Not The End of the World

Album: Smile (2020)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Katy Perry's Smile album came from the pop star overcoming a tough couple of years after her previous record, Witness. She experienced depression because of its lukewarm performance and problems in her personal life before finding her smile again. This trap-flecked song, released as the album's third single, finds Perry detailing the life lesson she's learned: Failure is ultimately subjective.

    You might see a cliff, but I see a way to fly
    Flipping off the flop, now I just enjoy the ride


    After two-and-a-half nightmare years, Perry no longer cares how her music performs: If a record flops it's not the end of the world. She told People she'd been able to refocus her priorities thanks to a combination of medication, therapy and family support.

    "It got me out of this desperate loop of being the best pop star ever," Perry explained. "I just really want to be a human being and have the dimension of life... I get to live life, and I get to bring life into the world. Finding the gratitude in this pain has been a real journey, but the outcome is worth it."
  • During the pre-chorus, Perry interpolates Steam's 1969 taunting and playful song "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye."

    Na, na, na, na
    What a time
    Na, na, na, na
    To be alive
    Don't say goodbye


    The Steam song is frequently played at sports stadiums when the home team is about to win or an opposing player is ejected from the game.
  • Katy Perry and singer/actress Zooey Deschanel have often been mistaken for one another by fans. The California singer enlisted her celebrity doppelganger to fill in for her in the video, as it was filmed right after Perry gave birth.

    Female directing duo Similar But Different (The Chainsmokers, Liam Payne) shot the clip, which shows some aliens mistaking Deschanel for their favorite pop star and abducting her. She is tasked with performing a concert for the aliens as Perry in order to save Planet Earth from self-destruction.

Comments: 1

  • Kirah from SurulereI got bad grade! I streamed this song!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

80s Video Director Jay Dubin

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.

Bob Dylan Lyric Quiz

Bob Dylan Lyric QuizMusic Quiz

Think you know your Bob Dylan lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.

Psychedelic Lyrics

Psychedelic LyricsMusic Quiz

Whoa man! Do you know which band came up with these cosmic lyrics?

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

Paul Williams

Paul WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

He's a singer and an actor, but as a songwriter Paul helped make Kermit a cultured frog, turned a bank commercial into a huge hit and made love both "exciting and new" and "soft as an easy chair."

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And Scandals

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And ScandalsSong Writing

Surprise exits, a catfight and some very memorable performances make our list of the most memorable Idol moments.