Katy Perry’s ‘Teenage Dream’ Album Turns 5: Stan & Deliver

7. “The One That Got Away”

Name: Kayla | Location: Niagara Falls, NY | Twitter: @perryicecream

“The One That Got Away” was the sixth single from Katy’s Teenage Dream album. The song has a drum beat mixed with a delicate piano riff playing in the background as Katy  sings about her “one that got away.” It’s definitely a sing-along, and it’s very nostalgic. When you listen to “The One That Got Away,” it truly puts you inside the moment. Everyone can relate,  thinking of that ex-boyfriend/ex-girlfriend that you once loved and wish they weren’t “the one that got away.” Thinking “in another life, we would be together, but I would’ve done things differently.” It gives you that “what if” moment. This song is very similar to Katy’s song “Thinking Of You” from her debut record.  This is definitely a favorite lots of people love.

I love the whole concept Katy came up  with for the music video: Two teenagers, young in love and they get matching tattoos, promising to be together forever. I love how Katy plays as the younger and older woman of herself. It shows her looking back at a love she regrets leaving. Diego Luna plays her boyfriend, an artist/painter. I think that’s part of the reason why I love this music video because Diego plays an artist and I love art! But I love the scenes where they’re having moments with each other, such as the two of them taking silly Polaroid pictures, and then crashing a wedding together lol :p. It’s shown after that they get matching tattoos. I love the Johnny Cash reference where she sings “I was June and you were my Johnny Cash.”

Their relationship takes a turn when they get into an argument while painting. Diego storms off and leaves in his car. In the extended version of the video, Diego drops his jacket when he leaves. Katy is seen behind him, and he looks at her hoping she’ll tell him to stay. But Katy goes back in the house and closes the door, indicating she’s letting him go. Younger Katy is seen crying in older Katy’s closet. As Diego drives, Katy’s veil pops out. Diego has a moment, and then tries to avoid the large boulders on the road, but fails and the car crashes off a cliff, killing him instantly. I love the end where it shows older Katy near the cliff, reminiscing about Diego. Diego pops up and grabs older Katy’s hand while a Johnny Cash song “You Are My Sunshine” is playing.  This was such a great music video!

When Katy sings “The One That Got Away” live, I can hear the emotion throughout the song. It really hits home and people can relate to it. I love the way she sings when she emphasizes the lyric “In another lifffee…” I feel it through her voice. She makes the song extra special when she sings it acoustic during her acoustic set. It gives more depth and feeling to the song, and it puts your heart into the song and it can legit have everyone in tears. On the Prismatic World Tour, I love how she mashes up “The One That Got Away” with “Thinking Of You.” That made the acoustic set extra special.

I think “The One That Got Away” is one of her best singles from Teenage Dream. Too bad it didn’t go to #1; it was so close, peaking at #3. This song will always be one of my favorites from Teenage Dream, because I can relate to it.

And just maybe one suggestion: Don’t get matching tattoos. Katy has matching tattoos with some of her ex-lovers. She even said herself during a live performance of “The One That Got Away,” singing the lyric “we got matching tattoos” — she then says, “Don’t!” LOL

8. “E.T.”

Name: Ramiro Eduardo Suárez Tavasci | Location: Monterrey, Mexico | Twitter: @eduardo_katycat

This song really teleports you to another dimension, with a catchy beat that will get you hypnotized and clever lyrics that you won’t be able to stop singing. “E.T.” is among my top 3 songs from Teenage Dream, and it’s a song that stills occupies a place on any of my current music setlists.

This was the first Katy song I heard on the radio in Mexico, and from the very first moment it captivated me because of the electro-pop sounds along with some easy dubstep and drums and bass. Plus, obviously Katy’s vocals are amazing, and when the song comes to the part of the lyrics when she sings, “This is transcendental, on another level,” it will blow you away every single time. By that moment, “E.T.” was already one of the biggest songs of 2011 and it quickly became one of my all time jams. Even today I keep screaming and getting excited when it comes on my devices. I enjoy the song like nothing else in the world when I hear it and see it live.

It is not a coincidence that this song is one of the five #1 singles off the album. “E.T.” has everything it needs to be. It’s also has aged well, and is loved even by people who are not fans of Katy. It’s supernatural, extraterrestrial, and will always be one of my favorite songs ever!