Then and Now. Ever hear of Katy Hudson?
Watch this video below and let me know if you recognize the singer. (You probably see who it is by the heading on the video)
Excuse me if I’m a bit late on this (or you’re welcome if you’re mind is blown like mine) but could it be?
That was a video of a teenage KATY PERRY performing at the Glasshouse in Pomona, CA as a — *gulp* — Christian artist some 9 years ago! I had no idea until I came across this hilarious blog post from Jon Acuff.
Before she bust out on the scene with wholesome anthems like “I Kissed a Girl” and “California Gurls,” Katy real name Hudson was making her pastor parents proud by writing and performing songs about Jesus, playing out in public venues, and releasing CDs to stock the shelves of Family Christian Stores the world over (although apparently she never had a successful album release in this arena)
I know what kind of path a blog post like this one can take but I’m not here to bash on Katy or talk about how I wish she was still doing Christian music (I don’t), blah blah blah. I’ll leave that sentiment to the youtube hate comment brigade. Rather, I’m just simply intrigued by all this, that’s all.
It’s not just that she used to do Christian music. It’s that she used to have a real singer/songwriter vibe with some really decent acoustic guitar sensibilities and versatile vocal delivery.
It’s not just that she was small-time then and she’s big-time now. It’s the evident shift she has made from a somewhat shy, unassuming, teenage coffeehouse performer to a full-blown pop icon who commands the stage and the attention of all who would care to watch and listen.
It’s not just that her and Jesus were BFFs back in the day. It’s that today, somewhere underneath the scanty “what the heck is she wearing?!” fabric lies a woman who occasionally thinks back to the days of her Youth Group past with either disdain or nostalgia. Which is it?
It’s also intriguing to think that Katy would never have had the magnitude of influence she has right now had she stayed with the music she was doing cerca 2001. All her videos right now on youtube have an average of 20 million hits.
These are some semi-inconclusive thoughts I’m simply throwing out.
Right now, I’m simply intrigued and fascinated by the extreme conversion that Katy Hudson has gone through to become Katy Perry. Change to this degree, whether “good” or “bad,” is always worth a little investigation, a little thought.
For the record, I admit that her songs are pretty dang catchy… California Gurls. that’s my jam. Her acoustic stuff from the past are pretty cool too.
What do you think? Are you more fascinated now than before? Or could you care less?
Reflections?
Katy Perry = Katy Hudson
DKDANIELKIM.com 
interesting! i think maybe her shift in genre might have something to do more with the industry and how it only allows certain genres and looks to flourish. I don’t think they plan to plan to market christian music into popular media anytime soon. sad but true 😦
September 22, 2010 at 2:32 pm
hey angel, that’s a good point. it’s not just that she switched genres but her overall song content, persona, vibe, and dress has gone through a massive overhaul. this i find interesting!
September 22, 2010 at 10:19 pm
I wonder if something traumatic happened to her to cause this shift.
October 16, 2010 at 6:12 pm
I think the big change is probably to do with moving from a 15 year old under the influence of her parents to a 20 year old with independence and sexual confidence.
October 21, 2010 at 1:07 am
Hellie you’re probably right. It’s sad =(
We still call an independent pup wandering the streets with confidence, “lost.”
You might think this is a religious perspective, but its not. All the women I have known and loved who used to live the same way admitted that it was more about controlling their own lives and searching in vain for love than anything else. For most of them it took them a lot of pain to figure this out. Being in control might sound great, and the idea might be, unfortunately they began to realize that being sexually loose was exactly what men who want to control women desire. They thought they were in control, but they became objects and tools instead. A man who wants only a woman’s body will encourage “sexual independence” anyday. A man who truly loves you will encourage real confidence that is not rooted in his own self-pleasure (except the pleasure of seeing someone he loves healthy and happy). It’s hard to see when we’re in the frantic search for meaning, but for some time and experience will temper our restlessness. Please find someone who truly loves you and not someone who is your friend or lover as long as you offer them sexual eye candy or stimulation. That’s not control, independence, or confidence. That’s slavery, dependence, and desperation. =(
With love,
Chris
October 26, 2010 at 5:29 am
Hey Daniel,
this is pretty much the same with Avril Lavigne. I think you hit it on the head when you wrote, “Katy would never have had the magnitude of influence she has right now had she stayed with the music she was doing cerca 2001. All her videos right now on youtube have an average of 20 million hits.” I think an artist like you could understand the frustration and that same pull of many extremely talented under-estimated artists who follow the world view of Jesus in their work.
October 29, 2010 at 5:50 pm
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