Every Song On Katy Perry’s ‘PRISM’ Ranked, 10 Years Later
Because time doesn’t feel real anymore, it’s been 10 years since Katy Perry released her fourth studio album PRISM. Looking back, we had greatness at our fingertips and we took it for granted. PRISM was Katy’s last truly great album — before we were given the trainwreck that was Witness.
The year is 2013. Katy Perry’s career was at an all time high after her mega success Teenage Dream and world tour. Of course, Russell Brand had divorced her via text and her personal life was falling apart but the world was desperate to know: what would she do next? After the release of successful singles ‘Roar’, ‘Dark Horse’, ‘Birthday’, ‘Unconditionally’, and ‘This Is How We Do’, PRISM landed.
People complained that it sounded like Katy had swallowed a self-help book and was regurgitating motivational one-liners. The girl had just been dumped in the coldest way possible mere minutes before she had to go on stage (I know we all watched that scene from Katy Perry: Part of Me). It was 2013, inspirational quotes from Tumblr were my phone’s home screen so leave Katy alone. If she wanted to make an empowering album about self acceptance then we should have let her. Especially given PRISM was an absolute banger.
The album was the culmination of Katy Perry, pop hit maker Max Martin, and Cirkut. Unfortunately, it does have the Dr Luke production stain. Katy said the album was meant to be “darker” than her previous work but it ended up being dance-pop inspired and the world loved it. PRISM debuted at Number 1 on the US Billboard 200, and peaked at Number 1 in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the UK. It quickly became Katy Perry’s fastest-selling album, earning her a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album.
But how does PRISM hold up 10 years later? Let’s find out by ranking the songs.
#16. ‘Choose Your Battles’
With standout hits at the start of the album like ‘Walking On Air’ and ‘Dark Horse’, to end the PRISM deluxe edition with ‘Choose Your Battles’ is a letdown. I wish Katy went out with more of a bang but instead ends a near perfect album with a fizzle.
#15. ‘This Moment’
The whole Katy swallowed an affirmation book thing is rife in ‘This Moment’. “Life is one big fast treadmill” and “Tomorrow’s unspoken/Yesterday’s history” reminds me of the posters my highschool counsellor had on the wall. Benny Blanco and Stargate try their best to spice up the production with a Robyn-esque beat but the end result feels disjointed and unmemorable.
#14. ‘It Takes Two’
When you first break up with someone your go-to response is usually “Fuck them” as you run through all the awful things they did to you. When time passes you might look back and think “Hm, maybe I wasn’t the best partner either”. ‘It Takes Two’ is Katy confessing that she takes “half” of the blame for the relationship failing. Well, you were with Russell Brand, Katy. I think we can safely say you weren’t the problem.
#13. ‘Unconditionally’
‘Unconditionally’ is a sweeping love song that’s apparently Katy Perry’s personal favourite song on PRISM. Due to personal reasons, it gets a low ranking. Sure, the song is beautiful both sonically and lyrically. “Come just as you are to me / Don’t need apologies / Know that you are worthy” captures the beauty of falling in love with someone’s flaws, no matter how much it sounds like a Hillsong quote.
When I was 12 and heavily closeted I tried to prove to the boys at school that I wasn’t gay. I sent a girl I had grown up with the entire lyrics of ‘Unconditionally’ to woo her. It didn’t work, obviously, because who would be wooed by that? Also, isn’t that just the gayest thing ever? Anyways, for that reason alone I can’t listen to this song ever again.
#12. ‘Double Rainbow’
‘Double Rainbow’ was Tumblr’s wet dream. “‘Cause I understand you” was plastered over images of couples holding hands or a girl crying into a boy’s arms. Sia helped write the shiny love song, a woman who clearly understood Tumblr’s power before she released her 2015 album 1000 Forms of Fear. It’s a sweet song but it’s hard to take lyrics like “They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure/When I found you it was all pitter-patter” seriously.
#11. ‘Roar’
‘Roar’ is an empowering battle cry that still haunts all retail workers. It’s a hell of a way to open an album about self-acceptance, taking “I am woman, hear me roar” to the most extreme level. Which is why it leant itself perfectly to being one of the best lip sync songs on RuPaul’s Drag Race. The pristine radio pop anthem was an obvious choice for the album’s lead single and it topped the Billboard Hot 100. It’s still too cringey to stack up against the other hits on PRISM, but at least it has a fun video.
#10. ‘This Is How We Do’
The big sister to ‘Last Friday Night’, ‘This Is How We Do’ is the anthem for being young and not giving a shit. It’s fun with little substance, which is the intention. It’s a nice mindless bop before the album slips into darkness later on. It’s not the most culturally aware song in the world with “Getting our nails did all Japanese-y”. Best we leave this song in 2013.
