Ur So Gay

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
"Ur So Gay"
Promotional single by Katy Perry from the album One of the Boys
Released November 20, 2007 (2007-11-20)
Format Digital download, CD single
Recorded 2007 at
Rocket Carousel Studio (Los Angeles, CA)
Genre Soft rock
Length 3:39
Label Capitol
Writer Katy Perry, Greg Wells
Producer Greg Wells
Music video
"Ur So Gay" on YouTube
One of the Boys track listing

"Ur So Gay" is the song released by pop singer Katy Perry, produced by Greg Wells and engineered by Drew Pearson. The song was Perry's first major label release, and was later placed on her major label album, One of the Boys. Capitol Records offered the song as a free download on their website. The song failed to enter the Billboard Hot 100.

Contents

[edit] Background

When asked about her debut single, Perry said the song was a "soft hello". The song "wasn't meant to be a big single or show what the album is going to be all about. That was for my Internet bloggers, so I'm not coming out of nowhere."[1] Perry's A&R Chris Anokute confirmed this by saying that they had no plans for radio coverage but just wanted to put this "novelty" song out online as an introduction to see "what the attraction was". As expected, sales were low but Anokute said the single did well in terms of building a press story.[2]

For the release of the single, Perry's label told her to include a cover. She originally wanted to cover a Queen song, but couldn't think of a particularly club-worthy song. While at a club with her friends, The Outfield's "Your Love" was played. Perry said that when the song came on, every girl in the place went onto the dance floor, and she wanted to have that same effect.[1]

[edit] Promotion and reception

A female blond performer onstage wearing a white tuxedo and singing to a microphone in her left hand. A similarly dressed woman claps on her left. They are encircled by a group of guys in roller skates. The backdrop display disco lights in red and yellow.
Perry performing "Ur So Gay" in the California Dreams Tour

The song's lyrics have been described in a positive review as "eighteen different kinds of wrong".[3] The song itself has been described as an "emo-bashing anthem that's either horribly homophobic, a sly piece of social commentary or, possibly, both."[4] The St. Petersburg Times writes that the "boyfriend-skewering...isn't homophobic, but it does pummel straight guys who can't handle her edge."[5]

Some critics, however, conclude the song is homophobic. Ugo.com says the song settles for "catchphrase-homophobia"[6] while Allmusic describes the lyrics as "gay-baiting".[7] Simon Amstell sardonically commented on Perry's use of the phrase that "if you think that's homophobic, you should just Jew off and stop being so bloody black about it!" on an episode of Never Mind the Buzzcocks.

[edit] Music video

The video was directed by Walter May.[8] In the video, Perry plays the song in front of a bright cartoon-like background with clouds that have smiley faces on them. The characters in the video are played by Fashion Royalty dolls.

[edit] Track listings

  • 7" Pink Vinyl"[9]
  1. "Ur So Gay" (Clean) – 3:39
  2. "Use Your Love" – 3:01
  • CD Single
  1. "Ur So Gay" (Clean) – 3:39
  2. "Ur So Gay" (Junior Sanchez Club Remix) – 5:53
  3. "Use Your Love" – 3:01
  4. "Lost" – 4:20
  5. "Ur So Gay" (Instrumental) – 3:38
  6. "Ur So Gay" (Junior Sanchez Club Instrumental) – 5:55
  7. "Ur So Gay" (Acappella) – 3:15
  • Digital Download
  1. "Ur So Gay" (Clean) – 3:39
  2. "Ur So Gay" (Junior Sanchez Club Remix) – 5:54
  3. "Use Your Love" - 3:03
  4. "Lost" – 4:20

[edit] Charts and certifications

[edit] Charts

Chart (2008) Peak
position
US Hot Singles Sales (Billboard)[10] 2
US Hot Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[10] 2

[edit] Certifications

Country Certifications
(sales thresholds)
Brazil Platinum[11]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Burr, Mike (February 6, 2008). "Katy Perry: Interview". Prefix. http://www.prefixmag.com/features/katy-perry/interview/17027/. Retrieved August 20, 2010. 
  2. ^ "Interview With Chris Anokute". HitQuarters. 18 Oct 2010. http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview/opar/intrview_Chris_Anokute_Interview.html. Retrieved 24 Oct 2010. 
  3. ^ Slezak, Michael (2008). "How awesome is Katy Perry's 'Ur So Gay'?", EW.com: PopWatchBlog. Jan 7, 2008, 07:03 PM. Retrieved June 22, 2008.
  4. ^ Hermann, Andy. "Katy Perry's One of the Boys is dandy ear candy", Sun-Sentinel.com. June 17, 2008.
  5. ^ Daly, Sean (2008). "Sean Daly's CD picks: Katy Perry, the Fratellis, Ed Harcourt", St. Petersburg Times. In print: Sunday, June 22, 2008. Retrieved June 24, 2008.
  6. ^ French, Marguerite. "Katy Perry – One of The Boys Album Review", Ugo.com. Retrieved June 22, 2008.
  7. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2008). "One of the Boys – Katy Perry" review, AllMusic. Retrieved June 24, 2008.
  8. ^ Video Ur So Gay van Katy Perry - Myspace Video
  9. ^ Katy Perry – Ur So Gay
  10. ^ a b "Singles Chart Search Results: "Ur So Gay"". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/search/chart_search_results.jsp?rpp=100&sw=&cd=&f=&t=ur+so+gay&per=katy+perry&df=P&prod=&g=s&l=&dl=. Retrieved December 5, 2010. 
  11. ^ "Katy Perry". ABPD. http://www.abpd.org.br/certificados_interna.asp?sArtista=Katy%20Perry. Retrieved 28 Sep 2011. 
Katy Perry
Studio albums
Live albums
Singles
Promotional singles
Featured singles
Other songs
Tours
Related articles
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ur_So_Gay&oldid=477726946"
Personal tools
Namespaces

Variants
Actions
Navigation
Interaction
Toolbox
Print/export
Languages