Katy Perry doesn’t hold back from expressing true contentment over her upcoming nuptials in her latest single ‘Never Worn White’. Rather than going for an outward display of euphoric emotions, she opts for a grounded, traditional approach for the composition.

Inspired by classic wedding tunes, she pours her heart into the song in a way we haven’t seen in years. There is a genuine current of self-awareness here, indicative of a woman who’s been burned by love but is only looking to heal and move forward. 

The instrumentation is subtle yet it embodies the themes of the tune to the tee. The piano proves to be a solid partner to her famous deep voice, shining especially as her voice flows from verse to verse like a wedding ballad. But whereas Katy Perry of the past would have ramped it up in the chorus, overpowering it with boisterous synth and guitar insertions, she actually goes in the other direction for this love song. She slows it down in the chorus, so we hear nothing but the power of her words. Yet in true Perry fashion, she opens up those vocals in the second verse, stretching to those high notes, so we’re truly able to feel the sincerity of her emotions. 

Katy Perry has been vocal about her failed marriage with comedian Russell Brand but that doesn’t mean that she can’t be just as hopeful about tying the knot with British actor Orlando Bloom. From confessing that she “really wants to try” to admitting that she is finally able to “find forever”, she is unapologetic about the picture-perfect happy ending that she has envisioned both for the song as well as her life. 

The video aesthetic complements the lyrical themes, laying down hard with the wedding florals and pastel colours. Yet just like the song itself, the video remains bright, gentle and slow — a perfect reflection of Perry’s internal feelings as she looks to a new chapter in her life. At the very end of the video, the viewers are treated to a very special exclusive reveal. Katy Perry bears her baby bump and in one fell swoop, reveals how she may found ultimate happiness after all. 

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Author: Shaoni Das

Shaoni Das is a writer/editor currently based in Edmonton, Canada. She remains eager to inspect how the changing culture of music impacts upon the greater world.