She was one of the world’s biggest pop stars, but her new album was marred by controversy and failed singles. The comeback has a special place in pop culture: From Judy Garland’s 1961 Carnegie Hall concert that revived her career to Cher’s “reinvention” as a dance diva who topped the charts with “Believe” 1998.

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There’s something heartwarming, even comforting, about seeing a big star return to the top, especially since it doesn’t happen every time. For this reason, the sad side of the narrative – the failed comeback – is equally fascinating. It reminds us that missing the mark is fundamentally human and that nothing in life is guaranteed.

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This is the prevailing wind facing today Katy Perry as she releases her seventh album, ‘143’. Its controversial lead single, ‘Woman’s World’, peaked at number 63 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 65 in the UK when it was released in July. Why isn’t her new music connecting with audiences? The problems started with its release “Woman’s World” in July. Two months after its release, the song is nowhere to be heard.

However, many fans and critics felt that its feminist message Perry fatally undermined by her choice of partner – producer Lukasz Gottwald, better known as Dr Luke. Perry collaborated extensively with Dr Luke on her three most successful albums – 2008’s One of the Boys, 2010’s Teenage Dream and 2013’s Prism – but was absent from her subsequent albums, 2017’s Witness and his Smile 2020. Both were written and released within the time frame of his long court battle with pop singer Kesha.

At the time, their legal battle was still shocking the music industry. In October 2014, Kesha had filed a lawsuit against Dr Luke alleging that he had drugged and raped her twice, in addition to abusing her “sexually, physically, verbally and emotionally”. Kesha and Dr Luke’s protracted dispute was finally settled in June 2023.

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Perry’s comeback may also have been affected by a toxic combination of misogyny and ageism that tends to affect artists over 35: Perry is now 39. With her new album, “143,” it remains to be seen if the artist can salvage a campaign clouded by negativity. Perry isn’t the first pop star to fall out of fashion, but few have done it so suddenly and so spectacularly. Radio stations loved her, with Firework, I Kissed A Girl and Roar becoming huge hits. Today, she is now considered “big”. Will the artist win the bet? This remains to be seen in practice.