Katy Perry "California Gurls"

[Ace Purple]

My friend Sean Ross tipped me to this yesterday, a song that's an early favorite to be the Summer Song of 2010. It's "California Gurls" by Katy Perry f. Snoop Dogg.



Expect most CHR stations to be all over this very, very soon.

[CoolBreeze]

I can see how this would be a huge hit.

After all, the lyrics read like a 12 year old dimwit wrote them..... "sippin gin & juice".... among others.

[fearpeddler]

once this dude gets ahold of that song I may like it.......

[Ace Purple]

After all, the lyrics read like a 12 year old dimwit wrote them.....

You make a fair point about the shallowness of the lyrics, but it is pop radio after all, not AAA. All I know is that Sean Ross is projecting this as a big summer hit, and that guy knows his stuff.

[CoolBreeze]

Exactly, and that's my point. You have to dumb WAY down to get a huge hit on pop radio.

[Lester]

I don't hear it... even based on today's "pop standard", I don't think it's got the chops.

[AmpedNow]

A couple things:

1. I don't know how this song won't be huge on CHR. Katy Perry is almost as hot as Lady Gaga in that realm.

My only concern is how west coast-centric it is... It's a slam dunk on KIIS and Channel 933, but will it get the same play in WV or even NYC?

2. I don't see how these lyrics are any "dumber" than say, the original "California Girls". Sure, this one is written for a different generation, but the message is the same.

[AmpedNow]

Airplay spins have increased dramatically in the last week.

How is the response locally?

I'm digging it now. At least the version with the Snoop rap.

[Ace Purple]

It debuted at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. I'm sure it is getting spins here in Nashville but I haven't heard it on the air in this market yet.

[Lester]

Man did I get this one wrong.

And she's about to pull a twofer on summer tracks. Impressive.

No wonder I'm not a music director.

[AmpedNow]

There is a "Snoop-less" version of this song that really sucks imo. Gotta have the rap in it...

"Teenage Dream" isn't nearly as strong of a track, but it will still do well, because it's Katy Perry.

As for Song of the Summer, though, I have to give the edge to "Airplanes". It's a better song and it will be around well into the Fall, while CG is already fading from the airwaves.

[cgarison]

I think this is a better version of that song. Of course, now that I live just outside of KoP in the sticks, I am really starting to act like a true PA'ian.

(Sigh)

I never thought that I would miss the grime, grit and the overall "electric" atmosphere of the Philly.

[Ace Purple]

Airplanes is a great song IMO and deserves Song of the Summer consideration. B.o.B is on fire and Hayley Williams has a fantastic voice. I still think that California Gurls would get my vote; it spent six weeks at the top of Billboard Hot 100 (June 13-July 24) and reached #1 in ten countries, while Airplanes peaked at #2 in the United States (though it made it to #1 in England, Scotland, and New Zealand). California Gurls fits more with the spirit of the best summer song, but Airplanes is an excellent track that will likely be a strong recurrent. It has had extended life via "Airplanes pt. 2" which includes Eminem.

[Bob Campbell]

Katy Perry. May I just say, "I'd hit that".

[Nate G]

Me, too, Bob. . . . . . with my car.

[AmpedNow]

Hayley Williams is the lead singer from Paramore -- one of this board's most favoritist bands ever...

[Ace Purple]

Hayley Williams has an incredible voice, and as I understand it, her voice is what got Paramore signed to a major label. Paramore played the local Nashville rock club scene (which I am more familiar with than most, though that was during the end of my Tampa era so I missed seeing them on the way up). Kings of Leon are another rock band with Nashville roots, and their manager is said to have heard them in concert, then passed along a demo to Atlantic Records. Once Atlantic's decision-makers heard the demo, they heard the potential there, and Paramore got their break.

[AmpedNow]

I think she's better than Katy Perry. Definitely better than Kesha.

After hearing "Take It Off" the other day, I'm convinced she's tone deaf. Even with autotune, she still sounds off pitch to me. She also sounds like she's struggling through the verses.

Maybe it's "supposed" to sound like that.

Maybe I'm just getting old...

Hot video, though.

[Ace Purple]

I'm not fond of Kesha's music, and I'm still in the 18-34 demo. At least it's upbeat but that's faint praise. I do appreciate the efforts Kesha made in raising money for the Nashville flood victims (there are people here still hurting big-time from the May floods), so I find myself unable to outright talk poorly about her. Plus she spent most of her childhood years here, and I try my best to support Nashville-based artists. But her music doesn't particularly appeal to me.

[AmpedNow]

It's just this specific song that sounds strange to me. The rest of her stuff sounds ok for CHR.