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E.T. (song)

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"E.T."
Song

"E.T." is a song by American recording artist Katy Perry from her third studio album Teenage Dream (2010). Written by Perry, Dr. Luke, Max Martin, and Ammo, and produced by the last three, it was released as the album's third promotional single on August 17, 2010. The song was later announced as the album's fourth single and released on February 16, 2011. The single version features vocals by American rapper Kanye West, who will also appear in its Floria Sigismondi-directed music video.

Using extraterrestrial metaphors, "E.T." has Perry singing of "falling in love with a foreigner". West adds two verses to the song, making heavy use of Auto-Tune at times. Both the album cut and the single have been met with mixed criticism from professional critics. The single has peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Perry's seventh top ten hit in the United States. It has peaked elsewhere at number one in New Zealand, number five in Australia, and number ten in Canada.

Background

American rapper Kanye West is featured on the single version of "E.T.".

Following up to the release of Teenage Dream, "E.T." was released as the third and final promotional single on August 17, 2010.[1] In a Billboard cover story, it was revealed the song was originally intended for American hip hop group Three 6 Mafia.[2] In December 2010, Perry asked fans for their opinion on Teenage Dream's next single, through the social networking site Twitter.[3] Speculation arose that "Peacock" would be its next single, but "E.T." was eventually announced as the record's fourth single through her Facebook page.[3][4][5] The announcement was accompanied by the single's artwork, which features Perry with cat eye make-up, bangs, and a sequined top.[5][6] The single version features vocals from American rapper Kanye West and was released on February 16, 2011.[7] Its music video will be directed by Floria Sigismondi, and will also feature West.[6][8]

Composition

Katy Perry - "E.T."
A 21-second sample containing Perry's stuttered vocals over the "stomp-stomp-clap" beat from Queen's "We Will Rock You".[9][10]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

An album track of three minutes and twenty-six seconds,[11] "E.T." is an electronic[10][12] pop[13] and hip hop[2] ballad,[12] with elements of teen pop.[13] BBC Music described the song as a "rave-influenced quasi ballad".[14] It written by Perry, Lukasz Gottwald, Max Martin, and Joshua Coleman, and produced by the last three, with Gottwald and Coleman credited as Dr. Luke and Ammo.[15] According to sheet music from Alfred Music Publishing, the song was originally published in F minor and follows a slow tempo of 76 beats per minute in common time.[13] Perry's voice spans E♭4 to D♭5.[13] According to Ann Powers of the Los Angeles Times, "E.T." carries influences from Barbadian singer Rihanna and features Perry using a "hip-hop diva's stutter".[9] The song's instrumentals have been described as "a mishmash and bleeps and blips with a driving drum track".[16] Darryl Sterdan of the QMI Agency noted the song uses the "stomp-stomp-clap" beat from Queen's "We Will Rock You" (1977),[10] while Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted similarities to productions by Ryan Tedder.[17]

According to Perry, the song is about "falling in love with a foreigner".[18] Using metaphors about extraterrestrials, she sings, "You're not like the others / Futuristic lover / Different DNA".[15][19] The chorus has Perry addressing her lover: "Kiss me, kiss me / Infect me with your loving / Fill me with your poison", claiming to be "ready for abduction".[15] For its single release, the song was reworked to feature two verses from Kanye West, which continue the extraterrestrial metaphors.[6][7][20] Opening the track with "I got a dirty mind / I got filthy ways",[21] he then goes on to say, "They callin' me an alien / A big-headed astronaut".[20] West contributes another verse before Perry's final refrain, with heavily Auto-Tuned vocals: "I know a bar out in Mars / Where they driving spaceships instead of cars".[16][19] He finishes with a reference to the fictional character Shrek and lyrics of "alien sex": "I'mma disrobe you then I'mma probe you / See, I abducted you so I tell you what to do."[20][21][22] The National Post's Ben Kaplan noted West's presence on the track was similar to his work on his fourth studio album, 808s & Heartbreak (2008).[16]

Critical response

"E.T." has received mixed reviews from professional critics. It has been noted for bringing out a different side of Perry, with a darker, deeper, and more mature tone.[14][23] This was praised by BBC Music's Al Fox who enjoyed the contrast from her conventionally upbeat pop tracks like "Hot n Cold" and "California Gurls".[14] Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly felt Perry showed strength on the song, comparing its sound to a combination of American rock musicians Lita Ford and Trent Reznor.[24] Matthew Cole of Slant Magazine disliked the track's inscrutability and said that "E.T."'s backing track was reminiscent of t.A.T.u.'s "All the Things She Said" (2002).[25] Now's Jason Richards called the song "awkward" and Sputnikmusic's Rudy Clapper dismissed its attempt at a more mature sound, calling it "cheesy".[26][27]

