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Katy Perry’s new track, “GORGEOUS,” featuring Kim Petras, is about to drop, and while the lyrics aren’t exactly subtle, they offer a perfect excuse to dig into some literary comparisons. With my background in English Literature from the University of Oregon, I’m always interested in seeing how even the most straightforward pop songs can connect to timeless themes we’ve seen in both literature and modern fiction. In this case, I think “GORGEOUS” taps into ideas we’ve encountered in works like Christina Rossetti’s poetry or even the power dynamics of Cersei Lannister from Game of Thrones. Whether it’s beauty as control, female solidarity, or the way women use status to command attention, there are threads here that tie back to centuries-old narratives.
I get it—“GORGEOUS” is not trying to be a deep, mysterious piece of art. The lyrics are pretty much on the nose about beauty, power, and confidence. But what I find interesting is how we can use those lyrics as a jumping-off point to explore bigger ideas in literary history. Songs like this give us a good opportunity to stretch those comparisons and really see what classic literature and modern fantasy can tell us about how women have wielded beauty and power throughout time. Perry and Petras are leaning into those themes, knowingly or not, and that’s where I think this gets fun.
So while this isn’t a track trying to be poetic in the traditional sense, it still engages with some of the same timeless themes. Whether we’re talking about Cersei Lannister’s calculated use of beauty or Christina Rossetti’s exploration of temptation and control, I think it’s worth diving in and seeing what these comparisons can show us about the deeper “meaning” behind the song’s lyrics.
Katy Perry GOGEOUS Lyrics
Katy Perry GOGEOUS Meaning
When I listen to Katy Perry’s “GORGEOUS”, featuring Kim Petras, I hear a song that’s all about power—specifically, the power that comes from beauty, confidence, and control. At first glance, the song might seem like it’s just a celebration of looks and luxury, but I believe it’s much more layered than that. In my opinion, “GORGEOUS” is a modern-day anthem of empowerment, with both Perry and Petras using their physical appearance and status as tools to navigate social and romantic spaces. This kind of approach isn’t new either; poets throughout history have explored these same themes—beauty as power, female solidarity, and the dynamics of control in relationships.
Let’s break down how these lyrics connect to that literary tradition, and how Perry and Petras use these themes to craft a message of unapologetic self-confidence.
Chorus: Beauty as Power
The chorus is where we really see the core message of the song come through:
“All my girls look gorgeous / We comin’ out tonight / Grab your man and hold him tight, tight.”
They’re showcasing collective female power, but it’s not just about looking good—it’s about using beauty as a form of control. To me, this echoes Cersei Lannister from Game of Thrones. Cersei knows that her beauty, combined with her status, gives her the ability to manipulate those around her. She steps into any situation fully aware of the power she holds over others, much like how Perry and Petras describe stepping out for the night in a way that commands attention. This isn’t about blending in; it’s about making sure everyone notices—and feeling that sense of dominance when they do.
The whole idea here is that beauty isn’t just something to admire, it’s something to wield, and Cersei is the perfect example of this. She uses her appearance not only to enhance her political power but to keep her rivals in check. Perry’s line, “we comin’ out tonight,” taps into that same mentality—these women are fully aware of the social capital their beauty provides, and they’re stepping into the spotlight to use it.
Then there’s the line, “drippin’ like some ice,” which really emphasizes the connection between beauty and status. In the context of the song, “ice” refers to expensive jewelry, but more than that, it’s a symbol of wealth and power. This is something Cersei excels at—using her wealth and regal presence to intimidate and dominate the social spaces she occupies along with some more sensual assets, which are later referred to in the song more blatantly. Just like Cersei, Perry and Petras aren’t shy about showing off their status. They’re fully aware of how their appearance and the symbols of their wealth elevate them in the eyes of others. It’s about owning that power, knowing exactly what it brings, and using it to control the narrative.
Verse 1: Beauty as Transactional Power
Moving into the first verse, Perry continues to expand on this idea of control through beauty:
“If you want the digits to my cellular / Gotta spend it all on me tonight.”
The message here is pretty clear: access comes with a price.
Perry is making it known that her time and attention are things to be earned, not freely given. This line reinforces the idea that relationships, or at least the initiation of them, can be transactional. Beauty, in this case, isn’t passive—it’s something she uses to demand effort, attention, and even material wealth. She’s the one setting the terms, and it reminds me of how beauty functions as a form of currency in Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market.”
In Rossetti’s poem, the sisters’ beauty is what draws in the goblin men, who use tempting fruits to exploit them. The women’s beauty becomes the very thing that puts them at risk, as they get caught up in a dangerous exchange. But in “GORGEOUS,” Perry flips this dynamic completely. Unlike the women in “Goblin Market,” who risk being consumed by their beauty, Perry is fully in control of her own allure. She’s not the one being tempted or exploited—she’s the one setting the price. The power in her beauty lies in her ability to make others work for it. There’s no sense of danger here, only confidence in knowing her worth and making others recognize it too.
It’s a modern, more empowered take on the commodification of beauty that Rossetti explored. Where Rossetti’s women could easily fall victim to their beauty’s allure, Perry’s completely aware of what it brings her—and she’s not afraid to use it as leverage.
Pre-Chorus: A Simple Declaration of Worth
The pre-chorus, though short, is crucial to understanding how Perry views her own worth:
“If you don’t, yeah / Well, now you know.”
This is Perry asserting her value. If someone hasn’t recognized her power or beauty yet, they’re about to. In my opinion, this is a moment of unapologetic confidence, and it’s a message we see echoed in the works of Adrienne Rich.
In Rich’s poem, “Diving into the Wreck,” there’s a similar exploration of self-realization and empowerment. Rich’s tone is more serious and reflective, but the underlying message is the same: women must recognize and assert their own power in a world that might otherwise overlook it. Perry’s declaration in the pre-chorus isn’t introspective, but it’s definitely a form of claiming her space—and making sure others take notice.
Verse 2: Female Solidarity and Taking Control
Kim Petras picks up the second verse, and what stands out to me here is how the song shifts from individual empowerment to collective female solidarity:
“Pretty girlies get whatever we want, know we take advantage.”
Petras is acknowledging that women have power—not just as individuals, but as a group. This reminds me of Edna St. Vincent Millay’s sonnets, where she often explored the dynamics of love and female independence. In her work, Millay was unafraid to portray women as active agents in their relationships, and that’s exactly what Petras is doing here. The women in “GORGEOUS” aren’t waiting for things to happen to them—they’re taking control, getting what they want, and using their power to their advantage.
When Petras says, “They want the kitty, tell ’em I’m busy runnin’ the city,” she’s making it clear that she’s in charge. She’s the one calling the shots, and anyone interested in her has to understand that she’s too busy running the show to be at their beck and call. This reminds me of the feminist themes in Adrienne Rich’s work, where women take control of their narratives and refuse to be sidelined.
To sum it up, I see “GORGEOUS” as a song that celebrates female empowerment, using beauty, luxury, and confidence as tools for asserting control over both personal relationships and social spaces. Perry and Petras present beauty as something that can be actively leveraged, much like we’ve seen in the works of Christina Rossetti, John Donne, and Adrienne Rich. What I find most interesting is how these modern lyrics echo themes that have been explored in poetry for centuries—the power of beauty, the dynamics of control, and the assertion of self-worth.
At its core, “GORGEOUS” isn’t just a superficial anthem about looks and wealth. It’s about recognizing and owning your value, and that’s something we can see in literary tradition across generations. Perry and Petras take these themes and put a modern, unapologetic spin on them, making it clear that they’re not just participants in the social game—they’re running it.
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