From 2005’s “The Box” to her most recent female empowerment anthem “Hey Hey Hey,” Billboard is taking a look back at the music video evolution of Katy Perry.
The trip down memory lane kicks off with a slew of 2005 tunes including “The Box,” Perry’s Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants soundtrack contribution “Simple,” her version of “Long Shot” (which was later recorded by Kelly Clarkson in 2008), and “A Cup of Coffee.” Next is her 2007 “Ur So Gay” music video, which perfectly captured the era of MySpace via a Barbie and Ken doll storyline that might not be suitable for children.
Then comes Perry’s true breakout hit, 2008’s “I Kissed a Girl.” Perry recently told Glamour that, given the opportunity, she would probably edit some of the track, explaining, “Lyrically, it has a couple of stereotypes in it. Your mind changes so much in 10 years, and you grow so much. What’s true for you can evolve.” Despite the song’s title, the video depicted no kissing, but it did feature cameos from a young Kesha and actress Shannon Woodward, and an adorable cat.
That same year, “Hot n Cold” dropped along with a video featuring a runaway groom who tackled a giant hot dog, brides carrying baseball bats, a zebra, and some pretty memorable dance moves from Katy.
In 2009, Perry released her second version of “Thinking of You” (the first came out in 2007), which starred Matt Dallas as her love interest. That same year, she was living large with “Waking Up In Vegas” and collaborating with 3OH!3 on “STARSTRUKK.”
The next year, Perry paid tribute to females from the West Coast with the sugary sweet “California Gurls” video, went on a road trip in “Teenage Dream” and lifted us all up emotionally with her sparkling video for “Firework.”
Perry and Kanye West ventured into outer space for 2011’s “E.T.,” followed by the “best party ever” with a handful of cameos including Rebecca Black, Darren Criss and Kenny G in the “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” video.
Katy’s epic jungle adventure came along with 2013’s “Roar,” while she took on the persona of Katy Pätra with her 2014 “Dark Horse” visuals set in Memphis, Egypt “a crazy long time ago.”
In 2017 came videos like “Chained to the Rhythm,” which was set in a futuristic pastel-colored theme park called “Oblivia,” and the peculiar “Bon Appétit” video, featuring a pie made of human body parts. “Swish Swish,” Perry’s star-studded basketball-themed video featuring the likes of Molly Shannon, Terry Crews, Gaten Matarazzo and Doug the Pug, followed suit, as did her most recent music video for “Hey Hey Hey,” in which she starred as both Marie Antoinette and Joan of Arc characters.
You can watch all of these videos, and many more, below.