Katy Perry and Lady Gaga had new singles due out this month, but premature leaks forced the pop stars to rush-release their songs to radio before their original release dates.
Though both Perry and Gaga have settled their differences and encouraged their fans to love each other instead of fighting each other as their singles come out, it's impossible not to compare "Roar" and "Applause." So, which new pop single has the ability to gain new fans and top the charts?
1. Which Single Has Better Lyrics?
Both Katy Perry's "Roar" and Lady Gaga's "Applause" feature familiar themes in their lyrics, which frankly both intrigues and bores fans.
"Roar," like previous Perry singles "Firework" and "Part of Me," features lyrics about finding inner strength and power and bouncing back after others have put you down. "I guess that I forgot I had a choice / You pushed me past the breaking point / I stood for nothing / So, I fell for everything," Perry sings in the first verse before bouncing back and roaring at her detractors.
Meanwhile, Lady Gaga's "Applause" features familiar fare about blending fame, music and art. "If only fame had an IV, baby, I could bear / Being away from you, I found the vein, put it in here / I live for the applause, applause, applause," Gaga croons near the beginning of her song. Think of dancing, fame and art, a la lyrics from "Just Dance" and "Fashion of His Love" from her last release, "Born This Way."
Neither musician really stepped out of the box lyrically, like many fans expected. But which song has the more interesting wordplay?
In the end, Perry's "Roar" takes a stronger stance. Not to say "Applause" is empty in its meaning, but it focuses more on soaking in others' love. Meanwhile, "Roar" is about finding inner strength and overcoming adversity, which is a message many young music fans could take to heart.
Score: "Roar": 1 / "Applause": 0
2. Musical Power?
Though both "Roar" and "Applause" were expected to break new musical ground, neither really followed through.
This is more surprising in the case of "Applause." Widely expected to be an experimental release, the song is pretty standard Lady Gaga fare. "Applause" is one part David Bowie (see: Gaga's bizarre accent), one part "Born This Way." It's easy to imagine "Applause" blasting through clubs, bars and car radios and Little Monsters putting their paws up. It's not new, per se, but "Applause" certainly is a danceable banger of a first single.
"Roar," on the other hand, is a mid-tempo stomper. Though not as musically thrilling as "Applause," Perry brings forward everything she has in her voice, belting out the "ohs" of the chorus with a previously unheard fervor. It's clear that Perry believes strongly in what she's singing and wants her message heard loud and clear. However, it's impossible to ignore the similarity to Sara Bareilles' "Brave."
Since neither track is the most original song of 2013, it's really hard to say which is better musically, particularly considering they're both quite different.
"Applause" just has the more exciting instrumentation going on. Though it's music we've heard from Lady Gaga before, it will inevitably get fans new and old up out of their seats.
Score: "Roar": 1 / "Applause": 1
3. Better Staying Power/More Indicative of New Era?
Because both Lady Gaga and Katy Perry have been so successful with their singles and have highly anticipated releases, it's very hard to say which will perform better. It's also difficult to say which song is a better indicator of what to expect from "Artpop" or "Prism," respectively, because both albums could go in a million ways. Perry has teased that her third studio album will be darker, angrier and more honest. Meanwhile, Gaga has essentially led fans to expect the unexpected, as "Artpop" will be an overall artistic experience.
In the end, one song however seems to truly usher in a new era for its pop princess. Though "Artpop" very much has the potential to be interesting and experimental and brand new, that's not immediately clear from "Applause," which sounds like a natural continuation of Gaga's career.
Meanwhile, "Roar" is a markedly different single from Perry. "One Of The Boys" kicked off with "I Kissed A Girl," a flirty, poppy novelty song. It's arguable that "Teenage Dream" lead single "California Gurls" was the same. Meanwhile, "Roar" is a statement song and a serious track, which does seem to indicate that Perry will be more brutally honest on "Prism." Though it's impossible to say what direction the album as a whole will go in, it's easier to see what the new era of Katy Perry will feel like. And fans will remember the song for being just so different.
Simply said: Gaga's "Applause" just wasn't innovative enough.
Score: "Roar": 2 / "Applause": 1
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