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Katy Perry's initial Hollywood journey was a bit bumpy as two labels dropped her after her debut album, Katy Perry sold poorly. However, Capitol Records gave her another chance and the singer seized the opportunity. After her single I Kissed A Girl hit the stations, it became an instant hit and there were predictions that the singer may just be the biggest up and coming stars of the music industry. Katy has released six studio albums to date and has broken several music records with her pop anthems inspired by Alanis Morsette and Freddie Mercury.
From her first single that topped the Billboard charts to the inspirational anthems that have become iconic over time, Katy Perry has created a legacy of music that will forever remain evergreen. Let’s take a look at some of her hit songs that topped the Billboard charts
I Kissed A Girl (2008)
The song that marked a breakthrough in her career, I Kissed A Girl, was released in 2008 and took the world by storm. According to The Hollywood Reporter, her head-bopping tune was on the top position on the Billboard charts for seven straight weeks. The half-autobiographical song was well-liked for its lyrics and original music. It also helped boost the sales of her sophomore album, One Of The Boys.
California Gurls ft. Snoop Dogg (2010)
While many people wondered if Katy would be a one-hit-wonder after the success of I Kissed A Girl, two years later, the star collaborated with legendary rapper Snoop Dogg to release California Gurls, in reference to the state where she lived. The spelling of Girls was changed as a tribute to Alex Chilton, who passed away that year, best known for September Gurls. The song remained in the top spot for five weeks.
ET ft. Kanye West (2010)
The fourth single from her third album Teenage Dream, E.T, featured a collaboration with the infamous rapper Kanye West, who added his touch to the music. The song reached the top spot on the Billboard charts in 2011 and remained in the position for five weeks. Perry also set the record of becoming the first woman to have four of her singles from the same album hit number one on Billboard.
Dark Horse ft. Juicy J (2013)
After the success of Teenage Dream, singer’s return was anticipated and her single Dark Horse remained one of her most successful songs. Juicy J completed the tune with his effortless feature that helped boost the song. As mentioned by Rolling Stone, it remained on the Billboard peak spot for four weeks.
Firework (2011)
In the era of Lady Gaga’s inspiration piece Born This Way, Katy also elevated the motivational and inspirational pop music world with Firework. The intent was to help people who felt lost and underachieved. Firework also topped Billboard charts for four weeks. With meaningful lyrics and Perry’s perfect pitch, the song has been played popularly at graduation parties to motivate young adults.
Roar (2013)
The artist once again excelled with the release of her first single for her album Prism, released three years after Teenage Dream. Roar's debut acquired the first position and retained the space for two weeks. Her hit single also remains as one of the most-streamed songs online, with over 3.5 billion views on YouTube.
Teenage Dream
When Perry released her fifth single and the title track of her third album Teenage Dream, she became the first woman to have five singles from the same album reach the number one position on Billboard Hot 100 in 2010. Teenage Dream was also the summer anthem with its self-conscious teenage commentary about love and relationships, as noted by Screen Rant.
Last Friday Night (TGIF) (2010)
Katy released a teen fantasy tune and fun video showing Kathy Beth Terry receiving a makeover. The character became one of her sketches during the tours and a popular Halloween costume. Although the song was at Billboard's top spot only for two weeks, it managed to stay on the list for a long time.
Wide Awake (2012)
Perry released Wide Awake after announcing her divorce with the English comedian Russell Brand. It marked the beginning of a new life for Perry and the end of the Teenage Dream era. The song secured a second spot and enamored audiences with gut-wrenchingly bittersweet lyrics looking for a light at the end of the tunnel.
Part Of Me (2011)
Part Of Me was the seventh song of Katy that became a hit after her appearance at the 2011 Grammy Awards, where she performed a medley of her songs from the album. It was released as a single from her Deluxe Edition and had over 411,000 online downloads within a week, as stated by Billboard.
Her other notable songs include Hot N Cold, Walking On Air, and Swish Swish. Katy Perry has consistently released music that has won her several accolades and broken records over the years. Regarded as the Queen of the 2010s, Perry continues to pursue music actively and released her last album, Smile, in 2020.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, Rolling Stone, Screen Rant, Billboard