Should Have Been Bigger: Katy Perry’s “Bon Appétit”

Mike Wass | May 14, 2019 1:54 pm
Katy Perry & Zedd's '365' Video
Love and robots don't mix in Katy & Zedd's blockbuster '365' video.

In this franchise, we look back on singles that deserved a little more love and attention.

Katy Perry’s history-making streak of 20 consecutive top 40 hits, stretching back all the way to 2008’s “I Kissed A Girl,” came to a screeching halt in 2017 when “Bon Appétit” stalled at number 59 on the Billboard Hot 100. The unforgivable irony is that it’s one of the pop star’s best singles. Featuring Migos and produced by Max Martin & cohorts, “Bon Appétit” is a bouncy, sex-positive banger that deftly blends pop, trap and house elements. It also boasts one of the catchiest choruses in recent memory. So what went wrong?

The not-exactly-subtle lyrics were pilloried by some, but Katy has never shied away from a double entendre. (Exhibit A is “Peacock”). Then there was the faux outrage about the involvement of Migos. The “365” diva was criticized for working with alleged homophobes, but the same energy was nowhere to be seen when other artists hit them up for a feature. In the end, I think it came down to the right song at the wrong time. A campy banger with ’90s house elements didn’t have a place on top 40 radio in 2017, which is the kiss of death for a commercial pop release.

This tragic tale of woe does have a happy ending, however. “Bon Appétit” has already been embraced as a firm fan favorite and is widely acknowledged, at least by the great minds of Stan Twitter, as a cult classic. And then there’s the (incredible) video. Which has taken on a life of its own, amassing close to 700 million views on YouTube. Revisit Katy’s misunderstood and sorely slept-on bop below.

Do you love this song? Let us know below, or by hitting us up on Facebook and Twitter!