy's trademark witty lyrics! Very upbeat sounding! One of the best songs on the album! Very catchy! Another really fun song! Very radio friendly has potential to be a single. 5/5

9. Lost - Not my favourite on the album! Pretty good song but a bit of a run of the mill song! But it's a lot better than most album tracks on some artist's album! I would hate this was a filler track! But there are better songs 3/5

10. Self-Inflicted - A brilliant song! It sounds similar to a Pink it reminds me of a cross between 18 Wheeler & Just Like A Pill! "These wounds are self-inflicted" Katy claims! Excellent song and one of the highlights of the album! 5/5

11. Still Breathing - A pretty good songs! Not one of the best on the album! One of the more mature sounding songs on the album! It's missing something probably Katy's trademark witty lyrics! 3/5

12. Fingerprints - A nice way to finish the album! Another more mature song! Completely different from any other songs on the album! A bit more of a chill-out song then a upbeat one but still good! 4/5

I have to say I really like this album! The album experiments with a lot of different sounds and styles! There is upbeat songs like "Hot'n'Cold" & "If You Can't Afford Me" then you have some songs which are bubblegum pop like "I Kissed A Girl".

There is also dark and angst ridden songs like "Thinking Of You" & "Self-Inflicted" but there not depressing. There also tongue in cheek songs like "UR So Gay" & "Waking Up In Vegas".

I have to say this album has at least one song for everyone there so many to choose from and they all sound different from each other! That what I also like about the album I hate albums that all the songs sound the same! Each track is so different but fit nicely together!

Without comparing Katy to any other artists because I think she is very individual and has a sound & style of her own! But if you like Avril Lavigne, Ashlee Simpson then I would recommend this album as there defiantly traces of teenage angst on this album especially on "One Of The Boys".

I would also recommend for fans of Lily Allen & Kate Nash as Katy Perry also has that tongue-in-cheek lyrics! "Ur So Gay" is similar sounding to "Smile" & "Foundations" is also dissing an ex-boyfriend with funny lyrics!

There is also reminisces of Pink especially on "Self-Inflicted" it reminds me something off Pink's Misunderstood album like "18 Wheeler" or "Just Like A Pill".

Even though this album was produced by Glen Ballard you can feel the Alanis influence on it but saying that it does not sound anything like Jagged Little Pill!

They are completely too different records and that is a good thing! Katy like Alanis has her own sound and style that can't be duplicated! If anything and if I had to compare Katy to anyone I would say she was US version of Lily Allen.

I know Katy has been getting a lot of controversy for "I Kissed A Girl" especially in the states for promoting homo-sexuality and for "UR So Gay" for the opposite effect for being homophobic! I think both songs are brilliant and in my opinion I do not think Katy is trying to do either! And what does it matter in the long run as she isn't actually been offensive nothing gets said when rappers e.g. Eminem (which I may add I'm a fan of) talks about killing and hating homosexuals nothing gets said!

As long as the music is good what's the problem? I would understand if she was actually been hateful towards homosexuals but she really isn't "UR So Gay" has been taking way out of context - she is taking the mick out of her meterosexual boyfriend! If she was homo-phobic why would she sign about kissing a girl and liking it? And as for "I Kissed A Girl" would there be a problem if a male was singing it? There's nothing wrong with her kissing a girl or homosexuality!

Despite the controversy this album is amazing! I'm a huge fan of Katy and love her lyrics! She is brilliant! Are songs are so catchy and original! Like I said it's so refreshing to get an artist who is proud to be pop and make good pop songs in a world where R'n'B seems to be taking over the charts! Even the Queen of Pop has converted to R'n'B!!

I read somewhere that this album was completed five years ago! But her record company didn't know her to market her due to her lyrics and taboo subjects like homosexuality and especially been at such a young age! My only criticisms would be that due to the fact this album was pushed back you tell that in some her lyrics where written when she was a teenage like in "One Of The Boys" like I read Seventeen etc It's not a bad thing but it makes them stand out and doesn't really suit her

I highly recommend this album for anyone and everyone! Katy is my new favourite artist of 2008! I bought Katy Perry's album and I liked it!