Choose Your Battles
| "Choose Your Battles" | ||||||||||
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| Song by Katy Perry from the album Prism | ||||||||||
| Released | 2013 | |||||||||
| Recorded | 2013 | |||||||||
| Length | 4:27 | |||||||||
| Label | Capitol | |||||||||
| Writer | ||||||||||
| Producer |
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"Choose Your Battles" is a song by American singer-songwriter Katy Perry, taken from the deluxe edition of her fourth studio album Prism (2013). The song was written and produced by Perry and by Canadian record producer Greg Wells, who were accompanied by American folk rock singer-songwriter Jonatha Brooke on the songwriting process.
Lyrically, it is an empowerment anthem, using various metaphors to describe a deteriorated relationship in which Perry rises stronger. It garnered mainly positive reviews from contemporary music critics, who highlighted Perry's tender vocal performance on the song and for being, as a whole, an "heroic moment". Despite of that, a Gawker writer denounced various lyrical clichés on the song. It managed to enter the Gaon Download Chart at number 136.
Background and recording
Perry started recording her fourth studio album in November 2012, which earlier, she described as "darker" than One of the Boys and Teenage Dream,[1] but, according to her, she "hadn't let the light in".[2] Perry ultimately took a more positive direction with the record, and in August 2013, she revealed that Prism did not have any "darkness".[3] During a questions and answers session with fans on Twitter, Perry revealed that she spent five months writing "Choose Your Battles".[4]
"Choose Your Battles" was written by Perry, along with Canadian record producer Greg Wells and American folk rock singer-songwriter Jonatha Brooke. Production of the song was handled by Perry and Wells, and the latter also programmed the song. All the musical instruments were played by Wells and Brooke: drums and synthesizers were played by the former, while the latter played the thumb piano, also known as kalimba. Serban Ghenea mixed the song at MixStar Studios in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It was engineered by Ian McGregor at Rockel Carousel Studios in Los Angeles, California, and engineered for mix by John Hanes.[5]
Composition
Similarly to the way "By the Grace of God" was composed, "Choose Your Battles" was produced by the singer and Canadian record producer Greg Wells.[5] The song contains tribal beats[6] and military drums in its background.[7]
The lyrics of "Choose Your Battles" were written by Wells, Perry and Jonatha Brooke.[5] Much like Perry's hit single "Roar" and Prism song "This Moment", "Choose Your Battles" is a self-empowerment song with an inspirational feel.[8][9]
In its lyrics, Perry discusses her deteriorated relationship[10] with a man she does not understand,[6] whom she urges to be his "lover".[5] She also uses "walking through a minefield" as a metaphor for being near her partner. Perry rises, and belts the "power chords" of "I'm not fighting anymore" over a "triumphant" bass line.[10] In the song, Perry sounds "angry and strong".[7]
The song is written in the key of B minor, having a chord progression of Bm–G–D–Em–C. It features a Neapolitan chord (C).[11]
Critical response
In an article, where he listed all the lyrical clichés that were in the lyrics of the many songs of Prism, Rich Juzwiak from Gawker denounced nineteen clichés, including "I tiptoe through your triggered mine" and "dancing on broken glass".[12] Jason Lipshutz from Billboard highlighted the "tender vulnerability" on Perry's voice, along with Greg Wells' focus on the drums.[6]
Hayden Manders from the fashion website Refinery29 picked "Choose Your Battles" as a standout track from Prism, praising it for being an "heroic moment that summarizes [the album]'s entire aura".[10] Alex Newton from Sputnikmusic noted that Prism gave mixed messages, acknowledging the "inspirational and self-empowering feel" of both "Choose Your Battles" and "Roar", as compared to the "embarrassing" puns in "Birthday", another album track.[8]
Natalie Palmer from Entertainmentwise concluded that "Choose Your Battles" constituted a song that was "different" from the rest of Prism.[7] Allan Raible from ABC News considered that Jonatha Brooke's participation on Prism, or more specifically in "Choose Your Battles" was unnecessary. He further stated that Brooke was able to make better records on her own and that she deserved more than being in the background of Perry's song.[13]
Format
- Digital download (as part of the deluxe version of Prism)[14]
- "Choose Your Battles" - 4:27
Credits and personnel
- Recording
- Engineered at Rocket Carousel Studio (Los Angeles, California)
- Mixed at MixStar Studios (Virginia Beach)
- Personnel
- Lead vocals - Katy Perry
- Songwriting — Katy Perry, Greg Wells, Jonatha Brooke
- Production — Greg Wells, Katy Perry
- Mixing — Serban Ghenea
- Engineered for mix — John Hanes
- Drums, synths and programming — Greg Wells
- Kalimba — Jonatha Brooke
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Prism, Capitol Records.[5]
Chart positions
In South Korea, upon the release of Prism, "Choose Your Battles" sold 1,587 copies which provided the position number 136 on the South Korea Gaon Download Chart.
| Chart (2013) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| South Korea (GDC)[15] | 136 |
External links
References
- ↑ Fossi, Michele (22 June 2012). "The new cover with Katy Perry on L'Uomo Vogue". Vogue Italia. Condé Nast. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
- ↑ Diehl, Matt (September 27, 2013). "Katy Perry's 'PRISM': The Billboard Cover Story". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
- ↑ Garibaldi, Christina. "Katy Perry 'Lets the Light In' On Prism". MTV.com. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
- ↑ Lansky, Sam (23 October 2013). "Some Noteworthy Things We Learned About Katy Perry During Last Night's 'Prism' Q&A". Idolator. Spin Media. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Prism (Media notes). Katy Perry. United States: Capitol Records. 2013.
- 1 2 3 Lipshutz, Jason (21 October 2013). "Katy Perry's 'PRISM': Track-By-Track Review". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
- 1 2 3 Palmer, Natalie (21 October 2013). "REVIEW: Katy Perry – 'Prism'". Entertainmentwise. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
- 1 2 Newton, Alex (19 October 2013). "Katy Perry - Prism". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
- ↑ Parker, Lyndsey (18 October 2013). "Many Faces of 'PRISM': Hear Katy Perry's Superstar Collaborations". Yahoo! Music. Yahoo!. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
- 1 2 3 Manders, Hayden (22 October 2013). "Katy Perry Prism Album Review". Refinery29. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
- ↑ http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdFPE.asp?ppn=MN0130468&ref=google
- ↑ Juzwiak, Rich (24 October 2013). "All 226 Clichés Uttered by Katy Perry on Her New Album, Listed". Gawker. Gawker Media. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
- ↑ Raible, Allan (26 October 2013). "Reviews: Latest from Katy Perry, Best Coast and Van Morrison". ABC News. American Broadcasting Company. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
- ↑ "PRISM (Deluxe) / Katy Perry". iTunes. Apple.
- ↑ "South Korea Gaon Download Chart". Gaon Chart. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
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