Thinking of You by Katy Perry

Album: One of the Boys (2008)

Charted: 27 29

License This Song

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Perry said that this song and "I'm Still Breathing" were about the same ex-boyfriend. She added that "Ur So Gay" and "Mannequin" were about different exes.
This acoustic ode was produced by Butch Walker ("Fall For You", "When You're Gone").
Perry told In The News UK that this song gets the best response at her live shows and it even reduces some fans to tears. She explained: "People do get emotional when they hear that song, because I think a lot of people go through that stuff so it hits them where they remember it happening to them. And it's just me with my guitar, rather than all the pyro and the dancers and the glitter, and I enjoy taking advantage of that, but sometimes it's nice to be able to take all that away and just do what I was put here to do."
"Thinking Of You" was the third single from Katy Perry's 2008 album One Of The Boys, her first pop album and her first using her stage name. Seven years earlier, when she was 16, she released a gospel album under her real name, Katy Hudson. She grew up in a very religious household where she was on the "Jesus train" before moving to Los Angeles and expanding her horizons. The first single from One Of The Boys was "I Kissed a Girl," a #1 hit that flaunted her conservative upbringing. That was followed by another high-energy tune, "Hot n Cold," which went to #3. "Thinking Of You," which slows down the tempo and shows another facet of her vocal range, went to #29, making Perry the first female artist signed to Capitol Records to have three Top 40 hits from an album since Bonnie Raitt's Luck of the Draw in 1991-1992.
In her London Live special, Perry said that this was a very personal song. "When I was starting out at these open mic nights, it was just me and my acoustic guitar, and that's how I wrote the song," she said. "It shows off that side, it's not an in-the-club throbbing song. I feel like I need that organic, homegrown musicianship to feel like I have substance to go with the bells and whistles."

Comments: 9

John from ThereNo you guys are wrong..6 of her songs are about the same guy-me-MARINE..not a soldier... "she tries too hide the fact that they're all about me" BUTT this all was taking place will I was overseas on a combat deployment in Iraq in late 2007 to early 2008 "7month span". I rocked world as she did mine, true soul mates we were.
Chad from MalaysiaGuys, she didn't move on with her intention... She wasn't even cheating. The soldier guy was her first/previous and he wanted her to move on cus he knew the distance and seldom meeting was gonna be an issue... or the fact itself, that he was gonna die in war cus he knew a close war was coming soon.. that's why she says "you said move on, where do I go" "how do I get better once I've had the best"
You can notice in the video how that guy looks back at her and walks away, that was his last time, even after the party/dancing, you can clearly notice how emotional they were.. and he looks back at her one last time and smiles in pain, I have to admit, that acting was brilliant, it was nicely done, how could you not figure out that he was the one who was urging her to move on?? that's why she at last says "no more mistakes" cus she believes what she did was a mistake.
Hayley from Not Tellin, HiExcuse me for saying this but Theresa your so stupid What are you deaf Perry kicks ASS!
Theresa from Murfreesboro, TnThis is a great song but Katy's voice sounds horrible.
Jeana from Sterling Heights, Mithe music video is really really sad
Tayluur from Binghamton, NyI like this Katy song waaayyy more than the rest. She is actually really good when she is singing sad songs.
Jeana from Sterling Heights, Misurprisingly i do feel this way about someone right now...if only he heard this song and knew why it gets me emotional and chocked up and i want him to hear it so bad
Jeana from Sterling Heights, Mithis is my way of defining the song

whether it was casual dating or serious romantic relationship it was broken off...the girl moves on because she thinks she's fine with going off with someone else but she keeps thinking about the guy...and she wants it all back...
Jeana from Sterling Heights, Mithis is the most amazing song i've ever heard...might be one of my favorites...reminds me of the first unofficial guy after my ex

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Crocodile RockElton John

Elton John's "Crocodile Rock" borrows a bit from Don McLean's "American Pie." Both songs feature a Chevy, and are about young people who are heartbroken when their music "dies."

Money For NothingDire Straits

Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler got the idea for "Money For Nothing" after overhearing delivery men in a New York department store complain about their jobs while watching MTV.

Take On Mea-ha

"Take On Me" was just a minor hit in Norway until a new version was released with the iconic video, making it a global smash.

Jack & DianeJohn Mellencamp

Jack & Diane started off as an interracial couple; Mellencamp took race references out of the song at the request of his record company.

The Right ProfileThe Clash

After a devastating car accident, the actor Montgomery Clift had to be filmed from "The Right Profile" to look good - that provided the name of The Clash song.

SingEd Sheeran

"Sing" was inspired by a girl that Ed Sheeran met in Las Vegas in the summer of 2013, when "one thing led to another and now she's kissing my mouth."