Witness
by Katy Perry
  • Record Label: Capitol
  • Release Date: Jun 9, 2017
User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 3037 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,112 out of 3037
  2. Mixed: 289 out of 3037
  3. Negative: 636 out of 3037
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  1. ScarTissue1990
    Jun 13, 2017
    5
    Though I liked only one of the singles, I went in to listening to this record wanted to love at least some of it. Here, Katy definitely takes a big step outside of her signature "bubblegum pop" style. However, lyrically and sonically I felt it didn't really go anywhere. Perry's vocals in some songs are strong, whilst others sound bleak, as if she's not truly in it.
    Songs I liked:    Though I liked only one of the singles, I went in to listening to this record wanted to love at least some of it. Here, Katy definitely takes a big step outside of her signature "bubblegum pop" style. However, lyrically and sonically I felt it didn't really go anywhere. Perry's vocals in some songs are strong, whilst others sound bleak, as if she's not truly in it.
    Songs I liked: "Pendulum", "Witness", "Chained to the Rhythm", "Power"    … Expand
  2. RK13
    Jun 9, 2017
    5
    Hmmm. This album is lack for better term, interesting. It's not legendary and amazing. However it is not utter trip. Moreover, like every other Katy Perry album the ratio of album fillers to singles is exceeded. Perhaps she should try not to use as much auto-tune.
  3. Tabor
    Jul 2, 2017
    5
    Katy Perry's Newest studio album is a muddle of lost and underdone pop bangers, with some highlights. Perry goes at her art in a rush and gets a result that reflects her hurried approach. In Songs like "Swish Swish", "Chained To The Rhythm", and "Pendulum", Perry shows she can hold a good tune. But In numbers like "Mind Maze", "Power, and "Bon Appetit" she tells us otherwise. The mixedKaty Perry's Newest studio album is a muddle of lost and underdone pop bangers, with some highlights. Perry goes at her art in a rush and gets a result that reflects her hurried approach. In Songs like "Swish Swish", "Chained To The Rhythm", and "Pendulum", Perry shows she can hold a good tune. But In numbers like "Mind Maze", "Power, and "Bon Appetit" she tells us otherwise. The mixed feelings of quality the record gives us make this trip utterly confusing, and underdeveloped. Another issue is that the album omits faux emotions, like on "Miss You More" and "Into Me You See", with fake sentimentality and overemotional poetry. Katy pretty much sums up her album on one of the lead singles, "Deja Vu". She sings in a restrained way, about everything being the same almost ironically, because she too needs to try something new.… Expand
  4. Music_Observer
    Jun 18, 2017
    4
    Stuck in a limbo between attempting to be heartfelt and attempting to be fun, of which it was neither, this annoying work proved to be nothing but a money grab stemming from the monotonous and uninspiring melodies. My Score: 70/180 (Bad) = 3.9/10
  5. marcmyworks
    Jun 21, 2017
    6
    I really wanted to like this album and give it the benefit of the doubt. Witness does start off with a bang, with Katy really bringing a strong new direction to her music; however towards the end of the album the tracks start to fizzle, the lyrics become weak and bland and the production seems muddled. There are some great songs such as "Bon Apetit", "Witness" and "Swish Swish", but aboutI really wanted to like this album and give it the benefit of the doubt. Witness does start off with a bang, with Katy really bringing a strong new direction to her music; however towards the end of the album the tracks start to fizzle, the lyrics become weak and bland and the production seems muddled. There are some great songs such as "Bon Apetit", "Witness" and "Swish Swish", but about 5 or 6 tracks could have been cut to make what remained seem even more incredible.… Expand
  6. mrSilkie
    Jun 23, 2017
    5
    Some of her tracks are really good but the lyrics are doghouse and the production of the music is not hers, that's the record label that manages all that. so looking at just the vocals and the lyrics this albums far from perfect.

