Katy Perry Melbourne 2018 review: Mature star still thrills the kids

KATY Perry’s Witness tour swaps the cream-filled bras of former shows for a slightly more grown-up pop-art performance. And despite some more mature messages it’s clear she’s still top of the pops with young girls, writes Cameron Adams.

KATY Perry’s Witness tour swaps the floating poo emojis and cream-filled bras of former shows for a slightly more grown-up pop-art performance.

Despite some more mature messages it’s clear she’s still top of the pops with young girls (Katy Kittens more than Katy Kats) who got to stay up late on a school night — Perry didn’t hit the Rod Laver Arena stage until 9.20pm for her two hour show.

However the energy that comes from kids likely being dazzled by their first big pop concert (and it’s a huge production) can’t help but be infectious.

PICTURES: KATY BLENDS IN AS A MELBURNIAN

KATY PERRY LANDS IN MELBOURNE

It’s clear Katy Perry still top of the pops with young girls. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Katy Perry performs at Rod Laver Arena. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Last year’s Witness album may have slowed down Perry’s decade-long run of hits that began when she swapped Christian music for I Kissed a Girl in 2008.

That doesn’t stop Perry diving into some of the record’s deeper moments on this tour — including Deja Vu written with Sydney musician Hayden James and Chained to the Rhythm written with Sia.

Rather than be wounded by the trolls who hated her airing her political views she’s instead playing to her people (“I don’t want to be an entitled, spoiled pop star who expects you all to just show up,” she says of the show which went on sale a year ago) — and continuing to deal in joyous pop with the occasional rambling off script and shouting.

There was an awkward moment when Perry pulled a lookalike out of the crowd — the woman turned out to be a part-time Katy Perry impersonator at birthday parties but told the superstar that the money in being Katy Perry isn’t great. “Well I’m doing great,” the real Perry noted.

The only controversial statement was a Perry saying “can I tell you a secret? Melbourne is my favourite city in Australia.. I’ve got no problem telling Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and Auckland that.” We assume Perry meant she’s promoting Melbourne in New Zealand. Apart from Melbourne’s food, Perry said to Melburnians “Your vibe, your energy is just so chill.” While she constantly praised Melbourne, she still hasn’t mastered the “Mel-bin” rather than the “Mel-born”.

Perry’s Jack Garratt collaboration Power, the gospel-tinged Pendulum and emotional ballad Into Me You See take things beyond the chart attacks. However as the clock ticked on, you could see some people waiting for another big hit.

Katy Perry’s Witness tour is a slightly more grown-up pop-art performance. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Katy Perry plays to her people at Rod Laver Arena. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Katy Perry dives into some of Witness’s deeper moments on this tour. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

But there’s still a mini greatest hits show lurking in the Witness tour — Dark Horse, Roar, Hot N Cold mixed into Last Friday Night, California Gurls (with the return of Left Shark and the return of the kiddie moments), E.T, Part of Me and Wide Awake, as well as last year’s divisive duo Swish Swish (the ‘f’ bomb at the start was left in - sorry kids) and Bon Appetit. The latter was improved 1000-per-cent when it morphed into Janet Jackson’s What Have You Done For Me Lately?

There’s also her finest moment, Teenage Dream, given a fluorescent 80s makeover.

And with all talk about Perry being “woke” who knew Firework’s opening line “Do you ever feel like a plastic bag?” would suddenly be the soundtrack to the environmental debate unexpectedly tearing Australia apart.

Katy Perry plays Rod Laver Arena again tonight and Sunday