Music Review: Katy Perry & Snoop Dogg "California Gurls"

Katy Perry & Snoop Dogg

California Gurls

Album: Teenage Dream

Year: 2010

Katy Perry takes pride in being a Californiagirl in the passé “California Gurls.”

         Springy synths starts the single, backing Snoop Dogg’s intro. He welcomes Katy’s fans to her song and says that they are going to take a trip. (“Greetings, loved ones/Let’s take a journey.”)

        In the first verse, she asserts that California is everything people imagine it to be: sunny, a neverending sparkling blue ocean and loads of fun. It’s incredibly special and unlike any place in the States. (“I know a place/Where the grass is really greener/Warm, wet, and wild/There must be somethin' in the water.”)

     As she sunbathes topless on a beach lined with palm trees, she has drink in her hand –gin and juice, which is a reference to Snoop Dogg’s 1994 single “Gin and Juice.” She watches as the guys try to stare discreetly at her back and see if they can see any cleavage. (“Sippin' gin and juice/Layin' underneath the palm trees (Undone)/The boys break their necks/Tryin' to creep a little sneak peek/(At us).”)

    In the pre-chorus, she says California is the best. All it would take is a single party in a local club and people would never want to leave. (“You could travel the world/But nothing comes close to the golden coast/Once you party with us/You'll be fallin' in love.”)

      A glistening, slick beat joins in to give Katy Perry street cred. In the chorus, she boasts California girls are the hottest around. They were made to pull off the skimpy short shorts and wear string bikinis. Every guy will be turned on. She encourages Californians to show their pride and dance along. (“California girls, we're unforgettable/Daisy dukes, bikinis on top/Sun-kissed skin, so hot/We'll melt your popsicle/California girls, we're undeniable/Fine, fresh, fierce, we got it one lock/West coast represent/Now put your hands up.”)

      In the second verse, she sneaks off to sleep with one of the guys who was staring at earlier on the beach and makes out him with again in the jeep she owns. They blare Snoop Dogg the entire time. (“Sex on the beach/We've got white sand in our stilettos
We freak in my jeep/Snoop Doggy Dogg on the stereo.”)

         The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.

      The drums pump with aggression, signaling the rap is about to come.  After the chorus, Snoop gets in his appearance. He raps that California girls are hot and that they are his favorites. He can’t keep his hands of them and likes to grope their butts. He loves all the different cities in the state and that there’s an endless summer. (“Toned, tanned, fit, and ready/Turn it up 'cause it's gettin' heavy/Wild, wild west coast/These are the girls I love the most/I mean the ones, I mean like she's the one/Kiss her, touch her, squeeze her buns/The girl's a freak, she drive a Jeep/And live on the beach/I'm okay, I won't play, I love the bay/Just like I love L.A./Venice Beach and Palm Springs/Summertime is everyday.”)

     His friends have sex and admire the girls in their short shorts. Every day is a party. He loves Katy and wants to be with her now that she’s singing about how wonderful California is. (“Homeboys bangin' out/All that ass hangin' out/Bikinis, zucchinis, martinis, no weenies/Just a king and a queenie/Katy, my lady/Yeah/Looky here, baby/
Uh-huh/I'm all up on ya/'Cause you’re represtin' California”). 

     The chorus is sung again

      “California” is sung with an imitation talk box for about 30 seconds, ending the song.

     “California Gurls” desperately wants to be a nostaglic ode to 90s hip hop. Instead, it’s a fashion victim from the decade, overloading on every trend from the era. The talk box, the jeep, the slang, and the worst offender of all: Snoop Dogg. Snoop Dogg’s rap is overkill after the the numerous references. The references to Snoop Dogg could’ve been cut down or have him only appear. The point still would’ve been made. It may stroke Snoop’s ego but it highlights his own self-importance.