    lots of songs are so poppy and disconnected from her, for a girl who is suicidal surely this should be the most, from the heart, compelling music she's ever    Some of her tracks are really good but the lyrics are doghouse and the production of the music is not hers, that's the record label that manages all that. so looking at just the vocals and the lyrics this albums far from perfect.

    lots of songs are so poppy and disconnected from her, for a girl who is suicidal surely this should be the most, from the heart, compelling music she's ever made but it's far from that. For example, what the hell is roulette? What on earth is that song trying to convey? nothing, there's nothing to take away from that apart from the fact that it's generic pop music designed the full out the album, Hey Hey Hey, written by SIX PEOPLE, it took SIX PEOPLE to write that garbage.

    There are bands out there who make far better music then this, it's not worth anybodies time or attention. 5 stars cause perry has a great voice and the production is pretty darn good (mind you generic at the same time) but as far as music goes this is just trash    … Expand
  7. josecab1998
    Jun 9, 2017
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I really thought that it will be the first complete album that i will love of Katy perry but... toooo much auto-tune in some song, and in other songs the verses are good but suddenly the chorus appears and it sucks... I only like 6 songs... PRISM still the jewel of katy perry...… Expand
  8. iambullot
    Jun 13, 2017
    5
    De alguma forma " Witness " soou como uma parada no meio de uma busca por um novo som, uma tentativa não tão bem sucedida, mas que trás algumas músicas boas. "Pendulum", "Hey Hey Hey" e "Save As Draft" são pontos fortes na tracklist, além dos singles "não tão bem sucedido".
  9. poetsofswift
    Jun 26, 2017
    5
    Meh. it's not best thing I've ever heard but it works on some levels. The production is really good, it's actually the only thing that I like about this album. The lyrics are cringy (especially in Swish Swish and Hey Hey Hey), I hate how she's trying to be "woke" nowadays and her vocal performance on this album is awful.
  10. regisgustavo
    Jun 20, 2017
    4
    Could not understand what she wanted to do with this album. No matter what, it did not work. Let's wait for the next one. PS: Power should be released as a single urgently.
  11. DramaticFighter
    Jun 24, 2017
    6
    In general, the idea is good but during the album, i could see that it was an album full of strange sounds and no catchy songs at all, however I could realize she did try to innovate, it didn't work, maybe the next one.
  12. sherlock765
    Jun 25, 2017
    6
    A lackluster album that seems to have been thoughtlessly thrown together in hopes that anyone buying it wouldn't notice its painfully obvious lack of cohesion. after months of shoving the hype down everyone's throats, this album simply proves it was not worth the wait due to an overwhelming lack of upbeat and in your face anthems that are one of katy's specialities. witness is not all bad.A lackluster album that seems to have been thoughtlessly thrown together in hopes that anyone buying it wouldn't notice its painfully obvious lack of cohesion. after months of shoving the hype down everyone's throats, this album simply proves it was not worth the wait due to an overwhelming lack of upbeat and in your face anthems that are one of katy's specialities. witness is not all bad. it has its moments with the satisfyingly simple witness, the semi edgy swish swish with a fantastic nicki minaj verse. a catchy but sort of hypocritical chained to the rhythm, the cool throwback roulette, and the edm laced deja vu. everything else screams overproduced or filler minus the annoyingly catchy bon apetit that makes you want to cringe while dancing using the controversial and wildly umnecessary rap group migos.. overall katy tells us she wants to be witnessed but doing what? making a better album? i would like that too katy.… Expand
  13. JoanPanola
    Jun 9, 2017
    4
    Witness es un viaje a travez de sonidos diferentes que Katy no habia tocado pero, apesar de tener buenas canciones su voz no llega a acoplarse correctamente, y no llega a ser agradable a mi gusto, un disco muy bueno y arriegado, pero ese riesgo no fue del todo bueno.
    Recomendable si les gustan los sonidos diferentes, aun mas que sus 3 singles.
