Katy Perry is the latest artist to join the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Japanese video game franchise Pokemon with her new single Electric. To commemorate twenty-five years since the first games released in Japan, Universal Music Group and the Pokemon franchise have teamed up for a digital album involving 11 different Universal music artists spanning 14 songs. The musical collaboration was kicked off back in February by Post Malone, with an animated virtual concert featuring a cover of the 1995 hit “Only Wanna Be With You” by Hootie and the Blowfish. 

Katy Perry recently became a mother and has since been able to appreciate the imagination and whimsy of the Pokemon franchise in a new light. During a 2019 trip to Japan, the 36-year old pop icon was reminded of how impactful the little monsters are during a stop at the Pokemon Cafe; all this making her a perfect candidate for the collaboration.

Courtesy of NME.

Electric is an uplifting pop song about believing in yourself, accompanied by a bright music video featuring the cute yellow Pokemon Pikachu. Mexican-Amercian filmmaker Carlos Lopez Estrada acts as director, who has a history working with pop icons such as Billie Ellish and Carly Rae Jepsen. In the video Katy and Pikachu watch a younger version of herself strum an acoustic guitar trying to find her tune, while a younger version of Pikachu (Pichu) stands supportively beside her. With help from Present-day Katy, the teenage copycat sheds her insecurities and fully embraces all she has to offer, reinforcing the inspiring lyrics. The dress Katy Perry is wearing is a handmade Peruvian piece from the label ESCVADO, celebrating ancient Peruvian textile techniques passed down from generation to generation. The song is fun, catchy, and leaves you with a warm feeling inside.

Courtesy of The Music Universe.

The singer has always related to the attractive exterior of the franchise’s main character saying “On the surface, you might just think I’m just cute, have a couple of cute songs”, expressing that people only see her attractive exterior and fail to recognize her true artistry. Katy Perry fits this fun creative project perfectly, giving us all a reason to smile. Reigniting people’s imaginations and inner child through Pokemon is just what we needed through all the uncertainty and hardship we’ve been through this past year. Expect the 25th-anniversary album to drop sometime this fall through capitol records.