Pop Perspective: Katy Perry’s “Roar” Video Reviewed By All Four Idolator Editors

Mike Wass | September 6, 2013 2:34 pm

At Idolator, the editors share a passion for high quality pop and on occasion, our tastes even align completely. Other times, not so much! So, in the spirit of debate, we’ve developed a feature called Pop Perspective. Basically, all four of us dissect a particularly noteworthy pop event, and give it a rating on a scale from one to 10.

That way you’re getting a full spectrum of views… and we can all vent. (It’s cheaper than therapy!) The latest pop milestone to be dragged under the Idolator microscope is Katy Perry‘s quirky “Roar” video. Is it another era-defining visual triumph like “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” or an unusual misstep from the game’s hottest hitmaker?

Head below to see what we all have to say!

Robbie Daw — 6.5

I was on-board when Katy wanted lesbian tongue sparkle with “I Kissed A Girl” in 2008, and I was thrilled when her whipped-cream-can tits shot teenage dreaminess all over our ears in 2010. It made her seem like the edgy, forthright pop bitch we’d all been craving throughout the early part of the ’00s. And so, it’s a bit of a disappointment to see Katy playing it so safe, both lyrically and visually, with “Roar.”

The video is much like the song itself: a kid-friendly good time that appeals to the Middle American base. That said, I’m of two minds with regards to Ms. Perry in 2013: 1.) whoever is restraining her naughtiness needs to be punished with a riding crop, and 2.) Katy has yet to fail with delivering a KILLER second single from her albums. On to the next one!

Sam Lansky — 6/10

Katy Perry’s video for her latest chart-demolishing single “Roar” does exactly what a video should do: It’s a perfect extension of the song itself. That is to say, it’s pretty, likable, and ultimately disappointing in how safe it plays.

That’s not to say that there’s anything fundamentally wrong with the bright, sparkly clip, which sees Perry (who must have been taking milk baths during her hiatus, because good God, her skin!) finding her inner tiger in classic Jane of the Jungle attire; it’s sure to satisfy her fans and it’s not without its charms. But getting over the bait-and-switch of “dark Katy” for “letting the light in Katy” is a bitter pill to swallow.

For viewers who have been craving something a little more primal, this video — which is about as edgy as a women’s antiperspirant commercial — makes all that triumphant self-affirming plays more like a mewl than a roar.

Mike Wass — 9/10

I couldn’t disagree with everyone more. Sure, “Roar” isn’t the edgiest song of 2013 but so what? It’s bright, uplifting and will warm up crowds at sporting events for decades to come. There are enough bad girls in pop music — let Katy be the sassy best friend with amazing hair and great life advice that everyone wants to have. As for the video? I love it.

If Lost is ever turned into a musical by John Waters, it would look a little something like this. There’s an adorable campy element (see the demise of Ms. Perry’s boyfriend and the understandably horny elephant), Oscar- worthy acting and a goofy plot that sees Katy become the queen of the jungle. I don’t even mind the product placement. At least they are upfront about it.

And there’s another reason the Prism diva’s jungle-tastic video appeals to me. It’s an obvious tribute to Aqua‘s iconic “Doctor Jones” visual!

Carl Williott — 5/10

There’s good cheesy, and there’s bad cheesy, and the “Roar” video is an exercise in both. On the charmingly cheesy side we had the chintzy, South Pacific fake tropical set, Perry’s Vaudevillian acting and the it-was-all-a-dream-kidding-it-wasn’t ending. On the accidentally cheesy side, we had the dopey CGI, painful smartphone product placement and Perry’s overly literal roar-off with a tiger (but isn’t she “louder than a lion,” anyway?)

KP emerging in that animal skin bikini (*fans self*) and the monkey flexing its biceps at the end tip the scales to make me like the video more than I like the song… but I’m not crazy about either.

IDOLATOR SCORE: 26.5/40

What are your own thoughts on Katy’s latest video? Let us know below, or hit us up on Facebook and Twitter!