#9. ‘Love Me’
‘Love Me’ is the shining gem of PRISM but it’s hard to stand out in an album filled with diamonds. ‘Love Me’ captures the heart and soul of the album. Filled to the brim with positivity, self-love, acceptance, and a commitment to being your own hype-woman.
#8. ‘Ghost’
Following ‘International Smile’ into the second half of the album, ‘Ghost’ is where we start to see through the cracks of Katy’s prism. It’s the perfect breakup song. “You sent a text/It’s like the wind changed your mind” is a scathing reference to her divorce as Katy tries to grapple with how someone you love can disappear from you in a second. It’s a regular feature of my scream-whilst-driving playlist alongside ‘Since You’ve Been Gone’ by Kelly Clarkson.
#7. ‘Spiritual’
Listen, I cannot stand John Mayer but he’s inspired two pop girlies to write two incredible songs. Both ‘Spiritual’ and ‘Dear John’ tell two very different stories about dating him. While Taylor (rightfully) puts him on blast, Katy is slipping into his love early in their relationship. It is a bit weird that he co-wrote the song about him but ultimately ‘Spiritual’ stands out with its expansive production that makes me feel like I’m floating down a warm river.
#6. ‘Legendary Lovers’
Katy thinks her fanbase should have done more for ‘Legendary Lovers’ and I have to agree. It’s heavily inspired by Bollywood with an ambitious production to support it. You feel the sticky sweet heat as you’re transported to another world with your lover. But what was with people in 2013 making music inspired by Bollywood?
#5. ‘Birthday’
Oh ‘Birthday’ is so much fun. It’s the classic cheeky Katy Perry we’ve loved since One Of The Boys with a campy music video accompanying the single. “So let me get you in your birthday suit” — Who doesn’t love birthday sex? I actually play this song every year on my birthday because it’s much more fun than ‘Happy Birthday’.
#4. ‘Dark Horse’
Arguably one of the biggest songs of the 2010’s, ‘Dark Horse’ feels almost out of place in PRISM. With a lawsuit, one of the coolest Super Bowl performances, and an infamous culturally inappropriate music video ‘Dark Horse’ is in a league of its own. There’s no denying the irresistibly catchy power of ‘Dark Horse’. Remember when everyone thought Juicy J was Jessie J? It was a simpler time.
#3. ‘International Smile’
If this ranking can achieve just one thing, I hope it gives ‘International Smile’ the attention it deserves. It’s the perfect example of Katy’s iconic sense of humour wrapped up in a perfect 2013 synth-pop package. I yearn to be the effortless, jetsetting cool girl that Katy is singing about. I want to roam the place like Penny Lane goddammit! ‘International Smile’ proves one thing about Katy Perry: she loves a saxophone break.
#2. ‘By The Grace Of God’
“Looked in the mirror and decided to stay/Wasn’t gonna let love take me out/That way” — fucking hell. Did you hear that? The sound of my soul being torn into two? Katy confesses to feeling suicidal after her marriage exploded. ‘By The Grace Of God’ is like looking at the raw wound you’ve spent years clawing at in secret, only for the stitches to burst open in public and the blood to seep everywhere.
“Thought I wasn’t enough” reminds me of my younger self, playing this song every day as I walked through the school gates hoping I’d survive the bullying. The song still serves as a reminder that no matter how dark things get, it’s never the end.
#1. ‘Walking On Air’
I will always stand by the conviction that ‘Walking On Air’ should have been the second single from PRISM and not just a promotional single. I demand a music video, Katy!
PRISM is full of tongue-in-cheek lyrics but ‘Walking On Air’ is giving sex on a stick… “Just when I think I can’t take anymore/We go deeper and harder/Than ever before”. Naughty! Actually, the whole song feels like a disco orgasm. It builds on itself with each verse until we hit the climax at the bridge where Katy exclaims “Heaven is jealous of our love/Angels are crying from up above” as a Church choir echoes around her before we explode into the final chorus. ‘Walking On Air’ is the love child of a Kylie Minogue and a Robyn song. That’s the highest compliment I could give a pop song.
Sure, PRISM isn’t Katy’s best body of work but it’s one hell of a fourth studio album. It is, in fact, the last great album we’ve had from the singer and we didn’t appreciate what we had. Filled with so many hits that still stand the test of time, PRISM was Katy’s step towards maturity and added depth to her brand. Will she ever give us another album like it again?
Ky is a proud Kamilaroi and Dharug person and writer at Junkee. Follow them on Instagram or on X.
Image credit: Ryan McGinley / Freebird Productions