As I've noted in a previous blog, I really don't mind Katy Perry. Unlike the Paris Hiltons and Kim Kardashians of the world, I think she comes by her fame mostly honestly. She's not a great singer, but she performs her songs in a way that only Katy Perry can, and I can respect that even while acknowledging that I will never, ever, EVER buy one of her albums. Unlike some celebrities, I think that she's earned her fame (yes, she's also famous because she looks like a porn star, but would she really be as popular with those looks and no personality?).
Even further, I think that "Fireworks" was made for a good cause. The "It Gets Better" program MIGHT partially be an opportunity for celebrities to insincerely declare how much they care about gay kids all while watching their stock in California climb upwards. BUT I'm sure many people involved are sincere, and there are definitely worse things you can do with your art than trying to prevent people from killing themselves. In other words, it's a celebrity-backed campaign that I'm actually not too cynical about.
That said, this has to be the weirdest attempt at an inspirational music video I've ever seen.
What is the message being spread here? That Katy Perry's boobs will explode, sending out a message of hope to the gay youths of America? Isn't that a really bad message to send to homosexual boys? "Feeling bad because you're gay? This woman's giant boobs will cure you of that! LOOK AT THEM!! THEY SPARKLE-EXPLODE!!!!"
Okay, maybe this video isn't aimed specifically at homosexuals (even though it's dedicated to It Gets Better). There IS a boy who appears to have cancer somewhere in there. Okay, so maybe this video is really aimed at all youths dealing with loneliness and alienation. But then again....FIREWORKS SHOOTING OUT OF HER BOOBS?!
Seriously, it's really hard to take this video seriously, especially with the whole "Katy Perry's Boobs on Sesame Street" fiasco (P.s., read that article for the french mime comparison. It's the most apt description of Katy Perry's acting I think I've ever heard). Whose idea was this? In fact, who thought that it would be a good idea to put Katy Perry in a super-serious video intended for underage young kids? I mean, her popularity is mostly based on being incredibly sexual and fun-loving. It's like they put her in this video to strip her of all sexual connotations whatsoever, and then killed it by putting a nuclear explosion on her chest.
Really, it's not a terrible music video (the California Gurls one is at least 1000% worse), but it does succeed in making me feel incredibly, incredibly uncomfortable by juxtaposing young boys with exploding breasts on a woman screaming "OH OH OHHHHH". That added to the fact that it takes away all of Perry's personality, making you even more aware that she isn't really that great a singer, and it makes the whole thing feel like a very well-meaning failure.
It doesn't help that I keep thinking one of those kids is about to explode.
Also, you can stop muggers by showing them magic tricks? Who knew?!
I would like to reiterate at this point that I really do support this cause and I hope we can avoid a repeat of the Rutgers tragedy. But still....EXPLODING PREGNANT MOM?!?!?!?
