Latest Site News

[troublepink]

Tracklist:
1. One of the boys
2. I kissed a girl
3. Waking up in Vegas
4. Thinking of you
5. Manniquin
6. Ur so gay
7. Hot n cold
8. If you can afford me
9. Lost
10. Self inflicted
11. I'm still breathing
12. Fingerprints

Singles:
I kissed a girl
Hot n cold
Thinking of you
Waking up in Vegas

In 2008, Katy Perry released her album One Of The Boys. Although this was her second studio album, it is the one most noted for introducing Katy to the world when it was released on 17th June 2008.

Katy's change in record label, and adoption of a pseudonymous surname accompanied a shift from the Christian rock of her self-titled debut album. Katy stated that she had been working on the album since she was eighteen years old. During the making of the album, she was dropped from two record labels and went through two canceled albums. During this time, Katy had written close to seventy songs. Katy collaborated with producers Greg Wells, Dr. Luke, Dave Stewart, and Max Martin among others on the album. Katy co-wrote every song on the album as well as writing three of the songs herself.

Once signed to Capitol, label head Jason Flom started work on a new album by convincing Dr. Luke to go back into the studio with Perry, with the two having already worked together on the abandoned Columbia sessions. Together with Max Martin they wrote and cut "I Kissed a Girl" and "Hot n Cold". Perry then collaborated again with Greg Wells, who she had also worked with on the Columbia album, creating the songs "Ur So Gay" and "Mannequin". According to Perry's A&R Chris Anokute they ended up with five new songs and then chose the six best songs from the shelved Columbia album to compile One of the Boys. When talking about the songs on the album Perry said that she released the single "Ur So Gay" as an introduction to the album:

The album will have a lot of the same characteristics [as "Ur So Gay"], though. There will be lots of storytelling, because lyrics are important to me. There are a few songs that will make you cry, but there are others to make you dance and sing. Every song is on the album for a specific reason.

The opening track is the title track One of the Boys, where Perry express that she does not want to "be one of the boys of her love interest", describing the song, Charles A. Hohman from PopMatters noted that "she used to belch the alphabet and tape down her tits, but one summer, the tomboy lifestyle just didn't hold her interest, so she started 'studying Lolita religiously' and noticing guys noticing her."
The second track is the lead single "I Kissed a Girl" generated some controversy, dealing with the subject of lesbianism. The song was inspired by actress Scarlett Johansson. Musically, it is a pop rock track. It contains influences of new wave and runs through a throbbing beat and an organic instrumental thump, according to About.com's Bill Lamb. The track features instrumentation provided by drums, guitars and bass. The song sparked controversy for its homosexual themes.
The album's third song is "Waking Up In Vegas", the song has been described as a power pop and pop rock song. The song deals with trips with friends to Las Vegas.
"Thinking of You" is the first ballad of the album. It is a downtempo pop rock song, as the singer reflects on settling for the second best: "You said move on, where do I go?"/"I guess second best, it is all I will know", she sings. Reviewing the song, editor CT from Billboard described it as: mid-90s No Doubt pop/rock palette.
The fifth track is "Mannequin". "Ur So Gay" was composed as a tool of revenge by the singer on her ex-boyfriend, where Perry satirizes his exaggerated emo style and metrosexual attitude. It is a trip hop track with a moderate tempo.
In the seventh track "Hot n Cold", Perry discusses the theme of uncertainty and the ups and downs of relationships. It is a synthpop song which utilizes guitars and synthesizers. "If You Can Afford Me" cops a mixed message about female materialism. Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine compared the song with Madonna's song "Material Girl" . "Lost" and "I'm Still Breathing" are both ballads, in the first, she sings: "I leave the gas on/Walk the alleys in the dark", the verse use a metaphor for a dying relationship.

To promote the album Katy embarked on three tours: the Warped Tour 2008, her first solo world tour, the Hello Katy Tour, with 89 shows performed, and No Doubt's Summer Tour 2009 as its opening act.

One of the Boys debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200, with 47,000 copies sold in the first-week released. The album has sold 1,710,000 copies in the United States as of February 2017 and has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album has been on the chart for eighty-four weeks. In Canada, the album debuted at number ten, and peaked at number six, It has since been certified double platinum by Music Canada.

In the United Kingdom, the album peaked at number eleven on the UK Albums Chart, and has sold 697,000 copies as of February 2017. It has since been certified 2x platinum by the British Phonographic Industry. In Australia, it debuted at number eleven, and has been certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), denoting over 70,000 copies sold. In New Zealand, the album debuted and peaked at number seventeen. It has since been certified Gold, shipping over 7,500 copies. One of the Boys has sold 7 million copies worldwide as of August 2010.

-------------------------------------------------------

What do you think of One Of The Boys album? Were you a fan when it was released or later? What were your first thoughts? Favourite songs?