Ur So Gay

"Ur So Gay"
Promotional single by Katy Perry
from the album One of the Boys
Released November 20, 2007 (2007-11-20)
Format
Recorded 2007
Studio Rocket Carousel Studio
(Los Angeles, California)
Genre Trip hop
Length 3:39
Label Capitol
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Greg Wells
Music video
"Ur So Gay" on YouTube

"Ur So Gay" is a song released by American singer Katy Perry. She co-wrote the song with its producer Greg Wells while Drew Pearson served as the track's engineer. It was Perry's first major label release, and was later placed on her major label debut, 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.

Background and composition

When asked about the song, Perry said it was about a metrosexual boy named Greg. 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 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 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 could not think of one that was particularly club-worthy. While at a club with her friends, The Outfield's "Your Love" was played. Perry said that when the song came on, every girl there went onto the dance floor, and she wanted to have that same effect.[1]

"Ur So Gay" is styled in the genre of trip hop, and moves at a moderate pace.[3] 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.[4]

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".[5] 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."[6] The Tampa Bay Times wrote that the "boyfriend-skewering..... isn't homophobic, but it does pummel straight guys who can't handle her edge."[7]

Some critics, however, conclude the song is homophobic. Ugo.com says the song settles for "catchphrase-homophobia"[8] while Allmusic describes the lyrics as "gay-baiting".[9]

Music video

The video was directed by Walter May.[10] 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.

Formats and track listings

  1. "Ur So Gay" – 3:39
  2. "Use Your Love" – 3:01
  • CD single
  1. "Ur So Gay" – 3:39
  2. "Ur So Gay" (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" (Acapella) – 3:15
  • Digital download
  1. "Ur So Gay" – 3:39
  2. "Ur So Gay" (Junior Sanchez Club Remix) – 5:54
  3. "Use Your Love" – 3:03
  4. "Lost" – 4:20

Charts

Chart (2008) Peak
position
US Hot Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[12] 1

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/Sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[13] Platinum 100,000*
United States (RIAA)[14] Gold 500,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

  1. 1 2 Burr, Mike (February 6, 2008). "Katy Perry: Interview". Prefix. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  2. ↑ "Interview With Chris Anokute". HitQuarters. October 18, 2010. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
  3. ↑ Masley, Ed (June 21, 2008). "Perry joins the forces of Warped". Arizona Central. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Katy Perry– Ur So Gay Sheet Music (Digital Download)". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  5. ↑ Slezak, Michael (Jan 7, 2008). "How awesome is Katy Perry's 'Ur So Gay'?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 22, 2008.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ French, Marguerite. "Katy Perry – One of The Boys Album Review" Archived July 1, 2008, at the Wayback Machine., Ugo.com. Retrieved June 22, 2008.
  9. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2008). "One of the Boys – Katy Perry" review, AllMusic. Retrieved June 24, 2008.
  10. ↑ "Video Ur So Gay van Katy Perry – Myspace Video". Archived from the original on January 7, 2009. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
  11. ↑ Katy Perry – Ur So Gay
  12. ↑ "Singles Chart Search Results: "Ur So Gay". Billboard. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Brazilian single certifications – Katy Perry – Ur So Gay" (in Portuguese). Associação Brasileira dos Produtores de Discos. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  14. ↑ "American single certifications – Katy Perry – Ur So Gay". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 27, 2016. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
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