You know how some artists just define a whole era of your life? If you grew up in the late 2000s or early 2010s, that person was probably Katy Perry. I was looking through a Katy Perry song list the other day and realized she’s basically been the soundtrack to every summer party, breakup, and "I'm feeling myself" moment for nearly twenty years.
It’s wild to think she started out as a gospel singer under her real name, Katy Hudson. That 2001 self-titled album is a far cry from "California Gurls." It’s moody, Christian-influenced rock that barely anyone heard at the time. Honestly, if you haven’t listened to "Faith Won’t Fail," you’re missing a piece of the puzzle. It shows she always had those massive pipes, even before the blue wigs and whipped-cream bras.
The Smash Hits and the "143" Era
Most people start their journey with One of the Boys. That’s where the "I Kissed a Girl" and "Hot n Cold" madness began. But as of 2026, her discography has grown into this massive, sprawling thing with seven studio albums. Her latest, 143, dropped in late 2024 and she's been touring it through 2025 and into this year with the Lifetimes Tour.
The 143 tracklist is basically a love letter to the dance floor. It's got:
- "Woman’s World"
- "Gimme Gimme" (featuring 21 Savage)
- "Gorgeous" (featuring Kim Petras)
- "I’m His, He’s Mine" (with Doechii)
- "Crush"
- "Lifetimes"
- "All the Love"
- "Nirvana"
- "Artificial" (with JID)
- "Truth"
- "Wonder"
She even did a digital reissue called 1432—meaning "I love you too"—which added tracks like "OK," "I Woke Up," "Has a Heart," and "No Tears for New Year’s."
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Why Some Katy Perry Songs Just Stick
There's a reason she has six Diamond-certified singles. That’s a stat only a handful of humans on Earth can claim. "Firework," "Dark Horse," "Roar," "California Gurls," "E.T.," and "Teenage Dream" are essentially permanent fixtures of pop culture.
If you're looking for a deep-cut Katy Perry song list, you have to go beyond the radio play.
I’m talking about songs like "Hummingbird Heartbeat" from Teenage Dream. It’s pure, soaring power-pop that should have been a single. Or "Walking on Air" from Prism, which captures that 90s deep house vibe way before it became trendy again.
Then there’s the heartbreak stuff. Everyone knows "The One That Got Away," but "By the Grace of God" is arguably her most vulnerable moment. She wrote it after her divorce from Russell Brand, and you can hear the absolute wreckage in her voice. It’s heavy.
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The Evolution of the Setlist
Seeing her live in 2026 is a different experience. The Lifetimes Tour setlist is a massive production. She’s blending the new club-ready tracks from 143 with the nostalgia of her 2010 peak.
Usually, the show kicks off with "Artificial" or "Woman's World" to get the energy up. Then she pivots into the classics. It's funny seeing teenagers who weren't even born when "I Kissed a Girl" came out screaming every lyric.
The Underrated Gems
Katy’s been through a lot of phases. Witness was her "purposeful pop" era, and while it didn't do Teenage Dream numbers, songs like "Roulette" and "Tsunami" are actually some of her best production work.
Smile, released during the pandemic in 2020, gave us "Never Really Over." That song is a masterpiece of pop anxiety. It’s fast, wordy, and perfectly captures that feeling of being stuck in a loop with an ex.
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Recently, she released a single called "Bandaids" in early 2025. It’s an empowering ballad that feels like a spiritual successor to "Wide Awake." It’s been a staple on the 2026 tour dates and has been getting a lot of love for its raw lyrics about healing after a split.
A Quick Look at the Studio Albums
- Katy Hudson (2001) – The gospel roots.
- One of the Boys (2008) – The breakthrough. Pop-punk vibes.
- Teenage Dream (2010) – The "Imperial Phase." 5 number one singles.
- Prism (2013) – Empowerment and dark trap-pop.
- Witness (2017) – Experimental and electronic.
- Smile (2020) – Resilient, circus-themed pop.
- 143 (2024) – House and dance-pop revival.
What's Next for the Katy Perry Catalog?
Rumors are already swirling about an eighth album. Insiders say she’s been back in the studio with Cirkut and Greg Kurstin. Lyrically, people are expecting it to be her most vulnerable work in years, especially with all the tabloid talk about her personal life lately.
The coolest thing about following a Katy Perry song list is seeing the growth. She went from a girl with a guitar singing about "Ur So Gay" to a global icon performing "Firework" at a Presidential Inauguration.
If you want to really understand her impact, don't just stick to the Top 40. Go back and listen to the MTV Unplugged album from 2009. Her cover of "Hackensack" by Fountains of Wayne is genuinely beautiful. It proves she’s always been more than just the costumes and the spectacle. She’s a songwriter first.
To get the most out of her music right now, I'd suggest making a playlist that bridges the gap between Teenage Dream and 143. Start with "Walking on Air," transition into "Lifetimes," and end with "Not Like the Movies." You'll see the through-line of a woman who just wants to make people dance while she figures out her own heart.
Next Steps for Katy Fans:
Go check out the 2026 tour dates if you’re in Europe; the Dublin and Lisbon shows are supposedly going to have a special acoustic segment. If you're just listening at home, try hunting down the digital-only bonus tracks from the 1432 reissue—"No Tears for New Year's" is the sleeper hit of the year.