  14. Hiarque
    Jun 10, 2017
    5
    Um álbum bastante esperado, que ao meu ver começou bem e foi dando deslizes no seu decorrer. Katy apresenta uma proposta inicial de empoderamento que é quebrada nas duas próximas músicas lançadas (bon appetit e swith swith) que remetem a sexualização da mulher e afronte entre mulheres, respectivamente.
  15. ahmedimran
    Jun 10, 2017
    4
    This is definitely Katy's Artpop era. Except for Pendulum, Roulette and the Nicki track nothing is very appealing. A downgrade from Prism and not worth a 4 year wait. But the singles will be over played on the radio. The entire album was made for the radio. I think she is using Taylor's name to sell.
  16. SebastianGabbi
    Jun 9, 2017
    5
    This album is basic. I did not find anything special. Probably these good notes of the users here are of Katycats accustomed with the basic one. I found Prism slightly better, but nothing very surprising. What to expect from a basic artist like Katy Perry? In that Era, Katy is lost. Poor girl.
  17. pxdmndh
    Jun 9, 2017
    4
    I thought we would see an evolution of what was PRISM, but it looks like she threw everything she learned into the trash, Katy Perry got realy lost in this work, the concept of the album is so confuse, I realy dont enjoy the album, not bad but, not good.
  18. diamandiss
    Jun 12, 2017
    6
    Tem alguns hinos como Roulette, Hey Hey Hey, Miss You More, Pendulum, e algumas bombas como Mind Maze, Bon Appetit, Power, no geral foi um álbum bem mediano. Infelizmente esse não é o melhor trabalho da Katy Perry, Teenage Dream pisa.
  19. Llan
    Jun 15, 2017
    4
    O álbum segue um conceito de "libertação", porém é muito confuso acompanha-lo logo em seu começo. Witness, Swish Swish, CTTR e Pendulum são os grandes destaques do álbum, porém não conseguem se sobressair sobre as músicas medianas/ruins do álbum. Mesmo sendo mais coeso que Prism (sonoramente falando), isso não salva o resto do álbum. As letras e os hooks são esquecíveis comparados a outrosO álbum segue um conceito de "libertação", porém é muito confuso acompanha-lo logo em seu começo. Witness, Swish Swish, CTTR e Pendulum são os grandes destaques do álbum, porém não conseguem se sobressair sobre as músicas medianas/ruins do álbum. Mesmo sendo mais coeso que Prism (sonoramente falando), isso não salva o resto do álbum. As letras e os hooks são esquecíveis comparados a outros lançamentos desse ano.… Expand
  20. OprahPossum
    Jun 9, 2017
    4
    The album has a few catchy songs, but sometimes it feels like she's trying to hard to be something different, to do something that nobody has ever done before her. But the album just falls flat. It looks like Katy Perry really is chained to that rhythm. Because, apart from 2 or 3 (really) good ones, the songs feel quite generic and bland.
  21. vinnynguyen
    Jun 17, 2017
    4
    A vast differentiation from Katy's old music. At first listen, it may seem dreary and repetitive, it does take a few listens to warm up, and become accustomed to the different beats and sounds of each song. Half of the album can be added to your playlist for continued listening, with few very leaving an impact.
  22. arthurandrade
    Jun 9, 2017
    5
    There's nothing really innovative about this album, it's just an ok record with many unforgettable songs and a few good ones. Hopefully she will make right decisions about the next singles.
  23. hjuniorrrr
    Jun 9, 2017
    4
    ''Power'' and ''Witness'' are the only songs that you can rescue from the album, the rest are very simple. ''Swish Swish'' is also good, but actually everyone likes just for the verse of Nicki Minaj.
  24. segovi20
    Jun 10, 2017
    6
    This is a good album, but not excellent, visually is stunning. Is good that Katy decided make a change in her style of music, wich is sometimes catchy, regrettably its not commercial, this will be a let down for Katy's carrer if we talk about charts. Lyrically its not enough, its half finished, don't show what it was promoting us (social critic about the world), in exception of chained toThis is a good album, but not excellent, visually is stunning. Is good that Katy decided make a change in her style of music, wich is sometimes catchy, regrettably its not commercial, this will be a let down for Katy's carrer if we talk about charts. Lyrically its not enough, its half finished, don't show what it was promoting us (social critic about the world), in exception of chained to the rhythm.
