Ur So Gay

"Ur So Gay" is a song released by American singer Katy Perry from her EP of the same name. She co-wrote the song with its producer Greg Wells while Drew Pearson served as the track's engineer. It was later included on her second studio album One of the Boys.

This article is about the song. For the EP by the same artist, see Ur So Gay (EP).

"Ur So Gay"
Song by Katy Perry
from the EP Ur So Gay and the album One of the Boys
ReleasedNovember 20, 2007 (2007-11-20)
Recorded2007
StudioRocket Carousel Studio
(Los Angeles, California)
GenreTrip hop[1]
Length3:39
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Greg Wells
Music video
"Ur So Gay" on YouTube

Background and composition

When asked about the song, Perry said it was about a metrosexual boy. 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."[2] Perry's A&R representative 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 track did well in terms of building a press story.[3] Due to the song's content, there was concern from the label over commercially releasing "Ur So Gay".[4]

"Ur So Gay" moves at a moderate pace.[1] According to digital sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Sony-ATV Music Publishing, the song is written in the key of E minor and the tempo is at 80 beats per minute. Perry's vocal's in "Ur So Gay" span from the lower note of E3 to the higher note of D#5.[5]

Promotion and reception
A female blond performer on stage 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".[6] 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".[7] The Tampa Bay Times wrote that the "boyfriend-skewering..... isn't homophobic, but it does pummel straight guys who can't handle her edge".[8] Billboard senior editor Chuck Taylor believed the song "has all the potential to amuse the masses," further commenting that the song is "just too good" for top 40 programmers to not play.[9]

Some critics, however, conclude the song is homophobic. Ugo.com says the song settles for "catchphrase-homophobia"[10] while AllMusic describes the lyrics as "gay-baiting".[11] Writing for Glamour, Christopher Rosa called the track Perry's worst song. He criticized its "offensive queer tropes" and found its lyrics problematic.[12]

Music video

Background

The video was directed by Walter May[13] and released in November 2007. According to senior vice president of A&R at Capitol Records Bob Semanovich, the purpose of the video was to introduce Perry to audiences in a way that was "fun and playful". Perry conceived the idea to center the video around dolls, as she wanted audiences to know that the song was meant as a "tongue-in-cheek dis[s] track".[4]

Synopsis

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.

Live performances

Perry performed the song as part of her MTV Unplugged set. Also on Hello Katy Tour and California Dreams Tour.

Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel adapted from the One of the Boys album liner notes.[14]

  • Katy Perry – writer, vocals, whistles
  • Greg Wells – writer, producer, piano, guitar, bass, beats
  • Drew Pearson – recording at Rocket Carousel Studio (Los Angeles)
  • Joe Zook – mixing at Aus Studios (Studio City)
  • Jerry Hey – horn section, horn arrangement
  • Gary Grant – horn section
  • Bill Reichenbach – horn section
  • Dan Higgins – horn section

Charts
Chart performance for "Ur So Gay"
Chart (2008) Peak
position
US Hot Singles Sales (Billboard)[15] 2
US Dance/Electronic Singles Sales (Billboard)[16] 1

Certifications and sales
Certifications for "Ur So Gay"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[17] Platinum 60,000*
United States (RIAA)[18] Gold 500,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Masley, Ed (June 21, 2008). "Perry joins the forces of Warped". Arizona Central. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  2. Burr, Mike (February 6, 2008). "Katy Perry: Interview". Prefix. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  3. "Interview With Chris Anokute". HitQuarters. October 18, 2010. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
  4. Harding, Cortney (January 31, 2009). "Single Lady". Billboard. Vol. 121, no. 4. p. 22.
  5. "Katy Perry– Ur So Gay Sheet Music (Digital Download)". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  6. Slezak, Michael (January 7, 2008). "How awesome is Katy Perry's 'Ur So Gay'?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 22, 2008.
  7. Hermann, Andy. "Katy Perry's One of the Boys is dandy ear candy" Archived July 16, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Sun-Sentinel. June 17, 2008.
  8. Daly, Sean (June 22, 2008). "Sean Daly's CD picks: Katy Perry, the Fratellis, Ed Harcourt". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on December 2, 2008. Retrieved June 24, 2008.
  9. Taylor, Chuck (January 12, 2008). "The Billboard Reviews: Singles". Billboard. Vol. 120, no. 2. p. 40.
  10. French, Marguerite. "Katy Perry – One of The Boys Album Review" Archived July 1, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Ugo.com. Retrieved June 22, 2008.
  11. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2008). "One of the Boys – Katy Perry" review, AllMusic. Retrieved June 24, 2008.
  12. Rosa, Christopher (October 21, 2020). "Katy Perry's 10 Best (and Worst) Songs". Glamour. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  13. "Video Ur So Gay van Katy Perry – Myspace Video". Archived from the original on January 7, 2009. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
  14. One of the Boys (CD liner notes). Katy Perry. Capitol. 2008. 509995 04249 2 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. "Katy Perry | Billboard". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021.
  16. "Singles Chart Search Results: "Ur So Gay". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  17. "Brazilian single certifications – Katy Perry – Ur So Gay" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  18. "American single certifications – Katy Perry – Ur So Gay". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
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