Reviewing the remixed version, Digital Spy's Robert Copsey gave a review of four stars out of five, but felt West's contribution added nothing to the track.[28] Entertainment Weekly's Brad Wete, on the other hand, felt the song was improved with a male perspective.[29] Kaplan lauded the track as a "great duet", praising the vocals of both singers.[16] Amos Barshad of New York felt West's alien metaphors went into "strange directions".[19]

Chart performance

The song charted at number 42 on the Billboard Hot 100 following its release as a promotional single, selling 64,000 digital copies.[30] On the same week, "E.T." debuted on the Canadian Hot 100 at number 13.[31] In Australia, the song debuted at number twelve and peaked at number five for two weeks starting February 6, 2011.[32] It has since been certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association for sales of 70,000 units.[33] One week after debuting at number 17, "E.T." topped the New Zealand Singles Chart on January 31, 2011, becoming her sixth number-one in the country, and has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand.[34][35] On February 26, 2011, the song entered Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart at number 36, and has peaked at number 10.[36][37] The song has reached at number 30 on the Dutch Top 40 and number 98 on the Czech airplay chart.[38][39]

On March 5, 2011, following its single release featuring West, the song re-entered both the Billboard Hot 100, at number 28 with 110,000 copies sold in its first week, and the Canadian Hot 100, at number 18.[40][41][42] The following week, the song sold 170,000 copies in the US, a 41% increase from the previous, and moved up number eight, giving Perry her seventh top ten title on the chart, as well as West's seventh as a featured artist.[43][44] "E.T." has also peaked at number 19 on Billboard's Pop Songs chart, as well as number 10 on the Canadian Hot 100.[37] The single has debuted in Ireland at number 11, in Australia at number 53, and on the Ultratip charts of both Belgian regions at numbers 17 (Wallonia) and 25 (Flanders).[45][46][47][48]

Track listing

  • Digital download[7]
  1. "E.T." (featuring Kanye West) – 3:50
  • Remix EP digital download[49]
  1. "E.T." (Tiësto Remix – Club Edit) – 7:10
  2. "E.T." (Benny Benassi Radio Edit) – 3:20
  3. "E.T." (Dave Audé Remix – Radio Edit) – 3:38
  4. "E.T." (Noisia Remix) – 3:53
  5. "E.T." (Johnson Somerset & John Monkman Remix) – 9:49
  • German CD single[50]
  1. "E.T." (featuring Kanye West)
  2. "E.T." (Tiësto Remix – Radio Edit)

Personnel

Credits adapted from Teenage Dream album liner notes.[15]

Charts and certifications

Release history

List of release dates by region, including format details, and record label
Region Date Format Label Ref
United States August 17, 2010 Promotional single – digital download Capitol Records
[1]
United Kingdom February 16, 2011 Single – digital download
[51]
United States
[7]
Australia March 4, 2011 Remix EP – digital download
[52]
Belgium
[53]
New Zealand
[54]
United States March 8, 2011
[49]
United Kingdom March 14, 2011
[55]
Germany March 18, 2011 CD single
[50]
United Kingdom April 3, 2011
[56]

