Music Review: Thinking of You

Katy Perry - Thinking of You

Rather an odd choice for a review you may think, and you would be right, but there is some method behind my madness. You see I did want to review a Katy Perry song, and whilst scrolling through the endless generic drivel I came across this number. It stood out to me as it's meant to be a pop rock song, now I like pop rock when done correctly and I was certainly very skeptical when Katy Perry, a manufactured pop singer, decides to branch out a little. The other reason it stood out for me was the fact that Katy had actually written the song herself, now this would've previously just been stuck on the fridge by the producers but this time they gave her a chance and so it will certainly be interesting to see the results of this one.

Now on the face of things it doesn't look great, the cover doesn't look aesthetically exciting and inventive in any way and is coupled with the most expressionless face of all time, making Kristen Stewart look like Michael Gambon. I just get the initial impression that there wasn't a lot of though or ingenuity put into this song which probably suggests it's going to be very generic, oh dear. The video appears to be more of a costume drama than anything else, it puts a WW2 fallen soldier spin on the song for some reason. This is a stupid decision, mainly because this song has zero references to WW2 in it, and secondly Katy Perry has no experience of losing a lover in a war and so therefore the song is not personal, just over commercialised artificial crap, which is a shame as this is really the first time Katy Perry has actually sung, or more mimed, about anything serious, she usually just tries to promote her songs by selling herself rather than her music.

I'll say this about the song, she gives it a try, but sometimes a try isn't enough. Her voice is just really not suited to the task at hand here, and well she ends up sounding like she's been smoking 50,000 cigarettes a day, endlessly panting through each verse. She's not exactly consistent either, it's one thing having a nice steady beat but it's another to actually stick to it. I don't particularly hate Katy's voice but it really doesn't suit this song. Oh and while we're here I should mention that she's stripping off again, just stop it, don't bother with a serious song if you're going to act like an annoying little slut throughout the duration. As I was saying this song shows that Katy Perry has zero flexibility, maybe she should go back to the pointless rubbish that she was doing before as this song shows that she really can't adapt to a more serious message. As for the actual soundtrack, well it wasn't too bad, I mean it was nothing special but at least it was smooth and consistent, unlike certain other things in this song. Now it is time for me to analyse the lyrics which is probably going to be like Pearl harbor crossed with Showgirls, and I don't have high opinions on both those films:

Comparisons are easily done
Once you've had a taste of perfection
Like an apple hanging from a tree
I picked the ripest one, I still got the seed

You said move on, where do I go?
I guess second best is all I will know

Well that's pleasant, and quite a nice metaphor I might add. Although I can't help but feel that this man isn't perfection, as he has to leave you to do his duty. Didn't really think that one through did you.

'Cause when I'm with him
I am thinking of you
Thinking of you
What you would do if
You were the one
Who was spending the night
Oh I wish that I
Was looking into your eyes

Anyone else feeling sorry for her new man, I mean she could tell him but oh no, let him suffer. That's right because it's all about you isn't it, doesn't matter what he thinks about you.

You're like an Indian summer
In the middle of winter
Like a hard candy
With a surprise center
How do I get better
Once I've had the best?
You said there's
Tons of fish in the water
So the waters I will test

Oh she's pulling out the superlatives here, wow. I don't know what she means by an Indian summer, does she mean surprising, or a bit retarded, maybe he gave her the trots, who knows. I shall also answer her rhetorical question, as I enjoy being a rebel, and I will answer it with the simple statement that indeed you cannot get better, I thought that was pretty self explanatory and so your cry for pity is not welcome here. Also the expression is tons of fish in the sea, I tried looking in the tap but I couldn't find any fish there, might suggest this perfect man is a bit of a moron. Still why not test the waters, It's not like you're going to be thinking about him is it.

He kissed my lips
I taste your mouth
He pulled me in
I was disgusted with myself

(Chorus)

Oh for fuck sake, if you're going to be like this then what's the point, is thinking about him going to get him back? I though not, shit happens, you get over it.

You're the best
And yes I do regret
How I could let myself
Let you go
Now, now the lesson's learned
I touched it I was burned
Oh I think you should know

(Chorus)

This song doesn't really develop does it.

Looking into your eyes
Looking into your eyes
Oh won't you walk through
And bust in the door
And take me away
Oh no more mistakes
'Cause in your eyes I'd like to stay... stay. 

Oh for god sake, he's dead, just accept it. This is the main problem with the lyrics, they just don't develop, you could snip out the majority of this song and it would still tell the same story, which is the sign of poor and uncreative lyrics. Let's see how the internet received it:

Digital Spy said:
"There's nothing in the way of novelty value here, making it a bigger challenge for Perry to pull off. So does she succeed? Well, certainly not for want of trying".
This is an accurate statement, definitely nothing original about the song. She does give it a good attempt but the weak lyrics and her inconsistent voice mean that it just doesn't work out. 

Rolling Stone, who are a bit like the Bruce Forsythe of magazines, commented:
"Yes, Perry has a heart, but it sounds like her bustier's too tight for her to use it. "
Ha, I like this, seriously though even when she's not being sexual she still feels the need to take her fucking clothes off. 

Overall this song doesn't really do anything special. It tries to be a serious pop rock ballad but just ends up feeling artificial. Weak lyrics and a horrible voice don't exactly help this half-assed song. It's definitely not the worst song in the world, but it's a pretty bad one.

Overall Score:  3/10   *1/2