    Besides some songs could sound the same.
    I think its an ambitious album that stay in there only promises.    … Expand
  25. Yanxxx
    Jun 10, 2017
    5
    Katy Perry released a new album promising changes and a more mature sound. Well, that's not what happened. The material, by the way, very expected, did not meet expectations and proved to be another failed attempt by Perry to reach new heights. The title song, "witness," which opens the album, eludes us on a promising journey through Perry's new endeavor. However, soon after we areKaty Perry released a new album promising changes and a more mature sound. Well, that's not what happened. The material, by the way, very expected, did not meet expectations and proved to be another failed attempt by Perry to reach new heights. The title song, "witness," which opens the album, eludes us on a promising journey through Perry's new endeavor. However, soon after we are bombarded with songs totally poor in lyricism and production. "Hey hey hey" is a tragic tune that most resembles something that a new singer would release. "Power" and "mind maze" are possibly the worst songs in Perry's career. The already released "chained to the rhythm", "bon appetit" and "swish swish" stand out among so many messy songs. But ballads like "miss you more" and "save the draft" show a leaner Katy Perry. Already the funeral into me you see can make us more understood than a crowded bus ride. Note that the beautiful "pedulum" is an invitation to a Katy perry who tried to reinvent herself and the dancing "roulette" shows Katy with clear inspirations in the 80's and is very similar to the song "I like it rough", ex Pop singer Lady Gaga. It can be concluded that witness is not an appetizer, nor a main dish, it is a silly record and can not add to the unstable career of Perry. Sorry Katy, but it was not a hit in the basket.… Expand
  26. AnnieBitencourt
    Jun 12, 2017
    6
    Um bom álbum. Pessoalmente achei Pendulum e Roulette as melhores músicas. É praticamente diferente de tudo que ela já fez e isso é muito bom. Vale a pena conferir.
  27. BonnieBerry
    Jun 14, 2017
    4
    Witness, sem dúvidas, é um marco pra carreira da Katy, ele mostra um lado mais maduro da cantora. Porém, o álbum não tem hits aparentes e chega a ser cansativo de ouvir.
  28. rafawasquevite
    Jun 16, 2017
    5
    4 anos depois do auge do seu último álbum, Katy Perry nos entrega o que talvez seja o álbum mais mediano de sua carreira. Com uma sequencia de singles nada favorecida, o álbum parece ser feito em cima da hora. Mas não se engane, o álbum tem sim momentos de ouro: Save As Draft comprova isso.
  29. ManuelContreras
    Apr 7, 2018
    6
    Un album un poco flojo, podria ser el peor de su carrera, aunque no significa que sea malo
  30. u137288reddit
    May 17, 2018
    6
    Witness has a lot of really fun tracks, but also a good amount of filler. Ending and beginning of the album are the best parts.
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Most Discussed Album of 2017
4
#4 Most Shared Album of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
53

Mixed or average reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 20
  3. Negative: 2 out of 20
  1. The Line of Best Fit
    Aug 13, 2020
    75
    While it's certainly missing any form of coherency, Witness does feel like you're growing with Perry - going on this journey that's helped her find new ground and a reinvigorated appreciation for all walks of the pop music spectrum.
    Read full review
  2. Prefix Magazine
    Jul 6, 2017
    70
    While she may have slipped down the pecking order, Witness proves she’s still a more interesting pop star than she’s often given credit for.
    Read full review
  3. Drowned In Sound
    Jun 28, 2017
    50
    It’s a real shame Witness has come out as a bit of a disjointed mess, as there’s a decent record somewhere in there, but it gets lost in the fog of endless guest productions and co-writes that miss the point entirely.
    Read full review
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