References

  1. ^ a b "Final iTunes Countdown Track: "E.T."". KatyPerry.com. Capitol Records. August 17, 2010. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  2. ^ a b Herrera, Monica (July 23, 2010). "Katy Perry: The Billboard Cover Story". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. p. 2. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  3. ^ a b Vena, Jocelyn (December 22, 2010). "Is Katy Perry's Next Single 'E.T.'?". MTV News. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  4. ^ "Katy Perry's 'California Gurls' is top selling digital song". EMI. January 7, 2011. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  5. ^ a b Vena, Jocelyn (January 26, 2011). "Katy Perry Unveils Artwork For New Single, 'E.T.'". MTV News. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  6. ^ a b c Vena, Jocelyn (February 15, 2011). "Kanye West Joins Katy Perry On 'E.T.'". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved February 15, 2011.
  7. ^ a b c d "E.T. (feat. Kanye West)". Amazon.com. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  8. ^ "KATY PERRY visits Scotiabank Place on July 3" (Press release). Marketwire. January 19, 2011. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
  9. ^ a b Powers, Ann (August 23, 2010). "Album review: Katy Perry's 'Teenage Dream'". Los Angeles Times. Eddy Hartenstein. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  10. ^ a b c Sterdan, Darryl (Augsut 22, 2010). "Album Review: Teenage Dream". JAM! Music. Canadian Online Explorer. QMI Agency. Retrieved March 9, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ "E.T. [Explicit]". Amazon.com. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  12. ^ a b Montgomery, James (May 6, 2010). "New Katy Perry Songs Hit The Net". MTV News. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  13. ^ a b c d Perry, Katy (2010). "E.T.". Katy Perry – Teenage Dream: Piano/Vocal/Chords. Alfred Music Publishing. ISBN 978-0739075944. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  14. ^ a b c Fox, Al (August 23, 2010). "Katy Perry Teenage Dream Review". BBC Music. BBC. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  15. ^ a b c d Teenage Dream (Media notes). Capitol Records. 2010. p. 10. {{cite AV media notes}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |albumlink= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |artist= ignored (|others= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |publisherid= ignored (help)
  16. ^ a b c d Kaplan, Ben (February 16, 2011). "Katy Perry and Kanye West: E.T., The First Review". National Post. Postmedia Network. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  17. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Teenage Dream – Katy Perry: Review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  18. ^ Barshad, Amos (November 9, 2010). "Katy Perry Blew Confetti Into Vulture's Beer Last Night". New York. New York City: New York Media Holdings. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  19. ^ a b c Barshad, Amos (February 16, 2011). "Kanye West Coins the Phrase 'Alien Sex' for Katy Perry". New York. New York City: New York Media Holdings. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  20. ^ a b c Montgomery, James (February 16, 2011). "Kanye West Gets Dirty On Katy Perry's 'E.T.' Remix". MTV News. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  21. ^ a b Collins, Leah (February 16, 2011). "Hear Kanye West and Katy Perry's New Single 'E.T.'". Dose. Postmedia Network. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  22. ^ Roberts, Soraya (February 16, 2011). "Katy Perry 'E.T.' remix with Kanye West features singers engaging in 'alien sex' talk". Daily News. New York City: Mortimer Zuckerman. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  23. ^ Mason, Kerri (September 3, 2010). "Katy Perry, "Teenage Dream"". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  24. ^ Greenblatt, Leah (August 11, 2010). "Music Review: Teenage Dream (2010)". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  25. ^ Cole, Matthew (August 22, 2010). "Katy Perry: Teenage Dream Album Review". Slant Magazine. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  26. ^ Richards, Jason (August 26, 2010). "Disc Review: Katy Perry, Teenage Dream (Capitol/EMI)". Now. Toronto: NOW Communications. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  27. ^ Clapper, Rudy (August 23, 2010). "Katy Perry – Teenage Dream". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  28. ^ Copsey, Robert (February 27, 2011). "Katy Perry ft. Kanye West: 'E.T.'". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  29. ^ Wete, Brad (February 16, 2011). "Kanye West abducts Katy Perry on singer's new single, 'E.T'". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  30. ^ a b "Eminem, Rihanna Continue to 'Love' Life Atop Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. August 26, 2010. Retrieved February 24, 2010.
  31. ^ a b "Katy Perry Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  32. ^ a b "Katy Perry – E.T.". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved February 2, 2011.
  33. ^ a b "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2011 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. February 28, 2011. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
  34. ^ a b "Katy Perry – E.T.". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved February 2, 2011.
  35. ^ a b "Latest Gold / Platinum Singles". RadioScope. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  36. ^ "Dance/Club Play Songs: Week of February 26, 2011 (Biggest Jump)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
  37. ^ a b c d e "E.T. – Katy Perry". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  38. ^ a b "Nederlandse Top 40 – Katy Perry" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  39. ^ a b "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 09. týden 2011 in the date selector. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  40. ^ "Hot 100: Week of March 05, 2011 (Biggest Jump)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
  41. ^ Pietroluongo, Silvio (February 24, 2011). "Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' Grows Atop Grammy-Fueled Hot 100". Billboard. New York: Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  42. ^ "Canadian Hot 100: Week of March 05, 2011 (Biggest Jump)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
  43. ^ Caulfield, Keith (March 2, 2011). "Adele's '21' Sells Over 350k to Top Billboard 200". Billboard. Los Angeles: Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
  44. ^ a b Grein, Paul (March 2, 2011). "Week Ending Feb. 27, 2011: Songs: Judge J.Lo". Chart Watch. Yahoo! Music. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
  45. ^ a b "Chart Track: Week 10, 2011". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  46. ^ a b "Chartifacts – Week Commencing: 28th February 2011". Australian Recording Industry Association. February 28, 2011. Archived from the original on March 1, 2011. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  47. ^ a b "Katy Perry feat. Kanye West – E.T." (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  48. ^ a b "Katy Perry feat. Kanye West – E.T." (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  49. ^ a b "E.T. (The Remixes) – EP". Amazon.com. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  50. ^ a b "Katy Perry: E.T." (in German). EMI Music Germany. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
  51. ^ "E.T. (feat. Kanye West)". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  52. ^ "E.T. (The Remixes) – EP". iTunes Store Australia. Apple Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
  53. ^ "E.T. (The Remixes) – EP". iTunes Store Belgium. Apple Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
  54. ^ "E.T. (The Remixes) – EP". iTunes Store New Zealand Apple Inc. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
  55. ^ "E.T. Remix EP". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  56. ^ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/singlereviews/
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