Katy Perry released two new songs during her blockbuster Grand Final performance in Melbourne on Saturday, despite reports the AFL was unenthusiastic about her song choice.
This week it was reported that the AFL wanted the pop star, 39, to sing just one song from her new album, 143, while Katy’s team wanted two in the set.
Ultimately, Katy, who was reportedly paid $5 million to perform on Saturday, got her way with two songs from her recently released album, which got a run at the MCG.
Katy’s 20-minute set included Lifetimes and Beautiful, her collaboration with Kim Petras.
Despite the new songs being thrown in, it was the hits that got the crowd pumping as Katy got going with a rendition of Roar before unleashing her hits Teenage Dreams, Dark Horse and Firework.
Katy also performed a rendition of I Kissed A Girl with Tina Arena before the pair moved into a rendition of the Australian pop star’s hit Chains.
This week it was reported that Katy Perry and the AFL had clashed over which songs the US pop star would sing during the Grand Final performance.
The veteran AFL journalist said on SEN Breakfast on Monday that Tom Morris claimed Katy’s team had resisted an AFL request that the Teenage Dream hitmaker perform just one new song.
Katy Perry (pictured) released two new songs during her blockbuster Grand Final performance in Melbourne on Saturday, despite reports the AFL was unenthusiastic about her song choice
“She plays about five songs and the AFL really wanted her to play five classic songs, she wanted to play two new ones,” he said.
Tom added that both camps had reached a compromise, with Katy reportedly agreeing to just one new song.
“They ended up meeting halfway and she plays one new song and four classics,” he said.
Co-host and AFL great Kane Cornes, who admitted he was a Katy Perry fan, added that the AFL should have a say in the planning of the blockbuster stadium show.
“The AFL says, ‘We only want your hits. We only want your bangers. We only want your best stuff,’” he said.
This week it was reported that the AFL wanted the 39-year-old pop star to sing just one song from her new album, while Katy’s team wanted two in the set.
‘We want Roar, we want Teenage Dream, we want fireworks. They want all the songs we know and love. And she got pushed back and said, “No, no, I want to play two of my new songs.”
He added, “You know when you go to a concert and maybe they’re old and all you want is their good stuff. You just want their greatest hits.
“That’s what the AFL has requested from Katy Perry. And she’s gone: “Obviously I want to promote some of my new music.”
Katy released her latest album 143 last week, which includes the controversial first single Woman’s World and follow-up Lifetimes.
In the end, Katy, who was reportedly paid $5 million to perform on Saturday, got her way with two songs from her recently released 143 album, which got a run at the MCG.
The singer released the first single from 143 in July, but the song – billed as a powerful feminist anthem – was quickly dismissed as unoriginal, hypocritical and formulaic.
The Teenage Dream hitmaker was also criticized for the sexualized nature of the accompanying video, as well as her decision to collaborate with music producer Dr. Luke, 50, following his highly publicized legal battle with Tick Tock singer Kesha, 37.
Reviews for 143 weren’t too kind to Katy, with Variety boldly claiming that the album “takes away the remnants of the perky persona that catapulted Perry to superstardom in the early 2010s.”
Despite the album’s lukewarm reception, Katy announced two new dates for her 2025 Australian Lifetimes tour on Friday.
Katy’s 20-minute set included Lifetimes and Beautiful, her collaboration with Kim Petras
